The Zero Game

53

The instant the steel cable started moving, Janos pounced for the nearby phone on the wall.

“Hoist…” the female operator answered.

“This cage that’s coming up right now — can you make sure its next stop is at the Ramp?” Janos asked, reading the location from the sign.

“Sure, but why do you-?”

“Listen, we got an emergency up here — just bring the cage as fast as you can.”

“Everyone alright?”

“Did you hear what I-?”

“I got it… the Ramp.”

Buttoning his jacket, Janos watched as the water rained down and a cold wind blew from the mouth of the open hole. Shoving his hands in the side pocket of his jean jacket, he felt for the black box and flicked the switch. Thanks to the rumble of the approaching cage, he couldn’t even hear the electrical hum.

Over his shoulder, the wood benches started to rattle. Farther up the tunnel, the fluorescent lights began to flicker. The bullet train was on its way, and from the deafening roar, it wouldn’t be long.

With a final wheeze, the metal vault popped up from the abyss.

Janos dove at the latch on the corroded yellow door. Don’t give them a chance to catch their breath. Grab them and keep them boxed in.

Yanking on the lock, he whipped the door open. A slap of shaft water flicked him in the face. As the door crashed into the wall, Janos’s jaw shifted to the right. He clenched his teeth even tighter.

“Sons of bitches…”

Inside the cage, drips of water rained down from the ceiling and slithered down the greasy metal walls. Other than that, the cage was empty.