Chapter 52: CH 052: Dad? (MR 6)
The moment the lockdown was initiated, the heavy sound of metal grinding against metal echoed through the building, signaling that every door, every window had been sealed shut. The quiet hum of the security systems was the only thing that could be heard now, a constant reminder that escape was impossible. Even the faintest breeze from outside was cut off, leaving the room stuffy and oppressive.
No one spoke at first. They were all aware of the gravity of the situation, trapped inside a lab with no way out, and the knowledge that those who controlled the facility were not exactly friendly. There was no other option but to wait. Wait for the lockdown to be lifted. Wait for a chance to escape.
The minutes dragged on in a tense silence, and one by one, they each found their own distractions. The three teenagers, Felix, Fin, and Gab, shuffled closer to Ella, as if magnetically drawn to her in this moment of uncertainty.
Since they knew her in school, they had started talking to her, but Ella didn’t seem to be giving them any response, her gaze kept on lingering towards Dave’s direction. She wished she would be the one beside him instead of Chris.
Eric, however, was restless. His eyes scanned the room, landing on a set of items that seemed out of place. There were several metal shelves, a few crates stacked high, and a series of medical supplies scattered about.
Most of it seemed irrelevant in the moment, but one door tucked away behind the clutter caught his attention. It was slightly open, the faintest sliver of darkness beyond it tempting him. His curiosity was stronger than his hesitation, and without thinking, he stepped forward, pushed the door open, and slipped inside.
The room was darker than the rest of the lab, but the air felt different. There was a strange coldness to it. As his eyes adjusted, he noticed rows of containers, some sealed tightly, others with labels too blurred to read from this distance.
A faint, metallic smell hung in the air, mixing with the sterile scent of chemicals and antiseptic that seemed to saturate the entire lab. Eric stepped forward, his heartbeat quickening with the unease of finding something unexpected. Whatever this room was, it was more than just a storage area.
Meanwhile, Dave and Chris had found a corner of the room, far from others. They had started talking, their voices low as they discussed. Dave’s mind was still reeling from everything that had happened, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something far worse was coming. It was the sound of Chris’s voice that brought him back to the present.