Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Survival mode.
Daniel quickly ducked as the deadly weapon slashed through the air, barely missing his head. One second slower and it would have taken it clean off.
Matteo, seeing his aim fail, groaned so loudly that it echoed in the steel box of the elevator. He cursed under his breath, rage boiling over.
"You can’t escape from me, Daniel—not after unleashing such nightmares in my life," Matt spat, his eyes glowing with raw bloodlust. He needed to spill blood, and desperately wanted it to be Daniel’s.
While Matt glared at him with malicious hostility, Daniel wasn’t wasting time. His mind was racing, hands clutching tightly to the automatic socket that connected the elevator to the door. Unknown to Matt, they were only seconds from reaching their destination.
"What nightmares are you talking about?" Daniel asked, feigning ignorance. He had almost forgotten about that night—the night he shoved Matt’s mother down the staircase. His brain ransacked memory after memory, trying to figure out why Matt was after him, but he couldn’t piece it together.
"Are you serious right now?" Matt’s anger sharpened like a blade. His grip tightened around the dagger-saw, angling it perfectly so his next strike wouldn’t miss.
"I’m not joking. I can’t remember. We haven’t even spoken yet, so what would I have done?" Daniel shrugged, still clutching the socket.
"You shit hole! That supper we were having—the night my mom was pushed out of the staircase—who did it, moron? Wasn’t it you?" Matt roared, his voice bouncing off the elevator walls like thunder.
Daniel flinched. From where he stood, he could smell Matt’s foul breath, rancid enough to make him gag. He resisted the urge to cover his nose; he couldn’t risk annoying the man further.
"Oh jeez, it stinks. Why don’t people brush these days? And he literally has the money to," Daniel muttered in his head. "Oh mama... okay, let’s get this straight. I killed his mother? How, when?"
Oops. Then it hit him. That night.
"Oh, the motherfucker who lunged at me that night—she’s dead?" Daniel asked, genuinely curious, almost surprised the woman had actually passed away. He hadn’t expected her to go that easily. Was she so weak that one push sent her kicking the bucket?
"Don’t blame my humor, but imagine dying that early," Daniel giggled, as if trying to engage in small talk with his would-be killer.
Matt, however, was trembling with fury. Daniel’s words jabbed at his ego like knives, tearing at what was left of his composure until it shattered completely.
"Arrrrrrgggggghhhh!" he bellowed, the sound beastly enough to make Daniel gasp.
"Don’t yell like that—have manners, boy. Where were we?" Daniel muttered, praying the elevator would reach its floor already. Yes, he was digging his own grave by taunting Matt, but distraction was the only way to survive without becoming minced meat.
"You dare talk after what you did, Daniel!" Matt’s rage had reached its peak, his anger hot enough to boil water.
Daniel stayed sharp. This was the explosion he was waiting for. And sure enough, Matt charged, dagger raised high, speed blinding.
But Daniel had already matched his timing. At the crucial moment, he slammed the socket. The elevator dinged—it had reached its destination.
Daniel darted out of the metal cage with breakneck speed.
Unfortunately for Matt, a squad of guards rushed toward the elevator, hoping to check on the chaos upstairs where the bombs and fire still raged. They bumped straight into him.
In his bloodlust, Matt’s weapon sliced through them instead of Daniel. Two guards fell instantly—their skulls split, eyes gouged, faces torn open like loaves of bread. Blood drenched the floor.
Matt barely noticed. By the time he ripped his dagger free from their corpses and looked around, Daniel was gone. The bastard had used the perfect distraction to vanish.
Panting, Daniel sprinted through the corridor. Relief surged, but quickly faded when he realized the truth. He hadn’t made it outside yet.
"Oh God, don’t tell me I missed the floor," he muttered. The elevator must have gone lower than expected. Two more levels to go.
The ground beneath him trembled violently. The entire penthouse quaked as the bomb rattled its foundations. Any moment now, the whole structure would collapse, crushing everyone inside. If he stayed, it wouldn’t be Matt or Adrian that killed him—it would be the building itself.
He bolted for the staircase. It wasn’t fast, but it was safer. His legs could carry him out, even if it meant burning them out.
That’s when he heard it.
A scream.
A woman’s scream, piercing and raw, echoing down the hall. She cried for help, her voice cracking, desperate—but no one came. Survival had become everyone’s only priority.
Daniel slowed. Something about the voice—it was familiar. Too familiar. Against his better judgment, he peeked.
His heart sank.
It was her. Adrian Valez’s sister. The angel who had shown him kindness when he first entered this cursed penthouse. The only person who hadn’t treated him with suspicion or malice.
And now she was surrounded by six men, all clawing at her, trying to force themselves on her. She fought hard, stronger than she looked, but her fragile body was at its limit.
Daniel froze, torn. Help her—or save himself?
Logic screamed at him to run. Matt was still hunting him. The building was seconds from collapsing. Getting involved would be suicide. He still had revenge to deliver for his parents. He couldn’t die here—not like this.
"Sorry, girl," he whispered under his breath. "I’ve got to put myself first. I’m sure God in heaven will understand."
He turned away and took off.
Meanwhile, Gianna’s screams rattled the collapsing halls. She had screamed until her lungs burned, but no one came.
"Done wasting your breath? No one cares about a dead weight like you. So, sweet thing, let’s have it," sneered one of the men—a grotesque figure with a protruding nose and rabbit-like teeth. His grin was so deformed it nearly made her vomit.
But then, as if fate took pity on her, salvation came from above.
Chunks of ceiling tore loose. The penthouse groaned and cracked, sending slabs of rock crashing down.
The men screamed, their bodies torn apart, severed into pieces as debris crushed them mercilessly. Blood splattered, flesh scattered.
Gianna’s eyes widened in shock. For once, lady luck had chosen her side.