Chapter 311
The footsteps passed without slowing, and Rain exhaled in relief. She peeked into the hallway, her eyes darting around as she calculated her next move.
Where’s the dock? she thought. The layout of the mansion suggested it was near the back, past the main living areas. Moving quietly, she inched her way down the hall, her injured leg protesting with every step. She gritted her teeth, pushing through the pain.
She reached the main staircase and looked down, spotting two guards stationed at the front door. Of course, Michael wouldn’t make this easy.
Turning back, she scanned the upper floor for another option. A balcony door stood slightly ajar, and a gust of salty sea air hit her face. If she could climb down without being seen, it might be her best chance. She limped toward it.
As she stepped outside, the night air hit her, sharp and cold. The balcony overlooked a garden below, and beyond it, she could just make out the faint glow of lights near what had to be the dock. Her heart leapt with hope. Almost there.
But before she could plan her descent, a low voice startled her.
“Where do you think you’re going p>
Rain whirled around to see one of Michael’s men standing in the doorway, his hand resting on the gun at his hip. Her blood ran cold.
Thinking fast, she feigned exhaustion, leaning heavily against the railing. “I needed some air,” she said weakly, letting the paperweight slip behind her back. “I felt like I was suffocating in there p>
The guard frowned, his suspicion evident. “You’re not supposed to be out here. Let’s go back p>
Rain bit her inner lip. The guard wasn’t particularly big, just about the same height as her. She smiled disarmingly and said, “Alright, Michael will look after me anyway if he wakes up and sees me not with him in bed p>
The guard’s posture relaxed slightly, and his hand eased away from his weapon as he stepped closer. That was all the opportunity Rain needed.
In a flash, she darted forward, her arms locking around his neck in a tight chokehold. The guard’s eyes widened in shock as he tried to struggle, but Rain held firm, using her leverage to press down harder.
The guard flailed, clawing at her arms, but she dug her right knee into the back of his leg, forcing him to collapse to the ground.
His muffled gasps filled the quiet space as Rain tightened her hold, her heart pounding. No room for hesitation. Just finish this.
When his struggles weakened, she carefully lowered him to the floor and checked his pulse. Still alive… just unconscious. She exhaled a shaky breath and quickly searched him for a keycard or weapon.
“Got it,” she muttered, gripping a small access card she found clipped to his belt. Rain straightened, scanning the area. She had to move fast because this small victory wouldn’t last long.
Rain clutched the keycard tightly in her hand. She moved swiftly down the dimly lit hallway, keeping her steps light and her breaths controlled. Her heart thundered in her chest, but she forced herself to focus. One step at a time. Keep moving. Don’t stop.
Swiping the keycard at the first locked door she encountered, she froze as the reader blinked red. Wrong one. She cursed under her breath and kept going, glancing over her shoulder to ensure no one had spotted her yet.
As she reached a stairwell, the sound of Michael’s booming voice echoed through the halls, freezing her in place.
“Find her! NOW!” Michael barked, his tone laced with fury. “She can’t have gone far! Seal the exits… don’t let her get away p>
Rain’s blood ran cold. The sound of footsteps, several of them, pounded in the distance. She couldn’t afford to hesitate. Gritting her teeth, she slipped into the stairwell and started descending, skipping two steps at a time.
The faint hum of voices grew louder as guards combed the floors above. Rain’s pulse raced. She couldn’t let them catch her. Spotting a maintenance door below marked Emergency Exit, she sprinted toward it.
Swiping the card again, she held her breath as the reader beeped green this time, and the door clicked open. Rain slipped through and quietly shut it behind her, emerging into the cool night air.
But she wasn’t safe yet.
The sound of Michael’s voice carried again, now closer. “She’s outside! Find her p>
Rain’s chest tightened as she spotted guards fanning out from the building, flashlights slicing through the darkness. Without missing a beat, she bolted toward the shadows.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she darted through the darkened alley, her footsteps quick and light, but the sound of pursuers closing in on her made every second feel like an eternity.
Her mind raced, calculating every turn, every hidden corner, but the guards were relentless. Flashlights flickered in the distance, searching for her, the faint echo of their calls growing closer.
“Where is she?!” one of the guards shouted.
Rain pushed herself harder, but her strength was fading. She couldn’t outrun them much longer. She stumbled slightly, her left leg throbbing painfully as she tried to push forward.
“Don’t stop running!” she told herself as she continued to move forward, but suddenly, a pair of guards stepped into her path, blocking her way.
Her breath hitched in her throat. There was nowhere to go now. She had hoped to outrun them, but with her injury slowing her down, the odds were stacked against her. The two men sized her up, their expressions unreadable.
“Where do you think you’re going?” one of them sneered, his grip tightening around the baton in his hand.
Rain’s heart raced as she backed up slightly. One of the guards lunged at her, grabbing her arms with a vice-like grip. She swung her body to try and break free, but the other guard quickly moved in, restraining her from behind.
The fight had just gotten harder, but she wasn’t going down without a struggle. “You’re not going anywhere,” the first guard growled, tightening his hold.