Daniel didn't stop running. The sound of his footsteps echoed in the stairwell as he ascended back into the bowels of Hollow Creek. His heart thundered, rumbling in his chest, a constant reminder that he was now deep in the enemy's lair. The door at the top of the stairs creaked open, and the first thing he noticed was the silence. No guards, no more footsteps. But he couldn't afford to relax. Not yet.
He stepped into the main hall of the building, clutching the bag containing the files he'd managed to gather. The lab, now eerily empty, felt even more sinister in the dim light. The stale air hung heavily, as if even the building itself was holding its breath. Every shadow seemed to move. Every flicker of light seemed ominous. He couldn't help but feel that the walls were closing in on him, just as the conspiracy surrounding Corvin Medical had been slowly tightening its grip on his every move.
But now, for the first time, he had the truth. The files. The records. Everything that had been hinted and leading towards at, everything the spirits had whispered to him, was finally in his hands.
It wasn’t just an experiment. It was a systematic effort to silence and exploit vulnerable populations, those who had no voice, no protection. Immigrants, homeless people, and children. In a sense it's like throwing 1 stone to get 3 birds. People who had been injected with experimental viruses under the guise of medical trials. His mind raced as he pieced it all together. The pharmaceutical company Corvin Medical had been involved in more than just shady business practices. They were conducting human trials, illegal, unsanctioned, and cruel and they had covered up the results by wiping away any trace of the victims, erasing their existence, and creating a legacy of lies.
But who was behind it?
Daniel’s eyes flickered to a folder he hadn’t seen before, half-hidden under a pile of paper on a nearby desk. With trembling hands, he pulled it out. The name on the top made his stomach drop: "Reddick, T."
The same name he'd encountered in one of the medical records. The same name that had been linked to the first trial, the first round of experimental subjects. It wasn’t just the company that was corrupt, it was the people behind it, the men who had turned Hollow Creek into a graveyard of lost souls.
And the worst part? One of those names was familiar.
Thomas Reddick. The same Reddick who had been in charge of Corvin Medical’s Phase Zero trial, a trial that had killed hundreds and was covered up by the company. The same Reddick who had been operating under the radar, burying evidence, silencing whistleblowers. He was the key to everything.
But Reddick wasn’t just a figurehead. According to the folder, he was a member of an even darker network...an underground syndicate of pharmaceutical execs, government officials, and rogue researchers, all of whom had ties to not only Corvin Medical, but several other companies involved in illegal trials. This wasn’t just a corporate cover-up, it was a conspiracy of immense scale, spanning across borders, involving the rich and powerful, and extending into every corner of the system.
Reddick wasn’t just complicit; he was a key figure in an international syndicate of pharmaceutical executives, corrupt officials, and rogue researchers. Together, they’d built an empire on suffering, burying evidence and silencing anyone who got in their way.
But why? Why would they do such things..for what? Is gaining fortune from the life of others such a pleasure to them? Daniel ached and was helpless with things that he found out, out of just curiousity from the ghost whispers. He didn't know Maria and Sophia's Voice and their sufferings were all because of this illegal actions conducted by more powerful hidden figures.
Daniel stuffed the folder into his bag, adrenaline spiking as he heard muffled voices. Guards. He froze, his ears straining. The voices grew louder, accompanied by the steady sound of boots on concrete. They were searching for him.
Daniel ducked into the shadows, pressing himself against the cold wall. His mind raced as he weighed his options. The stairwell leading to the fire escape was at the far end of the hall, but the guards were between him and freedom. He clenched his jaw, gripping the bag tighter. He couldn’t let them catch him, not with everything he now knew.
The voices drew closer. He could see the flashlights sweeping the corridor, their beams cutting through the darkness. He waited until the guards turned a corner, their backs to him, then slipped out of the shadows. Every step felt like an eternity, his heartbeat pounding in his ears.
One of the guards turned back, muttering something to his companion. Daniel froze mid-step, his breath catching in his throat. The guard lingered for a moment, then continued down the hall.
Daniel didn’t wait. He bolted, sprinting toward the stairwell. The guards shouted behind him, their footsteps pounding after him. He hit the door and threw it open, the sound echoing like a gunshot. He didn’t dare look back as he raced up the stairs, each step feeling heavier than the last.
Bursting through the fire escape door, he stumbled into the cold night air. The alley stretched out before him, a narrow path lined with shadows. He didn’t stop running, his mind focused on one thing: getting the evidence to someone who could help.
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Daniel's head was spinning. He had to get out. He had to take the information to someone who could expose it, someone who could actually take down Corvin Medical and its associates. But he couldn’t do it alone. Not anymore.
