Chapter 40: Ten to Go

Maddie

We moved, stalking the perimeter of the upper level. The emitter hummed softly, a constant, irritating presence, making Miguel's men restless, agitated. Their eyes darted, searching for the source of the high-pitched sound.

"Next," I whispered to Jack, pointing to a patrol moving along the main floor. "We use the mill's own sounds against them."

I found a loose, rusted chain hanging from a beam. With a precise tug, I sent it swinging, hitting a metal pipe with a loud clang. The two Mongols below stiffened, their heads snapping up.

"What was that?" one hissed, his voice rough.

"Just the wind, probably," the other grunted, but his rifle was raised, wary.

"No, wait. I hear something."

They moved towards the sound, their attention diverted. Jack and I dropped from the catwalk, landing silently behind them. Two quick, brutal movements. They fell without a sound.

Six left.

Miguel was growing agitated. I heard his roar. "What in the hell is going on here? Find them! Now!"

"He's losing control," I murmured, a thrill running through me. This was my symphony. This was where I excelled.

"The main entrance guards," Jack said, pointing. "They'll be the next to panic. They'll open the doors, looking for us outside."

"And walk right into our trap," I finished. I found a loose plank near a high window. I lifted it, then let it drop with a deafening crash that echoed through the mill. Below, the main entrance guards startled, their heads snapping towards the sound.

"Did you hear that? Sounded like it came from outside!"

"Check it out!"

They moved towards the main doors, their backs to us. Another two swift, silent takedowns. Four left.

"Now, the close-in guards," I said, my gaze fixed on Miguel. He was alone now, save for his two personal bodyguards, his face a mask of fury and growing fear. "We need to draw them away."

I scanned the mill, my eyes falling on a stack of empty metal barrels near Miguel. A perfect distraction. I found a small, heavy stone, took aim, and threw it with all my strength. It bounced off the barrels with a deafening clatter, echoing through the cavernous space.

Miguel spun, his bodyguards tensing, their weapons snapping up. "What was that?" Miguel roared, his voice trembling slightly. "Find them!"

The two bodyguards broke from Miguel, rushing towards the sound, their attention fragmented. This was our chance.

"Miguel is mine," I said, my voice low and fierce. "The others are yours."

Jack nodded, a grim smile on his face, and melted into the shadows after the bodyguards. I moved, a phantom in the labyrinthine mill, closing the distance to Miguel. He stood alone now, a beast cornered, his eyes darting, searching for the phantom enemy that was decimating his ranks.

I stepped out of the shadows, my pistol raised, aimed directly at his chest. "Miguel."

He whirled, his eyes widening in disbelief, then narrowing with rage. "You! The Dark Rose! You have a death wish, little bitch!"

He lunged, not for a weapon, but for me, a pure, unadulterated beast of muscle and fury. I sidestepped, fluid as water, bringing the butt of my pistol down on his temple. He grunted, stumbled, but didn't fall. He roared, turning, his massive hands reaching for me.

"You're fast, little ghost," he snarled, a trickle of blood already running from his temple. "But not fast enough."

He lunged again, and this time, I let him get closer. Too close. His hands wrapped around my throat, squeezing. Air left my lungs in a rush. Black spots danced before my eyes. I clawed at his hands, but he was too strong.

This was his game. Brutality. Overwhelming force. But I had my own game.

This wasn't the first time a man had my throat in his hands and tried to take what I wasn't willing to give. I drove my knee into his groin. He gasped, his grip loosening for a precious second. I used it. I twisted, breaking free, and then, with all my strength, I shoved him backwards. He stumbled, roaring, off balance. And I had planned for that.

His foot caught on a loose floorboard. He flailed, his arms windmilling, a beast falling into the trap. He went down with a guttural scream, disappearing into the darkness of the open shaft below. The main water chute. Straight into the churning, rusted gears of the mill.

The scream was cut short by a sickening crunch of metal and bone. Then, silence. Blissful silence.

I stood there, gasping for breath, my throat raw, my chest heaving. The metallic smell of the mill, the faint scent of blood, it was all too much. I had done it. Miguel was dead.

Jack appeared at my side, his pistol still hot in his hand. He looked at the gaping maw of the water chute, then at me. His eyes, usually so guarded, held a flicker of something I couldn't quite decipher. Respect. Horror. Maybe both.

"He won't be bothering anyone again," he said, his voice flat. "I guess that's one way for beauty to tame a beast."

I nodded, unable to speak, my throat still burning. My fingers went to my neck, tracing the bruising already forming. Miguel's grip was stronger than I had anticipated. Perhaps demons do exist, and I just sent one back to hell.

"The others?" I rasped.

"Dealt with," he said. "They won't be calling for backup. And their phones are… gone."

I managed a weak smile. He understood. He always did, even if he hated it.

"We need to salvage what we can," I managed. "The Oracle. We need to find that sonic key. And we need to clean this mess before anyone else finds it."

He looked at me, a long, searching gaze. "Still fighting, Maddie?"