Chapter 6: Friend or foe?
The soldiers guided Rhys through the corridors he had already seen thanks to Eun-woo until he reached the stairs, which were blocked by glass.
One of the soldiers took out a metal ID and swiped it through a reader hidden in the wall. A subtle whirring sound filled the hallway, and then the glass began to fade as if dissolving into thin air, revealing access to the emergency stairwell.
They went up to the next floor and walked through the cold, perfectly lit hallways in complete silence until they reached an elevator. Once inside, they ascended another level, to the laboratories area.
The atmosphere changed completely. The air smelled of chemicals, and everything seemed whiter and brighter. They continued walking in a straight line until they stopped in front of another type of elevator, one that didn’t move vertically, but horizontally.
As the doors closed, the vehicle slid smoothly to the left. After five minutes of driving, they arrived at the private area of the building, a place where only a select few were allowed access.
The clinical, sterile atmosphere of the laboratories was left behind as they crossed into the new sector. The place was unlike any other; it resembled the private suite of a luxury hotel.
A massive aquarium covered nearly an entire wall, filled with exotic fish whose shapes and colors Rhys had never seen. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, delicately detailed with gold, sparkling in the dim lighting.
The walls were covered with carefully treated animal hides, and the thick curtains at the windows were made of an expensive fabric.
In the center of the room stood a king size bed, decorated with blankets and cushions that looked like they were straight out of an interior design magazine.
To the right, directly opposite the window, was a small table with two upholstered chairs, and to the left, a slightly ajar door gave a glimpse into the bathroom.
The soldiers handed Rhys the clothes he was to wear. An elegant black cashmere suit. They escorted him to the bathroom door. Without another word, they left, leaving him alone in the elegant room.