Chapter 11: Beneath St. Mary's Hospital
The old hospital wing had been closed for almost fifteen years.
At least, that was what the public records said.
From the outside, St. Mary's looked ordinary.
White walls. Bright windows. A clean entrance surrounded by carefully maintained gardens.
But behind the building, a narrow service road led to a loading dock.
No signs.
No security cameras.
Just a steel door with a keypad.
Harris parked two streets away.
"That's the entrance," he said.
Claire looked nervous.
"There's supposed to be a guard.""
I checked the time.
11:26 p.m.
"We don't have much time.""
Harris examined the keypad.
"Four-digit code.""
Claire shook her head.
"I don't know it.""
I looked at the bracelet.
R-17.
Then I remembered Sarah's warning.
Follow the red staircase.
I searched the wall beside the door.
Behind a loose metal panel was a small red emergency lever.
I pulled it.
A warning bell sounded inside.
The door clicked open.
Harris stared at me.
"How did you know?""
"I didn't.""
We entered.
The corridor smelled of disinfectant and damp concrete.
Fluorescent lights flickered overhead.
At the end of the hallway stood a staircase.
Its railing was painted red.
I stopped.
"That's it.""
We descended.
The sound of the rain disappeared behind us.
At the bottom was another door.
A sign read:
*MEDICAL RECORDS — AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY.*
Claire tried the handle.
Locked.
Harris stepped forward and examined the electronic panel.
"Give me a second.""
He removed a small tool from his pocket.
"Where did you learn that?"" I asked.
He glanced at me.
"Police academy.""
"Really?""
"No.""
Before I could ask further, the lock clicked.
The door opened.
Inside was a long room filled with filing cabinets and computer terminals.
But the room wasn't empty.
A young nurse sat at a desk.
She looked up and immediately stood.
"You're not supposed to be here.""
Harris showed his badge.
"Where are the children?""
The nurse went pale.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
Claire stepped forward.
"Where is Dr. Voss?""
The nurse looked toward the far wall.
Then she whispered:
"He's downstairs.""
"How many children?""
"Seven.""
"Are they alive?""
She nodded.
"Yes.""
Harris exhaled.
"Where's Grace?""
The nurse's eyes widened.
"You're Grace's father?""
Harris stepped closer.
"Please.""
She lowered her voice.
"Room twelve.""
He almost ran.
I grabbed his shoulder.
"Wait.""
He looked at me.
"There's a security guard outside.""
I nodded toward the camera monitor.
Three men were visible in the corridor.
One wore a police uniform.
The second wore a hospital coat.
The third was holding a black duffel bag.
Claire leaned toward the screen.
"That's Voss.""
A door opened behind them.
A little girl appeared.
Curly brown hair.
Yellow sweater.
Grace.
Harris made a sound I had never heard from another grown man.
"Grace.""
The nurse looked at him.
"Your daughter has been asking for you.""
He started toward the door.
I stopped him.
"Not yet. We need to get all seven children out.""
He wiped his face.
"You're right.""
The nurse opened a drawer and handed me a keycard.
"Take this. It opens the lower corridor.""
"Why are you helping us?""
She looked down.
"My younger brother was one of the first children they brought here.""
Claire stared.
"What happened to him?""
The nurse's eyes filled with tears.
"They told my parents he died during treatment.""
She paused.
"I saw him yesterday.""
Harris looked at her.
"Where?""
She pointed toward a computer screen.
A list of names appeared.
Beside each name was a status.
Lily Whitmore — TRANSFER PENDING.
Emma Rivera — TRANSFER PENDING.
Grace Harris — RELEASE DENIED.
Noah Bennett — RELEASE DENIED.
Sophie Collins — TRANSFER PENDING.
Ben Parker — TRANSFER PENDING.
Tyler James — TRANSFER PENDING.
At the bottom was another name.
A name I had never expected to see.
*JACOB MERCER.*
I stared.
My younger brother had died when he was six months old.
Or at least, that was what my parents had told me.
I turned toward Claire.
"Who is Jacob Mercer?""
She looked at the screen.
Then at me.
"Sarah told me about him.""
I couldn't breathe.
"Tell me.""
"Eleven years ago, Sarah discovered that Voss had been using false death certificates to move children between facilities. One of those children was a baby boy.""
"Jacob?""
She nodded.
"She believed he was connected to you.""
I stepped closer to the screen.
The record contained a birth date.
The same date as my brother's.
But there was another detail.
*BIOLOGICAL FATHER: COLE MERCER.*
I felt the floor shift beneath me.
Before I could process it, the nurse pointed toward the corridor.
"They're coming.""
We turned.
The door opened.
A man in a white medical coat entered.
Dr. Nathaniel Voss.
He was in his late fifties, clean-shaven, with silver hair and an expression of practiced kindness.
He looked at me.
Then he smiled.
"Well, Cole.""
He closed the door behind him.
"After eleven years, we finally meet again.""
I stepped forward.
"Where is Lily?""
Voss glanced at the bracelet in my hand.
"First, I'd like you to give me that.""
"Why?""
"Because it belongs to my daughter.""
"She's Sarah's daughter.""
He smiled.
"That's what Sarah wants you to believe.""
Harris raised his weapon.
"Put your hands where I can see them!""
Voss sighed.
"Michael, you really should have stayed home.""
Then he pressed a button on the wall.
A heavy steel door slammed shut behind us.
Red lights flashed.
The nurse screamed.
A mechanical voice announced:
"LOCKDOWN INITIATED.""
Voss looked at me.
"You see, Cole, I was hoping we could do this peacefully.""
He pointed toward the monitor.
A live camera feed showed seven children sitting inside a room.
Lily was crying.
Emma was holding her hand.
And behind them stood a man with a syringe.
May you like
Voss smiled.
"Now, let's discuss your little girl.""
