Chapter 26: Escape Through the Inferno

The shaft was narrow and claustrophobic, a tunnel barely wide enough to crawl through. It felt like they were being swallowed by the very earth beneath them. The sounds of the facility rumbling above them only intensified their urgency. Maya could hear the countdown ticking in her mind. The blast would be their last breath if they didn't get out soon.

"Move faster," Alex's voice was low, but his urgency echoed in the tight confines of the vent. They had no idea if there was a safe exit, no idea how far the shaft stretched, but they couldn't afford to hesitate.

Bishop's heavy breathing could be heard behind them, the weight of his injured body slowing him down. Maya pushed forward, the sound of metal scraping against metal the only thing she could focus on as her hands gripped the cold walls of the shaft.

"How much longer?" Ellie's voice cut through the silence.

"About two hundred meters," Maya replied, voice strained as she pushed her body forward, the tunnel stretching on forever. "We'll hit the ventilation system on the other side. It's the quickest route to the main road."

"And if it's locked?" Ellie asked, sounding skeptical.

"Then we fight," Maya replied, her words sharp. She wasn't going to let them die here.

The rumbling above them intensified. She could feel the vibrations under her hands, as if the very structure of the building was shaking apart. Time was running out, and every second felt like an eternity.

Finally, after what felt like forever, the shaft widened slightly, opening into a maintenance tunnel. It was a cramped, dimly lit space, but at least they could stand.

"Thank God," Bishop muttered, wincing as he straightened his back.

"Stay focused," Maya snapped, adrenaline coursing through her veins. "We don't have much time."

Ellie was already checking the door that led out of the maintenance tunnel. She didn't wait for confirmation before she started working on the lock, fingers moving with practiced ease.

"How far are we from the exit?" Alex asked, voice tight with impatience.

"Just a few meters. The last door's right there," Maya said, pointing to a steel door at the far end of the tunnel.

Ellie glanced at it, then back at Maya. "We're about to find out if we're dead or alive."

With one final twist of the lock, the door clicked open.

They rushed through, weapons drawn, hearts pounding. As they emerged into the open air, the facility's towering walls loomed behind them, a ticking bomb waiting to consume everything in its path.

The roar of the explosion hit them before the shockwave did. The ground trembled beneath their feet as the facility erupted in a fireball, sending debris and flames into the sky.

Maya didn't look back. She couldn't afford to.

"Move! Go, go, go!" Alex shouted.

They sprinted toward the waiting vehicles, the sound of fire and destruction all around them. The chaos was deafening, but all Maya could think of was getting them out. They had done it. They had taken down Black Sun. But at what cost?

Bishop reached the vehicle first, slamming open the door. "Let's get the hell out of here before we're turned into ash."

Maya nodded, her heart still racing as she climbed into the backseat. Ellie followed, her eyes scanning the horizon as the rest of the team piled into the vehicle. The last few miles were a blur as they sped down the road, the distant glow of the facility's flames reflecting in the rearview mirror.

The weight of what they had just done was settling over them. They had taken down one of the world's most dangerous organizations. But what had it cost them?

Maya didn't have the answers. But as the vehicle raced into the night, one thing was clear: this fight wasn't over.