Alpha's Regret After the Divorce by Christina novel Chapter 249

Chapter 249

Kira’s POV

I crawled through the dark ventilation shaft, following Rocco’s lead as thunderous crashes echoed behind us. Each boom sent tremors through the metal tunnel, making my heart leap into my throat. The air was thick with dust, scraping my lungs with every desperate breath I took. God, I hated confined spaces. Ever since being trapped in that basement, the feeling of walls closing in made my skin crawl.

‘Keep moving! Rocco called from ahead, glancing back to check on me.

I nodded through a coughing fit, though he probably couldn’t see it. The shaft was getting narrower with each yard we covered, the cold metal edges scraping against my elbows and knees. The scratchy panic of claustrophobia began creeping up my spine.

“How much further?” I gasped, fighting to keep my voice steady.

Rocco paused for a second. “Just ahead! I can see light outside!”

Just then, my earpiece crackled with Andy’s frantic voice: “Kira! Rocco! Where are you? The entire building is coming down!”

My fingers trembled as I pressed the communication button. “Ventilation shaft… almost to an exit…”

“We see it!” Andy’s relief was palpable even through the static. “There’s a vent on the west side! We’re waiting for you there!”

Rocco looked back at me, his eyes intense. “Last stretch! Stay with me!”

I gritted my teeth and pushed forward. Suddenly, a deafening crack split the air, and the entire shaft began to bend and twist. The scream of warping metal sent ice through my veins. Shit, the whole system was collapsing!

“Hurry!” Rocco shouted, accelerating toward the exit.

I scrambled after him, my heart hammering so hard I could feel it in my throat. He disappeared through an opening flooded with daylight. When I reached it, Rocco was already turning back, arm extended toward me.

Just as my fingers were about to touch his, the shaft gave way beneath me. I felt myself sliding backward and grabbed desperately at the edge of the opening, a scream trapped in my chest.

“Kira!” Rocco lunged forward, seizing my wrist in an iron grip.

With one powerful pull, he yanked me out of the collapsing tunnel. We tumbled onto hard ground, rolling away from danger. Not a second later, the entire ventilation system crashed down in a cloud of dust and debris.

I lay gasping for breath, my pulse racing wildly, fingers still tingling with the residual terror of nearly falling to my death. We made it. We actually made it.

“Thank God!” Andy’s voice broke through my daze as he ran toward us. He dropped to his knees beside me, pulling me into a tight embrace. “I thought we’d lost you!”

I leaned weakly against him. “Jennifer? The others?”

Vanessa approached, her expression guarded. “Most of the team evacuated safely. A few injuries, being treated now.”

Rocco stood, brushing debris from his clothes. “Kim?”

‘We… got her out,” Vanessa said, her voice tightening. “But the situation isn’t stable.”

My stomach knotted. ‘What does that mean? Is Lyra still controlling her?”

They led us to a medical vehicle nearby. As we approached, I heard screaming and struggling from inside. Kim’s body was strapped to a gurney, her face contorting between two distinct expressions–sometimes Lyra’s cold fury, sometimes Kim’s terrified confusion.

“Release me!” Lyra’s voice snarled from Kim’s mouth. Then suddenly, a pleading whimper: “Help me… someone help…-unmistakably Kim’s own voice.

Medical personnel were attempting to administer sedatives, but one doctor explained they feared any drugs might damage the host permanently. I noticed strange neural response patterns on the monitor–two consciousnesses actively fighting for control.

I moved closer to the gurney. “Kim, can you hear me? You helped us stop the disaster. You fought back.”

Lyra’s cold laugh bubbled up. “She can’t hear you. She’s too weak, bound to fail.”

Ignoring Lyra, I continued, “Kim, remember when we were little? Before we were separated?”

Vanessa’s brow furrowed with worry. “Will that hurt her?”

Rocco stepped closer. “Ethan won’t have gone far. He’s lost his main base and research equipment. He’ll seek a backup location.”

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