Chapter 17 - The Station Beneath the City
Nearly twenty minutes later, the tunnel widened into an abandoned underground railway platform.
Dust covered the tracks.
Old station signs had long since faded.
A rusted passenger train sat motionless beside the platform as though waiting for travelers who never arrived.
Emily slowly turned in a circle.
"This place isn't on any map."
"It was removed decades ago," David replied.
Thomas examined the train.
"No vandalism."
"No graffiti."
"It looks... preserved."
David nodded.
"Because someone still maintains it."
Before anyone could ask who, a single overhead light suddenly switched on.
Then another.
And another.
Within seconds, the entire underground station glowed with clean white light.
The old train hummed softly.
Its interior lights illuminated one carriage after another.
One officer instinctively raised his weapon.
"Movement."
The train doors slid open.
No one stepped out.
Instead, a calm computerized voice echoed across the station.
"Identity confirmation required."
David walked toward the train.
"David Carter."
"Voice recognized."
The system paused.
Then replied,
"Identity partially verified."
Thomas frowned.
"Partially?"
David sighed.
"The system still believes I'm dead."
Emily looked at him.
"So what happens now?"
David smiled faintly.
"We convince it otherwise."
He placed his palm against a small black panel beside the train door.
A blue scanning beam slowly passed across his hand.
Processing...
Processing...
Processing...
The system remained silent.
Then a different voice interrupted.
Not electronic.
Human.
Older.
"Welcome back, David."
Everyone turned.
Standing at the far end of the platform was an elderly woman wearing a dark railway uniform.
She appeared to be at least eighty years old.
Yet she stood perfectly straight.
She carried no weapon.
Only an old brass lantern.
Emily had never seen her before.
David immediately removed his hat.
"It has been a long time, Margaret."
Margaret smiled gently.
"Twelve years."
She looked toward Emily.
"So this is your daughter."
Emily stepped forward cautiously.
"You know my father?"
Margaret laughed softly.
"I knew him before he became your father."
Thomas noticed the respect in David's posture.
Something he had never seen before.
Margaret's expression soon became serious.
"They're coming."
David nodded.
"I know."
"They've already entered the western tunnels."
Emily's heart sank.
"How close?"
May you like
Margaret looked toward the darkness beyond the tracks.
"Closer than any of you realize."
