Chapter 14
David slowly backed toward the heavy oak doors of the library, keeping his eyes locked on Mr. Vance. "Sarah, get behind me," he whispered, his hand sliding behind his back to grip the heavy brass poker resting beside the fireplace hearth.
Dr. Sterling had just pulled a small silver syringe from his medical case, checking the plunger with clinical precision as he walked toward Toby. "This mild sedative will ensure a calm transition to the east wing facility," the doctor announced smoothly.
"Don't you dare touch him!" Sarah screamed, surging forward with a primal fury that caught everyone off guard. She shoved Dr. Sterling hard against the mahogany desk, sending his medical case crashing to the floor, glass vials shattering against the hardwood in a sharp burst of chemical odor.
Mr. Vance reacted instantly, lunging forward to grab Sarah by the shoulder, but David swung the heavy brass fireplace poker with all his remaining strength, catching Vance squarely across the chest. The operative grunted, stumbling backward against a towering bookshelf. Heavy leather-bound volumes began to rain down from the upper shelves in a chaotic avalanche of paper and dust.
"Run, Toby! Run!" David yelled, grabbing his son by the hand and hauling him toward the grand double doors of the library.
Eleanor stood up from her armchair with surprising speed, her silver dress rustling violently as she pointed a trembling, arthritic finger at them. "Stop them! Do not let them leave this room!"
Mr. Vance recovered instantly, shaking off the blow and lunging across the room just as David threw the library doors open wide. Vance grabbed the back of David’s light blue shirt, ripping the fabric as David spun around and delivered a desperate, hard punch to Vance’s jaw. Vance staggered back against the doorframe, stunned for precious seconds.
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"Go! Go!" David shouted to Sarah, who scooped Toby up into her arms, sprinting out into the grand foyer toward the brightly lit front entrance where the heavy oak doors stood unlocked in the chaos.
They burst out onto the front porch, the cool night air hitting their faces like a splash of cold water. Behind them, alarms began to blare shrilly through the grand halls of Lilywood Manor, flashing crimson emergency lights casting eerie shadows across the manicured lawn.
