Chapter 24:The Hidden Passage
562 Words
The stone wall rumbled as it slowly slid open.
A cold gust of air rushed through the narrow tunnel beyond.
Isabella held the lantern tightly.
Her father's words echoed in her mind.
"Protect the truth... no matter what."
Damien stepped in front of her.
"I'll go first."
Daniel shook his head.
"No. It's another trap."
The poisonous gas continued to fill the chamber.
The countdown read:
09:43
"We don't have a choice," Isabella said.
They entered the tunnel.
The passage was narrow and dark, with old stone walls covered in dust.
The only sound was the dripping of water somewhere ahead.
Then...
Footsteps.
Slow.
Steady.
Coming toward them.
Damien tightened his grip on the metal pipe.
"Who's there?"
No answer.
The footsteps grew louder.
Finally, a shadow appeared.
A man in a black hood stepped into the lantern's light.
His face was hidden.
He raised both hands peacefully.
"I'm not your enemy."
Damien didn't lower the pipe.
"Prove it."
The stranger slowly reached into his pocket.
He pulled out an old photograph.
It showed Amelia Lancaster...
Standing beside him.
Edward was in the picture too.
Daniel's eyes widened.
"I know him."
Isabella looked at her father.
"Who is he?"
Daniel smiled weakly.
"This is..."
"Michael Ross."
"Your mother's bodyguard."
Michael removed his hood.
His hair had turned gray, but his eyes remained sharp.
"I've been hiding for twenty-three years."
"The Black Serpent Society thought I was dead."
He looked at Isabella with tears in his eyes.
"You look just like your mother."
Isabella's heart raced.
"You knew my mother?"
"I swore an oath to protect her."
Michael lowered his head.
"I failed."
Daniel placed a hand on Michael's shoulder.
"No."
"You survived."
"And now you're protecting her daughter."
Michael nodded.
"I've been secretly watching over Isabella since she was a child."
"What?" Isabella whispered.
"When you fell from your bicycle at age ten..."
"I was the man who called the ambulance."
"When someone tried to kidnap you at sixteen..."
"I stopped them before they reached you."
"You've never truly been alone."
Tears filled Isabella's eyes.
Before she could speak—
A loud explosion echoed through the tunnel.
The ground shook violently.
"The chamber!" Damien shouted.
Michael's expression changed.
"Nathan has activated the self-destruct system."
He pointed deeper into the tunnel.
"Hurry!"
They ran.
Behind them, the walls began collapsing.
Large stones crashed to the ground.
Dust filled the air.
The countdown reached:
03:15
Finally...
They reached a massive iron door.
Michael placed his hand against a hidden scanner.
Access Granted.
The door slowly opened.
Fresh air rushed inside.
They had escaped.
But as they stepped outside...
More than fifty armed men surrounded them.
Nathan stood in the center, smiling calmly.
He applauded slowly.
"Excellent."
"You solved the first test."
Raven stepped forward, aiming her pistol at Isabella.
"But every game..."
"...has a final round."
Nathan looked at Daniel.
"So..."
"The prisoner escaped."
He smiled.
"It doesn't matter."
He snapped his fingers.
Two guards dragged another prisoner into the clearing.
The prisoner wore a hood.
Nathan looked at Isabella.
"You may save only one."
He pointed at Daniel.
"Your father."
Then at the hooded prisoner.
"Or..."
"...the person under this hood."
Nathan slowly removed the hood.
Isabella gasped.
It was Sophie—her childhood best friend.
She was bruised, frightened, and tied to a chair.
Nathan smiled cruelly.
"You have sixty seconds."
"Choose."
- Writer
