At the Los Angeles CTU headquarters, Tony put down the phone, visibly disturbed. He had just informed both the New York and New Jersey CTU offices per Owen's request. But only minutes later, a call from New York CTU brought dreadful news: a massive explosion had occurred in the Lincoln Tunnel where Owen was operating. The blast caused severe collapse, and the status of CTU operative Steve Owen was unknown.
Tony tried calling Owen a dozen times—no signal. He double-checked with both New York and New Jersey teams: the west side of the Lincoln Tunnel had been the site of the blast, and both ends of the tunnel had suffered collapse. Whether this was a terrorist attack remained unconfirmed.
Tony couldn't help from where he was. Even if New Jersey were right next to California, he wouldn't have the jurisdiction to issue orders across state lines.
But someone else did. Tony called Jack Bauer and relayed everything he knew.
"I understand," Jack said calmly. "I'll press New Jersey and New York to prioritize Owen's safety."
But even Jack had no better option beyond coordination and pressure.
…
Inside the collapsed tunnel, the deaths of the two prisoners who had tried to flee through the unstable fissure were now only a footnote. No one cared anymore—they'd been warned, and they chose death.
Phones were still useless, but Owen suddenly remembered that the tunnel should have hardwired emergency phones connected to the control center—probably located at the guard post. He decided to go check.
Meanwhile, Ravon Attal began to regain consciousness. The first thing he saw through the cracked car window were the bright orange jumpsuits of inmates nearby—and then, Beth and Chen Mike.
His body was still reeling from the aftermath of the blast, but when he saw Beth, his instincts kicked in. He reached for his gun—only to find the passenger seat empty. Then he remembered: he had dropped the P30L during the earlier firefight.
He groped along the floor. A moment later, his fingers wrapped around the cold steel grip.
The P30L—a favorite of John Wick—was also Attal's weapon of choice. He'd trained extensively with it, and once he'd gone rogue, it became his signature sidearm.
The CTU agent was nowhere to be seen, but the mission hadn't changed: eliminate Beth Kinney.
Attal got out of the car, staggering slightly, the weapon in hand. With every step, his balance returned.
Beth sat beside Chen Mike, slightly away from the prisoners. Her head was lowered, while Chen kept his gaze locked on the inmates.
He didn't hear footsteps—but he saw the change in their faces. Turning, he spotted a man just meters away.
Chen's muscles tensed. He could fight, but he couldn't outpace a bullet.
Beth sensed it too and looked up—face to face with the killer who had slaughtered her entire security team. The image of her chief bodyguard taking multiple shots to buy her time still haunted her.
Click—
Attal pulled the trigger.
Nothing happened.
A misfire. A dud. Attal immediately tried to chamber a new round—
But Chen Mike was already moving.
Never in his life had Chen felt as powerless as when that gun pointed at him. He was trained to deal with weapons, but this was too close—no time to dodge or disarm.
The jammed gun was a miracle. Chen didn't hesitate. He launched himself like a cannonball.
WHUMP!
The two collided with such force that it echoed in the tunnel. Attal managed to shield his face, but Chen's momentum flattened him.
Years of martial arts training amplified Chen's body into a battering ram. He didn't know the full story—but this man was clearly dangerous. And dangerous enemies had to be stopped.
Attal rolled and sprang back to his feet.
Chen pressed forward, launching a flurry of blows, including a vicious jab aimed at Attal's throat.
Attal blocked it. One exchange was enough to tell him: this guy was no joke. In pure hand-to-hand combat, Chen might even be better.
Both were injured quickly in the skirmish. Neither could gain a clear upper hand.
Then Attal drew a knife from his belt.
Chen stepped back, scanning the surroundings for a weapon. But there was nothing at hand.
Attal slashed twice—Chen's sleeve was torn open. With a blade in play, Chen had to be cautious.
Just then, Owen returned. Seeing the fight, he sprinted up and kicked Attal hard in the back.
Attal stumbled and rolled with the impact, narrowly dodging Owen's follow-up. Now it was a three-way standoff.
RUMMMMMBLE—
A deep tremor shook the ground.
None of them moved—eyes searching the dark.
Then a strange, slithering crack-crack-crack sound came from the walls. The tunnel's tiles started bulging as if something massive was crawling behind them.
The bulge crept along the wall, then spread to the ceiling. Tiles shattered and fell like hail.
Then—CRACK!
The bulge burst open. A thick stream of water, brown with silt, began pouring in.
Fuck.
Owen's heart skipped a beat. This was the nightmare scenario.
The Lincoln Tunnel ran under the Hudson River. The greatest danger? Flooding. River water backflow.
"AHHHH!"
Beth's scream pierced the chaos.
Owen turned—Attal had taken advantage of the distraction and grabbed her again. One arm pinned her, the other held a knife to her throat.
Water continued gushing in. It wouldn't take long to fill the tunnel. But Beth was now facing another kind of death.
"You kill her, you die too," Owen said quickly. "The tunnel's collapsed at both ends—we're trapped. The flood will drown us all."
He hoped Attal hadn't realized the full extent of their situation. "Ask them if you don't believe me."
Attal looked at Chen, then the inmates. They all nodded grimly.
One prisoner snapped, "It's over, man! What the fuck are you doing?! We're gonna DIE—don't you get it?!"
Attal didn't move. But the crowd exploded:
"Fuck this! Someone do something!"
"I can't swim—I'm not dying in here!"
"Where's the rescue team?! Why hasn't anyone come?!"
"No one's coming. We're just fucking inmates—they WANT us dead!"
The floodwaters spread fast, already covering the floor, rising inch by inch. Panic spread faster. The tunnel was becoming a watery tomb.
------------------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get early access to chapters by joining my Patre@n!
Find me at: patre@n*com/Mutter
You can read each novel for $5 or get them all for just $15.
Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256) — $5
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336) — $5
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542) — $5
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924) — $5
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284) — $5
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289) — $5
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316) — $5
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402) — $5
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570) — $5
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660) — $5
Get access to all of them for just $15 on Patre@n!
[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]