Chapter 19: Elara’s Moment
Elias's heart pounded as he yelled, "Hey, dumbass! I thought I was your target!"
The man paused, his head snapping toward Elias. Marcus beneath him gasped for breath, the pressure of the spike lifting slightly. A shot rang out, the bullet slamming into the man's helmet and knocking loose pieces of armor. Blood splattered from the impact, and the man let out a guttural roar.
"I can't hold this anymore!" Dot's voice rang in Elias's mind, her strain palpable. "Do something!"
The man released Marcus and turned his full attention to Elias, crouching low like a predator ready to strike.
Elias tightened his grip on the flashlight, his mind racing. "Okay," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the chaos. "Blind him, sidestep, and take the shot."
As the man lunged, Elias flipped the flashlight to strobe mode, the rapid pulses of light disorienting the attacker. The man faltered mid-stride, crashing into a nearby wall with enough force to crack the concrete. Elias rolled to the side, raising the pistol he'd taken earlier.
"I always thought these were better than plasma rifles," Elias muttered, exhaling sharply before pulling the trigger.
The gunshot echoed through the tunnel, the bullet finding its mark and dropping the man to his knees. For a brief moment, relief washed over Elias. But it was short-lived.
The man's body convulsed, and the armor crumbled away like a discarded shell. From within, his form emerged, bloodied and burned but alive. He moved with startling speed, sweeping Elias's legs out from under him. Elias hit the ground hard, the air forced from his lungs as the man grabbed him by the throat and slammed him back down.
Elias gasped, his vision swimming as the man loomed over him, his grip tightening. "Your shard," the man growled, his voice guttural and raw. "It'll be better in my hands."
Through the haze, Elias saw a blade glinting in the man's other hand. The realization hit him like a freight train. He was out of options.