Chapter 12 - The Conservatory Escape
The air grew sharply colder as Arthur led the small group down a narrow, forgotten service corridor behind the formal dining room, away from the roaring inferno consuming the main wings of the mansion. The walls here were unpainted brick, slick with condensation and illuminated only by the sweeping beam of Julian’s heavy-duty flashlight. Clara buried her face deeper into Julian’s shoulder, her small frame shivering as the draft carried the damp, earthy smell of the underground tunnels they had explored earlier that evening.
“How much further?” Julian demanded, his boots crunching on the gravel floor as he struggled to maintain a fast pace while carrying his daughter.
“Just through the iron gate at the end of this passage,” Arthur called back over his shoulder without breaking his steady stride. “This was originally designed as a discreet exit for the estate’s servants during the prohibition era. Your mother tried to brick it up a decade ago, but she always lacked your grandfather’s thoroughness with a sledgehammer.”
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Julian didn't dignify the remark with a response. His entire focus remained locked on protecting Clara, his muscles burning from the physical exertion and the relentless surge of adrenaline. Behind them, Eleanor’s breathing sounded ragged and shallow, the elderly woman struggling to keep up with the brisk pace set by the two men.
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