Arguments broke out among the officials. “Smugglers?” one asked. “Bootleg tunnels?” another guessed. Daniel shook his head. “The soil’s too loose. This isn’t something that sat untouched for decades. Whoever dug this, they’re still working it.” His words silenced the group, leaving a hush that felt heavier than the soil itself.
The officer beside him muttered, “This doesn’t make sense.” He stared at the map again, tracing the tunnel’s path. It didn’t cross any documented lines, didn’t match any old utilities. It led… somewhere else. And the fact that no one could say where—that was the most frightening part of all.