Chapter 48: Behind Bars.

Royce went through the basement, holding his bleeding arm, and could still hear soldiers looking for him. He winced in pain, feeling very thirsty.

He heard footsteps behind him but saw no one when he looked back. The footsteps ceased. He continued moving forward, holding his bleeding arm and searching for an escape route. Luckily, he found an opening into the villa's sewage pipe.

Just as he entered the pipe, a bullet whizzed past him, narrowly missing and causing damage ahead. He heard a voice mutter, "Missed it," followed by the cocking of a gun. Royce moved quickly through the pipe as heavy gunfire erupted behind him.

Covering his nose from the stench, he pushed forward, trying to move through the sewage. The smell and filth made him gag, but he pressed on, determined to escape. The pipe was dark and slimy, making every step difficult. His body ached, and he felt weak, but he knew he couldn't stop.

After moving and struggling through the slimy, stinking pipe, Royce heard a famili