SSS-Class Profession: The Path to Mastery

In front of us stretched the corridor, a pitch-black tunnel of metal and dust. The faint hum of power pulsed in the walls, after years of disuse, no doubt. Every few feet, a light would flicker, casting erratic shadows along the corridor as though someone or something were moving just out of sight.

Anthony and I exchanged glances.

"Okay," he subvocalized. "So, uh, this is definitely giving off horror movie vibes."

I nodded. "Yup."

"You ever seen those found-footage films? Where a couple of idiots wander into a creepy, abandoned place and get picked off one by one?"

I sighed. "Yeah."

Anthony motioned around us. "Well, we're the idiots right now."

I rolled my eyes and continued to move. Soon after, the passageway led to a larger chamber, and as soon as we entered, motion-activated lights dimly came to life. The light filled what appeared to be a waiting room.

At the front was an ancient, dust-caked desk with broken computers next to it, their monitors irreparably smashed. There was a toppled potted plant in the corner, its dead leaves long turned to dust, and broken chairs strewn carelessly across the floor.

"Wow," Anthony muttered, stepping in beside me. "Guess Future Vision didn't believe in cleaning crews."

I walked over to the reception desk, brushing my hand over the surface. A layer of dust thick enough to bury a crime scene came off on my fingers.