Code(84)

We entered a long, dark room packed with humming machinery. The air was hot and stale, and smelled of thousand-year dust. Tiny lights flickered on control panels, adding to the weak yellow glow oozing from the ancient halogens overhead.

The chamber had an oppressive, claustrophobic feel.

I knew we were in the right place.

I scanned my immediate area, but saw nothing sinister. “Any ideas?”

Jason was peering ahead into the gloom. “There’s an archway at the far end.”

“That must be the way.”

With Jason leading, we squeezed through a maze of equipment. My eyes were darting everywhere. I was acutely aware of the Gamemaster’s love for traps. This was the final cache location. It was sure to be protected.

In seconds we reached the archway. Beyond it was a short passage, which ended at another filthy door. Metallic shavings littered the floor beneath the jamb.

“Rust flakes.” I brushed an orange hinge with one finger. “This door was opened recently.”

Jason was reaching for the knob when Ben caught his forearm.

“Let me. This psychopath likes nasty surprises.”

Jason stepped aside.

Ben grasped the brass knob. It turned without resistance.

The door creaked open, revealing a dim chamber beyond. Bunched tightly together, we tiptoed inside.

I heard Hi hand-strafe the wall. Seconds later overhead bulbs flickered to life.

“Wow.” Shelton pointed.

This room was smaller than the first, dominated by two massive HVAC units locked inside a chain-link corral. A labyrinth of air ducts and pipes snaked across the ceiling before disappearing upward to the floors above. The only access was the door through which we’d entered.

But none of that had caught Shelton’s attention.

Hanging from a wire in the room’s center was a single red balloon.





CHAPTER 45





“Don’t touch it!”

Every Viral shouted at once.

“Okay!” Jason raised both palms. “But how can a balloon be dangerous?”

“In this game, everything is dangerous!” Shelton had dropped into a judo stance.

Though fully inflated, the balloon dangled from the ceiling. My every instinct screamed in warning.

“Nobody move.” I tried to order my thoughts. “Where are we?”

“That’s AC equipment.” Ben pointed to the riot of metalwork above our heads. “We’re in some kind of ventilation room.”

The first inkling of suspicion formed in my mind. “Is the AC on tonight?”

Hi shook his head. “If those suckers were running, you’d know it. HVAC units roar like jet engines.”

Shelton jabbed another finger. “What’s that?”

A steel box sat to the left of the corral. Shiny and dirt free, the modern-looking cube stood out from the rest of the grimy machinery. I craned my neck for a better look.

The box was constructed of sheer metal sheets bolted together along the edges. Its exterior was smooth and unmarked, except for the top, which had two rectangular niches cut into its surface. The first niche held a built-in LCD touchscreen covered by a clear Plexiglas shield. The second was empty. Its thick plastic cover allowed a view into the guts of the device.

Curious, I took a step toward the box and rose up on my tiptoes, thankful that Whitney had chosen dressy sandals for my outfit and not murderous high heels.

My neck hairs went vertical.

Above the LCD screen, stamped into the metal, was a single leering clown face.

“This is it!” Adrenaline shot through me. “We found the bomb!”

“How do we turn it off?” Jason started forward before I could stop him. On his third step, I heard a soft snap.

“Get down!” I screamed.

Everyone but Jason reacted instantly.

The balloon dropped from its wire.

Behind me, I heard the screech of metal on metal.

THUMP!

The lights flickered, recovered, then resumed their electric buzz.

I cringed, face pressed to the dirty floor, eyes squeezed in fearful anticipation.

Nothing happened.

I cracked one eyelid. The other. Glanced around.

Jason had frozen in a half-crouch. Ben was lying flat on his stomach, eyes darting. Hi had assumed the airplane crash position, while Shelton was curled into a ball.

“Everyone okay?” I checked myself for wounds, found none. But streaks of brownish grit ran the length of my white silk gown.

“Yeah.” Ben dusted himself off.

“I think so,” Jason said, still rooted in place.

“I’m tired of this garbage!” Shelton whined. “But fine.”

“Ah, guys?” Hi had un-turtled and was staring back the way we’d entered.

The light from the passage had dimmed.

Ben dashed through the door, then cursed loudly. Metal rattled in the corridor.

I lurched to my feet, recalling the room-shaking thump. “What is it?”

“Some sort of . . . grate.” More harsh clanking. “It dropped from the ceiling and is blocking the entrance.”

“No no no!” Shelton streaked to Ben’s side. “Lift it up!”

I hurried to investigate. Down the passage, Ben was shaking a steel grill similar to those used to secure stores in shopping malls. It had fallen directly between the electrical room and us.