Chapter Three - Even Underground Burns

Elliot knelt and touched the seam. Heat bit into his fingertips immediately. "The structure above is burning," he said. "Above?" Carl repeated. "Parking deck," Nad said in a strangled voice. "If the deck catches, the heat will dump straight down the shaft." Sophie grabbed the radio. "Everyone stay in your compartments. Keep clear of the north vents. Repeat, keep clear of the north vents—" She never finished the sentence. The entire corridor jolted. Not an explosion. Structural deformation. Steel under prolonged heat load had started to warp, and the concrete above it had begun to crack. Fine dust fell from the ceiling like ash. A few particles landed on a light cover and hissed. "You said this place was safe," Carl said, each word measured.