Chapter 28: CH 028: Stepping outside
Eventually, the group gathered their belongings and had made their way out of the casino base. The heavy, metallic doors of the casino creaked open as they went through it, revealing the outside world beyond. Dave blinked, momentarily squinting against the harsh light that flooded his eyes, the stark contrast to the dim, artificial lighting of the casino.
It was strange, but as his boots hit the cracked pavement outside, he felt a sense of relief settle over him. The oppressive, claustrophobic atmosphere of the casino base had weighed heavily on him, making every second inside feel longer than it truly was. And now, with the cold wind brushing against his skin, he realized something he hadn’t fully acknowledged before.
He was glad to be out of the base.
Though it might sound insane to anyone else, especially given the state of the world outside, yet it felt like freedom to Dave. The base, with its locked doors and constant surveillance, had been suffocating for him.
Even now, with the chaotic world unraveling around them, the outdoors felt more alive, more open, more real. The sky, with its gray, clouded overcast, felt like a thousand miles of space compared to the confines of the casino walls.
Just a single day that he spent in the base had felt like years to him. With everything that happened and the constant strings of events that kept occuring. Time seemed to stretch endlessly there, like it was constantly crawling in the shadows. The same faces, the same corridors, the same routine. It was as though every hour spent there was another nail in his patience’s coffin.
And yet, here he was, standing outside, breathing in the slightly chilled air, feeling the faint pulse of the world moving around him.
He didn’t know what tomorrow would bring or how this expedition would turn out, but for the first time in what felt like ages, he felt like he could breathe. He could make choices. He could move forward.
As he glanced over at the others, who were preparing for the journey ahead, something tugged at his thoughts. Maybe, just maybe, after this expedition, he won’t be coming back to the base any longer. The idea of leaving the confines of the casino behind was tempting, more so than he ever imagined.