Chapter 5: The Escape Plan

Hours passed in the suffocating silence of the cell. Adrian's wrists ached from the ropes, and his body felt stiff from sitting on the hard floor. But his mind remained sharp, working tirelessly to piece together a way out of this nightmare.

Then, just as despair began to creep in, his phone buzzed faintly in his pocket. At least, that's what it felt like. Could it be possible? Had Melissa finally responded?

Summoning every ounce of strength, Adrian twisted his body awkwardly until he managed to free the phone from his pocket. It was a miracle it hadn't been confiscated during the earlier scuffle. The screen lit up faintly, displaying a single message:

"I hacked into their system. Security cameras offline for 5 minutes. Find the west exit. Coordinates sent. Hurry."

Melissa. Trustworthy, brilliant Melissa. She'd come through after all.

Adrian's heart leapt with hope. Five minutes wasn't much, but it was enough if he acted quickly. He scanned the room, searching for anything he could use to break free. His eyes landed on a loose bolt sticking out from the base of the chair. Perfect.

Using his teeth and bound hands, he maneuvered the bolt loose and began sawing at the ropes around his wrists. It was slow, painful work, but adrenaline fueled his determination. Finally, the ropes snapped, and he rubbed his raw wrists, wincing at the pain.

The clock was ticking. He grabbed the chair and hurled it against the door with all his strength. The impact reverberated through the corridor, drawing shouts from nearby guards. Adrian braced himself, knowing this was his only chance.

When the door swung open, he lunged forward, catching the first guard off guard with a swift kick to the knee. The second guard reached for his weapon, but Adrian was faster. He snatched the gun from the fallen guard's holster and fired a warning shot into the ceiling.

"Stay back!" he shouted, his voice trembling but resolute.

The guards hesitated, unsure how to react. Seizing the moment, Adrian sprinted down the corridor, following the mental map Melissa had sent him. Alarms blared overhead, red lights flashing as the facility sprang to life.

He ducked into a stairwell, descending two flights before bursting into an underground parking lot. Rows of black sedans lined the space, their engines silent but ready. Adrian jumped into the nearest car, hotwiring it with skills he'd picked up during his years of investigative work.

Tires screeched as he sped toward the exit, narrowly avoiding a group of armed guards rushing to intercept him. Bullets pinged off the rear windshield, but he didn't look back. He floored the accelerator, breaking through the gate and into the night.

For now, he was free. But he knew the fight was far from over.