Chapter 8: The Room Beneath the Gymnasium
Principal Collins spread Mateo's drawing across the security desk.
"Where did you get this?"" she asked.
Mateo looked uncomfortable.
"From my dad's apartment. It was inside an old box of his work papers.""
Daniel examined the map.
"Thomas must have given me this before he disappeared.""
"Why didn't you remember it?"" Mateo asked.
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
"Because I never saw this particular page. It was probably mixed into the documents.""
Principal Collins pointed to a small square marked beneath the gymnasium.
"Is this room still accessible?""
Daniel shook his head.
"Not through the main building. The entrance was sealed after a renovation.""
Officer Brooks studied the map.
"How do we get inside?""
Daniel traced a line with his finger.
"There's an old maintenance corridor connecting the gymnasium to the basement storage area.""
Principal Collins frowned.
"That corridor was closed before I became principal.""
"Was the entrance removed?""
"No. It was covered with a storage cabinet.""
Officer Brooks looked at the clock.
"We need to notify the responding officers.""
Daniel shook his head.
"Wait.""
He pointed to another notation.
"Look here.""
The handwritten words were faint.
*SECOND LOCK — OFFICE KEY.*
Principal Collins stared.
"Office key?""
Daniel looked at the flash drive.
"Patricia has the key to the old archive. But the second key may still be inside the school.""
Officer Brooks immediately called the maintenance department.
"Do you have access to the old basement corridor?""
The maintenance supervisor responded.
"Which corridor?""
"Under the gymnasium.""
A pause.
"That area is supposed to remain locked.""
"Can you open it?""
"I'll need the master key.""
"Bring it to the security office.""
While they waited, Daniel sat beside Mateo.
"Son, where exactly did you find this map?""
"In your old toolbox.""
Daniel looked surprised.
"You went through my toolbox?""
"I was looking for the screwdriver to fix my bicycle.""
Daniel almost smiled.
"That sounds like you.""
Mateo lowered his voice.
"There was something else in the box.""
"What?""
"A picture.""
He reached into his backpack and pulled out a small photograph.
It showed Daniel standing beside Thomas Reed in front of the old administration building.
Both men were younger.
Between them was a metal cabinet with a red label.
*STUDENT ASSISTANCE RECORDS — ORIGINAL COPIES.*
Daniel stared at the photograph.
"Where did you find this?""
"Behind the map.""
He turned it over.
On the back was a handwritten sentence.
*IF THE SYSTEM FAILS, THE TRUTH IS UNDER THE GYM.*
Principal Collins looked at Daniel.
"Thomas planned for this.""
Daniel nodded.
"He knew someone might try to erase the records.""
Before they could continue, the maintenance supervisor arrived.
His name was Walter Price.
He was a stocky man in his sixties who had worked at Westbrook for almost thirty years.
He carried a heavy ring of keys.
When he saw the map, his expression changed.
"I know that corridor.""
Principal Collins looked at him.
"You do?""
Walter nodded.
"I helped seal the entrance.""
"Why?""
"District order.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"Who gave the order?""
Walter looked at him.
"Richard Hale.""
Daniel exhaled.
"Of course.""
Walter placed the keys on the desk.
"There was something strange about that job.""
"What?"" Officer Brooks asked.
"We were told to cover the entrance with a storage cabinet and install a new lock. But nobody explained why.""
He paused.
"Then I was instructed never to enter the area again.""
Principal Collins frowned.
"Did you follow the instruction?""
"I had no choice. It was a district order.""
Officer Brooks picked up the keys.
"Let's see whether we can open it.""
They moved toward the gymnasium.
The school was almost empty now.
A few teachers remained in their classrooms, unaware of the investigation unfolding beneath their feet.
Walter led the way toward a storage room behind the gym.
He moved a stack of folding chairs.
Behind them stood a large metal cabinet.
Daniel approached slowly.
"That's it.""
Walter pushed against the cabinet.
It barely moved.
"Help me.""
Officer Brooks joined him.
Together, they shifted it several inches.
A narrow metal door appeared behind it.
The paint was peeling.
A heavy lock held it shut.
Walter tried several keys.
The third one turned.
CLICK.
The door opened with a long metallic groan.
A stale smell drifted out.
Daniel coughed.
"That's the old corridor.""
Officer Brooks switched on his flashlight.
The narrow passage descended into darkness.
Principal Collins stayed near the entrance.
"Be careful.""
Officer Brooks nodded.
He went first, followed by Daniel and Walter.
Mateo remained beside me at the top.
Then he looked at the open doorway.
"Dad!""
Daniel turned.
"Stay there, son.""
Mateo hesitated.
"Be careful.""
Daniel smiled faintly.
"I will.""
The three men disappeared down the stairs.
I stood beside Mateo, listening to their footsteps.
A minute passed.
Then another.
Suddenly, we heard Walter shout.
"Raymond!""
Officer Brooks' voice echoed through the corridor.
"Don't touch anything!""
Principal Collins hurried toward the entrance.
"What is it?""
A flashlight beam moved across the walls.
Then Daniel appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
His face was pale.
"Margaret, you need to come down.""
She looked at Mateo.
"Stay with Sofia.""
Then she followed him.
Mateo grabbed my sleeve.
"What did they find?""
"I don't know.""
A few seconds later, a loud metallic sound came from below.
Then Officer Brooks shouted:
"Everybody get back!""
The lights in the storage room flickered.
A security alarm began ringing somewhere above us.
Mateo stepped backward.
"What is happening?""
I didn't answer.
Then Walter emerged from the corridor.
His face was covered in dust.
"Someone's inside.""
Mateo stared at him.
"Inside where?""
Walter looked toward the basement door.
"Someone is already in the records room.""
Before he could explain, a man's voice came from the darkness.
"Daniel Alvarez?""
Daniel appeared behind Walter.
His expression had changed completely.
A figure stepped into the flashlight beam.
He was wearing a dark blue maintenance uniform.
In his hand was a metal key.
Daniel stared at him.
"Thomas?""
The man slowly lowered his hood.
It wasn't Thomas Reed.
It was Richard Hale.
He smiled.
"Hello, Daniel.""
Officer Brooks immediately raised his hand.
"Put the key down.""
Richard ignored him.
Instead, he looked toward the staircase.
His eyes settled on Mateo.
Then he spoke.
"Your father should have listened when I told him to stay out of district business.""
Daniel moved in front of his son.
"You stay away from him.""
Richard laughed.
"You're still making the same mistake.""
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small remote control.
Officer Brooks stiffened.
"What is that?""
Richard pressed a button.
A heavy metal door slammed somewhere beneath the gymnasium.
Then the emergency lights went out.
In the darkness, I heard Mateo scream.
And when the lights returned, Richard Hale was gone.
So was the key.
But something else had changed.
May you like
A small red indicator was blinking inside the records room.
And from somewhere behind the sealed metal door came the sound of a telephone ringing.
