Page 22 of Ravage

But this man is not Alexander Dale. He's nothing but a pathetic guard with an ego complex.

"I think you're forgetting that I'm the one with the gun," he snarls.

"True," I shrug lazily, looking away for a split second.

My blasé attitude throws them off guard. He doesn't see it coming when I suddenly swing back, launching my knife with force and power at his head. It spins through the air, blade embedding into his throat.

Gasping, he drops the gun with a loud clunk, hands clawing at the blade lodged in his neck. I rush forward, kicking the gun backwards toward Avery as I rip my knife from his throat, wasting no time in slashing it across the front of his neck.

Blood spurts out all over my black hoodie, my hand casually pushing him to the side as he stumbles and falls to the ground. Lifting my foot, I connect it with the stomach of one of the other guards and he flies into the cement wall behind them while I bring the bloodied blade to the face of his friend.

"What's it going to be?" I ask, staring down at his gun. It's pointed into my stomach, but I don't think he even realizes, his eyes wide with fear as he stares at my mask.

"I-I…" he stutters, shaking his head.

In my peripheral vision, I spot the other guard trying to get to his feet, hastily fucking around with the hammer on his gun.

Sighing, I turn my attention to him, watching the repugnant excuse of a man stumble pathetically in the face of danger.

"She needs to go back," the young guard in front of me says, unsure, eyes poised on the blade near his face. "We have orders to make sure she stays in the lab."

Suddenly, a loud bang echoes around the corridor, shocking even me. Metal clanks on the ground as I watch the other guard fall face-first, gun scattering away from him.

Amused, I turn around to find Avery staring at him wide-eyed, gun held in her hands.

"I'm not going back," she whispers firmly, gaze finding mine.

"You heard the lady," I say, glancing back at the last guard. "She's not going with you. Consider this your termination."

His eyes widen more before I push the blade forward, impaling his neck with it. I think it's gone all the way through, but I pull it out, wiping the blood off on my sleeve.

Falling to his knees, he clutches the wound on his neck, trying to stop the bleeding. I reach down, collecting his gun, before firing a bullet into his head. It's a quick death, full of mercy—but a statement nonetheless.

The corridor goes quiet, and I turn around, walking toward Avery. She still has the gun pointed, face full of disbelief, so I promptly take it from her hands, pocketing it.

"Good job," I tell her, watching as she stares at me bewildered.

Not waiting for a reply, I step over to the door, making quick work of the security system. When the door opens, I gesture for her to come with me, but she doesn't need to be told twice.

Avery briskly moves into the stairwell, letting out a shaky breath. Together, we ascend the stairs, until we reach the landing. I'm surprised to find the door open when we arrived, a masked figure waiting.

"Leighton," I nod. "I trust Capello is safe and sound."

He gives me a thumbs up, looking over Avery as she steps next to me.

"Vivian? You got Vivian out?" she asks urgently, voice suddenly full of power.

"She's with Jillian," Leighton answers, handing me the key card back. "But I should warn you, Christopher is lurking about."

I pause, shooting him a look of annoyance through the mask. "At this hour?"

"Apparently, the alarm was raised. He came back to check on things. Jemison and the others have kept him away but he's asking questions."

"Of course he is," I grumble, reaching for Avery. "Tell them to keep him away from the rooms. I don't have the energy to deal with him right now. Make sure the others get back safely. Avery, come with me."

Her footsteps match my pace as she lingers close, face visibly more relaxed at being upstairs. "Dr. Smith is here?" she asks wearily.

"Don't worry about him. He won't be coming anywhere near you."

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