Chapter 7: Locked Inside

The emergency alarm echoed throughout White Capital Headquarters.

Red warning lights flashed across every hallway while the building's automated voice repeated the same announcement.

"Security lockdown activated. All exits have been sealed."

"Please remain where you are."

Employees rushed into the corridors, panic spreading from one floor to another.

"What's happening?"

"Is it a fire?"

"Why won't the elevators work?"

Inside the executive conference room, Amelia frantically typed commands into her laptop.

"I've lost access to the building's security servers," she said.

"Someone has overridden administrator privileges."

Detective Mason immediately spoke into his radio.

"Dispatch, this is Detective Mason. White Capital Headquarters is under a cyberattack. Request tactical support immediately."

Only static answered him.

He frowned.

"They've jammed our communication frequencies."

Dennis looked toward the windows overlooking downtown.

"Whoever planned this knew exactly when we'd discover the flash drive."

"Which means they've been watching us," Theresa replied calmly.

Unlike everyone else in the room, she showed no sign of panic.

"If they wanted us dead immediately, they could've simply blown up the building."

"This lockdown has another purpose."

"To trap us," Detective Mason answered.

"Exactly."

Suddenly the lights flickered.

The conference room went dark.

Several employees outside screamed.

Emergency lighting switched on a few seconds later, casting everything in an eerie red glow.

Amelia looked at another monitor.

"Power is shutting down one floor at a time."

"They're forcing everyone toward the lower levels."

"Where's the backup generator?" Dennis asked.

"Basement Level Two."

"If they disable it completely, the building will be blind."

Theresa immediately stood.

"Then that's where we're going."

"It's dangerous," Mason warned.

"Which is exactly why whoever is behind this expects us to stay here."

"We're moving."

The group left the conference room.

Outside, frightened employees filled the hallway.

"Chairwoman!"

"What's happening?"

"Should we evacuate?"

"Stay together," Theresa instructed firmly.

"Nobody separates."

"Use the emergency stairwells."

"Security staff, escort every employee to the lobby."

"No one enters the basement except us."

Within minutes the executive team headed toward the emergency stairs.

Halfway down, the lights suddenly went out again.

Complete darkness surrounded them.

"Flashlights," Mason ordered.

Several beams illuminated the narrow concrete staircase.

A loud metallic bang echoed from somewhere below.

Dennis froze.

"Did you hear that?"

"Yes," Mason replied.

"Someone's down there."

They continued descending cautiously.

When they reached Basement Level One, they found the security office completely destroyed.

Computer monitors had been smashed.

Security cameras ripped from the walls.

Hard drives were missing.

"This wasn't random vandalism," Amelia whispered.

"Someone erased evidence."

Theresa noticed muddy footprints leading toward another stairwell.

"They're fresh."

"Keep moving."

As they reached Basement Level Two, they found the generator room door hanging open.

Inside, the massive backup generators continued humming.

"They're still running," Dennis said.

"Then why is the building losing power?"

"Because someone disconnected the distribution panels," Amelia answered after examining the controls.

"The generators are producing electricity... it's simply not reaching the upper floors."

Detective Mason suddenly raised his hand.

"Quiet."

Everyone stopped.

Footsteps.

Slow.

Steady.

Coming from the far end of the corridor.

A tall man dressed in black tactical clothing emerged from the darkness.

His face was hidden behind a mask.

"Good afternoon, Chairwoman White," he said calmly.

"We've been expecting you."

"Who are you?" Mason demanded, drawing his weapon.

The masked man laughed.

"Just an employee cleaning up loose ends."

"Where's Harold Pierce?" Theresa asked.

"Alive... for now."

"And the Chairman?"

"You'll meet him soon enough."

"Arrest him!" Mason shouted.

The masked man tossed a small metal object onto the floor.

"Flash grenade!"

"Down!"

A blinding burst of light filled the corridor.

Everyone instinctively shielded their eyes.

By the time their vision returned, the masked man had disappeared.

Only a black envelope remained on the floor.

Dennis carefully picked it up.

Inside was a single photograph.

It showed Theresa leaving White Capital that very morning.

Someone had been watching her from across the street.

On the back of the photograph, a handwritten message read:

"You should have stayed out of this."

"The next warning won't be so kind."

Detective Mason immediately looked around.

"We're being monitored in real time."

"Search every corner."

One of the officers examining the generator room suddenly called out.

"Detective!"

"You need to see this!"

Everyone hurried over.

Attached beneath the main control panel was a digital timer connected to several explosive charges.

The countdown displayed:

09:58...

09:57...

09:56...

Dennis's face turned white.

"That's a bomb..."

Theresa remained remarkably calm.

"Can it be defused?"

Mason examined the wiring.

"Not by me."

"We've got less than ten minutes."

"Then call the bomb squad," Dennis said.

"Communications are still jammed," Amelia reminded him.

The timer continued counting down.

09:12...

09:11...

Theresa looked directly at the device.

Then at the corridor where the masked man had disappeared.

"This isn't meant to destroy the building," she said quietly.

"It's meant to force us into making a choice."

"What choice?" Dennis asked.

Before Theresa could answer, a hidden speaker suddenly crackled to life.

The same distorted voice from the recording echoed through the basement.

"Good afternoon, Ms. White."

"If you want everyone in this building to survive..."

"Come to the rooftop."

"Alone."