Chapter 12
The Checkpoint
Marcus and Derrick split from Maya, Thorne, and Hollis to drive to a pharmaceutical depot. As they approach a police checkpoint on Highway 17, Marcus pulls over and hides Derrick in the back seat moments before the patrol car's spotlight hits them.
The door clicked shut behind them, and the loading dock swallowed the last of the daylight. Marcus stood still, letting his eyes adjust. The air smelled like dust and floor wax and something metallic—old pipes, maybe. A single emergency light glowed at the far end of the hallway, casting long shadows.
Hollis moved ahead without a word, his footsteps soft on the worn linoleum. He stopped at a door marked "Chemistry Wing — Authorized Personnel Only" and swiped the keycard. The lock beeped, and the door swung open.
They entered a long, narrow lab. Rows of stainless steel tables lined both walls. Beakers and flasks sat in neat rows, covered in a thin layer of dust. The fluorescent lights hummed to life, flickering twice before settling into a steady buzz.
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