CHAPTER 69 — SARAH’S CHOICE
Claire jumped after them.
Mason caught her before she reached the opening.
“You’ll fall too.”
Sarah and Lily had landed on a moving platform below.
Miriam controlled it from behind the shield.
The platform began descending toward the underground railway.
Sarah held Lily against her.
“Don’t be afraid.”
Lily touched Sarah’s face.
“You’re afraid.”
Sarah looked up at Claire.
“Find the lower station!”
Miriam activated a second platform and disappeared downward.
Mason led Claire toward the service stairs.
Daniel stayed with Four-B while Elias and Jonah guarded Olivia.
Rose and Iris followed Claire.
The stairs ended at three tunnels.
Claire heard Lily singing from the center passage.
Sarah was using the lullaby to guide them.
They ran.
The tunnel opened above a moving train.
Miriam stood on the rear carriage.
Sarah and Lily were trapped inside the front.
Claire climbed onto the roof.
Mason followed.
Wind tore at them as the train accelerated toward the coast.
Rose and Iris entered through a side hatch.
Inside the front carriage, Sarah found a control panel with two switches.
One opened Lily’s restraints.
The other disconnected the carriage from the train.
Miriam spoke through the speaker.
“You wanted your daughter returned.”
Sarah studied the switches.
“Release her.”
“Choose whether you want to be her mother or her rescuer.”
Sarah pressed the release.
Lily ran into her arms.
The carriage disconnected automatically.
It began rolling backward toward a collapsed section of tunnel.
Sarah realized the second switch had been a brake.
Claire reached the carriage roof.
“Jump!”
Sarah lifted Lily through the hatch.
Claire caught her.
The carriage moved farther away.
Mason reached for Sarah.
She could have jumped.
Instead, she returned to the controls.
“What are you doing?” Claire screamed.
“If I don’t stop this carriage, it hits the fuel line beneath Saint Orison.”
“Sarah!”
Sarah looked at Lily one last time.
“Take care of our daughter.”
May you like
The carriage disappeared into darkness.
A massive explosion shook the tunnel.
