Chapter 6 - The Dark Tunnel
The drilling noise vibrated aggressively through the concrete walls.
Bright orange sparks showered from the edges of the panic room door.
Vincent pulled a high-powered flashlight from the emergency supply cache.
He clicked it on, illuminating Charmian's terrified face.
"They brought thermal lances."
Vincent assessed the situation instantly.
"The steel door will melt in less than three minutes."
Charmian gripped the pistol so tightly her knuckles turned white.
"What do we do?"
Vincent walked over to a seemingly normal metal floor grate.
He grabbed the edges and hoisted the heavy grate out of its frame.
A dark, narrow tunnel extended deep into the earth below.
"My father built this smuggling tunnel during the prohibition era."
Vincent climbed down onto the rusted iron ladder.
"It leads to a secondary garage two miles away from the estate."
Charmian did not hesitate.
She climbed down into the damp darkness immediately behind him.
Vincent pulled the grate back into place just as the panic room door collapsed.
Heavy boots pounded against the floor above them.
Vincent and Charmian moved rapidly through the freezing, muddy tunnel.
The air smelled of stale water and ancient dirt.
They walked in complete silence for nearly twenty minutes.
Charmian suddenly stopped and grabbed the back of Vincent's shirt.
"Wait."
She whispered urgently.
Vincent froze in his tracks.
"I smell gasoline."
Charmian pointed her trembling finger forward into the darkness.
Vincent shined the flashlight down the length of the tunnel.
Dozens of plastic explosives were wired directly to the wooden support beams.
A tripwire was stretched tight across the muddy path just inches from Vincent's boot.
Someone already knew about the secret escape route.
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A chilling voice echoed from the far end of the dark tunnel.
"You always were too predictable, Vincent."
