Chapter 9 - The Mansion Alarms
The piercing wail of the security klaxon reverberated through the mansion’s thick stone walls, drowning out the tension in the room. Red emergency strobe lights began to flash rhythmically along the ceiling cornices, casting eerie, pulsing shadows across the ruined bedroom.
Robert’s expression shifted from confident amusement to sharp irritation. He glanced toward the hallway window that overlooked the front security gate. "Looks like your little rescue party arrived early, Julian. Too bad they're walking right into the trap."
Julian didn't hesitate. Seizing the moment of Robert's distraction, he lunged across the remaining shards of glass, driving his shoulder straight into Robert’s chest. The two brothers crashed hard against the bedroom wall, the impact rattling the framed portraits of their ancestors. Robert grunted, swinging a heavy elbow that clipped Julian’s jaw, but Julian refused to let go, pinning his brother’s arms against his sides.
"Dr. Harris! Clara! Get to the security terminal in the study!" Julian yelled over the deafening scream of the alarm.
Dr. Harris grabbed Clara by the arm, pulling her toward the hidden stone stairwell they had uncovered moments earlier. "Move! Now!" he shouted, plunging down into the darkness with the terrified maid close behind him.
Robert sneered beneath Julian’s grip, his eyes flashing with malice. "You think stopping me changes anything? The poison on the cake was just a demonstration, Julian. The real delivery is already happening in the main vault."
Julian pressed his forearm harder against Robert’s throat, cutting off the taunting words. "Where is my son?" he growled, his face inches from his brother's.
"Find him... if you can," Robert choked out, before suddenly deploying a hidden taser concealed in his palm. A sharp jolt of high-voltage electricity surged through Julian’s arm, forcing him to scream and stumble backward, collapsing hard onto the floor as his muscles locked in agonizing spasms.
May you like
By the time Julian’s vision cleared and his motor control returned a few seconds later, Robert was gone, vanished down the grand staircase amidst the flashing red emergency lights.
---
