Chapter 6 - The Infiltration of Saint Jude's
The rain hit the reinforced glass windows of Saint Jude’s Psychiatric Institute in heavy, rhythmic sheets. Perched on a cliff overlooking the stormy Dallas perimeter, the facility looked more like a cold concrete fortress than a place of healing.
At 3:15 AM, an unmarked black ambulance pulled into the rear loading bay of the hospital.
The driver’s side window rolled down. Rocco, dressed in a stolen paramedic uniform, leaned out and handed a clip-board to the security guard standing in the rain.
"Late night transfer from County General," Rocco said smoothly, his voice cool as ice. "Sedated patient for sub-level three."
The guard glanced at the clipboard, then reached for his radio. "We weren't notified of a transfer from County—"
Before the guard could finish his sentence, a suppressed round fired from the dark interior of the ambulance struck him in the chest. Rocco caught the guard’s body before it hit the pavement, dragging him into the guard shack and slapping the automatic gate button.
The ambulance backed into the underground loading bay.
The rear doors swung open. Alessio stepped out, dressed in full tactical gear, flanked by six of his elite hitmen. Behind them stood Sienna, wearing a gray hospital smock over her clothes, her hands cuffed in front of her with breakaway plastic ties.
"Power grid cut in three minutes," Rocco reported, checking his tactical watch. "Once the emergency generators kick in, we have a four-minute window before the hard locks seal the sub-levels."
Alessio turned to Sienna. He reached out, his gloved fingers gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "The second we breach the lab, stay behind me. Do not try to be a hero."
"I'm not trying to be a hero, Alessio," Sienna murmured, her heart hammering in her ribs. "I'm trying to go home to my sons."
Alessio’s eyes softened for a fraction of a second, his thumb brushing her cheek. "You are home."
BOOM!
A localized EMP charge detonated at the facility’s main power junction outside. Instantly, every light in the massive hospital complex went dark. Emergency red strobe lights flickered to life, casting an eerie, blood-red glow down the long concrete corridors as warning sirens began to wail.
"Move!" Alessio bellowed.
The team moved like a shadow through the corridors, clearing corners with terrifying military efficiency. Two guards who stepped out of the elevator were neutralized before they could raise their sidearms.
Sienna led the team through a maze of sterile hallways, her feet moving on pure muscle memory. "Left here! Down the laundry chute corridor! The red door with the biometric scanner!"
They reached the reinforced steel door marked RESTRICTED ACCESS — PROJECT GENESIS.
The red emergency lighting reflected off the polished steel surface. A digital keypad glowed faintly beside a glass hand-scanner.
"It needs a biometric scan," Rocco spat, pulling out a breach charge. "We don't have time to hack it. I'll blow the hinges!"
"No!" Sienna yelled. "Blowing the hinges triggers the internal fire suppression system! It floods the room with halogen gas! It will kill everything inside!"
She stepped up to the scanner. Her hand trembled as she placed her palm against the glass plate.
Scanning... the automated voice hummed.
A red light flashed. ACCESS DENIED. UNKNOWN USER.
"Damn it!" Rocco cursed. "Her records were wiped!"
Sienna closed her eyes. The piercing headache returned, a white-hot knife twisting inside her brain.
A voice from three years ago echoing in her mind: “You are Subject 01, Elena. Your master code is your wedding date.”
Sienna’s eyes snapped open. She reached for the digital keypad beside the scanner and typed six numbers without hesitation: 0-9-1-4-2-1.
BEEP.
The digital display turned bright green.
WELCOME, MRS. MARCHETTI. ACCESS GRANTED.
The heavy steel doors unlatched with a loud pneumatic hiss, sliding open to reveal a massive underground laboratory filled with bubbling glass vats, medical centrifuges, and wall-to-wall computer monitors.
May you like
And standing at the far end of the lab, beside a stainless-steel desk holding three vials of glowing blue serum, was a tall, thin man with slicked-back gray hair and a silver pinky ring.
Dr. Victor Kane.
