Chapter 14 - Sealed In
The hydraulic spreader groaned and sparked as the heavy-duty motor of the pool cover fought against it. With a horrific crunch of breaking metal, the spreader slipped from the track.
Clang.
The massive Kevlar cover slammed shut, engaging the heavy magnetic locks. The pool was completely, entirely sealed.
Total darkness instantly consumed Daniel.
He was dragged violently down to the very bottom of the deep trench, slamming hard against the concrete floor. The heavy iron chain was wrapped tightly around his calf, pinning him beneath the crushing weight of the fallen marble statue.
He thrashed wildly, blind in the pitch-black water, trying to pry the heavy marble off his leg. It was impossible. The statue weighed hundreds of pounds, and he had no leverage. His lungs, already depleted from the previous rescue, were screaming for air. He was trapped in a completely sealed, pitch-black coffin.
Above ground, the scene was pure bedlam.
"Cut it open! Get the circular saws!" the fire captain bellowed, pointing at the Kevlar cover.
Firefighters rushed to the truck, firing up heavy, gas-powered circular rescue saws. They jammed the spinning, sparking blades into the thick Kevlar, trying to slice a hole through the reinforced material.
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Beside them, the paramedic stopped chest compressions.
Valeria coughed violently, rolling onto her side and expelling a massive amount of chlorinated water onto the tiles. She gasped for air, her eyes flying open in sheer terror.
