The tunnel seemed endless, the beam of Daniel’s headlamp swallowed by darkness ahead. The officers moved slowly, radios crackling faintly. Then, a glow flickered in the distance. Not theirs. A separate light, bobbing toward them. Daniel froze, heart slamming in his chest. Someone was down here.
“Hold your ground,” the lead officer whispered, one hand resting on his holster. The glow grew brighter, footsteps scuffing against damp soil. Then a figure emerged—a man in ragged clothes, sweat gleaming on his forehead, eyes narrowing at the sight of strangers in his tunnel.