The stone staircase descended in a tight spiral beneath the bank.
The steel panel slid shut behind them with a heavy thud.
For a moment, the only sounds were their footsteps and the muffled explosions echoing from above.
Evelyn clutched the notebook beneath one arm.
The silver flash drive remained firmly in her hand.
Anthony led the way, using a small flashlight Mercer had handed him.
"Stay close," he whispered.
"The tunnel is older than the bank itself."
Benjamin ran his fingers along the damp stone wall.
"This wasn't built as an escape route."
Mercer nodded.
"No."
"It was built over a century ago."
"William discovered it by accident during the bank's renovation. He secretly restored it in case this day ever came."
The tunnel stretched farther than any of them expected.
The
