Chapter 40: Counterattack
Hanks braved the deadly fire, weaving constantly through the crowd. Every pause accompanied by gunfire or lethal close combat.
His movements—efficient, ruthless, precise to the extreme. Tactical skills on full display.
But too many enemies.
Bullets constantly whipped past his body.
Thunk!
Hanks stumbled. His chest felt tight. A pistol round hit the tactical vest's plate carrier. The insert blocked the fatal shot.
"He's there!"
"Surround him!"
Hanks's eyes hardened. He dove and rolled across the ground, avoiding a burst of fire.
At the same time he grabbed a fallen pump-action shotgun from the ground.
Crack-BOOM!
No need for precise aiming. At this distance, the shotgun's area damage showed terrifying power.
The raider charging head-on flew backward like being hit by a truck, screaming, chest a bloody mess.
Hanks emptied the shotgun, directly using the gun as a club to knock down another enemy. His right hand P226 fired again, forcing back the flank.
He finally reached Glenn's vicinity.
Glenn still pressed flat on the ground. Bullets flew everywhere around him. He was too terrified to move.
Hanks hauled him up, using the tactical knife to cut the ropes. "Stay close!"
He dragged Glenn along.
Using the P226's remaining rounds for suppressive fire in all directions while charging toward the police car.
"Don't let them escape!"
"Stop them!"
Scarface clutched his bleeding shoulder, hiding behind a shipping container and screaming orders.
More bullets poured toward them.
Hanks shoved Glenn hard toward the police car's passenger door. He used the vehicle body for cover, returning fire violently against the pursuers.
"Get in!" He roared, yanking open the driver's door.
Glenn scrambled and tumbled into the passenger seat.
Hanks jumped in the driver's seat. Keys still in the ignition. He twisted hard.
VROOOOM!
The V8 engine roared to life again.
"Hold on!" Hanks bellowed, slamming it into reverse and flooring the gas.
The police car's tires spun wildly, smoking against the pavement, then shot backward like an unleashed stallion.
BANG! BANG! BANG! Bullets chased the car. The rear window shattered completely.
Hanks locked onto the rearview mirror, controlling the vehicle in high-speed reverse through the junk-filled loading area, narrowly avoiding obstacles.
SCREECH!
A brutal fishtail. Hanks spun the front end around, aimed at the factory gate.
"Stop him!" Scarface screamed desperately.
A shotgun emerged from a second-floor window.
Hanks's pupils contracted. He floored the gas while dropping his body as low as possible.
BOOM! Steel pellets hammered the hood and windshield frame, crackling.
The police car roared like an iron beast, smashing through garbage bins trying to block the way.
It tore out of the factory gate onto the street outside.
Leaving the factory's roars, gunfire, and smoke far behind.
Hanks drove full throttle until turning several corners, completely losing sight of the factory before slowing.
He and Glenn both gasped heavily. The car interior reeked of blood and sweat.
"Officer!" Glenn looked at Hanks, then back, words tumbling out. "You... you..."
"I'm fine. How about you?" Hanks looked down at the ballistic plate on his chest. Pried out the deformed 9mm round embedded in it and casually tossed it out the window. His chest still ached dully, but bones should be intact.
"I'm okay too!" Glenn finally came to his senses, patting himself down thoroughly, then sighed with relief.
Hanks quickly checked ammunition.
P226 pistol had 15 rounds left. Two full magazines on the tactical vest. Total 55 rounds.
That was all his ranged firepower. The assault backpack was still back at the factory.
He glanced at the still-shaken Glenn, then looked in the rearview mirror toward the factory direction.
Can't just go back like this.
The enemy took such heavy losses, lost so many people. They'd never let this go.
Hit them with a counterattack.
Hanks immediately made his decision. The steering wheel jerked, diving into a side alley.
"Glenn." Hanks's voice was terrifyingly calm. "Can you wait here for me?"
Glenn froze, then nodded instinctively.
"Good." Hanks pulled out the car keys and pressed them into his hand. "Hide here. Wait for me to come back."
"What... what about you?" Glenn's voice tightened, an ominous premonition forming.
"Me?" Hanks's eyes flashed with cold killing intent. "I'm going to deliver them a big present."
"Too dangerous! They've got too many people!" Glenn quickly grabbed his arm.
Hanks shook off his hand, tone resolute. "Precisely because they have numbers, I can't miss this chance."
As he spoke, he opened the door and stepped out.
Glenn knew he couldn't change his decision. He bit his lip. "Officer... be extremely careful!"
"Clementine's waiting for you to take her to Savannah."
"Yeah." Hanks's body paused slightly at the words. "I know. You be careful too."
With that, he turned without looking back, slipping into an alley and quickly doubling back toward the factory.
Glenn watched his silhouette disappear, took a deep breath, and gripped Lucille while hiding in the back seat.
Hanks returned to the factory vicinity. Didn't approach the main entrance. Instead circled to the side-rear.
The wall was high here, but a spot with stacked discarded tires offered leverage.
He took a running start, foot hitting the tire pile, hands grabbing the wall top. One smooth pull-up and vault. He landed silently inside the factory yard.
The chaos inside hadn't completely settled.
Angry curses could be faintly heard. Scarface roared orders to his subordinates to clean up.
The smoke had mostly dispersed.
Hanks hid behind a pile of rusted metal scrap, carefully observing the situation.
No fewer than ten bodies lay scattered across the yard, all with supplementary head shots. Several wounded writhed in pain.
The enemy suffered heavy casualties. Only about ten still mobile, and all clearly rattled.
Who could've imagined that with a hostage situation, one man with one gun could kill through them, then escape with the hostage?
Scarface had his shoulder crudely bandaged, face pale, currently yelling at subordinates:
"Fuck! Bunch of useless trash! I finally intercept his score and you give me this result!"
"If my brother that piece of shit finds out, he'll be the first one over here mocking me!"
"Find all the usable weapons fast! That bastard can't have gone far! I'm gonna skin him alive!"
Hanks waited like a hunting viper, patient for the optimal moment.
A raider cursed while dragging a comrade's corpse, passing right by the scrap pile where Hanks hid.
Now.