Keira
What do you mean “the government”?
Doug
This is going to be a lot to take in…
Doug
But for the past ten years, Calvin and I have been working in a secret program for the government.
Doug
A few weeks ago, Calvin was fired when he was caught falsifying records.
Doug
Remember that video of the kid? The one who looked really angry?
Keira
What does that have to do with anything?
Doug
Part of our job was taking care of kids like that.
Keira
Wait…what do you mean when you say “taking care of kids like that?”
Doug
It was our job to euthanize them.
Keira
You’ve been KILLING kids?!
Keira
You and my HUSBAND kill KIDS?!
Doug
Wait — you don’t get it. These are extremely violent children.
Doug
They had no hope of rehabilitation despite all our efforts.
Doug
It HAD to be done to protect the safety of the outside world.
Doug
But Calvin created false reports—
Doug
He said the children in his care had been euthanized when they hadn’t.
Keira
That’s good, right?
Doug
Not exactly. Last week, the government figured it out.
Doug
They’ve been trying to locate the missing children ever since.
Keira stares at her phone. She’s shaking so hard, she can barely type.
This doesn’t make sense. None of it makes sense.
Keira
Why would the government ever resort to euthanizing kids?
Doug
Like I said, you have no clue how dangerous these children are.
Keira
Wait, why did you say Calvin is dead to you?
Doug
It was because of what he did.
Keira knows there’s something that’s being left out.
It doesn’t make sense for Doug to disown his own brother for saving the kids—
There has to be more to the story.
She closes her eyes, listening to the echoes of screams.
Were those real children?
There’s only one way to find out.
She walks further into the tunnel until she reaches a blind turn.
She takes a deep breath, and then presses forward.
There, she sees dozens of children.
Keira sends Doug a picture of the children.
They’re in dark cages and their faces are dirty, covered with dried food.
Keira
Oh my God…he kidnapped them…
Doug
You need to get out of there now.
Doug
If those are the kids who were supposed to be euthanized…
Doug
Come out. The police will escort you to safety. You’ll be protected.
Keira looks at the children. Many are crying and appear very weak.
A girl with a nametag "Lily" is begging for help.
Lily’s parents must be outside right now.
ALL of their parents are out there.
Keira studies the cages closely.
Keira
One of the empty cages seems to have been forced open from the inside.
Doug
That explains something…
Doug
Yesterday, one of the kids showed up at his parents’ home.
Doug
They called the police, but before they arrived, he viciously attacked his mother, almost killing her.
Doug
He started screaming that there were others like him with Dr. Calvin Piper.
Doug
Then he fled the scene and killed several neighbors before being shot by police.
Keira
I didn’t hear about this at all.
Doug
You would have…except the news cycle got hung up on the second part—
Doug
That Calvin’s been kidnapping kids.
Keira
These are CHILDREN.
Keira
They’re not murderers. But they’re being treated like that—
Keira
Locked in the dark and away from their parents.
Keira
I’m letting them out.
Doug
Please! I wasn’t exaggerating about the children.
Doug
They’re dangerous. It’s not just you who’ll be in danger.
Keira
Doug, seeing this in my house is messing with me completely—
Keira
I don’t even know if I can trust YOU anymore.
Doug
Just come out and let the government take care of it.
Keira
I’m not leaving dozens of children here to be executed.
Doug
Euthanized. They won’t even feel it.
Keira
How would you know? Have you ever been ‘euthanized?’
Keira
I’m not letting you kill them!
Keira looks at the children.
They’re sobbing and begging to be released.
She bites her lip before she sends a text to the Restricted number.
Keira
I don’t know who you are…
Keira
But I’m pretty sure I’m about to do exactly what you wanted.
Restricted
I know it’s hard to do the right thing.
Keira has a second of doubt.
If the Restricted texter is happy with her choice, it can’t be a good one — right?
These children CAN’T be killers.
She spies a crowbar on a rack and grabs it.
She breaks each lock, pulling the doors open.
Released from their confinement, the children run away through the tunnels…
And their shrieks echo off the walls.
