Mark's grip tightened on the wheel. "Hold on tight!" he shouted.
The black sedan in front of them suddenly braked—sharp and deliberate.
The others closed in tighter.
Jordan leaned forward. "Uh, guys? This doesn't look like traffic."
Jessica's breath hitched.
Ethan didn't reply.
He was already watching the mission panel fade into his screen—its timer starting.
'Wait a minute! It has a timer?!' Ethan felt like shouting.
[00:09:58]
Ten minutes. That's all the system was giving them.
Mark spoke with steady calm. "Hold on. We're not getting out of this without a fight."
Jordan felt nervous in the front seat. He looked at the cars surrounding them. "This is straight out of a bad action movie. What do they want?"
Before Mark could answer, Ethan's voice cut through the air. "Jessica, Jordan—get down! Now!"
Both hesitated for a moment, startled by the sharpness of his command. His tone showed urgency, leaving no room for disagreement.
They ducked as low as they could in their seats just as a sharp, deafening crack echoed through the air.
A gunshot.
Jessica let out a stifled gasp, her hand flying to her mouth. Jordan pressed himself lower into the seat, his voice trembling.
"Did they just shoot us?!"
"Yes," Mark said curtly, his focus unwavering. "But this car is built for situations like this."
Ethan turned to him, his expression composed but tense. "How good is the protection?"
Mark spared him a quick glance. "Very. This is one of the top-tier security vehicles from a private agency. Reinforced panels, bullet-resistant glass, and self-sealing tires. We'll hold up, but only for so long."
Another shot rang out, hitting the rear of the car with a sharp thud. The sound echoed through the cabin, but the reinforced frame absorbed the hit. Mark's hands flexed slightly on the wheel, eyes scanning the mirrors.
"They're trying to box us in," he muttered. "If they stop us, we'll have nowhere to go."
Ethan's pulse was pounding. He hadn't expected such a situation this soon. This was real. Dangerous. Life-threatening.
He glanced at Jessica. She looked pale, trembling, but holding it together with clenched fists on her lap.
Jordan, seated in front, was pressed back against the seat, his jaw tight.
But then, Ethan noticed it—Jordan's foot tapping. Not in panic, but in rhythm. His eyes were wide, but not just with fear.
Adrenaline. And maybe something else.
Jordan exhaled a breath and gave a short, nervous laugh. "I can't believe this is happening… This is insane."
Ethan shot him a look.
Jordan met it and smirked faintly. "I mean, we're literally in a shootout car chase. This is the kind of stuff people write books about."
His voice was strained, but a flicker of excitement glinted beneath it.
Mark's voice cut through the tension. "Hold on. I'm going to get us out of this."
Ethan asked, "What are the chances they get worse?"
"High," Mark said bluntly. "They've already started shooting. They won't stop unless we make them."
More shots cracked through the air, striking the tires. The car rocked slightly, but the self-sealing system held.
Mark's jaw tightened. "Hold tight. We're not stopping."
Jordan grinned—shaky, but real. "Damn right, we're not."
The car sped ahead. Mark used all his skills to stay ahead of the black sedans. His experience in high-pressure situations helped him guide the car smoothly along the highway, leaving their pursuers struggling to catch up.
The atmosphere in the car grew heavier as the sedans surrounding them pressed closer, their engines roaring. Mark tightened his grip on the steering wheel. He looked back and forth between the road and the mirrors.
The gunfire stopped for a moment, but it was clear that their pursuers were getting organized again.
Jordan, leaning nervously against the passenger door, broke the tension. "Mark, can we shoot back? I mean… isn't that what you're supposed to do in situations like this?"
Mark's eyes flicked toward him briefly.
"I could," he said calmly, "but it's a bit risky to drive and aim at the same time. My job is to keep us moving and keep everyone safe."
Ethan, sitting in the back, felt a jolt of realization. His Tactical Firearms skill flashed in his mind—a skill he'd unlocked through the system but had yet to truly test. It was time to put it to use.
"Mark," Ethan said firmly, leaning forward, "do you have a firearm I can use?"
Mark's head turned slightly, his surprise evident even in his composed demeanor. "You can handle firearms?"
Ethan nodded, keeping his voice steady. "I've trained. I've learned a lot about protecting myself and my… assets."
He hoped the vague explanation would suffice. There was no way to explain the truth about the system, and he needed Mark to trust him—fast.
