THE HEIRESS VOW - Chapter 95

Chapter 95: Breaking Free
The cold, metallic scent of the enemy stronghold hit Ava’s senses as she crouched behind a stack of crates, her heart pounding in her chest. Liam, his eyes scanning the corridor ahead, motioned for the team to move. The rescue mission had begun in earnest, each second ticking away precious time. The dimly lit labyrinthine interior of the enemy base loomed around them, every shadow a potential threat.

Ava tightened her grip on her weapon, her knuckles white with tension. She could feel the weight of the mission pressing down on her—balancing speed with stealth was crucial. They couldn’t afford to be detected.

“Remember,” Liam whispered, his voice barely audible, “we move as one. No unnecessary noise.”

The team nodded, their expressions a mix of determination and fear. Ava’s eyes met Liam’s briefly, and she saw the same resolve mirrored in his gaze. They had come too far to fail now.

As they approached the first heavily fortified checkpoint, Ava’s stomach churned. The checkpoint was manned by two guards, their rifles slung casually over their shoulders. The team needed to get past without raising an alarm. Liam signaled for everyone to halt, his mind racing for a plan.

“A distraction?” whispered Ava, her voice tinged with doubt.

Liam nodded. “It’s our best bet. Lena, think you can create a diversion?”

Lena, their tech expert, smirked. “Leave it to me.” She pulled out a small device and tossed it down the corridor. Moments later, a loud bang echoed through the hallways, and smoke began to fill the air.

The guards reacted instantly, running toward the source of the noise. Taking advantage of the chaos, the team slipped through the checkpoint, hearts pounding in unison.

As they ventured deeper into the stronghold, the enemy defenses grew more complex. Tripwires, security cameras, and laser grids were everywhere. Each step had to be calculated, each move precise. The labyrinth seemed endless, the twists and turns designed to disorient intruders.

“Stay close,” Liam urged, leading the way. “We can’t afford to split up.”

Ava followed, her mind racing. The fear of being a burden gnawed at her, but her determination to fight back was stronger. They had a new ally to protect, and failure was not an option.

Suddenly, an alarm blared, and red lights flashed throughout the corridor. The stronghold’s alarms had been triggered.

“Move! Move!” Liam shouted, urgency in his voice.

The team sprinted forward, but their path was soon blocked by a squad of heavily armed guards. Gunfire erupted, bullets ricocheting off the walls. Ava ducked behind a pillar, returning fire with calculated precision.

In the midst of the chaos, a figure emerged from the shadows—a high-ranking enemy officer. He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

“I can help you,” he shouted over the din. “I know a way out!”

Distrust flickered in Liam’s eyes. “Why should we believe you?”

The officer, breathing heavily, replied, “Because I want out too. This place… it’s not what it seems. There’s a hidden agenda, and I can prove it.”

Ava glanced at Liam, her heart hammering in her chest. They had no choice but to trust him, at least for now.

“Fine,” Liam said, his voice cold. “But one wrong move, and you’re dead.”

The officer nodded, leading the way through a hidden passage. The team followed, navigating through a maze of corridors and staircases. The sounds of pursuit echoed behind them, but they pressed on, driven by the urgency of their mission.

As they rounded a corner, the officer suddenly stopped, pointing to a door. “In there. It’s a safe room. You’ll find crucial information about your new adversary.”

Ava and Liam exchanged glances. They couldn’t pass up the opportunity for intelligence.

“Hurry,” the officer urged. “We don’t have much time.”

Inside the room, Ava found a cache of documents detailing the enemy’s plans and vulnerabilities. As she scanned the papers, her eyes widened. “Liam, look at this. There’s a hidden faction working against us.”

Liam’s jaw tightened. “We need to get this information back to HQ. It changes everything.”

Before they could react, the door burst open, and guards flooded the room. A fierce firefight ensued, with bullets flying and bodies hitting the floor. The enemy officer fought alongside them, his betrayal aiding their escape.

Ava’s fear of being a burden melted away as she took command, her leadership and resilience shining through. “This way!” she shouted, leading the team through a side exit.

They navigated through the stronghold, but the alarms continued to blare, and more guards joined the chase. The tension was palpable, each second a battle against time.

Finally, they reached an exterior door, their path to freedom. But as they pushed it open, a squad of guards blocked their way, weapons raised.

“Drop your weapons!” one guard barked.

Liam stepped forward, defiance in his eyes. “We’re not going down without a fight.”

The standoff was intense, every muscle in Ava’s body coiled for action. Then, a familiar voice rang out from behind the guards.

“Stand down.”

The guards hesitated, then lowered their weapons. Ava’s eyes widened as she recognized the voice—it was one of their former allies, presumed dead.

“You?” Ava gasped. “How?”

“No time to explain,” the ally said, urgency in his voice. “Follow me. I know a way out.”

Trusting their luck, the team followed, navigating through yet another set of corridors. The ally led them to a hidden exit, and they burst into the open air, the cold night a stark contrast to the suffocating interior.

“We made it,” Ava breathed, her heart pounding with relief.

But their relief was short-lived. As they regrouped outside the stronghold, a sudden explosion rocked the ground, and the enemy officer turned, a look of horror on his face.

“They’ve set off the self-destruct sequence,” he said, panic creeping into his voice. “We need to get far away, now!”

The team sprinted away from the stronghold, the sounds of destruction echoing behind them. They had escaped, but the mission was far from over.