PART 10 — The voice from the dark
The flashlight beam cut through the bars of the ventilation grate and landed on a gurney in the corner of the bare cell. Someone was lying on it. A figure, emaciated and wearing a worn-out hospital gown. My heart stopped. "Thomas…?" I whispered hoarsely through the grate. The figure on the gurney moved slowly. A hand, pale and covered in bruises, gripped the edge of the mattress.
The head turned with great effort toward the light. A sunken face, deep dark circles under the eyes, but the look in those eyes… I would know that look out of a thousand. It was Thomas. He lifted his head and looked at the grate with watery eyes. His lips moved, but at first, no sound came out. Then I heard a raspy, barely audible whisper. "Frank…?" Tears burned in my eyes instantly.
I pressed my face against the cold metal of the grate. "I'm here, Thomas! I'm here! I found you!" Thomas shook his head weakly, a look of fear washing over his tired face. "No… you have to leave… they're coming… they know you're here…" "I'm not going anywhere without you," I said, a knot in my throat. I looked back at Van der Meer, who was now standing by the grate, staring at Thomas in horror.
"Doctor Van der Meer…?" Thomas managed to say, catching sight of the doctor in the dim light. "You… you were helping them, weren't you?" "I didn't know, Thomas. I didn't know how far they went," Van der Meer said in a trembling voice. He immediately reached for the iron pipe wrench I had brought. "Here, Frank. Try to force the lock on the door from the other side.
There must be an emergency override." I leaped up, left the storage room, and ran to the heavy door of Thomas's cell. There was an electronic lock, but on the side was a small emergency panel that could be unscrewed. With shaking hands, I fitted the wrench onto the screw and began to pry. The metal groaned. Suddenly, a loud siren echoed through the corridors of Unit 4.
A red alarm light began to flash rhythmically. "Unauthorized access detected in Sector 4. System locking down," a synthesized computer voice blared from the speakers. Van der Meer grabbed my arm. "They've detected us! The main entrance is about to lock down!" "Just a little more!" I screamed, pulling on the pipe wrench with all my strength. With a loud snap, the emergency panel popped open. I shoved my hand inside and grabbed the mechanical lever. I yanked it down. The heavy cell door slid open with a hiss.