There was one person who could help, someone he had been avoiding since the beginning of this nightmare, someone who he had worked alongside with in the past, Detective Sara Lee. She had always been on the periphery of his life, someone who had tried to push him into investigating the disappearance of his daughter years ago. But Daniel hadn’t been ready to confront those ghosts yet. Now, with this new, even more dangerous truth in his hands, he knew he couldn’t go through it alone.
A chill crawled down his spine. Who could have known? And who could he trust?
As he ran, Daniel fumbled for his phone. His fingers trembled as he dialed a number he hadn’t used in years. The phone rang twice before a voice answered, a calm, unfamiliar tone.
“Who is this?” the voice asked.
“Detective Lee?” Daniel panted, his words barely coherent through the adrenaline and exhaustion.
There was a long pause on the other end of the line. His pulse quickened. Was she really going to help him? Or was this just another dead end?
"You’ve reached the wrong number" came her response, cool and dismissive. "Please check the number and try again.”
Daniel gritted his teeth, his patience snapping. “Stop this bullshit, Sara. I need your help.”
There was a pause. Then a familiar voice came through, laced with exasperation. “Hey! You know there’s a procedure for this. But judging by your panting and the fact that you’re calling me after years. I’m guessing you’re running for your life. What the hell is going on, Daniel?”
“Corvin Medical” he said, his voice hoarse. “I found the files. Hollow Creek. It’s bigger than I thought,Reddick, the trials...it’s all here.”
Sara’s tone shifted, becoming sharp and focused. “Wait what? What have you gotten yourself into…and you're in Hollow Creek?”
“Not for long” Daniel said, glancing over his shoulder. “I’m on my way out, but they’re after me.”
“Stay on the line” Sara said. “I’ll guide you out.... And Daniel?”
“What?”
“You owe me a hell of an explanation when this is over.”
Daniel managed a faint, bitter laugh. “Add it to the list.”
Before he could continue the conversation further, the sound of a door slamming open echoed through the hallway. Daniel froze. A figure stood in the doorway..a tall man, clad in dark military-style gear, holding a flashlight and a weapon. Behind him, more figures appeared, all of them dressed the same.
Daniel's heart dropped. They had found him.
He didn't waste a second. Grabbing the files, he darted into the nearest room a small utility closet, its door barely able to close behind him. His breath came in ragged gasps as he crouched low, praying they wouldn’t find him. Through the narrow slats in the door, he saw the men moving down the hallway, their footsteps loud in the otherwise dead silence. They were searching for him. It was only a matter of time before they found him.
A sudden sound..like a whisper, caught his attention. It was faint at first, but as he strained to listen, he realized it was coming from the darkness.
"Dad" the voice murmured, low and trembling. "You have to leave."
It was Emily's voice.
His heart twisted in his chest. But he couldn’t focus on that now. He had to focus on getting out alive.
---
The men moved past the closet, and Daniel didn’t waste any time. He crept out, pressing himself flat against the wall, trying to stay hidden in the shadows. His mind raced, trying to recall any exit routes he had noticed on his way in.
He spotted a stairwell at the end of the hall, leading up toward what appeared to be a fire escape. It was his only shot.
As he moved toward it, he caught sight of the men again. They were now talking into a walkie-talkie, their heads swiveling in every direction, eyes scanning every corner.
There was no time.
Daniel bolted. He ran as fast as he could, his feet pounding against the concrete floors. The men were shouting now, their pursuit growing louder. But Daniel’s legs carried him faster, and before he knew it, he was at the door to the fire escape.
He threw it open with a force he didn’t know he had left, slamming it behind him. The cold night air hit him like a slap, but he didn’t stop.
His breath came in ragged bursts as he ran down the narrow alley behind the building. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, what to do next, who to trust, how to expose Reddick and the others who had been involved in the conspiracy.
The alley stretched out before him, a labyrinth of turns and dead ends. The call that was on hold finally reconnected, Sara’s voice in his ear was his only anchor.
“Take the next left” Sara instructed. “It’ll lead to a service road. There should be fewer guards.”
Daniel followed her directions, darting down the narrow path. The shouts of the guards echoed behind him, growing fainter as he weaved through the maze of alleys. His legs burned, his breath came in ragged gasps, but he didn’t stop.
Finally, he burst onto the service road. A dark sedan idled at the curb, its engine humming softly. The passenger door opened, and Sara leaned out.
“Get in!” she shouted.
Daniel didn’t hesitate. He dove into the car, slamming the door behind him. Sara hit the gas, the tires screeching as they sped away from Hollow Creek.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Daniel leaned back, clutching the bag of files, his mind racing.
Sara glanced at him, her expression unreadable. “You better have something good in there.”
Daniel met her gaze, his eyes steely. “I have everything.”
(To be Continued)