"No." I plead, trying to pull her towards me with all the strength I have. She looks at me in fear, alarm in her eyes as she tries to fight her way over to me. The man grabs onto her ankle, and we end up in some sick tug-of-war where some man tries to pull her towards a sex trafficking ring, and I try to pull her to safety.
I hear another buzz as something flies past me, and I realize it's a bullet. I drop down again, and my face slams into the ground. My already damaged nose protests in pain and I can feel blood start to drip down my face.
I hear another gun fire, this shot closer to me than the others. The man holding onto Daniella flies back, his back falling onto the stairs. He lets out a grunt, groaning and cursing before he gets up again, this time crawling towards Daniella. He clutches his shoulder with his hand, and the red seeping around his shirt makes me realize he's been shot.
When another bullet flies past him, he drops Daniella's ankle. "Fuck it." He puts his hands up in surrender moments before dropping down into the tunnel.
Oh my God, he's running.
I look behind me, wondering why the man who's been holding me hasn't pulled me down yet. My eyes widen when I see his eyeball blown right out of his head. His socket oozes blood, and I watch as it flows down the side of his face in slow rivers.
"Daniella." I whisper. "Daniella, we have to go. Now." I urge.
She looks around, fear keeping her in place. I snap my fingers in her face. "Let's go." I say again. I'm not leaving her behind, but we only have minutes, if that, before we're found and hauled down into that tunnel.
She nods, getting up on her knees to stand when another shot rings out. This one coming from the tunnel. She falls back onto her stomach again and starts crying.
"Daniella, come on! Please!" My eyes burn in terror. I can't leave her behind. I can't. I start pulling her, and she finally snaps out of her trance as she gets up.
Then I feel an arm wrap around my neck.
Daniella lets out a worried squeak as she looks at me with wide eyes. Ice cold drips of anxiety takes hold and I lose my breath.
Hot breath falls down my neck. "Shh, it's just me." The familiar whisper makes me snap my head around. My jaw falls open and tears spring to my eyes. "Easton. Oh my God. Thank God." I want to fall into his arms but fear still has me cautious.
"We have to move. Let's go." He nods his head off into the distance, and I turn to Daniella. "Come on. This is my friend; we can trust him."
She nods, getting up to stand. I reach out, grabbing onto her hand to break out into a sprint. When I'm met with resistance, I turn around. The creepy guy with the gun to my head now has Daniella in his grip. Instead of a gun, a knife is pressed up against her throat.
"No." I cry out.
Easton whips his gun up, pointing it straight at the man's head. "Let her go." He growls.
"Ye fucking gringo." He spits at his feet. "You will not get away with this."
"Let her go, or I'll blow this bullet right through your fucking skull."
He laughs the most sadistic laugh I've ever heard, his yellow teeth shining in the night. "I take both putas, and maybe you live."
Easton is the one to laugh this time. "I have about twenty men with their guns aimed right at your head. One sign from me and that breath'll be your last. I suggest you let go of the girl, and maybe I'll let you live." Easton reaches down and grabs my hand, squeezing almost painfully. I know he would never in a million years let this man walk away if it were up to him.
The man's arrogant look finally fades, just a little. Fear trickles into his gaze as he looks around, as if looking for the guns pointed at him.
"I give you five seconds before I let my men put dozens of bullets in your head."
The man narrows his eyes, and Easton readjusts his grip on the gun.
"Five."
I look at Daniella, letting her know it's going to be okay.
"Four."
The man tightens his grip around Daniella, and I watch her eyes widen.