Chapter 8 - The River Tunnel
We reached the tunnel entrance in fourteen minutes.
It felt like four hours.
Emma's chamber had filled to her knees by the time our vehicles stopped beneath the abandoned pumping station.
Marcus led us through a rusted maintenance hatch.
Vivian followed him with a handgun she had taken from a security locker.
"Do you know how to use that?" I asked.
"My dead father taught me when I was twelve."
Marcus closed his eyes briefly.
The tunnel smelled of river mud, oil, and old concrete.
Emergency bulbs glowed every twenty feet.
Briggs whispered into his radio.
"Signals are dead. We are alone from here."
"No," I said. "We are being watched."
A speaker crackled overhead.
Vale's voice filled the tunnel.
"Welcome back to service, Commander."
Steel doors slammed behind us.
Water burst from side vents.
Within seconds, it covered our shoes.
"Move!" Marcus shouted.
We ran.
The tunnel divided ahead.
One path led toward Emma's signal.
The other toward the Nightglass transfer node.
Vale was forcing a choice.
Vivian grabbed my arm.
"My sister."
Briggs looked at the rising water.
"If we ignore the node, Vale gets access to the national grid."
"We split," I said.
"Absolutely not," Briggs replied.
"You and Marcus take the node. Vivian comes with me."
Marcus shook his head.
"The chamber lock needs my biometric code."
"Then Vivian goes with Briggs."
"No," Vivian said. "I am not leaving Emma."
Water reached our calves.
The lights flickered.
I looked at Marcus.
"Can Briggs destroy the node without you?"
"Yes, but it will trigger a system purge."
"Meaning?"
"Every sealed file becomes public."
Walter's voice came through Briggs's damaged radio in fragments.
"Do not... destroy... national security..."
I took the radio.
"Forty-two sailors were national security too."
Then I crushed it beneath my boot.
Briggs gave me one hard nod and took the left tunnel.
Marcus, Vivian, and I ran right.
The water climbed to our waists.
Ahead, Emma's fists struck weakly against the glass chamber.
Beside her stood Noah.
May you like
He held a surgical blade.
"Cut out the key," he said, "or watch her drown."
