What if?

Chapter 4

Newt and Teresa sat in the dusty office, the flickering light from the ancient radio casting long shadows on the walls. The air was thick with tension as they waited for a response from the Safe Haven. Each passing second felt like an eternity.

"Come on, come on," Newt muttered, his fingers tapping anxiously on the desk. "Someone has to be out there."

Teresa leaned back in her chair, trying to steady her breathing. The recent chase had left her physically exhausted, but the fear gnawing at her insides was far worse. "We'll get through this," she repeated to herself, drawing strength from the words.

Suddenly, the radio sputtered and died, the faint static fading into silence. Newt and Teresa exchanged a look of dismay. "Great," Newt sighed, slumping back in his chair. "Just great."

Teresa bit her lip, frustration boiling inside her. "We can't wait around here any longer. We need to find a way out of this place and get back to Safe Haven on our own."

Newt nodded, determination replacing his earlier despair. "Let's check the rest of the facility. There has to be another way out."

They gathered what supplies they could find—an old flashlight, a couple of half-empty water bottles, and a rusted wrench for protection—and made their way out of the office. The facility was eerily quiet, the only sound their footsteps echoing off the cold, concrete walls.

As they navigated the labyrinthine halls, Teresa couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Every shadow seemed to move, every creak of the building sending her heart racing. They had to stay alert.

They reached a large chamber filled with rows of rusted metal tables and broken equipment. The air was thick with dust, the silence broken only by their ragged breathing. Teresa scanned the room, searching for any sign of an exit.

"There's a door at the far end," Newt said, pointing towards a dimly lit corridor.

They moved cautiously towards the door, their senses on high alert. Just as they reached it, a loud creak echoed through the chamber. They froze, their eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of movement. The silence that followed was oppressive, heightening their unease.

"We need to keep moving," Teresa whispered, breaking the tense silence.

Newt nodded, and they continued towards the door, stepping lightly to avoid making noise. They slipped into the dimly lit corridor, the walls closing in around them. The oppressive atmosphere of the facility weighed heavily on their minds.

The corridor led them to another large room, this one filled with rows of abandoned desks and old computer terminals. Teresa spotted a staircase leading downwards and motioned for Newt to follow. "This way," she said quietly.

They descended the stairs as quickly as they could, the air growing colder and more oppressive the deeper they went. The walls were lined with pipes and old machinery, the air thick with the smell of mold and decay. Teresa shivered, the cold seeping into her bones.

"We need to keep moving," Newt said, his voice echoing off the damp walls.

They navigated the basement, their flashlight casting eerie shadows on the walls. The floor was slick with water, making their progress slow and treacherous. Every sound seemed amplified in the silence, their footsteps echoing in the dark.

After what felt like hours, they found another staircase leading upwards. Teresa's heart leapt with hope. "Maybe this will lead us out."

They climbed the stairs, the air growing warmer and less oppressive as they ascended. At the top, they emerged into a long hallway lined with closed doors. Teresa tried the first one she came across, relief flooding her as it swung open to reveal a small, cluttered office.

They hurried inside and closed the door behind them, leaning against it to catch their breath. "We should be safe here for now," Newt said, his voice filled with exhaustion.

Teresa nodded, her heart still racing from the adrenaline-fueled escape. "We need to find a map or something. There has to be a way out of this place."

They searched the office, rifling through drawers and cabinets. Teresa found an old blueprint of the facility, her eyes scanning it for any sign of an exit. "Here," she said, pointing to a section of the map. "There's an emergency exit on the other side of the building."

Newt nodded, his resolve strengthening. "Let's go."

They moved quickly, navigating the corridors with the blueprint as their guide. The facility was a maze of darkened passages and abandoned rooms, each turn revealing more of its forgotten horrors. They stayed alert, every shadow a potential threat.

Finally, they reached the emergency exit. Newt pushed the door open, and fresh air rushed in, filling their lungs with relief. They stepped outside, the night sky stretching above them.

"We made it," Teresa said, her voice filled with disbelief and exhaustion. "We actually made it."

Newt smiled, his eyes filled with determination. "Now we just have to find our way back to Safe Haven."

As they walked into the night, leaving the horrors of the WICKED facility behind them, they knew their journey was far from over. But together, they believed they could face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Hope you enjoyed! and also hope that i'm not rushing this :)

See you in the next chapter!

L'🥀