Chapter 14 - The Foundation Arrives
The train stopped without a screech.
Its doors opened in perfect silence.
Men in dark uniforms stepped onto the platform, carrying compact rifles and wearing masks without markings. They moved with the precision of soldiers.
Marcus pulled Daniel behind a concrete pillar.
“Police don’t have units like that.”
Michael checked the magazine in his pistol.
“They aren’t police.”
Bell’s confidence returned immediately.
“You should surrender.”
Marcus struck him across the shoulder and forced him lower.
“Quiet.”
Dr. Carter and Olivia pushed Ethan’s table into the old examination room. Laura followed, refusing to let go of her son’s hand.
Buddy remained beside Daniel.
The first armed man entered the clinic.
“Michael Parker,” a voice announced through a speaker. “Return the research materials and the child.”
Daniel looked at Michael.
“They called Ethan research material.”
Michael’s face showed no surprise.
“That’s what he has always been to them.”
A bullet struck the pillar.
Concrete exploded near Daniel’s head.
Marcus fired back.
The clinic erupted into chaos.
Daniel grabbed the blue container while Michael carried the black evidence box. They retreated through a side corridor as the armed unit advanced.
Bell suddenly twisted free.
He ran toward the approaching men.
“I can help you!”
Their leader raised his rifle and shot him in the leg.
Bell collapsed screaming.
“You were instructed to recover the child,” the masked leader said. “You failed.”
Bell stared up at him in disbelief.
“I gave you years.”
“You gave us exposure.”
Marcus pulled Bell back behind cover before the second shot could kill him.
Daniel looked toward the clinic entrance.
“Why save him?”
“Because he knows how to stop them.”
Bell was pale and shaking.
“They won’t stop.”
Michael crouched beside him.
“Where is the main lab now?”
Bell refused to answer.
Michael pressed his hand against the gunshot wound.
Bell cried out.
“North Harbor!”
“What building?”
“The old maritime hospital.”
Michael released him.
Daniel frowned.
“That place was demolished.”
Bell shook his head.
“The surface building was.”
Another explosion tore through the corridor.
The armed men were using charges to destroy the old clinic doors.
Dr. Carter called from the examination room.
“Ethan’s temperature is rising!”
Michael ran to him.
The boy’s skin had begun glowing red beneath the monitor lights. Thin dark lines spread along his arms like branching veins.
Dr. Carter touched one carefully.
“This is rapid tissue growth.”
Michael opened the blue container.
“We need to slow the reaction.”
“What do you need?”
“A stabilizer.”
“Where is it?”
Michael looked toward the maintenance train.
“They brought it with them.”
Daniel understood.
The foundation had not arrived only to capture Ethan.
They had come prepared to keep him alive.
A deafening crash shook the clinic.
The final steel door collapsed.
The armed unit advanced through the smoke.
Then Ethan opened his eyes.
He looked directly at Michael.
“Dad…”
Michael leaned closer.
May you like
Ethan whispered,
“I know where they keep the other children.”
