Bernard's gaze locked onto the chaotic crowd in the corridor, his stride slowing to a halt.
"Take the lead, Evan," he said, a calm command amidst the bedlam.
Evan nodded, signaling his team with a swift chop of his hand, and they surged forward, closing in with lightning speed.
The rearguard, dressed in black, fired shots while in retreat, trying to slow the pursuers. Evan dodged the bullets and bellowed, "We're only after the ring leaders! Any of you just hired guns for Area Opaca, step aside and you won't get hurt!"
In the face of death, self-preservation reigns supreme, especially for the mercenaries just earning their keep.
As Evan charged past, targeting the manipulators at the front, the hired guns hesitantly lowered their weapons.
Seeing his opportunity slipping away, Mr. Sextus, the gruff enforcer who could run no more, spun around to face the Siren Organization head-on.
"I'll take you all down with me!"
Gun in hand, he aimed straight for Evan's head. But his draw was sluggish compared to Evan's reflexes, and a bullet pierced Mr. Sextus' skull before he could fire.
His bulky frame crumpled to the ground, and the remaining nine manipulators, witnessing their leader's fall, ceased their futile escape.
"Everyone, ready up!"
"Fire at will!"
The manipulators of Area Opaca were well-trained; with Mr. Sextus gone, command fell to 1-7.
At 1-7's signal, nine guns rose in unison, raining a hail of bullets upon the Siren Organization.
The moment Mr. Sextus hit the floor, they were prepared to go down fighting. But Evan had no intention of a mutual destruction.
"Cover yourselves! Take them down!"
Evan's order unleashed a frenzy of gunfire. Although Siren operatives took hits, their veteran instincts kept them from lethal harm.
After five minutes of intense gunfire, all nine manipulators were down.
Then, through the crowd, Bernard cloaked in the chill of resolve approached. His thick lashes lowered slowly, sweeping over the fallen foes.
He's already taken down ten, with another thirty-nine still on the list.
Bernard's eyes turned toward the escape route to District B.
"Move out to District B," he commanded.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: A Second Chance At Forever novel (Eleanor and Bernard)
Loved the story, many times caught in so much actually crying with the situation. Wish had more chapters to a better ending....
It's weird that the story went from narrative to slang use. Good story so far though...