Chapter 8 - Escape Through the Storm
Using a heavy iron crowbar from Marcus's kit, the tactical team pried off the industrial vent cover behind the mainframe array. The ventilation shaft was tight, dark, and filled with the rushing sound of water from the torrential storm outside, but it was wide enough for an adult to crawl through.
"Go, go, go!" Marcus ordered, pushing his men in first to scout the pipe, followed by Clara, then Nathaniel, with Marcus bringing up the rear to secure the entrance.
They crawled through fifty yards of cold, metallic piping while the alarms behind them squealed in crescendo. The air grew cooler and fresher as they approached the exit, until suddenly the shaft opened up into a massive concrete subterranean storm drainage canal running directly beneath the city streets. Water rushed past at knee-depth, swelling from the endless rain above.
Nathaniel helped Clara out of the pipe, steadying her as her boots hit the rushing water. "Are you okay?"
"I am now," she said, looking up at him through wet hair, her eyes filled with years of unspoken words. "Nathaniel... I'm so sorry. Eight years ago, Vance threatened to destroy Apex and frame you for illegal human trials if I didn't disappear. I thought if I hid in the shadows, I could protect you."
"You saved my life then, Clara," Nathaniel said, pulling her close as they moved along the drain walkway toward the street exit ladder. "And tonight, our daughter saved us all. You don't ever have to apologize for protecting our family."
They reached the ladder leading up to a storm grate on 5th Avenue. Marcus climbed first, using a hydraulic jack to pop open the heavy iron manhole cover. One by one, they emerged into the howling storm, stepping out onto the empty, rain-swept street just two blocks away from St. Jude Hospital.
Waiting at the curb was Marcus's secondary armored transport. As Nathaniel opened the door for Clara, his phone rang. It was Renata from the ER.
May you like
"Nathaniel!" Renata's voice was urgent over the speaker. "Vance's lawyers just arrived with a corrupt deputy sheriff! They're trying to execute an emergency custody warrant to seize Lily and Maya right now!"
"Hold them for three minutes, Renata," Nathaniel said, his voice dropping into absolute ice. "We're coming in."
