The Valkyrie Returns and Slays (Raven)

Chapter 464

Chapter 464 Escape From The Facility

Cassian pressed a small key into Benedict's hand and said quietly, "The exit to the ventilation shaft is locked. You can use this to open it.

"Now listen-remember the route. This place has thirty floors. You'll need to crawl all the way down to the first floor before you can get out.

"If you hit a junction, always go left. That'll take you to a wire gate with a padlock, and then..."

Before sneaking into the lab, Cassian had already hacked into the facility's intranet, pulled the entire blueprint, and memorized every exit.

He now described the precise path through the ducts in full detail.

Benedict nodded and took the key, though his eyes shimmered with worry as he looked back at Cassian. "But what about you? Once they realize I'm not upstairs, they'll come back here."

"I can't fit through the vent," Cassian said, lifting his arm with effort. He ruffled Benedict's soft hair and added with a weak smile, "Only if you make it out can you come back and save me."

As he spoke, he pulled out his phone and handed it over.

He said, "There's no signal within fifteen hundred feet of this facility. Once you're past that range, you can call for help. Dial the first contact-it's a woman named Raven."

"Raven?" Benedict's eyes widened in shock.

Up until now, he'd only suspected Cassian might be his father. But this... this all but confirmed it.

Before he could say more, the sound of rapid footsteps echoed from the hallway.

"Someone's coming. Go, now!" Cassian urged, mustering the last of his strength to push Benedict toward the duct.

shaft, crawling forward a few paces, but couldn't help glancing back. "Wait for me. I'll come

he turned and began crawling as fast as he could

with the stench of decay, and his fingers occasionally brushed against

Benedict pressed forward without flinching, clutching the

the jagged metal, but he didn't slow down. His small

he'd been crawling. His limbs had gone numb when, at last, a faint light appeared in the

It was the exit.

Benedict sped up, using both hands and feet to propel himself toward

he reached a locked

the padlock and

poked his head out of the shaft,

down

voices-sharp and urgent-from just beyond the exit, where the main road ran five

"There! Over there-it's him!"

the kid, Mr. Kuroki," one of the uniformed techs said into

voice crackled coldly through the

he added, "But no guns. I don't

to rest in the facility's

could send the entire operation up

boy had to

the tech

Successfully unlocked!

the group surged

hardened as he saw them

464 Escape

instead of panic, he turned on his heel and bolted in the opposite direction without the