Kneeling for a Second Chance Novel

---- Chapter 269 Leo had also removed his bulletproof vest and strapped it onto Tracy. He gave Sebastian a grin and said, "Dr. Grant, we're all going to make it out of here alive. I'm going to propose to Susan. And if we get through this, you need to call your pearl goddess and finally tell her how you feel." Sebastian's lips pressed into a tight line as he stared out into the night. "Let's get out of here now." While Sebastian took Tracy's hand, Leo pushed the cart Lyra was on, the two of them slipping into the shadows.

Just as Sebastian had expected, escaping with a weak, pregnant woman was nearly impossible. The night was unnervingly still, the moonlight harsh and unforgiving, stretching their shadows long across the ground. The second they left the wall's cover, they were nothing but moving targets. The cart's wheels scraped against the pavement, rattling loud enough to echo in the night. Leo cursed under his breath. "Damn thing sounded like a tin can on concrete. Please, God, don't let them hear us." ---- He prayed for mercy, but he received hell instead. They were almost past the checkpoint.

From here, the glow of the hospital lights was already in sight. A gunshot cracked. The gravel at Leo's feet exploded, shards stinging his leg. His face went pale. "They're here!" someone shouted. There was a sharp crack as a bullet tore through the air before landing straight through Sebastian's chest. Sebastian felt a sudden rush of heat spread across his chest. He lowered his head slowly and saw that the fabric of his black shirt was soaked through with blood. "Dr. Grant!" Leo's voice cracked in shock. Tracy's eyes widened in fear. "Mr. Grant..." she whispered.

Since she was little, growing up in the hospital with Susan, Velrian had become her second tongue. As Sebastian crumpled to the ground, his mind blurred. For a moment, he couldn't tell if he was hearing voices or slipping into a hallucination. His gaze was fixed on Tracy. Blood gurgled up from deep in his throat, turning his words raw and broken. "Lenny..." The chill hit him instantly. It spread from his chest outward, seeping into his bones. Leo's panicked face swam into view, and beyond him, ---- Sebastian caught sight of several armored trucks barreling closer. Gunfire cracked.

Shots ripped through the night. "Dr. Grant, hang on! Our people are here -we're gonna make it!" Leo tore open a packet of gauze and pressed it hard against Sebastian's chest, shouting over the chaos. Sebastian's lips moved, barely parting. Leo bent closer, straining to hear. He made out that Sebastian was asking for his phone. Fumbling inside Sebastian's pocket, he pulled out the cell and unlocked it with Sebastian's fingerprint before pressing it into Sebastian's hand. With the last of his strength, Sebastian dialed a number.

For a moment, he almost called Valeria, but he knew the odds of her picking up were slim. Back home, it would be the middle of the afternoon, and she'd still be at work. So, this final call went to Selena instead. Selena's smartwatch was linked to the parent system, where the call would automatically be connected after just two rings. She was in class when the line connected. Sebastian just wanted to hear her voice. "Class, what do you want to be when you grow up?" the teacher asked.

One child answered , ''I want to be a teacher -just like you." ---- "Twant to bea scientist!" "T don't want to do anything. My parents said as long as I stay healthy, that's all that matters." "I don't ever want to grow up." "Selena, what about you?" the teacher called on Selena. "I." Selena stood up, thought for a moment, then said seriously , "I want to be a doctor. A doctor who can save a lot of lives." Sebastian looked up at the night sky. Smoke and gunfire hung in the air, but through all of it, he could still hear Selena's voice. His grip on the phone loosened.

At last, his hand slipped and the phone dropped from his fingers.