Chapter 56 Ultimate Life and Death Escape

I turned around and saw that the entrance to the secret chamber was completely blocked by debris and rubble from the explosion. Our only way out was sealed shut.

"Damn it!" I muttered under my breath. What now? Are we really going to be trapped here?

"Leonard! Where are you guys?" Suddenly, I heard Brian's anxious voice from the other side of the chamber.

"Brian?" I felt a surge of hope and quickly looked in the direction of his voice. There, on the opposite wall, was a ventilation shaft, and Brian was peeking through it.

"We're here!" I shouted back. "Brian, can you get us out of here?"

"I'll try!" Brian disappeared back into the shaft.

"Everyone, stay calm!" I tried to reassure the group. "Brian will find a way to get us out!"

But as the minutes ticked by, Brian didn't return.

The tremors from the explosion grew more intense.

"We can't wait any longer!" I gritted my teeth and turned to Alan. "Alan, take Nightingale and Nancy and get out of here. I'll stay behind and cover you!"

"Mr. Williams, what are you saying?" Alan protested. "We leave together or not at all!"

"No arguments! That's an order!"

"But…" Alan started to say, but I cut him off.

"No buts!" I insisted. "Nightingale is our only hope. We have to ensure her safety!"

Nightingale looked at me, her mouth opening as if to say something, but she remained silent.

"Alan, take her and go!" I urged again. "Now!"

Alan clenched his jaw. This wasn't the time for debate.

He helped Nightingale up and headed towards the ventilation shaft. "Mr. Williams, you better make it out alive!" he said.

"Don't worry, I'm lucky!" I forced a smile. "Now go!"

Alan didn't hesitate any longer. He led Nightingale and Nancy into the shaft.

I watched their figures disappear into the darkness, silently praying for their safety.

Just then, another violent explosion rocked the chamber. The ceiling began to crack, and debris and dust rained down.

I knew my time was running out.

I had to find the bomb on Raymond and stop it from detonating!

Ignoring the pain in my chest, I crawled towards Raymond.

He was unconscious from the earlier blast, lying motionless on the ground.

I felt around his body, searching for the bomb.

Finally, I found a hard object on his chest—a bomb vest made of special materials, covered in explosives and wires.

"Damn lunatic!" I cursed and began trying to disarm the bomb.

But I wasn't a bomb disposal expert. Faced with such a complex device, I had no idea where to start.

Time was slipping away, and sweat beaded on my forehead.

I tried cutting a few wires, but the bomb didn't react. Instead, it emitted an even more piercing alarm.

"What do I do? What do I do?" I was frantic, like an ant on a hot pan, but helpless.

Then, I noticed Raymond's wristwatch—a peculiar-looking watch.

That watch… I suddenly remembered seeing Raymond wearing it in the surveillance footage!

Could it be the bomb's remote control?

I grabbed Raymond's hand and examined the watch closely.

Sure enough, there was a small button on the side. Without hesitation, I pressed it.

The moment I pressed the button, the world seemed to fall silent.

The bomb's alarm stopped, and the tremors in the chamber subsided.

I felt a surge of joy. I had successfully stopped the bomb!

I collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.

But just as I thought it was over, another alarm sounded from Raymond's body.

I was shocked to see a red indicator light flashing on his bomb vest.

"Damn it! What's going on? I thought I had deactivated the bomb!"

"Ha ha." At that moment, Raymond opened his eyes and laughed maniacally. "Did you really think you stopped me? So naive!"

"What do you mean?" I shouted.

"My bomb has more than one remote..." Raymond said smugly. "You only deactivated one."

"What?" I was stunned.

"The Crimson Reaper's plan is unstoppable..."

Raymond's voice grew weaker. "You will all die with me."

With that, he pressed another button on his chest.

"No!!" I screamed in despair, then ran and leaped towards the bathroom.

A deafening explosion followed, and the entire basement collapsed, plunging me into darkness.

I didn't know how long I was out, but I slowly opened my eyes.

I found myself lying in the rubble, surrounded by darkness, with only a few weak beams of light filtering through the cracks.

I coughed violently, spitting out dust and blood.

I struggled to stand but felt utterly drained, unable to muster any strength.

"Is anyone there... help." I called out weakly, my voice barely audible even to myself.

Am I going to die here?

I refused to accept it!

I still had so much to do, so many dreams unfulfilled. I couldn't die here!

I tried to remember the moment before the explosion. What about Raymond? What happened to him?

I turned my head with difficulty, looking around. The area was a wasteland, no sign of anyone. Raymond was likely dead. I had to get out of here.

I used all my strength to crawl towards the exit.

My hands were cut by the rubble, bleeding profusely, but I didn't care.

I didn't know how long I crawled or how far. I only knew I couldn't give up. I had to survive!

Finally, I saw a bright light outside.

With my last bit of strength, I crawled towards the light.

"Help... help." I called out weakly, hoping someone would hear me.

Just as I was about to lose consciousness, I heard hurried footsteps, and a bright light shone on my face.

"Leonard! Leonard!" It was Alan's voice!

"I... I'm here." I said with my last ounce of strength.

"Leonard! Hold on! We're getting you out!"

I felt someone moving the rubble around me, then strong hands pulled me out of the debris.

I was placed on a stretcher and taken to an ambulance.

In the ambulance, I saw Sophia, Alan, Brian, and Nancy, all safe and sound, which filled me with immense relief.

"Leonard, are you okay? Are you hurt?" Sophia held my hand, tears streaming down her face.

"I... I'm okay." I said weakly. "Are you... are you all okay?"

"We're fine, we're all fine." Alan said excitedly. "Thanks to Nightingale, she saved us."

"Nightingale? Where is she?"

"She..." Alan's eyes dimmed. "She was buried in the rubble while covering for us."

"What?" I was stunned.

"We tried our best to rescue her, but the rubble is too vast, and it could collapse again at any moment. We... we couldn't find her."

"No, it can't be." I muttered. "Nightingale can't be dead. She's still alive."

"Leonard, don't get upset," Sophia comforted me. "Nightingale... she's still alive. We'll find her."

"Yes, we have to find her!" I said firmly.

I held Sophia's hand tightly, praying that Nightingale would be safe.

The shadow of the Crimson Reaper loomed over the city like a giant web, and Nightingale's burial felt like a rusty guillotine, hanging by a thread over everyone's heads, ready to bring a bloody judgment at any moment.