The station doors opened.

The figure stepped inside.

Every firefighter froze.

Ray couldn’t speak.

“Daniel?”

The man removed his helmet.

Gasps filled the room.

It was him.

Older.

Scarred.

But alive.

Ray stepped forward.

“How is this possible?”

Daniel looked exhausted.

“They lied to all of you.”

The room fell silent.

“What do you mean?” Ray asked.

Daniel glanced at the baby.

Then at the little girl.

“They kept us underground.”

Nobody understood.

Daniel continued.

“The warehouse collapse wasn’t an accident. Under it was a hidden tunnel system. When the building came down, I survived.”

Ray stared at him.

“Then why didn’t you come back?”

Daniel’s face darkened.

“Because I wasn’t alone.”

The little girl lowered her head.

Daniel placed a hand on her shoulder.

“I found dozens of people trapped beneath the mountain. Families. Children.”

The firefighters exchanged shocked looks.

“For three years,” Daniel said, “someone kept those tunnels secret.”

Suddenly the station radio crackled.

A voice came through.

“Daniel Brooks has been located.”

Everyone froze.

The voice continued.

“Recovery team is en route. Do not allow him to speak.”

Daniel’s eyes widened.

“They found me.”

Outside, black SUVs screeched into the parking lot.

Men in dark uniforms jumped out.

Ray looked from the window back to Daniel.

“Who are they?”

Daniel grabbed the baby and backed away.

His voice trembled.

“The people who buried us.”

A loud bang echoed from the front door.

Another.

The lock began to break.

The baby started crying.

The little girl screamed.

And just before the door burst open—

Daniel shouted:

“They’re not after me…”

He looked at the child.

“They’re after her.”