Chapter 24 - Ninety Seconds
The emergency staircase collapsed behind them.
Emily, Brandon and Abraham found themselves trapped on a maintenance platform above rushing water.
Across the chamber, Gideon and Evelyn had reached safety.
Silas stood near the only remaining bridge.
He raised his pistol.
Abraham stepped in front of Emily.
Silas laughed.
"Still protecting everyone except yourself."
"Put it down."
"You left me in Belgrade."
"I did."
"You believed a lie."
"I did."
"You chose Margaret."
"Yes."
Silas's hand trembled.
Abraham did not excuse himself.
That seemed to anger Silas more than denial would have.
"Say it wasn't your fault."
"No."
"Say Evelyn made you do it."
"No."
Silas's face twisted.
"Why?"
"Because what she changed explains what I believed."
Abraham looked at his brother.
"It does not erase what I chose."
Emily saw Silas hear the sentence Brandon had already learned.
Explanation was not absolution.
Behind them, Palisade's structural alarm announced ninety seconds until complete flooding.
Silas fired.
Brandon shoved Emily aside.
The bullet grazed his shoulder.
Abraham crossed the bridge before Silas could fire again.
They collided.
The pistol fell into the water.
Sixty seconds.
Silas struck Abraham.
Abraham struck back.
The old brothers fought above the flooded archive while decades of hatred finally had nowhere left to hide.
Thirty seconds.
Silas slipped.
His body went over the railing.
Abraham caught his wrist.
Silas hung above the rushing water.
He stared upward.
"Let go."
Abraham's injured arm shook.
"Give me one reason."
Silas smiled.
"You don't need one."
For a moment Emily thought Abraham might release him.
Instead he pulled.
Brandon grabbed Abraham's coat.
Emily grabbed Brandon.
Together they dragged Silas over the railing.
Gideon reached them as the water destroyed the platform below.
The group escaped through the emergency door with eight seconds remaining.
Behind them, Palisade vanished beneath black water.
Silas lay on the concrete coughing.
Abraham sat beside him.
Neither brother spoke.
Federal officers arrived moments later.
May you like
This time, Silas Shepherd left in handcuffs.
Alive.
