CHAPTER 32 — TWENTY-NINE SECONDS
Claire struck the steel wall with both fists.
“Open it!”
Margaret pulled a thin silver pin from beneath her collar.
“There is a manual release behind the left panel.”
Cole ripped the panel open.
Nothing was inside except wires and a blinking red sensor.
“Which one?” he demanded.
Margaret looked at the countdown.
00:21.
“The green wire.”
“There are four green wires.”
Rose moved beside him.
Her eyes became unfocused.
“Cut the second one.”
Everyone looked at her.
“How do you know?” Claire asked.
“I don’t.”
Cole cut it.
The countdown stopped at twelve seconds.
The wall rose halfway.
Claire dropped to her knees and crawled under it.
The capsule was already disappearing around a bend.
Mason followed her into the tunnel.
Behind them, the wall dropped again.
They were separated from the others.
Claire and Mason ran beside the rail, following the sound of Lily’s weak voice.
“Mommy, where are you?”
“I’m here!” Claire shouted. “I’m coming!”
The tunnel divided into three passages.
The capsule entered the center one.
Claire followed.
Mason caught her arm.
“No.”
She fought him.
“My daughter is in there!”
“The floor markings.”
Claire looked down.
Small black triangles covered the center passage.
Pressure sensors.
Mason removed his jacket and threw it forward.
Metal spikes shot from both walls, tearing through the fabric.
Claire stepped back.
The capsule continued moving away.
Then Lily sat up inside it.
She looked directly at Claire.
Her expression changed.
The fear disappeared.
She raised one finger to her lips.
“Don’t follow me, Mommy.”
The capsule vanished into darkness.
A second later, a child’s scream came from the passage on the right.
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This time, Claire knew the voice.
That was Lily.
