Behind us, a loud grunt echoed through the tunnel as the security guard managed to push Ethan off him.

The guard reached into his jacket, his hand closing around the grip of a black metal flashlight.

But before he could swing it, the heavy metal door at the far end of the tunnel burst open.

The beam of a powerful searchlight cut through the darkness, blinding us all.

“Police!” a voice yelled from the doorway.

“Drop the weapon and put your hands on your head!”

The guard froze, the flashlight slipping from his fingers and clattering onto the concrete.

He slowly raised his hands, stepping away from Ethan.

Three police officers rushed into the tunnel, their boots splashing through the puddles of dirty water.

One of them tackled the guard to the ground, while the other two secured the area.

Ethan stood up, wiping a smear of soot from his forehead, and rushed to my side.

He looked down at the incubator, his hand touching the plastic dome right above Maya’s head.

“We need to get them back to the clean room immediately,” Ethan said, his voice thick with emotion.