Chapter 7 - The Shadow on the Stairs
The silence in the library shattered as the glass window behind Arthur burst inward.
A flash-bang grenade detonated with a deafening CRACK, blinding white light and concussive sound tearing through the room. Vance stumbled backward, cursing wildly as he fired three blind shots into the mahogany desk.
Arthur didn't hesitate. Despite the rising numbness in his limbs, he threw his body across the floor, scooping Lily out of her blanket and shielding her small frame with his coat.
"Stay down, baby," he whispered into her red hair, his breath coming in short, agonizing gasps as the poison began to constrict his lungs.
The library doors burst open from the outside. Tactical officers in black uniforms, bearing the insignia of the State Special Investigations Unit, swarmed into the room, their weapon lights cutting through the lingering smoke.
"DROP THE WEAPON! DROP IT NOW!"
Vance was slammed against the bookshelves, his pistol clattering to the floor as heavy zip-ties were secured around his wrists.
Amidst the chaos, a figure stepped through the doorway—not an officer, but a woman dressed in a dark grey trench coat, her copper-red hair bound tightly at her neck. She held a silver medical case in her left hand.
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It was Dr. Sarah Lin—Eleanor’s former research partner who had vanished into federal protection a year ago.
"Arthur!" Sarah called out, dropping to her knees beside him on the Persian rug. She popped the latches of the medical case, pulling out a pre-filled syringe of amber liquid. "Hold still. This is the atropine-based neural binder. It will neutralize the absorption."
