Forty-five minutes left. Finn thought he'd head to the cellar early. He opened his door to find one of his grandfather's bodyguards standing there. The guard, in his 30s, was armed with a pistol in a holster on one side and a baton in the other. His posture was professional, his eyes scanning the hallway before he greeted Finn respectfully.
"Your grandfather is gathering the family. Come with me," the guard said.
Finn thought about it for a moment. "Sure, but I need to go to the bathroom. I'll meet you there."
The guard stood his ground. "I'll wait here," he replied, leaving no room for negotiation.
Finn's mind raced. Something was off. His grandfather hadn't cared about him in years, but now, with the conspiracy theory floating in his mind, about his grandfather needing descendents, it felt uncomfortably real and hostile. He needed to be cautious and get away.
Finn went into his private bathroom, his heart pounding. His room was on the second floor, and there was no escape route. He splashed water on his face, trying to think clearly. As he looked around, his eyes landed on a first aid kit under the sink. He opened it and found a pair of hair scissors with a very sharp point. Eddy's training echoed in his mind, urging him to use whatever he had at his disposal.
He gripped the scissors tightly, his heart racing. He knew he had only one or two moves before the guard could overpower him. Steeling himself, he stepped out of the bathroom. The guard was still there, waiting for him.
Finn sighed, his mind replaying the thousands of strikes and maneuvers he had practiced over the years. This was it. He would have to use what Eddy had taught him.
Flashback
Finn found himself cornered by Eddy during one of their intense training sessions. The setting was a dimly lit room, simulating a real-life scenario. Eddy had Finn pinned against the wall, demonstrating how to break free from an assailant's grasp.
"Listen carefully, Finn. When you're outmatched, you have to use their strength against them," Eddy instructed. "There's a technique that's deadly if executed correctly. You need to hit them at their weakest points with precision and force."
Eddy showed Finn the pressure points on the body—the throat, the temple, the groin—and how to strike them effectively. "This is not for play. If you ever use this, it's because you have no other choice."
Eddy also taught Finn to turn everyday items into weapons. "For example a pair of scissors can be just as lethal as a knife if used correctly," Eddy had said. "It's all about how you use it."
Finn practiced the move repeatedly until it became muscle memory. Day in and day out, thousands of strikes and maneuvers were drilled into him. The repetition was brutal, but it made the techniques second nature. Eddy's voice echoed in his mind, guiding each motion, correcting each mistake.
Present
The guard stood by the door, waiting. Finn knew he had to act quickly and decisively. As he approached the guard, Finn feigned a stumble, drawing the guard's attention. The guard reached out instinctively to steady him. That's when Finn struck.
With a swift, calculated motion, Finn drove the sharp point of the hair scissors into the guard's throat, aiming for a critical spot. The guard's eyes widened in shock as he stumbled backward, trying to stop the blood flow. Blood sprayed onto Finn as the guard fell back, clutching his throat in a futile attempt to staunch the flow.
The initial strike was devastating. The guard collapsed to the floor, his hands desperately trying to hold back the torrent of blood. Finn watched, breathing heavily, as the guard quickly bled out. The realization of what he had done hit him hard, leaving him momentarily in shock. Years of training, thousands of strikes and maneuvers, had culminated in this brutal, necessary act of survival.
Finn stood over the body, the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. He felt a mix of triumph and revulsion, the gravity of his actions settling in. But there was no time to dwell on it. He had to move.
Finn quickly checked the guard for anything useful, finding a set of keys and a small radio. He took the pistol and baton, securing them on himself. Stepping over the body, he moved silently down the hallway. As he made his way towards the wine cellar, he realized he needed to check on his siblings. They might be in trouble too.
He ran through the corridors, his mind racing with worry. He found Amelia arguing with another guard, her voice firm and unwavering.
"I just need to finish this chapter," she was saying, clearly exasperating the guard who was visibly at the end of his patience.
Finn knew he had to act quickly. He had spent tens of hours training with Eddy on how to use a baton, and hundreds more practicing alone. He had the skills, now he needed the courage.
He carefully approached, using the element of surprise, a gunshot might draw other guards. The guard was so focused on Amelia that he didn't notice Finn until it was too late. Finn swung the baton hard at the guard's knee, hitting just the right spot. There was a sickening crunch as the guard's knee gave way, causing him to collapse. As the guard fell, Finn put all his momentum into a final swing that connected with the guard's temple, producing a loud crack. The guard fell over, unconscious or worse, but Finn left nothing to chance he landed three more heavy blows to the guards head and neck.
Amelia looked down at the fallen guard, then back at her little brother. She had been arguing with the man for ten minutes, hoping to buy time for their father. Seeing Finn already covered in blood even before hitting g the guard, she realized the extent of his resolve.
"Thank you for saving me," she said, giving Finn a hug. Despite her often detached demeanor, she loved her family very much, and seeing Finn distressed tore at her heart.
She could feel Finn trembling slightly in her arms, the adrenaline still coursing through him. She pulled back and looked into his eyes, seeing the mixture of fear, determination, and a hint of relief. For a moment, she saw not just her little brother, but a young man ready to fight for their survival.
"I'm sorry you had to go through this," she whispered, her voice softer than usual. "But I'm proud of you. You did what you had to do."
Finn nodded, swallowing hard. "We need to find Alexander and get to the cellar. Grandfather's plan… I don't trust it."
Amelia nodded, squeezing his hand. "Let's go. Together."
With renewed determination, the siblings moved through the house, ready to face whatever came next.