The words hit Julius hard, snapping his mind back to the present. The freezing panic in his chest broke. He blinked away the tears and grabbed the edge of the old rug. With a hard tug, he pulled it back, exposing the small handle of the trapdoor hidden in the floorboards.
"I have it!" Julius choked out, coughing as the air grew thicker.
Harrison did not waste a second. He kept his large body positioned over Julius, firing two more shots down the hallway to keep the intruders back.
Anna scrambled over, her face tense. She grabbed the handle with Julius, and together they pulled with all their strength. The old wooden trapdoor swung open, revealing a dark, narrow opening that led straight down.
"Anna, go first!" Harrison ordered, his voice low and commanding.
Anna nodded once, slipping her weapon into her belt as she dropped down.
"Julius, move," Harrison said, his hand pressing firmly against Julius's back.
