Run or Die
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
The sound echoed like a death sentence.
Fast.
Too fast.
Damian didn't hesitate.
He lifted Elara into his arms instantly.
Her body weak.
Barely conscious.
"Hold on to me."
His voice was firm.
Elara's fingers clutched his shirt weakly.
"I can't…"
"You can."
No room for argument.
The timer dropped again.
00:45
Damian turned.
Eyes scanning fast.
Calculating.
The path he came through—
Still filled with triggers.
One wrong move—
Everything ends.
"Of course…"
He muttered under his breath.
Victor wouldn't make it easy.
Another beep.
00:38
Damian moved.
Fast—but precise.
Each step exactly where it should be.
Each movement controlled.
Elara's head rested against his chest.
Her breathing uneven.
"Damian…"
She whispered weakly.
"I'm here."
A tile shifted slightly under his foot—
Click.
The timer jumped.
00:25
Damn.
Damian's jaw tightened.
No more time for perfection.
He changed instantly.
From precision—
To instinct.
He ran.
Triggers went off behind him.
Lights flashing.
Alarms screaming.
The building came alive.
"Stop him!" voices echoed from outside.
Gunshots followed.
Bullets tore through walls.
Shattered glass.
Damian didn't slow down.
His arm bled heavily now.
His breathing rough.
But his grip on Elara—
Unbreakable.
00:15
The exit door came into view.
Blocked.
Men.
Armed.
Waiting.
Damian didn't stop.
He charged straight at them.
Gunshots rang out.
One hit his shoulder.
He didn't flinch.
Another man stepped forward—
Damian dropped him instantly.
Another—
Down.
No hesitation.
No mercy.
00:08
The last man raised his weapon—
Too slow.
Damian slammed him into the wall.
Hard.
The path cleared.
00:05
Damian kicked the door open.
Fresh air hit them instantly.
But no relief.
Because the countdown—
Was almost over.
"Move!" Lucas shouted from outside.
Already running toward them.
Damian didn't stop.
He ran.
Faster than before.
00:03
He dove forward.
Shielding Elara completely beneath him.
00:01
Explosion.
The world behind them erupted.
Fire swallowed the building.
Concrete shattered.
Shockwave tore through the air.
Damian hit the ground hard.
Rolling.
Still holding her.
Silence followed.
Smoke filled the air.
Debris falling slowly.
Lucas rushed to them.
"Boss!"
Damian didn't respond immediately.
His body tense.
Still.
Then—
He moved.
Slowly lifting his head.
"Elara…"
Her eyes fluttered open weakly.
"I'm… here…"
Relief hit him.
Hard.
He pulled her closer.
Holding her tightly.
For a moment—
Just a moment—
The war didn't exist.
Then—
A slow clap echoed behind them.
All three froze.
Damian turned.
And there—
Standing in the distance.
Victor.
Alive.
Untouched.
A faint smile on his lips.
"Impressive…"
A pause.
"But not enough."
Damian's eyes darkened instantly.
Because this—
Wasn't over.
Not even close.
And next time…
One of them wouldn't walk away