But before she could finish, Rapi's kick slammed into her stomach. Felicia flew back, crashing into a table. Pain shot through her body, forcing a gasp from her throat. Kaivan glanced her way, fear flickering, but he couldn't afford distraction.
At the rear exit, Ethan, Raphael, Radit, Isabel, and Livia finally reached the door. Their breaths were uneven. Raphael frowned. "Why the back door?"
Zinnia shook her head. "The front is crawling with guards. It's too dangerous."
Ethan rested a steadying hand on her shoulder. "The front's lighter now," he whispered.
But Isabel cut in softly, eyes still on the Tome. "Not certain. Omnicent says some guards have returned to position."
In the midst of the tension, Livia could no longer hold back. She ran to her parents and threw her arms around them. "Dad, Mom… I finally found you," she whispered as tears streamed down her cheeks.
The tender moment shattered when a man among the evacuees stepped forward, voice trembling. "Our families are still inside… We can't leave them behind."
Without a word, Raphael drew his gun and aimed at the emergency door's locked handle.
"Bang!" The shot echoed sharply down the corridor. Several women flinched, but panic had no place here. Raphael turned to the evacuees already moving. "Go. Now. We'll find the ones still trapped."
Radit scowled. "Are you sure? This is far from simple."
Raphael nodded once. "Maybe. But Kaivan would say the same thing, we can't just stand by." His tone left no room for argument.
That was enough for Radit. Together, they prepared to sweep through the hotel, searching room by room, hearts heavy but resolve firm.
Back in the ballroom, Kaivan and Felicia were still trapped in the storm of battle. Sweat clung to Kaivan's skin; exhaustion pressed on his shoulders. Dodging a heavy punch, he muttered under his breath, "Damn it… why am I bothering with all this? I could've stayed out of it. My only goal was Livia's parents."
Felicia glanced at him between strikes with Rapi, disappointment in her gaze. "Kaivan… you sound like a villain," she said quietly, her voice sharp with hurt.
Kaivan looked back at her, silent. Conflict churned in his eyes, pride, anger, guilt, all crashing together.
Nearby, Isabel stood beside Zinnia, reopening the Tome Omnicent. Fresh letters formed and twisted into a rough map of the hotel. Her voice calm yet urgent, she instructed, "Take out your phones. Photograph the layout. The hostages are scattered across several rooms and the staff kitchen."
One by one, they took photos of the map, eyes once clouded with confusion now holding a fragile spark of hope. That rough sketch became a small light in the middle of chaos.
Raphael and Isabel hurried toward the reception desk, searching through drawers for the room keys. Meanwhile, Ethan, Radit, and Livia made their way to the kitchen. Livia's parents could only watch their daughter run back into danger, fear and pride tangled in their gaze. Her steps were light, but her heart was heavy with the weight of doing what felt right.
"What are you doing here? Why are you going with them?" her father asked, voice trembling with shock and fear.
Livia turned back, offering a steady smile. "It's okay, Pah. Kak Kaivan already helped you escape. Livia wants to help too, just like everyone else." Her voice was soft but full of resolve. She dashed forward again, catching up to Ethan and Radit, leaving her parents frozen between worry and admiration.
At the reception desk, Raphael and Isabel opened door after door, guided by the keys in their hands and the map from the Tome Omnicent. Each creaking hinge made their bodies tense.
Inside the silent kitchen, Radit and Ethan paused. The room looked completely empty.
"Try that cold storage door," Livia said, her voice quick but tinged with uncertainty. Her hope felt fragile.
Radit nodded and pulled the heavy door open. A wave of cold air rushed out, and with it, a shocking sight. People sat bound together, shivering violently. Pale faces and weakened bodies filled the frozen room.
"Holy... there's so many," Radit muttered, eyes widening.
A weak voice rose from the crowd. "Please… these ropes…"
Without hesitation, the three moved in, freeing each person one by one. Ropes fell, breaths steadied, and soft words of gratitude drifted into the frigid air, creating a faint warmth.
Elsewhere, Kaivan fought on, breathing ragged but unyielding. He cleared a path through the guards and rushed toward Felicia, who was still locked in fierce combat.
"Fel!" he shouted, throwing a karambit toward Rapi. The enemy dodged, giving Felicia a brief opening, though Rapi was quick and kept his distance.
Kaivan studied his movements. In one swift instant, he looped a metal chain around Rapi's arm, locking it in place. Panic flashed across Rapi's face as he struggled.
Felicia stepped forward. Her metal batons lifted.
A heavy impact thundered through the air, time seemed to stop for a heartbeat.
Rapi collapsed, unconscious. Silence settled in the ballroom, suspended between tension and relief.
Kaivan lay weak on the floor, his breath ragged. The ceiling above stared back in silence, and beside him, Felicia still stood firm, unable to hide the worry in her eyes.
"Fel, go upstairs. Help the others. I'll catch up," Kaivan said softly, yet with steady resolve.
Felicia shook her head sharply. "And if something happens to you? I'm not leaving you behind," she snapped, her voice trembling with the urge to protect.