Chapter 11 - INTO THE DEVIL'S LAIRThe deep-water port of Mombasa was a sprawling labyrinth of rusted shipping containers, giant cranes, and shady cargo ships operating outside international law.
Rain beat down relentlessly on the docks, mirroring the night we had escaped the mountain cabin years ago.
Leo and I stood on the roof of an abandoned warehouse overlooking Pier 4. Below us, surrounded by high-tech security guards and floodlights, was a massive, unmarked cargo vessel named The Leviathan.
Through my binoculars, I saw Kincaid standing on the deck, his arm heavily bandaged, directing a crane that was lifting a heavy steel cage onto the ship.
Inside the cage was our lion. He was awake now, slamming his body against the iron bars, letting out deafening roars that echoed across the stormy harbor.
"They're preparing to set sail," Leo whispered, checking his modified pulse rifle—a high-voltage non-lethal weapon designed for animal containment that we had adapted for defense. "Once that ship hits international waters, we will never see him again. The law can't touch them out there."
"Then we board that ship before it leaves the dock," I said, adjusting my tactical harness.
"Maya, there are at least thirty heavily armed men down there," Leo warned, grabbing my shoulder. "This isn't a mountain hike. This is a suicide mission."
"He saved us three years ago, Leo," I looked him dead in the eye. "He gave up his mother and his freedom so we could live. I am not leaving him in a steel cage."
Leo looked at me for a long moment, then smiled faintly. "You really are crazy. Alright... let's raise some hell."
We dropped down from the warehouse roof using tactical ropes, slipping into the shadow of the stacked shipping containers.
Leo hacked into the dock's main power grid using his portable terminal. Five seconds later:
BZZZZT!
The main floodlights died. The entire harbor was plunged into pitch-black darkness, save for the flickering emergency lights on the ship.
"Shots fired! We lost power!" security guards yelled, their flashlights frantically cutting through the rain.
In the confusion, Leo and I moved like ghosts. We bypassed the perimeter guards, slipped onto the lower deck of The Leviathan, and snuck into the holding bay beneath the main deck.
The air inside the ship was hot and smelled of diesel fuel and iron.
We crept through the narrow metal hallways until we found the central containment room. Sitting in the center of the room was the reinforced steel cage.
Our lion saw me through the bars. His frantic thrashing stopped instantly. He stepped to the front of the cage, pressing his massive wet snout against the steel mesh, letting out a soft, low rumble.
"Hold on, boy," I whispered, rushing over to the electronic keypad on the door. "Leo, break this lock!"
Leo pulled out a circuit bypass tool, plugging it into the keypad. "Give me thirty seconds..."
"I'm afraid you don't have thirty seconds," a cold voice echoed from the doorway behind us.
The heavy steel doors slammed shut, locking us inside the room.
Director Kincaid stepped out from the shadows, flanked by four armed mercenaries pointing rifles at our chests.
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"I knew you'd follow," Kincaid chuckled, clutching his wounded shoulder. "You're so predictable, Maya. And now, you've saved me the trouble of hunting you down."
🔥 FACEBOOK HOOK: Trapped inside a cargo ship with thirty armed men! Director Kincaid sets the ultimate trap... Is there any way out?
