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A/N - I highly recommend that you press play on the video above and let the music run throughout this chapter! :)
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Your heart pounded in your chest, matching the thundering footsteps of the guards that pursued you through the labyrinthine halls of the building. Panic gripped you, but determination fuelled your every step. You darted through corridors and raced up staircases, your mind racing to find an escape route amidst the chaos.
Bullets whizzed past you, their deadly intent evident in the deafening cracks that filled the air. You returned fire, your shots echoing through the building as you fought to create a path for yourself. Your training and instincts kicked in, allowing you to move with speed and precision, narrowly evading capture at every turn.
The building was in complete lockdown, its occupants trapped like rats in a cage. The manager, a sinister figurehead, prowled the halls with a twisted desire to recapture you and subdue your rebellion. But you would not go down without a fight. You were determined to dismantle the Menagerie, to free its victims from a lifetime of torment.
As you rounded a corner, breathless and heart pounding, you collided with the triplets, your trusted allies in this treacherous game. The four of you shared a brief but significant moment of understanding, and you wasted no time in issuing your command. Your voice, laced with urgency and determination, rang out in the tense atmosphere.
"Make sure every single person in this establishment evacuates this place in the next ten minutes," you instructed, your gaze firm and unwavering. "Not a single person should remain in this building...except maybe the manager and his little pet. I want to deal with them in my own way."
The triplets nodded in unison, their resolve mirrored in their eyes. They darted off, their steps purposeful as they worked to rally the trapped souls and lead them to safety. You watched them go, a flicker of hope igniting within you. The weight of responsibility settled heavily on your shoulders, but you knew you had to press on.
As you continued your desperate flight, the sound of a child's cries pierced through the chaos. Your heart ached at the sound, and you followed it without hesitation. In a shadowed corner, you discovered a young girl, appearing no older than the age of nine, her tear-streaked face a testament to her fear and despair. The sight struck you to your core, a painful reminder of your own haunted past.
Without a moment's hesitation, you scooped the child into your arms, shielding her from the dangers that lurked around every corner. You pressed forward, your steps quick and calculated, determination etched into your every movement. Tasers crackled and bullets whizzed by, but you skilfully managed to defy the odds, weaving through the chaos with the child held tightly against your chest.
