Chapter 13
The rush of the subterranean storm pipe was blinding, dark, and disorienting. Icy water surged around Julian’s chest as he fought to keep his footing on the slick concrete floor of the tunnel, holding Anna securely against his shoulder. The roar of the rushing water echoed off the curved concrete walls, drowning out all other sound.
Ahead of him, Elena was struggling to keep her head above the current, slipping on the algae-covered surface. Sarah moved with practiced efficiency, splashing through the waist-high water to grab Elena’s arm, hauling her forward toward a faint circle of natural daylight visible at the end of the long concrete tube.
“Keep moving! Almost there!” Sarah shouted over the roar of the water.
With one final, desperate push, Julian broke through the mouth of the storm drain, stumbling out onto the gravel riverbank just beyond the city’s industrial district. The grey morning rain had finally stopped, replaced by pale, weak shafts of sunlight piercing through the heavy cloud cover.
Julian collapsed onto the damp pebbles, gasping for breath, gently lowering Anna onto the grass beside him. The ten-year-old girl shivered violently, coughing up a small amount of water, but her eyes remained bright and clear. She looked around at the open sky, taking a deep, shuddering breath of fresh air.
Elena fell to her knees beside her daughter, pulling the wet white dress around Anna’s shivering shoulders, weeping openly. “You’re safe. You’re finally safe.”
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Sarah climbed out of the drain last, wringing out the hem of her tactical jacket, scanning the riverbank and the distant city skyline for any sign of pursuit. Sirens wailed in the distance, echoing across the bridges, but none of them were headed toward the secluded drainage outle
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