Chapter 11 - THE BREACH
The blast wave threw Ethan against the concrete wall, stunning him momentarily.
Dust and thick chemical smoke billowed across the underground operating suite.
Clara threw her body over Tyler's exposed chest, protecting the open wound from flying shrapnel.
Two mercenary soldiers clad in black tactical gear stepped through the breached doorway.
"Target identified. Secure the drive and eliminate witnesses," the lead mercenary ordered coldly.
Ethan recovered instantly, drawing a hidden combat knife from his boot.
He lunged at the nearest guard, driving the blade beneath the mercenary's armor collar.
The guard collapsed, and Ethan seized his assault rifle in a single fluid motion.
Ethan opened fire on the second mercenary, driving him back into the corridor.
"Clara! Close his chest! Now!" Ethan screamed over the chatter of gunfire.
Clara didn't hesitate. She grabbed a surgical stapler and rapidly closed the chest incision.
Tyler let out a sudden, ragged gasp of air as his heart rhythm unexpectedly restarted.
"He's breathing on his own!" Clara cried out in disbelief.
Ethan pulled a heavy emergency crate in front of the door frame to construct temporary cover.
"We can't stay here! They have heavy reinforcements coming down the shaft!"
"Is there another way out of these tunnels?" Clara asked, securing Tyler's bandages.
"The drainage system leads toward the riverbank half a mile away," Ethan said.
"But we'll have to carry him through three feet of water."
Clara grabbed a bag of IV fluids and strapped it to her own shoulder.
May you like
"Then let's move before they blow us to pieces."
