Chapter 9 - Escape Through the Flames
Thick black smoke filled the small cellar space fast.
The heat from the stairs burned our wet faces.
Clara began coughing violently from the choking chemical fumes.
"There is no way up the stairs, Rachel!"
I looked around the small cellar room frantically now.
In the back corner sat an old iron grate.
It was a storm water drainage pipe leading out.
I ran over, grabbing the rusted iron bars hard.
I used Vance's heavy revolver as a metal lever.
I jammed the barrel between the grate and wall.
I applied all my physical strength to pry bar.
The rusted iron bolts snapped with a loud crack.
The iron grate fell away onto the wet floor.
A dark, narrow concrete pipe stretched out into darkness.
"Get inside the pipe, Clara, hurry!" I.
Clara crawled into the narrow drain pipe on hands.
I climbed in right behind her, pulling grate back.
Explosive flames engulfed the entire cellar behind us today.
The heat blasted against our boots as we crawled.
We crawled through the wet, muddy pipe for fifty yards.
The pipe emptied into the cold ocean water docks.
We plunged into the freezing harbor water with splashes.
The cold ocean water shocked our lungs into gasping.
We swam to the wooden ladder on pier edge.
We pulled ourselves up onto the slippery dock pavement.
Rain washed the black soot from our pale faces.
Clara was shivering violently, but her spirit remained strong.
"We need a vehicle, Rachel!" Clara yelled out.
I sprinted to my parked unmarked police cruiser car.
The engine roared to life as I turned key.
Clara climbed into the front passenger seat fast today.
I slammed my foot down onto the accelerator pedal.
Tires screeched, throwing mud high into night air.
We sped away from the burning warehouse docks fast.
I dialed Nurse Nora's private cell phone line immediately.
The phone rang four times before Nora answered panting.
"Rachel! Detective Miller just entered pediatric floor with!"
"He has a fake federal transfer warrant for Lily!"
"Nora, do not let him near those children!"
"I am three minutes away from the hospital now!"
Nora's panicked voice came back over the speaker line:
"He drew his weapon on hospital security, Rachel!"
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"He is taking Lily and Leo right now!"
📖 Chapter 10 exposes the tactical battle inside the hospital pediatric floor. Don't miss what happens next. 👇