Jordan was surprised to hear that. 'Since when did Ethan train in that?' he wondered but he couldn't ask it out loud. He was actually hoping to be given the chance or the role to shoot.
"You're trained in that?" Mark hesitated for a moment, but the determination in Ethan's eyes was enough.
"Well, then, I've no other choice other than to believe you," he added as he reached under his seat.
He pulled out a compact Glock 19 Gen 5 handgun and handed it over. "Use this. It's reliable and easy to handle, even in tight situations."
"How many rounds?" Ethan asked as he took the weapon, his fingers wrapping around it with an unexpected familiarity.
"Modified. 33 rounds," Mark replied.
"Good. That's more than enough."
The moment Ethan's hand touched the firearm, a rush of memories flooded his mind—techniques, stances, experiences, and the precision required to hit a target.
The Tactical Firearms skill activated fully, and Ethan felt his confidence surge.
Jordan, watching from the front seat, raised an eyebrow. "Ethan, you sure you know what you're doing? This isn't exactly target practice."
Ethan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he rolled down the window just enough to provide a clear line of sight. He adjusted his position, his body remembering every detail as though he'd been doing this for years.
"I'll let my actions answer that," Ethan said with a confident smile.
The black sedan on their left surged forward, attempting to close the gap. Ethan aimed quickly, his movements fluid and precise. He fired a single shot, the sound sharp and controlled.
A bullet hit the front tire of the sedan. The car wobbled and then spun out of control, driving off the road.
"Holy—" Jordan's jaw dropped as he stared back at the disabled vehicle. "You actually did it!"
Ethan was too busy to respond. Another black sedan moved closer to the right. Its driver was trying to push them into the guardrail.
"No. You don't," Ethan muttered as he took aim and fired again through the window, hitting the driver in the left shoulder this time.
The impact surprised the driver, making him swerve. This allowed Mark to get past him.
Mark's voice was calm but tinged with admiration. "Nice shot, Ethan. Keep it up."
"Thanks?" Ethan didn't know how to respond but he tried his best to remain focused.
The car behind them, the one on the left, sped up, and the driver tried to hit the back bumper. Ethan jumped to the other window, turned, and shot twice.
Mark was quick with rolling down and up the windows to allow Ethan to shoot despite focusing on the road.
"Thanks!" Ethan shouted.
The first shot missed, but the second shot hit the front tire, causing it to blow out. The black sedan lost control and spun wildly before stopping on the shoulder.
"Another one! Hold on tight!" Mark quickly turned the wheel to the left to get past the sedan.
The other driver tried to shoot, but Mark was too fast. He pushed their car off balance, which gave him just enough room to speed ahead.
The car in front swerved into their lane, blocking their way. Mark reacted quickly—he hit the brakes and turned the wheel sharply to the left.
The car slid but narrowly avoided hitting the sedan. Mark's jaw tightened as he reached for his gun. He held it low, ready to use it if the situation got worse.
As they moved past the car, Mark noticed figures inside through the slightly open window. He stopped for a moment as he recognized them.
Mike sat in the passenger seat, holding a gun in a ready position. His expression remained calm. Taison, driving, gripped the wheel tightly. They looked at Mark with a mix of tension and surprise.
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment, no one moved. The air was filled with a shared understanding. Mark and Mike looked at each other, and an unspoken agreement formed between them.
Both men slowly lowered their weapons.
Taison glanced at Mike, who then shook his head. He eased off the accelerator slightly, giving Mark the opportunity to maneuver past them.
Mark did not hesitate. He pressed down hard on the gas pedal to speed up and create more distance between their car and the sedan.
As the highway stretched out ahead, clear and open once more, Ethan finally lowered the firearm, exhaling deeply. He handed it back to Mark, who took it with a nod of respect.
"Didn't know you had that in you," Mark said, his tone neutral but with a hint of approval.
Ethan smiled faintly, leaning back in his seat. "I've learned to be prepared."
Jessica, still crouched low, slowly sat up, her face pale but steady. "That was… unbelievable."
Jordan turned to look at Ethan, his grin wide despite the lingering tension. "Unbelievable? Try awesome and Ethan, you're a total badass. I didn't know you had it in you!"
Ethan chuckled softly, the adrenaline beginning to ebb. "Neither did I. But it worked."
Mark focused on the road, his expression calm but his voice firm. "We are not safe yet. Stay alert."
Ethan looked in the rearview mirror and nodded. For now, they were safe, but he knew they would face danger again.
Next time, he would be more than ready.
Author's Note:
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