Second Chances

Chapter 48 

“Even if it costs me my 

life, I have to do this.” Emma ignored Josiah’s frantic warnings. 

Josiah failed to fully grasp the catastrophic potential of the looming explosion. However, Emma knew the grim reality all too well. She had witnessed the aftermath in her previous life. 

As she hurried through the crowd, images haunted her–the newspaper photos of Sean, his features obliterated by burns, and the list of victims: a high school student fresh from graduation, a couple who had just celebrated their long–awaited engagement, a son who had brought his terminally ill mother to enjoy what might be their last concert together. 

These were ordinary people, living their lives with simple hopes and dreams, all cruelly cut short by a merciless explosion. 

Behind the countless victims lay a world of shattered families. Sean, once vibrant and full of life, had spent his later years in a vegetative state, a shadow of his former sell. 

weighing heavily on her heart, Emma was resolved–she would prevent this tragedy at any cost, even if it meant facing 

With these thoughts we 

death herself 

“Boss, I found it! It’s on the west side of the roof, D29, at ten o’clock!” Josiah reported. 

“Got it!” Emma left the concert and sprinted toward the roof. With Josiah’s guidance, she quickly located the bomb. 

The roof’s surface was soft and tricky to navigate. Emma, relying on her athletic prowess, crawled across the expansive, slippery roof. There seemed to be nothing special here. Everything appeared normal at first glance, 

“Boss, there’s nothing here,” Josiah said. 

“Look.” Emma rotated the camera in her hand. 

Josiah gasped. “It’s… it’s C41” 

“Yeah, it’s tucked inside the steel framework in a massive black box,” Emma added. 

C4, known for its devastating power, could send shockwaves strong enough to severely damage structures. Emma’s face set into a determined expression as she pulled out her tools, ready to disarm the bomb, 

“Boss, this isn’t safe. The police are on their way, and the roof can’t bear much weight. You need to get off here, now!” Josiah warned. 

By then, Emma was in a precarious position, practically suspended in mid–air. With half of her body leaning out over the edge, she barely managed to reach the black box. Any slight mistake could trigger the explosion, potentially killing her and many others. 

Emma clenched her teeth. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.” Her past experiences in high–stakes situations had taught her a crucial lesson–to survive, one must face fear head–on. The greater the danger, the calmer she became. 

Josiah recognized that expression on Emma’s face–it meant things were serious. It had been ages since he’d seen her look so resolved. 

Trained in bomb disposal, Emma knew the risks involved. Not only was her physical safety on the line, but the mental strain was enormous. Any error could be catastrophic, endangering thousands. 

Taking a deep breath, Emma kept her hands steady as she methodically worked on the bomb. Her bold yet careful approach made deciphering and disarming the device manageable, despite its complexity. 

Below, the concert had started. Although she wasn’t in her seat, the music’s vibrations reached her, mingling with the tension of her task. The threat of the bomb under her hands made sweat bead on her forehead. 

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Meanwhile, just across from the arena, Liam was stuck in a traffic jam in his Rolls–Royce. He was supposed to meet Emma, but the congestion 

had delayed him. 

As they finally passed the last traffic light, Levi’s phone rang, his face draining of color as he reported, “Mr. Hall, there’s trouble! The police just called about a dangerous object near the arena. They’re blocking roads and evacuating the area.” 

Liam’s eyes widened, “Stop the car; we need to go now!” 

“Mr. Hall!” Levi tried to intervene, but it was too late. With Emma still potentially in danger, Liam couldn’t just wait. 

Meanwhile, the police were on their way. On the roof, Emma continued her work, unaware that the threat was already looming. 

“You foolish woman…” The person was ready to pull the trigger, but Josiah’s sharp senses caught on. 

“Boss, get down!” Josiah roared. 

Reacting almost on instinct, Emma ducked, narrowly avoiding the bullet. The threat was neutralized swiftly, and darkness reclaimed the 

scene. 

“What’s behind me?” Emma asked without turning her head, her focus unwavering as she continued to work on the bomb. 

“There’s a building at your six, but whoever was there seems to have left–they didn’t want to give away their position,” Josiah responded. 

“I’m almost done here. Keep your eyes on the surrounding buildings for me,” Emma instructed. 

“Got it, Boss. I’m on it,” Josiah assured her. 

The bomb was not overly complicated, and Emma was making good progress. As she snipped the final wire, a sudden “Bang!” echoed. A bullet, muffled by a silencer, shot toward her from the direction of the arena’s spectator stands. 

“Boss!” Josiah exclaimed. 

The silenced shot was unexpected, especially coming from the crowd. Amid the heated atmosphere, no one seemed to notice the sinister act unfolding in the shadows. Then, bullets flew toward her. Emma, already straining to maintain her balance, lost her footing and fell from the roof, a drop of about 100 feet. 

“Boss!” Josiah’s voice was filled with panic as he shouted into the phone. 

Meanwhile, at the concert, Sean felt a sudden chill He glanced toward Emma’s usual spot, only to find it empty. 

“Why hasn’t Emma been back yet?‘ Sean’s concern grew. He had just finished a song, and the crowd’s cheers mingled with the bright fireworks lighting up the sky. Unnoticed in the festive chaos, a girl was falling. 

‘Am I going to die?‘ Emma wondered, looking into the night sky as she fell 

After the noise of the fireworks died down, darkness enveloped the sky again. Memories of a past fire, which had lit up the night like daylight, flashed through her mind. It reminded her of Liam’s engagement ring, which had sparkled brilliantly when he proposed. But now, all seemed to be slipping into nothingness. 

Emma closed her eyes, resigning herself to fate. Suddenly, a beam of light from a helicopter cut through the night, piercing the silence.