Chapter 21 - THE DARKNESS IN THE VAULT
The rhythmic *tap... tap... tap...* echoed through the pitch-black subterranean corridor of the bank vault, sending a chilling jolt straight down Daniel’s spine. The air instantly grew heavy, carrying the unmistakable scent of damp earth and rust—the exact same scent that had haunted the walls of his childhood home before everything fell apart. His heart pounded wildly against his ribs as he stood frozen in the absolute darkness, his fingers still hovering inches away from the glowing blue LED light of the strange flash drive.
"Who's there?" Daniel shouted, his voice cracking slightly in the confined space, though his instincts screamed at him to run.
There was no verbal response. Only the relentless, mocking rhythm of the hidden hammer continuing its slow assault on the concrete. *Tap... tap... tap...*
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Suddenly, the emergency backup lights flickered to life, casting a sickly, amber-tinted glow across the metal safety deposit boxes. Daniel’s eyes darted frantically toward the ventilation shaft at the end of the narrow corridor. The metal grate was slightly ajar, swinging lazily on a single rusted hinge. Without a second thought, he grabbed the black USB flash drive, shoved it deep into his coat pocket, and snatched the folded paper from the metal shelf.
He didn't wait for the elderly bank attendant. Daniel bolted down the corridor, weaving past the rows of heavy brass vaults, and burst through the main security doors into the quiet, empty lobby of the bank. The afternoon sunlight hit his eyes like a physical blow as he pushed through the glass entrance and stumbled onto the sidewalk. But as he looked across the street, a cold sweat broke out across his forehead. Parked by the curb was a nondescript black sedan—the exact same vehicle that had been tailing him for the past three days. And sitting in the driver's seat, watching him through dark aviator sunglasses, was a man holding a small, battery-operated radio receiver that was emitting a faint, rhythmic static hum.
