FAR GONE

Chapter 21

“I promise you, Mia,” I said quickly, my voice was firm.

“we’re not going to die here. I’ll make damn sure of it.”

The words had barely left my mouth when the pipe above groaned. The metal splitting with a CRRRK! before bursting. Water gushed down in a violent torrent, spraying across the walls. Sparks hissed as the current from the wires licked the flood. My heart jumped a seconds, that’s all we had.

Then—CREAK!—the door swung wide.

And there she was. Seraphina. Standing tall in the doorway, her face fierce but her eyes alive with urgency.

“Quickly!” she shouted, stepping in with a hand outstretched. “Give me your hands!”

I grabbed Mia tighter and reached with my free hand. Seraphina’s grip was like iron as she yanked me forward, then reached for Mia and pulled us both through just as the pipe above SNAPPED completely. The room behind us flooded instantly, sparks dancing across the water until the whole floor lit up in a blinding storm of electricity.

We stumbled out into the hallway, coughing. Mia bent forward violently, her body wracked with choking gasps as water dripped down her face.

“Are you both okay?” Seraphina demanded, steadying her by the shoulder.

Before I could answer, Mia’s weak voice broke through between coughs. “Kael—listen—you have to go. Raven’s leaving… he has the container already. If he gets away now, we don’t know when we’ll catch him again.”

Her urgency cut me deeper than the bruises on my body. I looked down at her, torn. “What about you, Mia?”

“I’ll take care of her,” Seraphina cut in sharply, her tone firm as steel.

I hesitated, my jaw clenching. My gut screamed not to leave her behind. “Seraphina,” I said, voice low and fierce, “make sure you save her. No matter what.”

Her eyes met mine, unwavering. She gave a sharp nod. “That won’t be a problem.”

Mia gripped my arm weakly, whispering, “Go, Kael. Please.”

I forced myself to release her, my fists tightening. Then I ran.

The hall blurred as I tore through it, bursting out toward the main gate where Raven’s convoy was already moving. Guards stepped into my path, guns rising. Too slow. My fist cracked into the first man’s jaw, dropping him instantly. A swift kick crushed another against the wall, his weapon clattering to the floor. Two more lunged—I snapped an elbow into one’s temple and spun the other over my shoulder. They fell like ragdolls.

No time wasted. I surged forward, breaking through into the open street.

Just ahead, Raven’s car roared toward the gates.

A man had just parked his car and was stepping out, keys dangling casually in his hand. He froze when I stormed toward him.

“Your car,” I barked, panting. “I need it. Lend it to me—just for now.”

The man scoffed, throwing his arms wide. “What the f**k are you talking about, huh? Who the hell—”

I shoved him hard, sending him stumbling aside. “I’ll bring it back,” I growled, sliding behind the wheel. “Count on it.”

“Asshole!” he shouted after me as I revved the engine. “Scratch it and I’ll sue your ghost!”

I didn’t hear the rest. My focus was locked on Raven’s tail lights.

The engine screamed as I shot forward. Raven’s men leaned out of the windows ahead, rifles spitting fire. TAT-TAT-TAT! Bullets tore at the asphalt around me, sparks snapping off the hood. I swerved, jerking the wheel to avoid the stream, tires screeching against the pavement. My heart pounded like a war drum, the rush of adrenaline sharpening every sense.

Then—silence. The bursts stopped.

They were out.

I gritted my teeth, slammed my foot down, and rammed the rear of their car. CRASH! Metal screamed as one vehicle spun sideways off the road, flipping into a ditch. Another swerved into a pole. Now only Raven’s car remained.

The chase was merciless. The road twisted dangerously, every bend threatening to send us into oblivion. My hands locked on the wheel, muscles tense, eyes burning.

Raven swerved suddenly, taking a side road under construction. I didn’t hesitate—I followed.

Up ahead, orange barricades lined the road. Heavy concrete blocks and steel rods lay scattered where workers had left them.

Raven tried to dodge, but he wasn’t fast enough. His tires screeched as his car smashed full force into a stack of concrete barriers. BAM! The vehicle flipped, metal and glass exploding as it tumbled twice before slamming down on its roof with a thunderous crash.

I skidded to a halt, jumped out, and sprinted toward the wreck.

Raven was half-conscious but still grinning through bloodied lips when I dragged him out, pinning him hard against a broken wall. My forearm crushed his chest, rage burning in my veins.

“Where are the girls?!” I shouted into his face, spit flying. “Where the hell are they?”

He looked up at me through the blood dripping from his mouth… and smiled.

I slammed Raven harder against the wall, rage pouring through every muscle in my body. My voice broke raw as I roared at him.

“Tell me where exactly they kept the girls!” My fist pressed harder into his chest. “Where the hell are they, Raven?!”

But Raven only coughed and chuckled. His teeth glistened red as he lifted his head. His eyes were glimmering with that devil’s arrogance and that made my blood boil.

“Do you think this is the end, Kael?” His voice was cracked but steady.

“No… this is not the end.”

I froze, staring into his dark grin. “What the hell are you talking about?” I barked, tightening my grip. “What’s not the end?!”

Raven’s smile widened. “Clean Seed Operation. You think it’s over? You think what you saw back there is all there is? You have no idea…”

“What the f**k are you talking about?!”

