The Hidden Exit
586 Words
Hope's pulse raced.
Damien's voice still echoed through the hidden chamber.
«"I'm coming in."»
She looked around desperately.
There had to be another way out.
Her grandfather would never have built a secret room with only one entrance.
She took a deep breath and forced herself to think like Adrian.
"Never panic. The answer is always in front of you."
It was one of the many quotes engraved in the Kingsley Foundation.
Hope scanned the room.
Bookshelves.
The world map.
The fireplace.
The old mahogany desk.
Then her eyes fell on the portrait above the fireplace.
Unlike the others in the room, it showed Adrian standing beside the ancient oak tree.
In the corner of the painting was a small silver raven.
Hope touched it.
Nothing happened.
She pressed harder.
Click.
The fireplace slowly slid aside, revealing a narrow stone passage.
"I knew it," Hope whispered.
Adrian had planned for every possibility.
---
Outside the chamber...
Damien watched as technicians scanned the library wall.
One of them looked up.
"Sir."
"We've located a hollow section."
Damien smiled.
"Excellent."
"How long?"
"Less than five minutes."
Damien glanced at Adrian's portrait.
"You always were three moves ahead, Adrian."
"But this time..."
"I'll catch up."
---
Hope hurried through the narrow tunnel, carrying Adrian's diary, the crystal key, and the pocket watch.
The passage descended beneath the estate.
Electric lights embedded in the walls flickered on as she walked.
After several minutes, she reached another steel door.
Instead of a lock...
It had five keyholes arranged in the shape of a raven.
Hope frowned.
"So this is where the five Founder Keys belong."
She inserted the crystal key into the center keyhole.
It fit perfectly.
But nothing happened.
She removed it.
"So I really do need all five."
Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her.
She spun around.
"Alexander?"
A figure emerged from the darkness.
Hope relaxed.
"You found me."
Alexander smiled despite the bandage around his shoulder.
"I told you I'd find another way."
He looked around the tunnel.
"So this is Adrian's escape route."
Hope nodded.
"He expected someone to find the chamber."
Alexander examined the five keyholes.
"The Vault of Founders."
Hope looked surprised.
"You know this place?"
"My father mentioned it once."
"He said the five founders built one vault no one could open alone."
Hope glanced at the crystal key.
"So the Raven Archive is behind this door."
Alexander nodded slowly.
"I believe so."
Before they could continue—
The tunnel lights suddenly went red.
A hidden speaker crackled to life.
Adrian's recorded voice echoed through the corridor.
«Warning.
If anyone other than a descendant of the founders reaches the Vault...
The security protocol will activate.»
Alexander looked up.
"What security protocol?"
The tunnel shook violently.
Massive steel doors slammed shut at both ends of the passage.
Hope and Alexander were trapped.
A mechanical countdown illuminated the wall.
30:00
Hope stared at the timer.
"What now?"
Before Alexander could answer...
A second voice came through the speaker.
It wasn't Adrian.
It was calm.
Older.
And unfamiliar.
«Congratulations.
You have finally reached the Founders' Vault.»
Hope's heart pounded.
"Who are you?"
The voice replied with a quiet chuckle.
«I've been waiting fifty years for someone worthy enough to find me.»
Alexander's face turned pale.
He whispered,
"No..."
Hope looked at him.
"You know that voice?"
Alexander nodded slowly.
"I've never met him..."
"...but my father played me an old recording when I was a child."
Hope's eyes widened.
"Who is it?"
Alexander swallowed.
"The fifth founder."
- Writer
