Chapter 25 - The Race Toward Ashcroft House
The marble floor beneath Bellarose sealed itself as if the hidden machinery had never existed.
Only the shattered anniversary bell remained, rocking gently across the wet stone floor.
Thomas stared at the railway map spread across the dining table.
“The archive has already entered the underground freight line,” he said. “Once it reaches Ashcroft House, recovering it will become almost impossible.”
Daniel looked toward the broken tunnel entrance.
“How far?”
“About forty miles. The original rail system was designed for supplies during the war. Almost nobody knows it still functions.”
Outside, police officers who had just witnessed Jonathan Reese's crimes lowered their weapons. Some removed their radios, unsure whom they could trust anymore. Others immediately arrested Reese, while several quietly disappeared into the confusion before anyone could question them.
Samuel pressed a cloth against his wounded side.
“I can still travel.”
“No,” Eleanor answered firmly. “You stay here.”
Samuel reluctantly nodded.
Melissa embraced her daughter, Caroline, for the first time in months without fear.
“I owe all of you more than an apology,” she whispered.
Daniel turned toward Victor.
“Can you still drive?”
Victor managed a tired smile.
“I've driven those tunnels more times than Adrian ever realized.”
Thomas examined another page from his journal.
“There are only three access points ahead of the archive.”
He circled them.
“Old Mill Bridge.”
“Raven Crossing.”
“And finally…”
His finger stopped.
“Ashcroft Station.”
Daniel immediately understood.
“If we can't stop the train…”
“We stop whoever is waiting to receive it.”
Meanwhile, far ahead beneath the countryside, the automated freight platform carrying the archive accelerated through darkness.
Inside the sealed black container, hidden systems continued processing files.
Thousands of names flashed across internal displays.
One profile remained highlighted.
SUCCESSOR CANDIDATE:
UNKNOWN.
May you like
The system had begun searching for someone the Circle itself had never planned.
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