The downdraft from the helicopter blades whipped my hair into a frenzy and forced me to squint against the driving rain.

“It's over, Clara!” Eleanor’s voice boomed over the megaphone, amplified and distorted by the electronic speakers.

“Hand over the decryptor drive, and I will let you and the child walk away.”

“She’s lying!” Marcus yelled, pulling me down behind a low brick chimney.

“She can't leave witnesses, especially now that we have the footage of your father.”

I peered around the edge of the chimney, watching the helicopter hover dangerously close to the roof's edge.

The machine gunner had his weapon trained directly on our position.

“You have five seconds before I order them to open fire and tear that chimney to pieces!” Eleanor warned.

I looked at Marcus, his face pale and tight with pain.

I noticed for the first time that his left side was soaked in dark, thick blood.

He had taken a bullet during the firefight in the hallway, and he was losing strength rapidly.

“You need a medic,” I gasped, pressing my hand against his wound.

He grabbed my wrist, his grip surprisingly strong.

“Listen to me, Clara,” he said, his voice a low, raspy whisper.

“I only have one magazine left, and I can't hit a moving chopper with an asNextlt rifle.”

“I'm going to step out and draw their fire.”

“When I do, you run for the emergency fire escape on the north side of the building.”

“No!” I screamed, tears mixing with the rain on my face.

“I am not leaving you behind to die!”

“You have to save Lily!” he barked, his eyes fierce and unyielding.

“That is the only thing that matters.”

He pressed his heavy handgun into my free hand, curling my fingers around the cold metal grip.

“Don't hesitate,” he told me.

Before I could stop him, Marcus stood up from behind the cover of the chimney.

He raised his rifle, aiming directly at the cockpit of the helicopter.

He opened fire, the muzzle flashes illuminating the rain-swept roof.

The helicopter jerked erratically as bullets shattered the reinforced windshield.

The machine gunner immediately returned fire, unleashing a deafening torrent of heavy caliber rounds.

The brick chimney exploded into a cloud of red dust and shrapnel as I grabbed Lily and ran.