Water in Shaft 37

People started screaming in the concourse. Soot drifted down from the ceiling like burned paper. Lin’s phone buzzed again. Unknown number. One line: Do not go into the relay shaft. It is not an exit. He held the phone up for the others. Lena took one look and said, “Someone knows we’re here.” Marcus tightened his grip on the anti-riot baton. “Then somebody’s waiting ahead.” Lin looked at the yellow-marked steel door and understood, finally, that they had not reached this place by accident. Someone had led them to the source. And what was waiting ahead was not only an exit. It was an answer. *** # Chapter 7: The Burned Bridge