Cold water rushed across the floor.

Ethan lifted Ava into his arms.

Claire grabbed Margaret’s hand.

Ward helped Arthur Bell stand.

The emergency tunnel began filling rapidly.

“There is another exit,” Evelyn said.

“Where?” Ethan demanded.

“Through the old player vault.”

Samuel disconnected the remaining wires from his body.

His legs gave way.

Conrad caught him before he hit the floor.

The two older men stared at each other.

For eighteen years, they had been enemies linked by one secret.

Now Conrad pulled Samuel’s arm across his shoulder.

“You are not dying before you explain everything.”

Samuel gave a weak laugh.

“You still sound like the owner.”

They moved deeper into the chamber.

Dane remained behind.

Bianca looked back.

“Marcus!”

He stood in the water beside the central computer.

“The survivor database cannot leave this room.”

Ward shouted, “There are people on that list who deserve to know who they are!”

“There are also governments and companies that would hunt them.”

Dane entered a destruction code.

Bianca ran toward him.

He pushed her away.

“Go!”

A steel door began closing between them.

Bianca grabbed its edge.

“You came here to find the truth.”

“I found it.”

“And?”

Dane looked toward Ava.

“The truth is more dangerous than Eleanor.”

The door slammed shut.

An explosion shook the tunnel.

Bianca screamed his name.

Ethan pulled her away as the water rose above their knees.

They reached a circular vault lined with old baseball equipment.

Locker numbers covered the walls.

927 stood directly ahead.

Claire inserted the brass key.

The locker opened.

There was no tunnel inside.

Only a black suitcase.

Ethan lifted it out.

The suitcase contained passports, money, medical files, and a small handheld radio.

The radio crackled.

A woman’s voice spoke.

“Samuel, can you hear me?”

Evelyn recognized it immediately.

“That is Eleanor.”

The radio continued.

“The stadium was only the first Northstar facility.”

Samuel looked at the files inside the suitcase.

A map showed dozens of marked locations around the country.

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Eleanor’s voice became colder.

“Bring Ava to Facility Twelve, or every surviving child will be exposed.”