Chapter 8 - Darkness in the Foyer
The sudden blackout swallowed the grand entryway in a suffocating blanket of shadow and flickering headlight beams. The hum of the central heating died instantly, leaving only the sound of heavy rain lashing against the broken stained-glass window.
"What happened to the power?" Viktor growled, his suppressed firearm sweeping blindly through the gloom as he tried to adjust to the sudden lack of light.
"Find the breaker panel!" Madison commanded, her voice sharp and echoing off the marble pillars. "Don't let them move!"
In the pitch-black space near the mahogany pillar, Richard grabbed Leo’s hand, his fingers squeezing tight. "Stay right behind me, Leo. Don't make a sound."
Ethan moved like a ghost through the darkness. Freed from the illumination of the overhead chandeliers, his years of martial arts training took over. He dropped low, sliding silently across the blood-smeared tile until his hand brushed against Viktor’s heavy tactical boot.
Viktor sensed the movement a fraction too late. As he spun around, Ethan lunged upward, slamming his shoulder directly into the operative's midsection. The man grunted, stumbling backward and crashing hard against the white bucket, sending it rolling across the floor with a metallic clatter.
"Over here!" Ethan shouted to the second operative, deliberately giving away his position to create chaos.
Gunshots cracked through the air—suppressed, muffled thuds that punched neat, smoking holes into the high plaster ceiling. Plaster dust rained down like snow.
"Ethan!" Leo cried out in terror from behind the pillar.
"Quiet, Leo! I'm right here!" Ethan yelled back, dodging to the side as a second bullet ricocheted off the marble pillar inches from his head.
By the stairs, Sarah let out a piercing shriek of absolute panic. "Madison, they're going to kill us all! Let's get out of here!"
"Shut up, you fool!" Madison screamed back, her footsteps clicking rapidly against the stairs as she moved toward the upper landing. She flicked on a heavy tactical flashlight attached to her belt, cutting a blinding beam of white light across the dark foyer.
The beam swept past Richard, illuminating his terrified face, before locking directly onto Ethan, who was currently wrestling the firearm away from Viktor on the floor.
"Viktor, shoot him!" Madison yelled, pointing her beam like a spotlight.
Viktor grunted, throwing a heavy elbow that struck Ethan across the jaw, sending the young man tumbling backward onto the Persian rug. The operative scrambled to his knees, raising his weapon with a cold, merciless grin, aiming straight at Ethan’s chest.
Before Viktor could pull the trigger, a loud, heavy click echoed from the top of the stairs, followed by the blinding flash of the emergency generator kicking back to life.
The crystal chandelier above roared back on, flooding the room with brilliant light. Everyone blinked against the sudden glare, freezing in place.
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Standing on the upper landing, leaning heavily against the banister with blood staining her white blouse and pale face, was Elena.
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