Initially, the crowd mistook the gunfire for part of the firework show. It wasn’t until a second shot echoed that reality dawned on them—they were under attack by armed militants, not watching a spectacle.
Fear struck Katelyn.
Her pupils dilated as memories of prior warnings about the country’s violence resurfaced. ? ?s? ?s find?novel.net
Armed and relentless, these militants were capable of horrific atrocities.
As chaos erupted and the crowd scattered in terror, Katelyn was jostled repeatedly by the panicking masses. Vincent quickly took her hand, guiding her decisively along the riverbank while vigilantly searching for a safe place to hide.
Though only a small group, the militants had strategically positioned their four vehicles at each exit, effectively encircling everyone, including Katelyn and Vincent.
The air was thick with fear, and many were driven to tears.
Gripping her hand tighter, Vincent looked into Katelyn’s anxious eyes and tried to reassure her, “Their goal is likely to take hostages to bargain with the authorities.”
Despite their brutal appearance, Vincent believed they wouldn’t engage in mindless killing.
Over a thousand people were trapped in the area. The situation was so dire that if pushed to extremes, local forces might intervene destructively. Vincent’s steady demeanor slightly eased Katelyn’s anxiety.
“Okay,” she responded, drawing strength from their interlocked hands as they crouched together to remain unseen.
As Vincent had surmised, once the militants had secured control, one of them removed his mask, revealing a scarred face.
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He then filmed the petrified crowd, arrogantly proclaiming, “If you don’t release my comrades by sunrise, you’ll be dealing with their dead bodies!”
Following his threat, he gestured to an accomplice, who quickly understood. The accomplice took aim with a sniper rifle and executed a middle-aged man among the hostages.
The gunshot rang out sharply.
The man was hit fatally, collapsing without a sound as blood spilled, triggering a crescendo of horrified screams from the onlookers.
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