Chapter 9 - THE TRAIN
Federal agents intercepted the medical train at an abandoned freight junction.
Henry detached the laboratory car before they arrived.
The car rolled onto a private track leading into a mountain tunnel.
Rebecca Carter knew the tunnel.
Their father had used it to transport subjects between facilities.
A tactical team entered from one side while Ortiz approached from the other.
I remained at the hospital command center with Brandon.
Grace’s camera activated again.
She had restarted it using the silver key.
The red vial contained medication keeping her heart stable.
The supply would last only hours.
Henry planned to force the procedure using Grace instead of Noah.
Luke’s cells could stabilize either child.
He intended to choose based on who appeared more valuable.
Noah listened from his hospital bed.
“He’ll choose Grace. I’m older.”
The fourteen-year-old said it without self-pity.
That frightened me.
He had been taught to measure his worth through usefulness.
Dr. Brooks looked at him.
“You are not a failed version of anyone.”
Noah stared at the wall.
He did not believe it yet.
Agents reached the train car.
Henry had escaped through the opposite tunnel with Grace.
But the lab contained the complete treatment formula.
Dr. Brooks could now treat both Noah and Grace safely if she was recovered.
A map in the train showed Henry’s final destination.
Carter Research Center.
The original clinic had never closed.
Its public building was abandoned.
The underground facility remained active.
Madeline admitted she knew.
She had lied because the center contained evidence that could imprison her.
Rebecca Sloan offered no immunity.
Madeline chose to help anyway after learning Henry intended to remove Grace’s heart tissue.
For the first time, her fear for a child seemed real.
But remorse after decades of control did not erase the past.
She gave agents the entrance code.
Then she looked at Brandon.
“Your father will destroy everything before he loses.”
Brandon answered, “So did you.”
The words silenced her.
Federal teams entered the facility.
They found rows of empty pediatric rooms.
At the center was a surgical theater.
Henry stood beside Grace.
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One hand held a syringe.
The other rested on an explosive trigger.
