Chapter 12 - The Shattered Mirror
A blinding flash of orange light exploded from the row of shipping containers thirty yards away as the localized breaching charges detonated, sending a deafening shockwave sweeping across the pier.
The sudden blast knocked Chloe's security guards off their feet, showering the area in heavy smoke, sparks, and metal debris.
"Sarah, RUN!" Julian roared, grabbing his gun and firing three rapid shots into the smoke to suppress the disoriented guards.
Sarah didn't look back. She clutched Leo to her chest, running with all the strength in her body toward the end of the pier where the dark silhouette of Dr. Evans' boat was idling near the dock ladder.
"Get the girl!" Chloe’s voice shrieked through the smoke.
Sarah heard heavy footsteps pursuing her across the wet wooden planks of the pier. She turned the corner of an industrial crane, her foot slipping on the wet wood, causing her to fall hard onto her knees. She kept her arms wrapped around Leo, taking the brunt of the impact on her shoulder, protecting the baby from the hard surface.
Leo let out a sharp cry of fear.
Before Sarah could scramble back to her feet, Chloe emerged from the smoke, her gun raised, her face twisted into a mask of pure hatred. "End of the line, Sarah."
Sarah looked up into the barrel of the gun, her body trembling, her heart pounding in her ears. But instead of begging, instead of crying, Sarah looked directly into Chloe's unstable eyes and let out a cold, fearless laugh.
"You really think you're getting away with this, Chloe?" Sarah said, her voice steady and lethal. "Look down."
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Chloe blinked, her eyes darting downward for a fraction of a second. Attached to the lapel of Sarah's dress was a tiny, flashing blue light—a live-stream camera broadcasting directly to every major news network in the country.
"Two million people are watching your face right now," Sarah whispered. "Pull the trigger. Show the world who you really are."
