Infected Realms

Chapter 8: Descent

The descent into Sublevel 3 felt endless. Each step down the narrow, rusted staircase echoed ominously in the confined space, the metal groaning under their weight. The air grew colder and more oppressive the farther they went, and the smell of decay became overwhelming.

Evelyn kept her eyes fixed on the steps ahead, trying to block out the fear gnawing at her insides. The thought of what might be waiting for them below made her stomach churn, but there was no turning back. They had to reach the control center and figure out what was happening in this cursed facility.

Maya led the way, her flashlight cutting through the darkness. Marcos followed closely behind, his breathing shallow and panicked. The stairwell seemed to wind deeper and deeper, as if they were descending into the heart of the Earth itself.

Finally, after what felt like hours, the stairs ended at another metal door. It was dented and rusted, with scratches gouged into the surface. The door looked as though something—or someone—had tried to claw its way through.

"This is it," Maya whispered, her voice barely audible over the oppressive silence.

Evelyn's heart pounded in her chest. "Are you sure this is the right level?"

Maya checked her smartwatch, her brow furrowed. "Yes. This should lead to the lower tunnels and eventually to the control center."

Marcos let out a shaky breath. "Let's just get this over with."

Maya pushed the door open slowly, the hinges creaking loudly in the silence. Beyond it lay a long, dimly lit corridor, the walls lined with broken pipes and flickering lights. The faint hum of machinery echoed through the space, but it was distant, as though the heart of the facility was barely functioning.

They stepped into the corridor, the sound of their footsteps muffled by the thick layer of dust that covered the floor. The air felt heavy, as if it was pressing down on them, and the stench of decay was stronger here, almost unbearable.

"Stay close," Maya whispered, her voice tight with tension. "We don't know what we'll find down here."

They moved cautiously through the corridor, their eyes scanning every shadow, every corner. The farther they went, the more Evelyn's unease grew. Something felt wrong about this place, more than the rest of the facility. It was as if the very walls were watching them.

"Did you hear that?" Marcos suddenly whispered, his voice trembling.

Evelyn stopped, straining to listen. At first, there was only silence, but then she heard it—a faint scraping sound, like metal being dragged across the floor. It was distant, but it was growing louder.

"Something's coming," Maya muttered, her grip tightening on her flashlight.

They picked up the pace, their footsteps quickening as they moved down the corridor. The sound behind them grew louder, the scraping now accompanied by a low, guttural growl that made the hairs on the back of Evelyn's neck stand on end.

"Run," Maya ordered, her voice low but urgent.

They broke into a sprint, their breaths coming in ragged gasps as they rushed through the twisting corridors. The sound of the creature chasing them grew louder, closer, its snarls echoing off the walls.

Evelyn's heart raced, her legs burning as they darted around a corner. Up ahead, she saw a heavy metal door, slightly ajar, leading into another room.

"There!" she shouted, pointing toward the door.

They reached it just as the growls behind them grew deafening. Evelyn shoved the door open, and they stumbled inside, slamming it shut behind them.

They stood there for a moment, gasping for breath, their backs pressed against the door as the creature slammed into it from the other side. The door held, but the force of the impact rattled the metal, and the sound of the creature's snarls sent shivers down their spines.

"What the hell is that thing?" Marcos panted, his voice full of panic.

"I don't know," Maya replied, her face pale. "But whatever it is, it's not human anymore."

Evelyn looked around the room. It was large and filled with more of the strange machinery they had seen earlier—old, rusted, and humming faintly with residual energy. In the center of the room was a massive control panel, its screens dark and cracked.

"This must be part of the control center," Evelyn said, moving toward the panel. "We're getting closer."

Maya joined her, examining the controls. "If we can get this online, maybe we can access the main systems."

As they worked to figure out the panel, the creature continued to bang against the door, its growls growing more frantic. The sound of metal scraping against metal sent chills down their spines.

"We don't have much time," Maya said, her fingers flying over the buttons. "If this thing breaks through, we're done."

Evelyn felt the weight of the situation pressing down on her, but she pushed the fear aside and focused on the task at hand. She flipped a series of switches, and the control panel flickered to life, its screens glowing dimly.

"Got it," Maya said, relief in her voice. "Now let's see what we're dealing with."

The screens displayed a series of maps and diagrams of the facility, showing various sections and tunnels, many of which were marked with red warnings. In the lower levels, where they were now, there was an entire section marked "Restricted."

"That must be where the experiments were taking place," Maya said, pointing to the restricted area on the map. "Whatever they were doing down here, it's the source of all of this."

Evelyn's eyes narrowed as she studied the map. "And we're going to find out exactly what they were hiding."

Suddenly, the banging on the door stopped. The silence that followed was more unsettling than the noise.

"Did it leave?" Marcos whispered, his voice barely audible.

Maya shook her head. "I don't think so."

They stood there for a moment, waiting, the tension in the air thick enough to choke on. Then, from the far side of the room, they heard it—a slow, deliberate tapping, like claws on metal.

Evelyn's heart skipped a beat as she turned toward the sound.

The creature hadn't left.

It had found another way in.