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Something scary.
I have no choice but to power on and keep moving. I can’t go back without her or her research or I’ll be dead by dinner, so when we come upon the square with the skyscraper that proudly displays “Ingeno Research,” I almost sigh in relief. We are almost there and now one step closer to leaving this place. With another glance around, I cross the huge square, rounding the destroyed fountain, and look at the crater on the other side. It’s not from bombs or weapons but…them.
The monsters.
Is this where it happened?
I still for a moment, staring at the broken earth. What kind of creature could do that? It’s ripped open from the underside, and the hole is big enough to fit two trucks side by side. I’ve never seen the place they call the Reaping in the red zone, and I find myself mesmerised. Everything I thought I knew flies through my head, followed by questions.
“Aria,” Talia whispers, and when I look back, her hand is on the broken glass door, poised to open it. I pull myself away, shaking my head to clear the thoughts of the past. It doesn’t matter anymore. I have to focus on the present, on the future and getting us out of here alive.
Hurrying closer to her, I follow her inside the building. It’s darker in here, almost pitch-black towards the back, where the sunlight cannot pierce. I hesitate for only a moment before I bring out my torch and turn it on. “You’re up, Doc. Lead the way.”
She nods, worrying her lip before she straightens her shoulders and focuses. Her gaze sweeps around the space until she spots what she needs. Moving past old broken furniture, a reception desk, and other junk that doesn’t matter anymore, Talia approaches a seemingly innocent panel opposite a bank of elevators.
“I hope this is it,” she whispers, pressing it. There’s a beep, followed by a green light, and then it retracts in like a door. Warm, stale air blasts us in our faces, making my nose wrinkle. There are some stairs leading down, and as she steps inside the doorway, bright white LEDs flicker on above us, buzzing with electricity.
“Here we go,” she mutters.
Turning off my torch, I hitch my bag higher and throw one last glance at the city before following her down the metal stairs. Our boots echo loudly in the cold, empty space that’s devoid of any movement or noise bar us.
It’s creepy as hell.
In the slums, there’s always talking, fighting, and screaming. In the city, there’s the shifting of buildings, the blowing of rubbish, and the distant howls of animals. Here? Absolutely nothing.
I find myself missing those noises, the lack of sound putting me further on edge.
In the building above, I could tell that years have passed, decay and dust filling every surface, but down here, it’s spotless, as if the scientists only left yesterday. There’s no dust or overturned furniture.
The stairs lead to what I can only describe as a maze of glass rooms, allowing anyone standing in the corridor to see inside. I count endless rows of labs with equipment that hasn’t been used since before the wall, including computers, chairs, and fridges still stocked with food—I checked. The power is also on as well, ensuring the air conditioning continues to work, cooling the sweat on my overheated skin.
The clean, tiled floor squeaks under my feet as I wander through the labs, leaving Talia to get what she came for. I keep an eye on her through the glass, wincing when I catch sight of my reflection. Unlike the spotless, modern feel of the labs, I stand out like a sore thumb, looking like the street girl I am. I wear the usual dirt splotches on my skin from sliding and running through the back streets, my clothes have seen better days, and I don’t remember the last time I did anything with my hair other than pull it back. I clearly don’t belong here. I belong up there, in the ruins, but not Talia.
Down here, she’s a different woman.
She is confident, sure, and in charge. I see the transformation come over her as she navigates the lab and equipment like I navigate the city.
Feeling saddened by all the reminders of abandoned life in the city and lab, I stop my exploration and move to the lab Talia is working in and keep watch instead.
The door to the upstairs floor is still open, as neither of us wanted to be trapped or locked down here, but it means someone could wander down if they wished to, so it never hurts to be on the lookout. Especially since we would be trapped down here. Even that thought has my back tingling and claustrophobia clawing at my throat.
I couldn’t imagine working down here day in and day out.
Talia, on the other hand, is unbothered and focused entirely on the old computer screen coming to life before her. She is seemingly unconcerned about my nerves or how uncomfortable I am.
Man up, Aria.
I’ve lived in slums and survived life and the city so far, so I can deal with this musty ass bunker. I remind myself that by the time I get back, I will be rich and will finally have an okay life.
“How long?” I ask.
“Hmm? Oh, I’m not sure.”
That’s reassuring.
I remain silent, knowing how annoying it is when people talk when you’re trying to concentrate. Following something on the screen, she starts pulling small vials from fridges and containers, checking their labels and correlating the information with the screen before carefully placing them in a square bag with insulation.
About an hour later, she stops, frowning. “What is it?” I ask, my eyes going worriedly back to the stairs. I’m anxious we won’t be back before nightfall, but that’s a problem for another time.
