Shaft 37

The man they had dragged down was named Daniel Vaughn, a contractor liaison for the city emergency office. He was alive, but not by much. His back looked caved in, sweat clung to him in a fine sheet, and his throat wheezed around every breath. Erin and Marcus moved him into an empty exam room and shut the door. The screaming, running, and wheel squeal in the hall dropped into a muffled throb, like hearing the world through a heat-blown pane of glass. Lin locked the door and turned back in time to see Daniel open his eyes. “Basement,” he rasped. “Don’t let them go down there.” “Who?” Erin asked. Daniel tried to lift his hand and winced so hard his whole body jerked. His face had gone the color of wet ash. “The list. Blackouts aren’t random.