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.

paces, but couldn't help glancing back. "Wait for me. I'll come back

turned and began crawling as fast as he could toward the exit-he

air inside the ducts was thick with the stench of decay, and his fingers occasionally brushed against

Benedict pressed forward without flinching, clutching

and bleeding from scraping against the jagged metal,

didn't know how long he'd been crawling. His limbs had gone numb when, at

It was the exit.

up, using both hands and feet to propel

reached a

slipped the key into the padlock and clicked

as he poked his head out of the shaft, a rush of

beamed down

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

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

Mr. Kuroki," one of the uniformed techs

through the device.

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

rest in the

send the entire operation

boy had to

sir, the tech responded

Successfully unlocked!

word, the group surged toward

boy's expression hardened as he saw them

464 Escape

heel and bolted in the opposite direction