CHAPTER 11: THE CHOICE

Eli ran toward the train.

Mason caught him around the waist.

“Let me go! That’s my mother!”

Adrian stared at the hooded prisoner.

Every instinct told him the trap had been designed around his grief.

The unknown prisoner might be Daniel.

Or Elena.

Or no one connected to him at all.

Emma shook her head violently.

“Don’t come closer!”

A thin wire ran from her chair to an explosive device beneath the seat.

Adrian saw another wire beneath the hooded prisoner.

He had less than a minute.

The voice spoke again.

“One door will remain open.”

Adrian looked at Mason.

“Can you disable the explosives?”

“Not from here.”

Eli struggled harder.

“She came back for me. We have to save her!”

Adrian made his decision.

“Emma.”

The hooded prisoner suddenly began fighting against the restraints.

A muffled voice screamed beneath the fabric.

Adrian forced himself not to look.

He stepped onto the train.

His legs shook with every movement.

Emma’s eyes widened.

“You’re walking.”

“Your son helped me.”

“He should never have touched you.”

Adrian crouched beside the wires.

Emma whispered, “The blue wire is false. Pull the black one.”

“How do you know?”

“I built the device.”

Adrian looked at her.

Before he could respond, the train door began closing.

Mason fired into the mechanism.

The door stopped halfway.

Adrian pulled the black wire.

The timer froze.

Mason rushed aboard and cut Emma free.

The door behind the hooded prisoner slammed shut.

The train began moving.

Adrian grabbed the handle, but his weakened leg collapsed.

Through the glass, he saw the hooded prisoner tear one hand free.

A silver ring flashed beneath the light.

The same ring Sebastian Cross had worn in the photograph.

The train disappeared into the tunnel.

Emma held Eli tightly.

Adrian turned toward her.

“Was that Sebastian?”

Emma’s face filled with terror.

“No.”

“Then who was it?”

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She looked toward the dark tunnel.

“That was your son.”