He darted around the nearest corner, vanishing from sight.

"There's nowhere to run," Sharp shouted after him. "Once I'm through this door, nothing can open it, securest in the whole world. You should have stayed away, John."

I was dragged backwards and then a door opened. At the same time, the door on the far wall burst open and more men ran in. There were too many of them. He'd never survive this. I wished he hadn't come. I couldn't bear the thought of seeing him killed.

"He's not here," someone shouted.

"He has to be there," Sharp said as wounded men were helped to their feet. "Find him."

The survivors were making their way out but a few kept moving around, joining the search for John. Where was he?

Sharp continued moving backwards, dragging me in to the panic room he'd boasted about when it had been installed. He threw me behind him, sticking his head back out. "He can't have vanished. Where is he? You, guard this door."

One of the men stood in front of the door, looking out, his arms folded. Sharp peered past him. "Where is he?"

"What the fuck," someone said.

"What? What is it?"

He dragged a barely conscious man into view, the man was only in boxer shorts. "What's going on?" Sharp yelled. "Shit, he's in uniform. Which one is he?"

"This one," the guard nearest the door said. His voice was familiar. Lifting his head, I realised it was John. Sharp realised at the same time, trying to get the door closed on his face. As it swung shut, John leapt in, the lock clicking into place behind him.

"Securest door in the country," John said as Sharp tried to tug it open. "No one gets through that."

Sharp turned and shoved him, running over to me, gun flailing. "Don't do anything stupid," he said. "I'd hate to get blood on this new suit."

"Let her go." His gun was pointed at Sharp.

"You think I'm stupid. You think you can just smash up my home, shoot my men, and I'll just give her to you? No, I'm going to fuck her and you're going to watch and when I'm done, I'm going to cripple you so you can watch every time I do it for the rest of your life. Now get on your knees."

I glanced down at John's hand, saw the flick of his finger and knew what it meant. As Sharp swung the gun towards him, I shoved with both my hands. Sharp fell forwards and John was ready, snatching the gun out of his hand and tossing it behind him.

"So it's a straight fight then?" Sharp said, rolling up his sleeves.

They eyed each other up for a few seconds. Sharp moved first, his fist lashing towards John who ducked away. The blow hit the wall a second later. Sharp roared in pain, turning and sprinting at John. The two of them collided, John twisting away, getting to his knees and rolling to one side, sending Sharp off balance.

The blows were too fast for me to keep track of but one thing was for certain, John was losing. He was staggering down to the corner, taking one punch after another. He glanced past Sharp at me and I realised why. I started to shuffle left, trying to do it without being noticed.

Sharp paused, fist high in the air. "We both know I'll win, don't we, John?"

"Do we?"

"You're too much of a hero. You hold back. You should have shot me when you had the chance."

"I'm out of bullets."

"That's your problem right there. You give everything away. You should try being bad sometimes."

"That's good advice," I said, picking up the gun at my feet and pointing it at Sharp.

"Now listen-"

The sound of the shot was so loud in the confined space, my ears rang. John was saying something but I couldn't hear him. I fired again. Sharp looked surprised, his hands going to his chest as a wet dark spot appeared, spreading rapidly. He slumped to his knees, mouth open. Then he fell onto his face. I scuttled backwards away from him.

"I'd heard enough from him," I said, my ears still ringing. "Now what do we do?"

John looked around the room. I couldn't tell what for. His eyes were running over the walls and he seemed to spot something I couldn't see. He grabbed Sharp by the wrist, dragging his body over to the far wall. "What are you doing?" I asked.

"This," John replied, pressing Sharp's thumb to a spot on the wall. A door hissed open at once, revealing a lift out of nowhere.

"How did you know that was there?"

"I saw the plans for the building. No one just puts a lift in without planning it first. Now are you coming?"

The thuds of people trying to get in were growing more violent. I stepped into the lift and John followed, his hand slipping into mine. "Is it over?" I asked.

"Yes," he replied as the doors slid shut. "It's over."

The lift opened into the parking garage. He led me over to a car and helped me inside. We roared out a second later, vanishing into the city traffic, leaving the tower behind us forever.