The night exploded into chaos. A blinding flash seared Marcus's vision, followed by a thunderous boom that shook the very ground. Through the ringing in his ears, he heard panicked shouts and the clatter of weapons hitting pavement. The silver net pinning him suddenly went slack as his captors stumbled back.
In that moment of disorientation, a familiar scent cut through the acrid smoke. Marcus saw Samantha appear through the haze, her eyes locked on him. Without hesitation, she pulled on a pair of thick gloves and knelt beside him.
"Hold still," she ordered, her voice tense with concentration.
Marcus gritted his teeth as Samantha quickly began peeling away the silver threads. Each strand that came free left angry red welts on his pale skin, but the relief was immediate. In a matter of seconds, she had removed the entire net, stuffing it into a lead-lined box she'd brought with her.
"Can you move?" Samantha asked, offering her hand.
