Chapter 10: B: The Violent Depressurization

👉 Previous Decision: You chose to delay by questioning Julian about his corporate allies.

“Who are you working with, Julian?” Maya demanded, her voice rising above the train’s roar. “Is this a corporate takeover? Who else is involved in this?”

Julian, pinned by Ethan and O’Reilly, laughed, a harsh, dismissive sound. “You think you understand, Maya? You think it’s that simple?” He shook his head, a mocking smile on his lips. “There’s so much you don’t know.”

The delay, however brief, was a fatal miscalculation. Julian’s eyes darted past them, spotting something. With a sudden, explosive burst of strength, he tore free from O’Reilly’s grip, twisting and slamming his elbow into Ethan’s face. Ethan staggered back, clutching his nose.

Julian lunged for a red lever by the main door. It was the emergency door release latch.

With a powerful yank, he pulled it down. A violent WHOOSH! The heavy bulkhead door flew open, and the pressure in the cabin dropped instantly. A deafening roar of wind and rushing air filled the carriage, sucking loose papers and debris into the churning vortex.

O’Reilly, still regaining his balance, was caught off guard by the sudden depressurization. He stumbled, pitching forward, slamming his head against a metal post. He crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

Julian, his face stark against the chaos, vanished into the sudden, wide-open doorway, swallowed by the darkness and the roaring wind.