Chapter 24 - THE ELEVATOR RETURNS
The lights throughout Room D-17 dimmed for several seconds before emergency illumination switched on.
Everything became red.
A mechanical tone echoed through the underground corridor.
Access event detected.
Unknown authorization.
Daniel immediately closed the Orion folder.
"We're leaving."
Nobody argued.
Bennett collected Donovan's handwritten note while Alex carefully slipped the remaining documents into a weatherproof evidence pouch lying inside the glass case.
As they stepped back into the hallway, the maintenance employee pointed toward the elevator.
"It moved."
Everyone turned.
The indicator above the doors no longer displayed B2.
It was descending.
From somewhere below.
"There isn't supposed to be another level," Alex whispered.
Daniel looked uneasy.
"There wasn't."
The elevator continued climbing.
A low mechanical hum echoed through the concrete corridor.
Bennett drew her service weapon.
"Stay behind me."
The display changed.
C.
Then...
B2.
The elevator stopped.
Nobody breathed.
A soft chime echoed.
The doors slowly opened.
Inside, the elevator was empty.
Or so it seemed.
On the polished floor rested a black leather briefcase.
Nothing else.
No passenger.
No sound.
Daniel cautiously approached.
The briefcase stood perfectly upright in the center of the cabin.
There was no dust on it.
No identifying tag.
Only a silver combination lock.
Alex noticed something tucked beneath the handle.
A folded white envelope.
His name was written across the front in neat handwriting.
Alex Carter.
Bennett carefully removed the envelope without touching the briefcase.
She opened it.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
No signature.
No date.
Only one sentence.
You arrived six minutes earlier than predicted.
Daniel's expression hardened.
"They're monitoring us live."
Before anyone could respond, another line slowly appeared beneath the first.
Almost as though fresh ink were spreading across the page by itself.
Proceed to Level C if you want the truth.
Do not proceed if you want to survive.
The four of them looked from the letter to the empty elevator.
Then the control panel lit up on its own.
May you like
A button that had not existed before slowly illuminated beneath B2.
C.
