Fortunately, Yvonne reacted with lightning speed, pulling Darcy aside to dodge the bullets.


    Darcy screamed in terror, a dark patch spreading across his pants.


    "Dannis, what are you doing?! He''s my brother!" Oscar roared at the man who had just shot at Darcy.


    "This woman is clearly stalling for time! If your useless brother doesn''t die, we all will!" Dannis yelled back. As he raised his arm to shoot again, he caught a glimpse of something outside the window a machine gun set up on the roof of the opposite building.


    "Sniper!" Dannis shouted. He then raised his gun and, with a series of shots, shattered the fluorescent lights, plunging the factory into darkness.


    Even with a sniper outside, they could no longer aim at their targets.


    The factory was pitch ck; you couldn''t see your hand in front of your face. Everyone held their breath, afraid to reveal their position.


    Only Darcy''s wails broke the silence. "Bro, bro, save me!"


    He only managed two cries before Yvonne knocked him unconscious.


    After silencing Darcy, Yvonne immediately moved from her spot, feeling her way through the darkness to hide behind a piece of old machinery.


    She had just taken cover when a volley of gunshots rang out. Dannis had obviously remembered herst position and opened fire. She wondered if Darcy had survived.


    After the gunfire ceased, the sound of a door being broken down followed. The presence of a sniper meant that the police had already located them.


    "To the people inside, you are surrounded! Drop your weapons now!" A police officer''s voice boomed through a megaphone, echoing throughout the factory. However, no one responded.


    Yvonne remained hidden, holding her breath. Finally, she couldn''t stay silent any longer.


    "Sandra, where are you?"


    Even if it meant exposing her position, she had to save Sandra. Otherwise, as Oscar and Dannis''s hostage, Sandra was sure to die.


    "Yvonne, run! Don''t worry about me!" Sandra''s desperate scream pierced the darkness.


    Sandra was smart; she knew her situation was dire. She wouldn''t let die trying to save her, just


    like yvonne had in


    the past


    In the darkness, Sandra made a desperate lunge for Dannis''s gun.


    Dannis''s curses were followed by a series of gunshots.


    "Sandra! Don''t do anything stupid!" Yvonne cried out, running recklessly towards the sound of Sandra''s voice.


    In the darkness, a hand suddenly grabbed her, its grip so strong it felt like it could shatter her bones.


    Yvonne was about to fight back


    when she was pulled into a b


    chest. Another round of


    unfire


    erupted, and the air filled with the


    thick smell of blood.


    Yvonne''s heart trembled violently. She instinctively reached out to touch the man


    holding her and felt a warm, wet stickiness.


    He had been shot, shielding her.


    Yvonne choked back a sob but didn''t dare make any more noise, fearing she would give away their position.


    Bet didn''t speak either. He


    pulled her down to a sitting positio


    him,


    on the floor. She copsed onto her hands searching for his wounds,


    He had been shot twice. One bullet had hit his lung, the other near his heart. She couldn''t tell if it had struck a vital organ.


    Yvonne''s heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vise, the pain making it hard to breathe.


    Just then, Bet took her hand and traced a few letters into her palm: I won''t die.


    Yvonne didn''t speak, but tears streamed down her face,nding on the back of his hand.


    Bet squeezed her hand tighter, his long finger tracing another message in her palm.


    Yvonne''s body trembled slightly. It was their secret code, something only the two of them understood.