Chapter 9 - The Bus That Would Not Open
The driver pressed the emergency door release.
Nothing happened.
He tried again.
The doors remained sealed.
Passengers began shouting.
Several rushed toward the windows, but the reinforced glass would not break.
Thomas moved to the front and examined the control panel.
"This system has been remotely overridden."
The police officers outside pulled at the door handles.
They could see everyone trapped inside but could not open the bus.
Daniel stood in the aisle with his hands cuffed behind him.
For the first time since being restrained, he appeared genuinely nervous.
"This wasn't part of the plan."
Thomas looked at him sharply.
"What plan?"
Daniel did not answer.
Emily approached the front screen.
The message disappeared.
A map appeared in its place.
A red line traced a route across the city toward the abandoned southern rail district.
The bus engine restarted by itself.
The driver grabbed the steering wheel.
"I didn't do that."
The vehicle pulled away from the curb.
Officers outside shouted and ran after it, but the bus accelerated into traffic.
Passengers screamed.
The driver pressed the brake pedal.
No response.
Thomas looked beneath the dashboard.
"The automated system has full control."
The bus swerved through an intersection, narrowly avoiding a delivery truck.
Emily held the support pole with both hands.
The nurse steadied her.
"Sit down before you fall."
"I can't."
"You need to protect yourself and the baby."
Emily lowered herself into the nearest seat.
Thomas moved toward Daniel.
"Who controls this bus?"
Daniel stared through the window.
"I don't know."
Thomas grabbed him by the collar.
"You expect me to believe that?"
Daniel's voice dropped.
"There are people above me."
Emily heard him.
"Above you?"
Daniel looked at her.
"You thought I was the worst person in this story."
The bus turned sharply.
Passengers were thrown sideways.
Thomas released Daniel and caught the seat rail.
"Who are they?"
Daniel remained silent.
The front screen changed again.
A live camera feed appeared.
Laura was no longer tied to the chair.
The room was empty.
A single envelope rested on the floor.
Across it was written one name.
THOMAS REED.
Thomas stared at the screen.
Daniel laughed softly.
"They were never after Emily."
Thomas's expression hardened.
"Then why involve her?"
"Because you wouldn't show yourself for anyone else."
Emily looked between them.
"What does that mean?"
Daniel answered before Thomas could.
"Thomas didn't find us by accident."
Thomas turned toward him.
"Stop."
"He has been following your family for twelve years."
"Daniel."
"He knew your father was alive."
Emily stood.
"Is that true?"
Thomas did not respond.
The silence was enough.
Emily's face changed.
"You lied to me."
"I was trying to protect you."
"Everyone keeps saying that."
The bus entered the southern rail district.
Abandoned factories rose on both sides of the road.
No pedestrians.
No traffic.
No witnesses.
The vehicle slowed as it approached a rusted warehouse gate.
The doors opened by themselves.
Nobody moved.
May you like
Outside, a line of masked figures waited beneath the rain.
And standing in front of them was Dr. Helen Ward.
