Page 347 of Hidden Depths
He cut the filament.
Then slowly turned the handle.
Room Fourteen was empty.
The chair from the photograph sat in the center.
The ropes lay on the floor.
Blood stained one armrest.
But Mom was gone.
Nathan crossed the room.
He touched the blood.
Still wet.
“They moved her.”
Ward examined the floor.
“Not far.”
A soft scraping sound came from behind the wall.
Nathan lifted his head.
“Eleanor?”
Silence.
Then three faint knocks answered.
Nathan found a metal shelving unit bolted across a second doorway.
Ward and Ben helped him drag it aside.
Behind it was a narrow storage room.
The door was locked.
Nathan hit it with his shoulder.
Once.
Twice.
The frame cracked.
On the third strike...
The door flew open.
Mom sat on the floor with her hands tied in front of her.
“Mama,” I whispered.
