Memories Drifted Like Paper Boats by Zyra Cole 57

 

The air reeked of blood, and the screams and cries echoed endlessly in Edwina’s ears. 

 

Edwina zoned out for a second. The memory of being tossed in a pit by traffickers at age four flashed before her eyes. 

It was just like now, only way worse. 

Piles of corpses were at her feet, flies swarming over rotting flesh and a python curled up, sleeping in the corner. 

She scrambled up with everything she had, desperate to live. Asoon as her hands grabbed the edge, the other kids in the pit started yelling, “Someone’s getting out!” 

Edwina’s head was forced underwater, and she took countless beatings. She was just four years old, but by some miracle, she made it out alive. 

People she once called friends snatched away her last chance at survival. 

That was why she never trusted anyone again. She learned the hard way that the only person she could count on was herself. 

After spacing out for a couple seconds, Edwina’s mind snapped back into focus. 

One of the killers yelled, “Find Randolph, he’s our main target. That woman’s our second priority!” 

To them, Edwina was just another target. With so many of them swarming the place, there was no way she was going to take 

them head–on. 

She blended into the crowd, heading straight for the emergency exit and then toward the elevators. 

Three minutes had already gone by since everything went down, but the elevator was still stuck, packed way past capacity. 

Nobody was willing to step out. The doors wouldn’t close, the alarm kept blaring, and the whole thing just refused to move. 

Adrian and Brian were crammed into the corner, faces pale and gasping for air. 

Adrian spotted Edwina and anxiously waved her over. “Edwina, over here. Hurry up!” 

The elevator was jam–packed. She could get in. Edwina mentally pulled up the hotel’s floor plan, searching for another 

escape route. 

But in the next second, Adrian and Brian burst out of the crowd and threw Edwina into the elevator. 

Edwina was stunned. She didn’t even have time to react. “You guys…” she stammered. 

The rest of the people were furious, starting to complain and curse. 

Adrian and Brian, though clearly nervous, spoke up firmly. “We’re trading ourselves for her. Anyone got a problem with that? Now the elevator can leave!” 

Adrian kept jabbing at the close button like his life depended on it. “Edwina, get out of here!” 

Just then, the emergency door to the stairwell was kicked open, and a swarm of killers rushed in. 

“Adrian, I’m scared,” Brian whimpered, clutching Adrian’s arm for dear life. His chubby face was pale with fear, and his legs were shaking so hard he could barely stand. 

Adrian was just as terrified. He’d never been through anything like this before, and panic was written all over his face. 

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17:42 Thu, Jan 15 GDD 

Chapter 57 

But Edwina was a girl, and they were guys. There was no way they could just stand by and watch her die. 

Besides, she’d helped them out big time, fixed the critical issue with the Luminara satellite, and saved three years of their hard work. That was basically saving their lives. 

They shared a look and instantly knew what had to be done. Edwina needed to get on that elevator. 

With Edwina’s smarts, even if Adrian and Brian didn’t make it out of the hotel, she’d keep the satellite running. 

Adrian said, “Brian, don’t freak out. Whatever goes down, I’m right here with you. 

“Let’s fight these bastards together. Just hang in there. The cops will be here any minute. 

The masked killer sneered as he closed in. “You are overestimating yourselves.” 

Their getaway chopper was already waiting on the rooftop. Once the job was done, they’d regroup on the top floor and take off for another country. They didn’t think they would be caught. 

A spiked bat came crashing down toward Brian, but Adrian threw himself in front, shielding him with his own body. Blood poured down Adrian’s back, torn open by the barbs. 

Brian screamed, “Adrian! Bring it on, you bastards.” 

The next blow was aimed right at Brian. He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for impact, but not for a second did he regret the choice he’d made with Adrian. 

After a few seconds, the pain never hit. Instead, a weird, guttural scream of agony exploded nearby. 

Brian blinked open his eyes and saw Edwina standing right in front of him. 

Her wavy hair tumbled down, and she wore a blue–and–white dress. 

He thought, ‘It is Edwina!‘ 

Just as the elevator doors were about to close, she gave up her shot at getting away and dashed back out. 

If she left, there was no way Adrian and Brian would make it out alive. 

She wanted to live, but she’d never sacrifice someone else just to save herself. 

Edwina snapped the killer’s arm with a swift, ruthless twist. 

Brian shouted, “Edwina, why aren’t you running? Get out of here 

“The elevator… Wait, hold on!” 

The elevator doors sealed shut, the floor numbers started dropping. Brian’s eyes went wide. He’d held it together until now, but suddenly he broke down in tears. 

The other killers surged forward, checking the photo in their hands. “It’s that bitch. Kill her!” 

“Edwina, they’re after you. Get out of here. I’ll hold them off!” Brian shouted. 

Adrian was already passed out on the floor. The four of them spent all their time in the lab. None of them ever bothered with exercise. 

Edwina stood like a stone, unmoving. She turned slowly, her voice steady and cold. 

She said, “Take care of Adrian. No one dies today.” 

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Chapter 37 

With a furious shout, the killers swarmed her, over a dozen bodies rushing in all at once. 

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Edwina grabbed the spiked bat from the fallen killer and swung sideways, smashing it straight into the face of the first guy who lunged at her. 

The barbs punched right into his eye, and the bat was instantly sick with blood. 

The killers froze, stunned. That custom bat had to weigh at least fifty pounds, but Edwina hefted it like it was nothing, and swung it with savage power. 

Only now did they realize that they’d never been up against som ordinary doctor. Edwina had clearly been trained for this kind of fight. 

“Careful. She’s dangerous!” one of the killers yelled. 

Edwina didn’t give them a chance. She took out two guys in a flash. Every swing of that bloody bat kept the crowd at bay. Nobody wanted to be the next target. 

She glanced down at the blood splattered across her dress, a dangerous, mocking smile twisting her lips. 

She sneered, “It’s a shame that this dress is ruined by your worthless blood. 

“Thought you wanted to have some fun? Fine, let’s really play.” 

Edwina wiped the blood from her face, her gaze icy and fierce. Looks like you’re the ones trapped now.” 

She cornered ten international mercenaries. 

It sounded like a joke, but when Edwina said it, nobody dared to laugh. Instead, fear gripped their hearts. They came to kill her, but Edwina only crippled them. 

She smashed faces, left them disfigured, broke legs, and crippled them for good. Once they lost the ability to fight, they were no threat to her. 

They were just writhing in pain, barely hanging on. Soon, fear got the better of the rest of the group. Some tried to make a break for it. 

Brian stared, eyes wide in disbelief. 

‘Is this really Edwina, the girl who was always so quiet in the lab She’s only twenty, right? Damn, this is like watching a real- life superwoman!‘ Brian thought. 

Adrian blinked awake, grimacing from the pain in his back. He caught sight of Edwina and instantly panicked. 

“Brian, go help Edwina. We can’t just stand by and do nothing!” Adrian shouted. 

Before he could finish, Edwina spun around and kicked two guys straight off their feet. 

Bria 

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