The sound of the machines echoed overhead as Lía and her group descended through the dark tunnel. The dampness on the walls and the smell of mold reminded them that this was a forgotten world, a remnant of the past before machines took over. The light from the lanterns flickered, casting dancing shadows in the narrow corridor.
"Are you sure this will take us to the Tower?" —asked Marcos, a robust man with scars that told stories of old battles.
Lía nodded, pressing her lips into a thin line. She had spent months investigating these tunnels, crossing data and old maps with the stories her mother had told her as a child. They were her legacy, her guide on this suicidal mission.
-Yeah. This tunnel will take us directly to the subbasement of the Tower. From there, we can access the main systems of the city. —Lía looked around her, at the tense but determined faces of her classmates. She knew not everyone would survive, but there was no turning back.
After what seemed like an eternity, the tunnel opened into a larger room. In the center, an old generator hummed with life, illuminating the room with a dim blue glow. Marcos and two others approached the generator, checking the controls.
"It's intact," Marcos said with a smile. —We can use it to cut the power to the security cameras in the subbasement. That will give us a few minutes before the emergency systems activate.
Lía nodded, feeling a spark of hope. Every detail had been meticulously planned, but she knew that improvisation would be inevitable. She walked over to a panel on the wall and plugged in a device she had created from pieces of obsolete technology. The device beeped and the generator lights flashed.
"We're inside," said Lía, more to herself than to the others.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed in the tunnel. Lía raised her hand, signaling everyone to remain silent. The flashlights went out, plunging the room into almost total darkness. The footsteps were getting closer, and Lía could feel her heart beating in her throat.
-Here! —A guard's voice broke the silence. Lía held her breath as the footsteps stopped just outside the room.
Marcos moved with the agility of a predator, approaching the entrance. In one swift movement, he lunged at the guard, silencing him before he could raise the alarm. There was a dull sound and then, silence.
"Come on, quickly," Marcos whispered, wiping the blood from his hands.
The group moved again, this time with more haste. They crossed the room and found the staircase that led to the sub-basement of the Tower. Each step creaked under his feet, amplifying the weight of his expectations and fears.
When they reached the bottom of the stairs, they found themselves in front of a heavy steel door. Lía connected another device to the control panel and, after a few seconds that seemed like hours, the door opened with a metallic screech.
"We're inside," Lía murmured, feeling a mixture of relief and terror.
Beyond the door, a hallway lit by fluorescent lights stretched before them. Lía knew that every step from here would be crucial. There was no room for error. With one last glance at her companions, she advanced into the unknown, knowing that the fate of NeoLumen depended on them.
YOU ARE READING
///Dystopian(English)
Science Fiction**Languages:*Spanish and English* The streets were full of shadows, but not of people; They were the shadows of the machines that governed every aspect of daily life. In the center of the city, one tower stood taller than all the others, dominating...
