THE HEIRESS VOW - Chapter 94

Chapter 94: The Rescue Plan
The darkened room buzzed with a mix of urgency and tension. A dim light cast long shadows on the walls, flickering over the stern faces of those gathered around the table. A map of the enemy stronghold lay at the center, marked with various notes and symbols.

“Time is running out,” Liam said, his voice steady but strained. “Ava’s execution is set for tomorrow at dawn. We have less than twenty-four hours.”

“Then let’s not waste any more time,” Ethan responded, his jaw clenched. “What’s the plan?”

Liam pointed to a heavily fortified section of the map. “This is where Ava is being held. Security is tight, but we have an advantage—our inside man.” He nodded towards a young soldier, a former enemy now turned ally, standing nervously at the edge of the group.

“Introduce yourself,” Liam prompted.

The soldier stepped forward, his voice shaky. “My name is Marcus. I was stationed at the stronghold until I saw what they were planning. Ava… she doesn’t deserve this. None of the captives do.”

The room fell silent, eyes fixed on Marcus. Finally, Sophia, the team’s strategist, broke the silence. “Alright, Marcus. What can you tell us about the stronghold’s defenses?”

Marcus took a deep breath. “There are patrols every hour, and the guard shifts change at midnight. The main gate is heavily guarded, but there’s a service entrance here,” he pointed to a spot on the map, “that’s less monitored.”

Liam’s eyes narrowed. “What about the surveillance systems?”

“They’re state-of-the-art, but there’s a blind spot near the east wing. If we move quickly, we can exploit it.”

Sophia tapped her chin thoughtfully. “We’ll need a diversion to draw the guards away from Ava’s cell. Something big enough to create chaos but not so large that it puts her in immediate danger.”

Ethan grinned. “Leave that to me. I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve.”

Liam nodded. “Alright, here’s the plan. Ethan, you create the diversion. Sophia and I will breach the east wing and head for Ava’s cell. Marcus, you’ll guide us through the blind spots and help with any unexpected obstacles. Everyone clear?”

A chorus of affirmations followed, but the undercurrent of fear was palpable. They knew the risks. Failure was not an option.

As the team dispersed to gather their gear, Liam caught Marcus by the arm. “Are you sure you’re up for this? Betraying your former comrades… it’s a lot to handle.”

Marcus met Liam’s gaze, his eyes hardening with resolve. “I’m sure. Ava’s been kind to everyone she meets. She saved my sister from an ambush a year ago. I owe her my life.”

Liam clapped him on the shoulder. “Then let’s make sure we save hers.”

Midnight approached with agonizing slowness. The team assembled at the edge of the enemy territory, cloaked in darkness. Ethan crouched near the service entrance, rigging a small explosive device.

“This will give us five minutes of chaos,” he whispered, setting the timer. “Be ready to move.”

The device went off with a muffled bang, followed by a series of alarms. Shouts and the sound of running footsteps echoed through the night as the guards scrambled to respond.

“Go!” Liam hissed, and the team sprinted towards the east wing. Marcus led the way, expertly navigating the maze of corridors. They moved silently, their breaths synchronized, hearts pounding.

They reached Ava’s cell, a heavy door reinforced with steel. Marcus produced a keycard and swiped it, the lock clicking open. Liam and Sophia burst in, finding Ava shackled to the wall, her face pale but determined.

“Liam,” she whispered, relief washing over her features.

“We’re getting you out of here,” he said, his voice tight with emotion. “Hold on.”

As they freed Ava from her restraints, Marcus stood watch at the door. “Hurry,” he urged. “The guards will be back any minute.”

Just as they were about to leave, a shout rang out. “Intruders! Secure the area!”

“Dammit,” Ethan cursed. “We’re out of time.”

Liam grabbed Ava’s hand, pulling her towards the exit. “Run!”

The team raced down the corridor, bullets whizzing past them. They rounded a corner, only to find themselves face-to-face with a squad of enemy soldiers.

“Drop your weapons!” barked the leader.

Before anyone could react, Marcus stepped forward, his hands raised. “Wait! I’m one of you. Let me speak to the commander.”

The leader hesitated, eyes narrowing. “Marcus? You’re supposed to be on patrol. What the hell are you doing here?”

Thinking quickly, Marcus lied, “I saw them sneaking in. I came to warn you.”

Liam’s grip tightened on Ava’s hand, ready to fight their way out if needed. But to his surprise, the leader nodded. “Alright. But if you’re lying, it’s your head.”

Marcus exhaled slowly. “Understood.”

As the soldiers began to lower their weapons, Marcus suddenly drew his concealed blade, taking down the leader in one swift motion. “Run!” he shouted.

Chaos erupted. The team fought their way through the remaining soldiers, pushing forward with sheer determination. They burst through the service entrance, the cool night air hitting their faces like a balm.

But as they reached the extraction point, a chilling realization dawned on them. “Where’s Ethan?” Sophia cried, looking around frantically.

A distant explosion answered her question. Ethan had stayed behind to cover their escape, sacrificing himself to ensure they got out.

“We can’t leave him,” Ava said, her voice trembling.

Liam looked torn, but Marcus spoke up. “We have to. Ethan knew the risks. We need to get you to safety first, then we can come back for him.”

Reluctantly, they agreed, disappearing into the night with heavy hearts.

Back at their safehouse, the atmosphere was somber. They had rescued Ava, but the cost was high. Ethan’s absence was a gaping wound in their morale.

“We need to go back for him,” Ava insisted, her eyes blazing with determination. “He wouldn’t have left me behind.”

Liam nodded. “We will. But we need a new plan. They’ll be expecting us.”

As they began to strategize, Marcus sat quietly in the corner, his mind racing. He had never intended to become a traitor, but fate had led him here. And now, he had a new purpose.

Sophia’s voice cut through his thoughts. “We need someone on the inside again. Someone who knows the layout, the guards’ routines…”

All eyes turned to Marcus. He swallowed hard, nodding slowly. “I’ll do it. I owe you that much.”

Liam clasped his shoulder. “Thank you, Marcus. We couldn’t have done this without you.”

As they finalized their plans, a sense of resolve settled over the group. They had faced the enemy and rescued Ava, but their fight was far from over. With renewed determination, they prepared for the next mission, knowing that the stakes were higher than ever.