Knowing he was finally going to meet the legends in person sent Julian''s heart racing!
"Julian, if I make it out of here alive tonight, I hope we can stand shoulder to shoulder in court and testify against Chad and Alexia for the atrocities they''vemitted here."
The corners of Hans''s lips lifted higher, the smile more genuine than thest. In all their time at theb, Julian had never once seen him smile. Only now did he realize how strikingly handsome and untainted that smile actually was. "But if I die here tonight, I need you to demand justice from them for my sake too.
Can you do that?"
Julian fought back a sob. "Hans, if you want me to promise you that... then you have to promise me you''ll survive!"
Whizz-!
The sharp, deadly hiss of a bullet cut through the air, streaking straight toward them!
"Watch out!"
Hans reacted with lightning speed, shoving Julian hard to the side. "They''re here! Run! If you don''t go now, we both die!"
Julian gritted his teeth, tightened his grip on Elsie, and sprinted down the mountain trail with every ounce of strength he had left.
The veins pulsed at Hans''s temples. He threw himself behind the thick trunk of a massive tree as bullets tore into the dirt right where he''d been standing just a
second ago.
Soon after, several guards in tactical gear advanced slowly, their assault rifles raised. High-powered shlights swept frantically across the tree line, slicing through the darkness just inches from Hans''s head.
In a split second, Hans leaned out from his cover. His gaze was as sharp as a predatory eagle''s, hisposure terrifyingly absolute.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three consecutive shots. Three guards dropped to the ground!
"He''s over there! Fire at that tree!"
Hans was an elite marksman, but he only had a handgun. The squad opposing him had automatic weapons, and they unleashed a relentless hail of gunfire!
The suppressing fire was so intense he couldn''t even poke his head out. But the moment there was a fractional pause in the barrage, he returned fire, neutralizing three more men!
However, the facility housed over a hundred mercenaries, and their armory was fully stocked.
Even if he fought with the ferocity of a cornered lion, he couldn''t fight off an entire pack of bloodthirsty hyenas.
Death was inevitable; it was only a matter of time.
"Ugh!"
A stray bullet tore cleanly through Hans''s left shoulder. Blood instantly soaked his jacket!
Hans leaned heavily against the tree, his breathing ragged, his hair stered to his forehead with sweat. The arm gripping his pistol trembled violently.
Julian should have sessfully made it down the mountain and regrouped with Thaddeus by now.
Truth be told, Hans had never nned on walking away from this mountain alive.
From the moment he partnered with Chad and stepped foot into The Genesis Lab, he had epted his fate.
He always knew this ce would be his graveyard.
"Thaddeus... Aaron... Evadne..."
Hans closed his eyes, his pale lips whispering the names that were etched into his very soul. A serene smile touched his face. "It seems, wasn t fated to stand beside your in this life.
If there is a next life.
I want to be your family. Real family, bound by blood.
If there is a next life...
Just as Hans gripped his gun, ready to charge out and take as many of them down with him as possible, a massive, howling wind ripped through the forest canopy!
A deafening roar erupted from
directly above him. The
overwhelming downdraft was so powerful the advagong guards were forced backward, shielding their
eyes from the debris.
Standing amid the roaring gale, Hans forced his head up, staring at the helicopter
hovering against the night sky.
In the next second, the hopeless
darkness in his eyes was ignited by
a brilliant spark. Reflected
in his
trembling pupils were Thaddeus. s striking, unmistakable eyes