Chapter 12 - The Leap of Faith
The sudden pitch-black darkness erupted into chaotic shouts as the Vanguard operatives lost their targeting sights and stumbled against their own interlocking shields. Julian moved with lightning speed, scooping Leo into his arms and lunging toward the rusted iron maintenance ladder bolted into the side of the concrete tunnel wall. He hauled himself upward with one arm, using his athletic strength to climb the vertical rungs while keeping the newborn cradled tightly against his chest.
"Dad, I'm scared!" Leo cried out softly as the sound of a stun grenade detonated below them, filling the tunnel with a blinding flash of white light and a deafening concussion wave.
"Hold on tight, Leo! We're almost out!" Julian roared over the ringing in his ears, shoving his shoulder against the heavy steel hatch at the top of the ladder.
The hatch resisted for a second before giving way with a metallic screech, bursting open to reveal the bright, natural light of day streaming down from an alleyway behind the city's central park. Julian scrambled through the opening, tumbling onto the warm asphalt of the alley with Leo and the baby safely tucked against his body, away from the subterranean nightmare.
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As he caught his breath, rolling onto his back against the pavement, a sleek black sedan pulled up silently beside them, and the rear door swung open automatically.
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