By the time the crews packed up for the night, Daniel felt the weight of what was coming. The tunnel was there, undeniable. Tomorrow they would go deeper. And deep down, he already feared the answer to the question no one wanted to say aloud: where did it lead?
Morning brought no peace. The sinkhole loomed larger in daylight, its edges roped off, machinery parked like sentinels. Daniel sipped bitter coffee on the porch, watching officials return in clusters. Claire hovered beside him, her voice low. “You don’t have to get involved.” But he already knew he would.