Chapter 7: The Flood
Julian peered through the narrow crack of the heavy door.
Two armed guards stood at the end of the long marble hallway.
They were actively blocking the main entrance to the underground garage.
Julian softly closed the metal door and looked at Elena.
"We cannot just walk past them."
He whispered, frustration evident in his tense jaw.
Elena wiped a streak of grime from her cheek.
"We need a distraction."
She said, looking around the small, empty landing.
Her eyes locked onto a red glass box mounted on the concrete wall.
It was the manual override for the estate's fire suppression system.
"If I pull that lever, the sprinkler system will flood the entire ground floor."
Elena pointed at the small red box.
"The sudden water pressure will also trigger the thermal alarms."
Julian smiled grimly at her quick thinking.
"It will create total chaos in the main hall."
He agreed, stepping aside to give her room.
Elena grabbed her heavy uniform shoe and smashed the protective glass panel.
She ignored the sharp sting of a small glass shard grazing her knuckle.
She grabbed the heavy metal lever and pulled it downward with all her weight.
A loud mechanical clank echoed heavily through the walls.
A second later, a torrential downpour of cold water erupted from the ceiling sprinklers outside.
Muffled shouts of surprise and panic immediately drifted from the grand hallway.
Julian opened the stairwell door just enough to see the resulting chaos.
The two guards were completely soaked and violently cursing.
They abandoned their strict post to check on the sudden flooding in the main ballroom.
"Now is our chance."
Julian said, grabbing Elena's hand once more.
They burst out of the stairwell and sprinted down the flooded marble corridor.
Cold water soaked their clothes and made the polished floor dangerously slick.
They skidded around the final corner and crashed through the heavy double doors of the garage.
The dimly lit garage was filled with rows of expensive luxury vehicles.
They paused to catch their breath in the damp, quiet space.
Before they could move toward a car, a slow, mocking clap echoed from the shadows.
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Marcus stepped out from behind a sleek black sedan.
He held a small, silver pistol firmly in his right hand.
