Chapter 2 - Shadows in the Ward
Red emergency beacons flashed on within three seconds, painting the ICU corridors in bloody crimson. Alarms began screeching from the nursing station down the hall.
Marcus drew his weapon immediately, barking orders into a lapel radio that hissed back with dead static. ""Comms are jammed! Sector lock down now!""
Rachel didn't think; maternal instinct bypassed rational fear. She lunged forward, scooping Ethan off Kane’s chest into her arms. Ethan whined in confusion, rubbing his eyes against her collarbone.
Kane grunted in agony as he ripped the telemetry leads from his chest, tearing the intravenous line from his forearm. Blood trickled down his wrist, but his movements were terrifyingly practiced. He swung his legs over the edge of the mattress and grabbed Rachel’s wrist with surprising strength.
""The service stairwell at the end of the east corridor,"" Kane commanded, his voice deep and urgent. ""Move!""
""Hey! Freeze!"" one of Marcus's agents shouted, turning his flashlight beam directly onto the bed.
Kane snatched a heavy steel IV pole and hurled it like a javelin into the agent's chest, knocking the armed man sprawling across the tiled floor.
Rachel bolted through the side door, clutching Ethan against her ribs. Gunfire spat through the doorway, shattering the glass partitions into a spray of glittering shards.
She hit the stairwell door, barreling down into the concrete gloom, Kane stumbling closely behind. As they reached the basement exit, Kane shoved a battered leather keychain into her hand.
""Parking garage, bay B-12. An unmarked black sedan,"" Kane panted, leaning heavily against the concrete wall. ""Take the boy and go.""
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""I am not leaving without answers!"" Rachel hissed. ""Where is Daniel?""
Kane looked at her through the strobe of emergency lights. ""He’s thirty miles from here, watching his own grave. And if we don't move right now, you'll be joining him.""
