A loud, forceful bang reverberated throughout the room. Everyone appeared to flinch at once.
And then it was followed by a haunting silence.
Sending the shaken Sycamore stumbling backwards onto one of the empty desks, Bronev promenaded over to the room's entrance. There, he stood regally beside the towering door.
Luke covered his eyes, Aurora looked away; but Emmy watched her uncle closely.
Bronev's impassive stare met Layton's. "I doubt you're going try anything. Well, not considering..." Bronev gestured calmly with his arm to the right. He paced back and forth with confidence, then raising his chin ever so slightly, he continued. "But just in case, here's your warning: Do. Not. Move."
Upon hearing Bronev's raspy voice, Descole opened, one at a time, the eyes that he'd never intended to be screwed shut. He wasn't in any excruciating pain, but the his head felt light, spinning, yet burning hot and stinging with sweat. But most importantly, he realised he no longer had the end of Bronev's gun pointed at him. The man's chestnut-coloured eyes widened and his breathing slowed, mouth open.
A similar stunned reaction was painted on the faces of Emmy and Aurora. Both of the young women's eyes were darting around the room. Within seconds, however, their eyes had both been drawn, like a moth to a light, over to the same spot.
Descole forced himself upright and adjusted his tie and glasses, pushing his heavy head up with his fingertips. His eyes followed the direction of their gaze, the giddiness from moments ago starting to fade. He gave a sharp intake of breath.
The doors had been flung open, and in had marched Swift, followed by a posse of uniformed Targent members, all holding machine guns. Each member was positioned facing a different person, and there were no exceptions - even Luke found himself a target; a harsh reminder of Bronev's depravity.
"Hmpf! I knew that you wouldn't do it." He said in a raised voice. Descole took a few steps forward, his fingertips still curled around his weapon.
He surveyed everyone's position in the room. Aurora - the only one that he was bothered about at that moment - was stood next to Layton, too far away for him to be able to grab her and escape successfully.
Instead, he turned his attention to Bronev. He should have trusted his initial thoughts - Bronev wouldn't be able to follow through with his threats. Descole almost laughed at the man's incapacity.
Except then another problem came to mind: he wouldn't carry out his threats alone.
"Did you hear my cautionary advice, Sycamore? - oh sorry, what is it you call yourself now? - Descole." Bronev said with a snigger, pulling the other man out of his thoughts. When Layton didn't show a hint of disbelief about Sycamore's identity, Bronev continued. "Ah. Well let's hope so, because I won't be repeating it for your sake." He was hoping that Layton would have turned on Sycamore which would help them get hold of the eggs, but the top-hatted professor seemed to have other ideas.
Descole balled his fist and slammed it onto the desk beside him. Had it always been that obvious? Perhaps Emmy had been the one to tell him. Either way, he was now determined more than ever to show Bronev that he never should have interfered with his family.
The other man gave a tut-tut of disapproval, shaking his head. "What are you waiting for? Get the girl back!" Bronev ordered, noticing that majority of his armed members hadn't moved from the doorway.
The Targent henchmen moved forward.
Luke felt Aurora tense up beside him. He placed a warm hand on hers and the girl opened up her closed eyes. He wanted to apologise for not looking after her with more care, for making her feel secure when she wasn't, for getting her in this whole situation, but now wasn't the time.
Bronev watched his men surround the intruders. His plan was perfectly formulated. He would only allow them to have Aurora back if he got all five eggs - and he didn't see Layton and Descole both agreeing to part with them. If and when he did get them, he would simply activate the stones before returning Aurora. There was no losing this time.
Aurora gave Luke a gentle smile, trying to eliminate all signs of fear on her face, but pulled her hand away from his. The boy's heart sank a little as he felt her cool skin move away. She wasn't doing it out of disapproval, however. She just didn't wish for Luke to be put in harms way when she was targeted.
Layton's hand had moved to the rim of his hat, as it often did when he was in thought or situation became more intense. All of the exits, bar the windows which wouldn't be the wisest option, were guarded by armed henchmen. There was truly no safe way out. "Bronev, please reconsider what you are doing!"
"He's not going to listen to that!" Descole yelled. Evidently Layton wasn't familiar enough with Bronev's methods. "He's not going to listen to any of us!"
"Hah. He's right - for once." Bronev said. He had got them surrounded.
Descole glared at the other man. His chest moved slowly as he inhaled, but his heavy breathing became one of the loudest sounds in the room. If he was standing with the rest of them then perhaps he could take back Aurora - but was it worth risking the lives of all of them just to do so?
Emmy stood with her mouth held open. If she tried to attack the Targent members to save Aurora then Bronev wouldn't be happy.
She scanned the faces of the Targent members around her. Many of them she recognised. The woman looked down submissively. Any attempt to protect Aurora would be betraying Targent and her uncle. She only hoped that Layton would find a way to stop Bronev's madness.
To everyone's shock, it was Aurora who moved next with long, decisive strides into the centre of the room.
"Aurora!" Layton exclaimed. He reached out an arm and ran over. Luke attempted to follow before being pulled back by Emmy. He just wanted to help his friend.
Seeing the professor hurry over to the girl, Descole did the same. Letting Layton take back Aurora wasn't an option - this was his round to win.
The two men exchanged an intense, narrow eyed glower - they knew that only one of them would get her back.
There was more shuffling. The Targent minions all had the same look on their faces. They were unsure; hesitant to shoot in case they hit the emissary.
Accepting that they were both determined to keep the Azran girl safe, Descole raised his sword - it was the only thing that the three of them had between them for protection. Bronev muffled a laugh at the pitiful endeavour.
This was her chance. Aurora closed her eyes, clearing her mind. She took a long, slow intake of breath to focus. She didn't know if the effects would extend to the guns, but what else could she do?
"What is she...?" Descole said as a murmur, his voice was quieter but still harsh.
"Stop it!" Aurora cried. Her eyes tightened and she brought her hands close to her body. If they didn't know any better, they would have concluded that the girl had been shot from the agony on her face.
The lights in the room began to flicker, and Bronev cursed under his breath. He had been nice to them, but if threats weren't going to work then maybe it was time to start using force. Before he could make any more orders, a blinding white light obscured his vision.
All they heard was a thud as something hit the floor.
