The Van Helsing Conjecture – Excerpt No. 239

When one appeared from the stairwell a flight down, Clara took aim and fired. While aiming for the shoulder, the shot pierced the right eye and splattered brain matter all over the stairwell… I hope this gives anyone following us a reason to pause…

“Horsefeathers!” Clara yelled. “I didn’t mean to kill—him.”

“Fuck,” Julia said at the same time. “My fucking ears!”

Neither heard the other, but they saw signs of return fire. The bullets scarred the white paint over the concrete, but a couple tore out chunks as they impacted… that’s not regular ammunition!

“Putain!” Evelyn said. “I hate it when I’m right… Take this door.”

a dramatic, high-contrast, cinematic photograph of three women, each with distinct facial features and skin tones, fleeing in terror through a dark, dimly lit stairwell, the walls around them scarred and chipped from intense gunfire, with bullet holes and shattered concrete fragments scattered on the ground, the air thick with tension and fear, as they desperately seek escape from the danger lurking above, captured in a gritty, realistic style with muted colors, deep shadows, and a sense of urgency.

Disclaimer: This novel is an work in progress and readers may encounter grammatical errors and inconsistencies. Please view this a draft and not a published work.