Read The Next Chronicle (Book 1): Next for Free Online

spiral staircase and faced a blank section of wall just beyond it. Giant sheets of gleaming metal covered everything here. Archer spoke clearly to the wall.
    “ Bypass authorization, please.”
    A female voice broke in over a hidden speaker. “Of course, Director Archer. Reason for override, sir?”
    The question sounded perfunctory to Kit, and Archer's response sounded rote.
    “ Because screw those stairs, Nicki. Open the damn door.”
    “ Yes, sir.”
    And one of the large steel plates that made up the wall popped forward with a little hiss of released gas and slid smoothly to the side, revealing another elevator.
    They entered, Archer giving more voice commands. A few seconds later they were moving downward, very slowly.
    The big man slumped against the wall to regain his breath. “So, Agent Singh, what do you think of the place so far?”
    Kit shook her head. “I'm...I don't even know how to react. Are we going to higher security areas next? Because if that was the least dangerous section, I can't imagine what the others must look like.”
    Archer shook his head. “No, you don't need to see the whole place to understand how vital this facility is. The prison element only takes up about half the space. It's one of three in the country, though this one is the biggest. We house people that the normal system can't handle. We have judges and lawyers on duty here during regular working hours. Full-time staff to make meals, serve as guards, you name it.”
    He made a small gesture with his hand that seemed to encompass the whole place. “I know it looks like something out of a Heinlein book, but it's all necessary. Metal is harder to break through than concrete, and you can electrify it.”
    Kit grimaced. She remembered her training with Helix all too well. One of the few weaknesses most Next had was electrical shock. Shrugging off bullets means very little when your nervous system is being told to sit down and shut up by a hundred thousand volts.
    “The entire place is riddled with hidden doors and elevators to allow the staff to escape in case of a mass breakout. They're hidden because—”
    Kit saw it. “Because you want to herd any who escape in an obvious direction. Make them head toward a place you can defend. Like that entrance with the soldiers.”
    Archer gave an approving wink. “Yep. And it works. The minimum security inmates break out often, but they're also the hardest to control. Most you can't get with a needle if you want to sedate them, and gas only works for a short time. They metabolize toxins and drugs like booze, in no time flat. We could take certain other measures to keep them from breaking out, but since we don't want to turn into a murder factory, those options aren't really on the table.
    “ That's why we let them work over the doors to their cells rather than electrocute them constantly. They're super strong and tough, but the fact is they're the least of our worries. None of them have powers that allow them to create massive damage. It's good practice for our security people, and it keeps the prisoners occupied with their own plans rather than, say, forming up into a big team.”
    Kit shivered. The idea of a unified group of Next all bent on escaping was too frightening to even consider.
    But then, if this was to be her new job, she'd better start considering it. Archer clearly had.
    The elevator hummed as it trundled downward, and Archer continued.
    “The higher-security levels are dangerous even for the staff. Whole sections are electrified all the time, and most cells below minimum security are outfitted with EMP boxes.”
    “ EMP? What is that?” Kit asked.
    “ Electromagnetic pulse,” Archer said. “You must know. It's one of the few ways to disrupt a Next's powers.”
    Kit shook her head. “I didn't know that.”
    Archer straightened. “How could you not? You're in Helix. Aren't you guys the go-to crew for taking out superhuman threats?”
    Kit shook her head. “No. Not at