Chapter 7 - Vanishing into the Tide
A sudden screech of the barista dropping an iron steam wand created a split-second distraction that broke Victor’s focus. Shen exploited the opening instantly, kicking an overturned wooden chair straight into Victor’s knees before sweeping his arm to gather Elena and Leo into the kitchen exit. The gunshot cracked loud and deafening within the confined café, the bullet shattering the glass door behind them as they tumbled into the cold back alleyway. Saltwater spray hit their faces as sirens began to wail in the near distance.
They sprinted down the rain-slicked service alleys of Circular Quay, weaving through delivery trucks and confused morning commuters. Shen carried Leo effortlessly under one arm while pulling Elena through a maze of sandstone arches toward the ferry terminals. The child did not cry; he clutched Shen’s silk collar with astonishing resolve, watching the chaotic world whip past them. As they slipped through an unmonitored gate onto an idling commuter ferry, Shen spotted three black sedans screeching to a halt along the wharf.
