Chapter 20 - The Corridor of Choices
Daniel entered the corridor first.
Buddy rushed ahead, following Ethan’s scent. Michael, Emily, Marcus, and Dr. Carter followed while Olivia remained behind to copy every file she could access.
The corridor was unnaturally clean compared with the abandoned station.
White lights ran along the floor.
Hidden cameras tracked their movement from the ceiling.
Adrian wanted them to know they were being watched.
Halfway down, the passage divided into three directions.
A steel sign marked each route.
CLINIC.
CENTRAL CHAMBER.
LIFE-SUPPORT CONTROL.
Michael studied the signs.
“He’s forcing us to split up.”
Marcus checked his radio.
No signal.
Emily touched the wall.
“The central chamber controls Ethan’s treatment.”
Dr. Carter pointed toward the third corridor.
“And life-support control may save the other children.”
Daniel looked toward the clinic.
Laura and Ethan were there.
So was Bell.
No choice felt acceptable.
Then Buddy sat beneath the sign for LIFE-SUPPORT CONTROL and refused to move.
Daniel frowned.
“What is it?”
Emily crouched beside the dog.
Buddy’s nose was pressed against a narrow crack in the wall.
Michael examined it and discovered a hidden panel.
Behind it ran several old cables marked with the triangular symbol.
He smiled faintly.
“This was part of my original emergency network.”
“Can it open the entire facility?” Marcus asked.
“No.”
Michael followed the cables with his flashlight.
“But it may let us communicate without Adrian hearing.”
He removed a small receiver from the panel.
Static filled the device.
Then Olivia’s voice broke through.
“Michael?”
“We hear you.”
“I found a partial building map. The corridors reconnect beneath the central chamber.”
Daniel looked toward each route.
“Then we don’t have to choose permanently.”
Michael nodded.
“Marcus and Emily go to life-support control. Dr. Carter comes with me to the central chamber. Daniel goes to Ethan.”
Daniel looked at Buddy.
The dog remained near the hidden panel.
“You’re coming with me.”
Buddy didn’t move.
Instead, he scratched the cables again.
Emily examined the symbols.
“He knows this route.”
Michael’s expression changed.
“Buddy was trained to carry emergency data between sections.”
Daniel stared at him.
“You trained Ethan’s dog to navigate this place?”
“Michael did,” Emily answered. “Years ago.”
Buddy suddenly pulled a small metal capsule from beneath the cable housing.
Inside was a folded strip of paper.
Michael opened it.
His own handwriting covered the page.
IF HARRISON ACTIVATES CONTAINMENT, SUBJECT ZERO-ONE MUST REACH THE CORE.
Emily read the message twice.
“What does that mean?”
Michael looked at her.
“You are Subject Zero-One.”
Before he could explain, Marcus’s receiver crackled.
Olivia shouted from the laboratory.
“Someone is coming through the train!”
Gunfire erupted over the transmission.
Then the connection died.
Marcus turned back.
“I’m going to her.”
Emily grabbed his arm.
“If we fail to restore life support, one hundred and nine people die.”
Marcus hesitated.
Another distant gunshot echoed through the corridor.
Daniel made the decision for him.
“Go to the controls. I’ll find Olivia after I reach Ethan.”
Marcus hated it, but nodded.
They separated.
Daniel and Buddy ran toward the clinic while Michael and Dr. Carter headed for the central chamber.
Emily and Marcus disappeared down the third passage.
As Daniel approached the clinic door, he heard Laura crying.
Then Bell’s voice said,
“You should never have trusted the stranger.”
Daniel pushed the door open.
Laura stood alone beside an empty examination table.
May you like
Ethan was gone again.
And Bell’s handcuffs lay broken on the floor.
