Louis remained slumped over. He already knew what kind of conviction these pages read. "Do you want me to read them to you?"
Boss wasn't amused, "Cute, but no. Tell me in your own words."
Louis paused. "I wanted to give Damia, both of us, a better life. Away from here. I thought I could make that happen by helping her escape this." He pushed back against Kent's hand, looking Boss in the eye. "Whatever this is."
Pete delivered a right hook into Louis's abdomen, folding him back over. Louis gasped for air wrapping his arms around his stomach, scattering the letters.
"Raise him back up." Boss' chest rose and fell in longer strides. "Again."
Pete sent a second hook directly into his diaphragm. This time Louis fell to the ground. A small spit of vomit ejected onto the floor, narrowly missing Boss' shoe.
"I was beginning to like you Louis. Even intended to thank you for the honesty. Something this room has been lacking." Boss lingered on the phrase. "A chivalrous motive, but a stupid one. One thing... surely she told you about us, about me. What made you think it was possible?"
Damia leaped up, the hard springs propelling her from the seat. "Boss, please! Stop this. I messed up. It's not Louis' fault. I dragged him into it."
"Yes... Yes you did." Boss stepped toward Damia. His shadow crawling up her legs as he approached. "And this is your fault." He landed in front of her. "You had your chance. Now sit down and wait your turn."
"I know I shouldn't have tried to trick you. This IS all my fault. Louis, I'm so sorry for bringing you into this." She reached up and put her hand on Boss' chest. "Please, stop this."
The curvature of Boss' suit changed shape as he glared down at her hand.
"I was stupid to think there was something better than what you've given me." Her fingers ran down the length of his lapel.
Boss placed his hand on her arm and slowly clamped down on her scratch marks. He tore her arm away, holding it high above her. The underarm seam of his blazer ripped from the strain.
He leaned in, "What gives you the right to lay your hands on me?" She could taste his hot breath.
"Isn't that what you wanted? Me, all to yourself?"
A sharp exhale from Boss' nose breezed across her cheek. "You really are too stupid for your own good, little girl. And you've clearly forgotten your place. Why would I want something I already own?"
Damia couldn't respond. Her arm bending under the pressure of being pulled to her toes. Tears broke the surface, streaming down her face before bursting out and spraying spittle across Boss' face.
Boss, revolted by this, threw her across the room, away from the three men. She crashed into a bookshelf hitting her head. "Disgusting." He pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his face.
Boss' back was turned and the other two were fixated on him. Louis gathered what strength was available. He sprang up on one knee, sending an elbow into Kent's groin before redirecting it into a hook at Pete's groin. Both men dropped to their knees before falling flat to the ground holding themselves. Boss spun around from the commotion, only to catch Louis by the waist mid tackle. Both tumbled over the chairs to the ground.
Louis scrambled to mount Boss. Two dulled smashing sounds cut through the room. The wounds on Louis' hands from fighting with the henchmen reopened. The pain drove his own form of punishment. "Damia! Run!"
Her vision was blurred but she found her feet. Louis remained on top of Boss fighting to subdue him. Maneuvering around the struggling men and toppled furniture, she reached the door. Underestimating the door once again, her grip slipped and causing her to trip and fall to the ground. She climbed back up for a second time and grasped it with both hands. This time she cried out, and pulled at the door as hard as she could. It flung open and she stumble backwards. Freedom.
She took a step towards the opening but felt a tug on the back of her head. Pete was back on his feet and had her by the hair. "You're not going anywhere." He pulled her back into his chest, wrapping one arm around her and slammed the door back shut. She flailed, kicking into the air and screaming. "Kent! Get up and help Boss!"
Damia fought with everything she had against Pete and he was struggling. The residual pain still pierced his body. He turned her, trying to pin her against the desk. She continued to jump, kick, and scream. It was all he could muster just to hold on.
Kent groaned while fighting to stabilize his legs to stand up. Slowly he rose, using a small table against the wall for support. On shaky legs, he moved along the wall watching Boss trying to defend himself against Louis who continued to whale on him. "You son-of-a..."
Before he could finish the thought, both Pete and Damia smashed into Kent crushing him against the wall. She used the desk to kick off of, sending all three crashing to the floor. Damia bit down on Pete's hand forcing him to release her from his clutches.
A small bronze eagle statue that had fallen off the desk lay nearby them. She scrambled on all fours to reach it and spun around, wielding it overhead in both hands. With a wild scream, she bashed them both over the head. "Louis!... Let's go!"
Louis glued himself to Boss. He landed a couple punches to the ribs, winding him. Damia had to grab Louis from behind and pry him away. "Come on! We have to go!"
Damia, once again, faced the door. Her eyes tightened and her back stiffened. This time she ripped it open and the two of them burst across the threshold. Their footsteps echoed through the corridor. "The stairs are this way."
Halfway down, Louis began stumbling. Every breath burned all the way through to his legs. The railing squeaked from supporting his weight. Damia threw one of his arms over her shoulder. "We're almost there. Just a little more."
Damia leaned Louis against the wall next to the lobby level door. He slid down the wall, shirt rolling up, squeezing the sweat out of it. His eyes wandered aimlessly.
"Louis..." Her hands cupped his face. "I need you to stay focused. Rest here for a minute and I'll go check it out. Ok?"
He closed his eyes and bobbed his head.
Her legs ached now too, but she maintained composure. Peeking through the narrow window in the door, they were at the end of a short hallway that branched off the lobby. She couldn't see where they were coming from, but could hear voices on the other side.
She pushed through the door, staying low to the ground and hugging the wall as she moved to the end of the hall. She could see the receptionist behind her computer typing away. There were also three men standing near the exit, having a conversation. She couldn't make out what they were saying.
The elevator directly in front of her facing the lobby dinged. She retreated back into the hallway stumbling along the way. Her legs burned even more intensely causing her to drop to a crawl.
Two more men sprang from the elevator. "Have you guys seen anyone leave here?"
"No. It's been quiet today. What's going on?"
"Somebody beat the hell out of Boss, Pete, and Kent upstairs. Two of you stay here. The rest of us will spread out and search. Make sure no one leaves the building."
Damia was already halfway back in the stairwell, closing the door quietly and locking it. "Louis, we need to get out of here now. They know what happened and they are looking for us."
He centered his good eye on Damia before closing it again. Louis inhaled deep before blowing out the built-up pressure. "Ok... Help me up."
ns216.73.216.175da2
and then Add to home screen.