Chapter 34 - THE MAP TO LEVEL D
Daniel carefully unfolded Donovan's hand-drawn map across the examination table.
The paper was older than anything else they had found, its edges yellowed and cracked. Yet the ink remained surprisingly clear, as if Donovan had deliberately used archival materials to ensure it would survive.
Alex leaned closer.
The underground complex was far larger than anyone had imagined.
Level B.
Level B2.
Level C.
Then, beneath them all...
Level D.
But something immediately caught Daniel's attention.
"There are no elevators leading there."
Bennett traced several narrow passageways with her finger.
"He drew maintenance tunnels."
Daniel nodded.
"Not maintenance."
"Emergency evacuation routes."
Alex looked up.
"Why hide an evacuation route?"
Daniel answered without looking away from the map.
"Because whoever designed this place expected something catastrophic to happen."
Several locations had been marked with handwritten symbols.
Most were crossed out.
Only one remained circled.
A room labeled simply:
D-01
Alex frowned.
"What happened to D-17?"
Daniel searched the map.
"It doesn't exist."
"What?"
"The numbering changes."
"D begins with Room One."
Bennett looked thoughtful.
"Then D-17 wasn't the beginning."
"It was the end."
Silence settled over the nursery.
Donovan had hidden the map inside the final room of one level because the real destination had always been another.
Alex noticed writing squeezed into the lower corner.
It was almost invisible.
He read it aloud.
"Never use the elevator beyond Level C."
Daniel looked puzzled.
"But the map shows no other entrance."
Alex turned the paper over.
Another message appeared on the back.
"If the elevator reaches Level D... it no longer belongs to you."
Nobody fully understood what Donovan meant.
Before they could discuss it further, every light in the nursery dimmed.
A low mechanical vibration spread through the floor.
Bennett looked toward the hallway.
"Did you feel that?"
Daniel nodded slowly.
May you like
"Something just powered on."
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