Chapter 8 - The Narrow Escape
The metal panels of the garage door dented inward with brutal, rhythmic thuds. Thomas knew they had less than ten seconds before the hinges tore loose. ""Elena, hit the wall switch on the left!"" he shouted while buckling Leo into the rear-facing car seat inside the modified minivan.
""I'm scared, Daddy!"" Leo cried, clutching Thomas's collar with small, desperate fingers.
""Close your eyes, brave boy. Daddy's right here,"" Thomas said gently, his voice remarkably calm despite the absolute chaos. He clicked the chest harness shut, kissed his son's wet cheek, and transferred into the specialized driver's seat. His paralyzed legs were safely secured into the footwells, his hands locking onto the steering wheel hand-controls.
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Elena lunged into the passenger seat just as two men in tactical gear smashed through the side access door. Thomas slammed the vehicle into reverse, stomping the hand-throttle forward with maximum pressure. The heavy minivan roared backward, slamming through the weakened garage door with a violent screech of tearing metal.
The rear bumper collided with a black SUV parked across the driveway, shoving it aside into the hedge. Thomas shifted to drive, spinning the steering wheel with his left palm while gunning the engine. The tires shrieked, biting into the asphalt as suppressed bullets sparked against the reinforced tailgate. Within seconds, they were tearing down the suburban street, leaving the smoking ruins of his sanctuary behind.
