ALONG THE WAY

CHAPTER 22

The hallway outside the cell echoed with heavy boots — three, no, four men approaching.

"Stay behind me," bulong ni Venom, raising his silencer. His eyes flicked to her gun. "And if someone comes too close..."

Eiliethyia nodded, her fingers tightening around the weapon. "I won't hesitate."

The first man burst in. Venom shot him before he could even aim. The other three fired back, bullets ricocheting off the metal walls. Sparks danced in the dark.

"Down!" Venom shouted, dragging her behind a stack of crates. Eiliethyia ducked low, her pulse pounding like a war drum.

Then — instinct.

When one of the guards rushed forward, she popped out from the side and fired once. The man dropped instantly. Her hands trembled, but her aim didn't waver.

Venom looked at her — shocked, but proud. "Nice shot."

"Tangina," she muttered, voice shaking.

They moved through the corridors, the air thick with gunpowder and adrenaline. Each step was a risk — one wrong turn and they'd be dead.

Then they reached it — the torture room.

Venom's chest tightened. Steel was there — chained to a chair, bloodied, barely breathing. Razor stood beside him, gun in hand, talking to one of his men.

Without thinking, Venom burst through the door.

"Shit!"

They heard Razor cussed habang mabilis nitong dinukot ang baril na nasa tagiliran saka tinutok sa dalawang mapangahas na pumasok sa silid.

"Venom" pag-ngisi ni Razor nang makilala ang lalaki at mas lalo lamang itong nagpakawala  ng mapaglarong tingin nang mamataan ang kasama nitong babae

"So, nasagip na pala ni Mr. Superhero ang mahal na prinsesa?" sarkastiko nitong komento 

"Kapag binigay mo sakin ng maayos si Sol, palalagpasin kita" direktang pakikipag negosasyon ni Kulas dito dahilan para matawa si Razor

"Hindi ka pa rin nagbabago, Venom, MAYABANG ka pa rin. Kahit alam mo sa sarili mong hindi mo kayang lumabas ng buhay ngayon dito dahil sa bilang namin. At talagang sinama mo pa 'yan? Masyado naman atang mataas ang tingin mo sa sarili mo" 

Napahigpit ang hawak ni Eilie sa hawak niyang baril. 

"Ikaw rin naman, masyado rin naman atang mataas ang tingin mo sa sarili mo ngayon? Bakit? Ah dahil marami kang kasama. Curious nga ako e, kung anong mukha mo kapag mag-isa ka lang ngayon dito. Baka bala ko pa ang wawasak sa utak mo" pag-ngisi din ni Eiliethyia

Mabilis pumula sa galit si Razor dahilan para mabilis nitong nilipat ang tutok ng baril tungo sa dalaga ngunit mabilis din naman itong nabasa ni Venom dahilan para agad niyang niyakap ang dalaga upang mahila payuko. Venom instantly fired back and then shots started.

Chaos exploded. Bullets flew. Razor ducked behind a table, firing back. Eiliethyia scrambled to cover, shooting at the guard nearest to Steel. One bullet grazed her arm, but she bit back the pain.

Venom dove across the floor, slamming into Razor, both of them wrestling for the gun. It slid across the room — landing near Steel's boot.

"Sol!" Venom shouted.

Steel's swollen eye cracked open. With every ounce of strength left, he kicked the gun up, caught it, and fired.

Bang.

The bullet tore through Razor's shoulder. He fell, screaming.

Venom didn't waste a second — he grabbed the fallen chains and snapped the lock open.