NERVES OF STEEL

CHAPTER 60- LOVE IN CHAOS

              Clarice waited out of sight for awhile. It wasn't long before she saw Lewis slipping out of the room with three other men. What? Didn't she just see him alone inside? So there were others in there? How come she hadn't seen them? Hiding. Her eyes followed the four as they disappeared into the distance.

            "He's not alone, guys." She informed.
            "How many?" Diane asked.
            "Three more men."
            "What the hell?" It was Nikolai this time. "Don't do anything until we're there with you."
            "They're heading into the east wing. I'm following." Clarice said.
           "Are you even listening?" Nikolai scolded, uncertainty lacing his tone.
          "I don't need baby sitting. I've been on far more dangerous missions. I can do this. I'm moving guys. Don't come over until I figure out what's going on." Clarice said, pulling out her handgun.
           "Stay sharp." Came Russo's voice."

            But just as she turned around the corner they had taken, the empty expanse of secluded rooms loomed before her. Panic flickered briefly across her face. Regaining her composure, she followed blindly. Running past several other corridors and pathways even a number of stairs. Until she gave up.

        "I—I've lost him." She whispered, her tone taut.
        "Shit!" Felix cussed.
        "What the hell do you mean you've lost him?" Russo snapped, impatience growing on him.
         "I mean he's gone. This section might as well be a fucking maze, goddamn it!" She hissed back, her nerves fraying.
         Nikolai's voice broke in, his usual composed edge replaced with concern. "Don't tell me you're also lost."
          She let out a helpless whimper. "I'll find my way."
         "Stay put. I'm coming to get you. The rest of us should split up and try to find Lewis."

           Clarice's hand instinctively gripped firmly on her weapon as she scanned the shadowed hall. Footsteps echoed faintly, growls closer. Her breathing quickened.

           People were coming. Her heart kept thudding in uncertainty as she stood steps backward. Just before the body appeared she could see the shadow on the opposite wall of the corridor holding a rifle. They were more than one.

          In the next minute, the east wing was in chaos. Bullets ricocheted off the stone walls, echoing like thunderclaps through the corridor. She realized these men had to be the guards hired by Lewis for extra protection. She was breathing heavily, dashing for cover behind a column. Her pistol was shaking in her hand but her resolve was iron.

        "Clarice!" Nikolai's voice was distant, almost drowned out by the volley of gunfire.

            She peeked out, spotting a gap in the guards' formation and fired off two quick shots. One of the guards dropped while the others retaliated, a round of bullets fired towards her direction, forcing her to retreat. Her heart pounded as she crouched behind the stone column, her breaths ragged.

            "Shit, I'm pinned!" She growled in frustration.
            "Stay where you are!" Nikolai barked through the line.
             "No, I can't—" She was cut off as another round of bullets sprayed her cover. She gritted her teeth and darted to a nearby alcove, firing a shot behind her as she ran.
           "Damnit, Clarice, where are you?" He muttered, dodging a guard's line of fire. They were also on him now. How many were they? He eliminated the threat with a single shot, his focus entirely on finding her.

            In a moment of misfortune, Clarice realized that she was running low on ammo. She cussed under her breath as she took another shot at an approaching guard. The bullets crashed right through his chest, a painful groan escaping his lips as he fell dead.