Cipher of Sanity by Victoria S. Grant

Author:Victoria S. Grant
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Crime thriller books, Detective novels, Cult crime fiction, New mystery books, Psychological thrillers, Law enforcement novels, Urban crime drama, Police procedural books, Bestselling mystery series, Cult investigation stories, Suspense and crime novels, Detective and mystery books, Thriller books with female leads, Crime-solving novels, Dark cult fiction, True crime inspired novels, Mystery and detective series, Page-turner crime books, Fiction books about cults, Thrillers with strong female characters, Detective partnership stories, Crime fiction best sellers, Investigative thriller books, Legal thriller books, Community crime stories, Psychological crime thrillers, Intense crime novels, Mystery books with plot twists, Contemporary crime novels, Undercover investigation books, Organized crime fiction, Criminal mastermind novels, Gripping crime dramas, Edge-of-your-seat thrillers, Fictional crime series, Top-rated mystery novels, Books about criminal psychology, Mystery and suspense thrillers, Urban detective stories, Cult leader antagonist novels, Police detective books, Crime and justice fiction, Books with moral dilemmas, Law and order novels, Crime prevention novels, Social issue crime novels, Books about solving crimes, Thriller books about conspiracies, Detective hero books, Mystery novels with a twist.
Publisher: InnovateLit Press
Published: 2024-05-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Underground Secrets

Elise Bennett and Leo Marquez stood at the entrance of an abandoned subway station, its rusted sign barely clinging to the archway. The air was thick with the musty smell of dampness and decay. Their flashlights cut through the darkness, revealing graffiti-covered walls and debris strewn across the floor. This forgotten part of the city had been identified as a potential meeting place for The Order, based on the patterns and clues uncovered from the last raid.

"This place gives me the creeps," Leo murmured, his light sweeping over a faded mural.

"It's not meant to be welcoming," Elise replied, checking her watch. "According to the files, they used locations like this for initiations. Isolated, secretive, perfect for their needs."

They proceeded down the crumbling steps, each step echoing in the vast emptiness. As they reached the platform, the beam from Elise’s flashlight fell on a series of symbols spray-painted along the wall—symbols that matched those found in the dossiers from The Order.

"Looks like we're in the right place," Leo noted, taking pictures of the symbols with his camera. "These match the initiation rites described in Marcus's journals."

Elise nodded, her eyes scanning the dark corners of the station. "Let’s spread out. Look for any evidence that they’ve been here recently."

As they separated, their radios kept them connected, a lifeline in the oppressive gloom. Elise moved towards an old ticket booth, its glass broken, the inside filled with old newspapers and rat nests. She used her gloved hand to sift through the debris, looking for anything that didn't belong.

"Elise, you find anything?" Leo's voice crackled through the radio.

"Just trash so far," she responded, pulling out a water-damaged book with indiscernible cover art. "Nothing significant yet."

Meanwhile, Leo explored the far end of the platform, where he discovered a hidden door partially concealed by shadows and debris. "Elise, come over here. Found something."

Joining him, Elise shone her light on the door. It was steel, heavier than typical subway architecture. "This wasn’t part of the original station design. It’s been added."

Using their combined strength, they managed to pry the door open, the metal groaning as it gave way. Beyond lay a narrow tunnel, the walls rough and seemingly hand-carved, extending deeper into the darkness.

"This doesn’t look official," Leo said, peering into the abyss. "No telling how far it goes or what we’ll find."

Elise pulled a compact digital camera from her belt. "Let’s document everything. We might need to show this to the city engineers. Could be part of a larger network."

As they ventured into the tunnel, the air grew cooler and more stagnant. They found themselves walking down a gentle incline, the floor slippery with moisture. Every now and then, they would stop to mark their path, ensuring they could find their way back.

After about a hundred meters, the tunnel opened into a larger chamber. It was eerily silent, save for the distant drip of water. Their lights revealed several objects: candles, a few old books, and what looked like a makeshift altar.

"It’s definitely been used by The Order," Elise concluded, examining a book that contained names and dates.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.