The President Chapter 113

The walls of the palace trembled with the sound of distant explosions and shouts. Celestina gripped her weapon tightly, her heart hammering against her chest. The rebellion was closing in, and time was running out.

“Celestina, we have to stay on mission,” Liora urged, pointing toward the corridor leading to Alvada’s private quarters.

But Celestina shook her head, her voice trembling with urgency. “Dimitri is still out there. I can’t leave him behind.”

“Don’t be reckless!” Liora hissed. “Alvada is arming explosives as we speak! If we don’t stop him now, everyone will die—Dimitri included!”

Celestina met Liora’s eyes, her resolve unshaken. “I’m going. Stop him without me if you have to, but I won’t let Dimitri die.”

Liora cursed under her breath, but nodded. “Fine. Don’t take too long, or this will all be for nothing.”

With a quick glance at her team, Celestina turned and sprinted down the dimly lit hallway, her footsteps echoing against the cold marble floors.

In a storage room far from the main battle, Dimitri sat slumped against a wall, his wrists bound and blood dripping from a fresh cut on his cheek. Two of Alvada’s guards stood by the door, their rifles resting casually in their arms.

“You think he’ll keep you alive?” Dimitri said, his voice low but taunting. “When this place blows, you’ll go down with it.”

One of the guards shifted uncomfortably, glancing at the other.

Before they could respond, the door slammed open with a deafening bang.

“Step away from him!” Celestina shouted, her pistol aimed directly at the guards.

The first guard raised his rifle, but Celestina fired first, hitting him in the shoulder. The second guard hesitated, but Dimitri used the distraction to lunge forward, knocking the rifle from his hands.

Celestina darted forward, delivering a swift blow to the guard’s head, sending him crumpling to the floor.

“Are you alright?” she asked breathlessly, dropping to her knees to untie Dimitri’s bindings.

He grinned despite the situation. “Took you long enough.”

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t hide the relief on her face. “Let’s go. We don’t have time.”

Outside the palace gates, chaos reigned. Protesters surged forward, their chants of “Freedom!” and “Down with Alvada!” filling the air. Fires burned in the streets, and the sound of clashing metal and gunfire was deafening.

Alvada’s remaining guards fought to hold the line, but they were overwhelmed. One by one, the gates fell, and the protesters poured into the palace grounds like a raging river.

“Push forward!” shouted Aron, one of the rebel leaders, rallying the crowd.

The rebellion had reached the palace.

Celestina and Dimitri raced through the crumbling halls, the walls shaking with the force of nearby explosions. They reached the entrance to Alvada’s private quarters just as Liora and the rest of the team burst through.

“You’re late,” Liora said, her voice sharp but relieved.

“I had to make a stop,” Celestina replied, her eyes locking onto the heavy door ahead. “Is he in there?”

Liora nodded. “And he’s not alone. He’s barricaded himself with his most loyal men—and the explosives.”

“Then we end this now,” Celestina said, pushing forward.

Inside his private quarters, President Alvada stood behind his massive desk, a detonator clutched tightly in his hand. His loyalists flanked him, their weapons trained on the door.

When Celestina and her team burst in, the loyalists raised their guns, but Alvada barked, “Hold your fire!”

The room fell silent, save for the faint hum of chaos outside.

“Well, well,” Alvada said, his voice calm but laced with menace. “The prodigal daughter returns.”

“Let them go,” Celestina demanded, her weapon aimed at him. “This is over.”

Alvada smirked, holding up the detonator. “Oh, I don’t think so. You see, I’d rather burn this palace to the ground—and everyone in it—than let it fall into the hands of traitors.”

The team tensed, their eyes flicking between Alvada and the detonator.

“You don’t have to do this,” Celestina said, her voice trembling but firm. “The people have already spoken. It’s over, Father. Surrender now, and maybe you’ll live to see tomorrow.”

Alvada laughed bitterly. “Do you think I care about tomorrow? This nation was mine to mold, to shape. You, of all people, should understand that. Without me, this country will tear itself apart.”

“That’s not your decision to make anymore,” she said, stepping closer.

“Take one more step, and I’ll press this button,” Alvada warned, his thumb hovering over the detonator.

Before anyone could react, Liora moved. She darted forward, her blade flashing as she knocked the detonator from Alvada’s hand.

The room erupted into chaos. Loyalists fired their weapons, and the rebels retaliated. Celestina tackled Alvada to the ground as Dimitri and Liora fought off the guards.

“Get the detonator!” Dimitri shouted, wrestling with one of Alvada’s men.

Celestina grabbed the device, clutching it tightly as the fight around her reached its peak.

Finally, the loyalists were subdued, and Alvada was dragged to his feet, his face twisted in fury.

“You think you’ve won?” he spat, glaring at Celestina. “You’ve only ensured this country’s downfall. You’ll regret this, my daughter. Mark my words.”

The rebels restrained him, but his threats didn’t stop.

“Take him,” Celestina ordered, her voice steady despite the turmoil in her chest.

As Alvada was dragged away, his curses echoed through the halls.