Chapter 5 - The TunnelThe tunnel was narrow and wet.

We ran through darkness while footsteps echoed behind us.

Maya led.

Dad followed.

I was in the middle.

At one point, someone shouted my name.

"Evan!"

I nearly stopped.

Dad grabbed me.

"Don't listen."

"How do they know my name?"

"They've been watching."

The tunnel opened into an underground chamber.

Old pipes crossed the ceiling.

A single bulb flickered above a concrete table.

Maya locked a steel door behind us.

"We have five minutes."

"Before what?"

"Before they breach the tunnel."

Dad walked toward the table.

There was a folder sitting on it.

He opened it.

Inside were documents.

I recognized the Halcyon logo.

"Read this."

I scanned the first page.

My name appeared.

So did Jake's.

So did Maya's.

There were dates.

Locations.

Surveillance codes.

Then I saw one phrase.

"Family leverage protocol."

"What is that?"

Dad looked at me.

"It means if an operative becomes a liability, the family becomes a target."

I stared at the list.

Mom.

Jake.

Me.

Maya.

"Why was Maya on it?"

"Because her father knew too much."

Maya's face went pale.

"My father didn't just work for Halcyon."

She took a document.

"He created the system."

I looked up.

"What system?"

"The memory program."

Dad didn't correct her.

Maya continued.

"Halcyon developed psychological conditioning for witnesses."

I felt cold.

"They could manipulate people?"

"Sometimes."

"How?"

"Fear. Medication. Isolation. False memories."

I stared at Dad.

"Did they do that to Mom?"

He didn't answer.

Maya did.

"Yes."

My heart stopped.

"What?"

"Your mother wasn't killed."

Maya's voice softened.

"She was taken."

"By Halcyon."

"Yes."

"And Jake knew?"

"He discovered the records two years ago."

I remembered Dad saying Jake had called me.

"You said Jake tried to contact me."

Maya nodded.

"He was trying to warn you."

"For what?"

She looked at me.

"Because someone inside Halcyon had betrayed them."

"Who?"

Maya looked at Dad.

Dad's expression was empty.

"Me."

Silence.

"You betrayed Halcyon?"

"Years ago."

"Then why are you still alive?"

He gave a tired smile.

"Because they thought I was useful."

The light above us flickered.

Maya checked her watch.

"Three minutes."

"Where are we going?"

"To your mother."

I nearly collapsed.

"She's here?"

"No."

"Then where?"

Maya opened a second door.

"She's in a facility outside the city."

Dad grabbed her shoulder.

"You can't take him there."

Maya pulled away.

"You no longer get to decide."

I looked between them.

"Why not?"

Maya's eyes filled with tears.

"Because your father isn't telling you the most important part."

"What is it?"

She took out a photograph.

It showed Jake.

Behind him was a woman in a hospital bed.

My mother.

But written across the bottom were four words.

SUBJECT TRANSFERRED: YESTERDAY

My hands began shaking.

"She's gone."

Maya nodded.

"Your mother escaped."

"Then where is she?"

Maya looked toward the tunnel door.

"We don't know."

A terrible pounding shook the metal.

Someone had reached us.

Dad whispered:

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"Jake does."

The door began to bend inward.