Chapter 9 - THE BASEMENT TUNNELS
The emergency brake system engaged with a deafening screech of grinding steel.
The elevator slammed to a halt just inches above the concrete basement floor.
Ethan kicked open the lower emergency hatch with violently repeated blows.
He scrambled out first, pulling Clara and then carefully dragging Tyler's heavy gurney out into the dark sub-basement.
The air down here was thick with damp rust and decaying concrete.
"We need to finish his surgery," Clara urged, checking Tyler's neck for a pulse.
"He is internal bleeding rapidly. His blood pressure is dropping below dangerous levels."
"There's an old subterranean medical vault under the cathedral," Ethan said, shining a tactical flashlight down the tunnel.
"It was built during the war as a fallout shelter. It has independent power."
They pushed the heavy gurney down the damp brick tunnel as footsteps echoed far behind them.
The mercenaries were descending down the elevator shaft.
"How many men do they have?" Clara asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"At least a squad of professional contractors," Ethan replied grimly.
"And they won't stop until everyone who saw that drive is dead."
They reached a heavy reinforced steel door marked with a faded medical cross.
Ethan entered a manual security code into the mechanical keypad.
The heavy steel lock disengaged with a dull metallic thud.
They slipped inside just as a hail of bullets struck the iron door from down the hallway.
Ethan slammed the door shut, spinning the heavy wheel locking mechanism into place.
May you like
They were safe for now, but they were completely trapped inside a subterranean grave.
