Chapter 6 - The Second-Floor Gamble
The explosion rocked the foundation of the mansion, sending shockwaves through the floorboards and plunging the room into a chaotic haze of dust and ringing ears. Ethan shoved Claire and the infant down into the escape tunnel just as the blast wave swept over them. Ryan, thrown backward by the concussive force, managed to grab the edge of the hatch and pull himself inside as Ethan slammed the heavy steel door shut, locking it from within. Pitch blackness enveloped them, broken only by the dim, pulsing red emergency light of the medical monitor Claire still clutched. The baby whimpered softly, a sound so fragile it seemed to echo through the concrete bowels of the earth. ""Keep moving! Don't stop!"" Ethan urged, guiding them through the damp subterranean corridor. Behind the steel door, muffled shouts and heavy hammering indicated that the tactical team had already reached the hatch and were attempting to breach the lock.
