Chapter 4 - THE FIRE ALARM CHAOS
Sprinklers burst to life in the hallway outside, sending cold streams of water cascading down the walls.
Red emergency strobe lights flashed wildly against the concrete, blinding everyone inside the small security control room.
Panicked hotel guests began shouting in the main lobby upstairs, their footsteps echoing through the air vents.
Clara shielded baby Maya under her light blue shirt, protecting the pink blanket from the falling water droplets.
Brenda used the sudden chaos to her advantage, shoving past the security guard and sprinting out into the dark, flooded hallway.
"Brenda! Stop right there!" Mr. Cole yelled, but his voice was swallowed whole by the roaring alarm sirens.
"We need to get out of the basement before the automatic fire doors lock us in!" the security guard shouted above the din.
Mr. Cole wrapped his navy blue suit jacket around Clara’s shoulders, shielding her and the baby from the rising water.
"Follow me to the executive elevator! I have an emergency override key!" Mr. Cole ordered, grabbing Clara’s arm gently.
They navigated the chaotic, smoke-filled corridor, passing terrified housekeeping staff fleeing toward the emergency stairwells.
As they reached the heavy iron fire door at the end of the hall, the heavy steel barrier dropped down, sealing the exit.
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They were trapped in the lower basement level as smoke began pouring in through the ceiling ventilation ducts.
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