“What do you mean, Raven?!”

He leaned forward. “The girls… you fool. Did you never wonder what they’re really for? What we are using them for?”

My heart slammed against my ribs. “Tell me, you bastard!” I shouted, my voice echoing off the empty construction zone. “Say it! What the hell do you mean?!”

Raven coughed again, smearing blood against his cheek as he tried to laugh. “The Presi—”

CRACK!

The sound split the night like thunder.

Blood sprayed hot against my cheek, warm and sticky. My eyes widened in shock as Raven’s head jerked violently to the side. His body went limp instantly, sliding down the wall before crumpling to the dirt with a heavy thud.

For a breathless moment, the world went silent. Just my ragged breathing, the distant hum of street lamps, and the dripping of blood onto the rubble.

I staggered back. I dove behind the wrecked car. My heart hammering like a war drum. My hands tightened into fists.

Raven lay still, his lifeless eyes staring upward, the grin still etched faintly on his ruined face.

Someone had silenced him.

Someone was watching.

I gritted my teeth, wiping the blood from my face as I crouched low, scanning the shadows.

Who the hell just took the shot?

My ears still rang from the gunshot.

I heard an engine roaring to life.

I snapped my head up, just in time to see headlights cutting through the dark. A black sedan peeled away from the shadows, tires screeching as it tore down the half-paved road.

“Damn it!” I cursed, sprinting out from behind the wreck. My boots pounded the gravel as I chased, lungs burning, but the bastard didn’t slow down. The engine growled louder, the car disappearing into the horizon like a phantom.

I stopped, chest heaving, fists clenched. Whoever pulled the trigger had just vanished into the night.

Turning back, I forced myself to face Raven’s body again. He lay twisted and broken, his smirk forever frozen on his blood-soaked face.

That’s when I heard another engine.

A sleek car rolled to a stop, and the door slammed open. Seraphina rushed out, her eyes landing immediately on the corpse at my feet.

“Kael!” Her voice cracked with alarm as she came closer.

I looked at her, my face cold, voice low. “He’s dead. Again.”

She froze at my tone, but before she could say a word, I cut her off.

“I think I’m missing something,” I muttered, pacing a step before staring straight into her eyes.

Seraphina blinked, confused. “What do you mean by that?”

I advanced, every nerve in me screaming. My hand shot forward, pinning her against the hood of her car. The metal groaned beneath the impact.

“You’re hiding something from me,” I snarled, my face inches from hers. “About the Clean Seed operation. Don’t lie to me, Seraphina. There’s something you’re not telling me.”

Her breath hitched as my forearm pressed across her collarbone, her hands pushing weakly at me. Her chest heaved, her eyes wide, lips parting like she was about to speak—

RING! RING! RING!

The sound of my phone ripped through the tension.

I froze, jaw clenched, then shoved away from her. Seraphina stumbled forward, clutching at her throat, coughing as she dragged in air.

I snatched the phone from my pocket, glancing at the caller ID. My wife.

I pressed it to my ear. “Hello?”

Her voice was faint, trembling, barely holding together. “Kael… you need to come home. Right away. It’s… it’s our son…”

My blood iced over. “What about him?!” I shouted, voice shaking as dread coiled in my gut. “Tell me what’s wrong with our son!”

The drive back felt like an eternity. My pulse hammering with every passing second. By the time I pulled up in front of the house, red-and-blue lights painted the walls, the night alive with murmurs and the sharp click of radios.

Police.

My stomach twisted as I leapt out of the car, pushing past a couple of officers. My eyes landed on Mia standing by the porch, her shoulders trembling, her face streaked with tears.

I rushed to her, grabbing her arms. “What the hell is going on here?” I demanded, my voice louder than I intended.

She looked at me, eyes swollen, lips quivering. For a moment she couldn’t speak, only choked sobs spilling from her throat. Then finally, like a dam breaking, she whispered, “Kael… our son… he—he killed someone.”

Her words struck me like a blade. My vision blurred, the world around me spinning.

“That’s not possible!” I shouted, shaking my head, my voice raw. “No—no, Mia. How the hell could a child, a small child like him, actually hurt anyone?!”

I grabbed her by the shoulders, staring into her eyes as if I could force the truth out of her. “Where is he, Mia? Where’s our son?!”

She only sobbed harder, her body collapsing into my chest, refusing to answer. Frustration and terror tore through me. “Damn it, Mia, tell me what the hell happened! Where is he?!”

A shadow loomed behind us. A uniformed officer stepped forward, his face grim but professional.

“Sir,” he asked, voice firm, “are you the father of the boy?”

I turned on him, breathing hard. “Yes. I’m his father. Now tell me what the hell is going on here!”

Before the officer could respond, a piercing wail cut through the night.

A woman stumbled through the crowd, her face drenched with tears, her hands clawing at the air. She rushed toward us, screaming like a wounded animal.

“Where is he?!” she shrieked, her voice cracking. “Bring him out! Bring out that boy who killed my son!”

Her cries tore through the air. She fell to her knees on the street, pounding the ground with her fists.

I stood frozen, the words echoing in my skull. My son… killed someone.

But how?

And why?