Aaron Miller

We've got to go back, John muttered without looking up. He was tracing a finger along faded lines, his other hand holding the rusted quarantine sign we'd brought back. I couldn't find anything about that place online, not even a passing mention. I groaned softly and pushed myself upright, stretching stiffly. "'Feels like maybe there's a reason it was buried and forgotten, John.'

We've got to go back, John muttered without looking up. He was tracing a finger along faded lines, his other hand holding the rusted quarantine sign we'd brought back. I couldn't find anything about that place online, not even a passing mention. I groaned softly and pushed myself upright, stretching stiffly. "'Feels like maybe there's a reason it was buried and forgotten, John.'

He glanced sharply at me. "'Exactly. That's why I need to know what they were hiding.' Reluctantly, I agreed. John was rarely reckless, so his quiet urgency unnerved me even more. Within an hour, we'd packed flashlights, ropes, spare batteries, and an air quality sensor John had borrowed years ago from a mine safety course.' He'd always insisted on being prepared for any situation.

He glanced sharply at me. "'Exactly. That's why I need to know what they were hiding.' Reluctantly, I agreed. John was rarely reckless, so his quiet urgency unnerved me even more. Within an hour, we'd packed flashlights, ropes, spare batteries, and an air quality sensor John had borrowed years ago from a mine safety course.' He'd always insisted on being prepared for any situation.

This time, I was thankful for his caution. The air felt colder as we returned to Warden's Hollow. Fog settled thickly along the gully's floor, making the twisted iron chains around the tunnel look even more sinister. John approached the entrance slowly, carefully probing the air inside the gap with the sensor. He squinted at the dial and shook his head.

This time, I was thankful for his caution. The air felt colder as we returned to Warden's Hollow. Fog settled thickly along the gully's floor, making the twisted iron chains around the tunnel look even more sinister. John approached the entrance slowly, carefully probing the air inside the gap with the sensor. He squinted at the dial and shook his head.

It's stale down there, John said softly, but it's breathable, just not for long periods. let's make it quick i said hoping i sounded more confident than i felt we crawled through the partially collapsed entrance debris scraping against our backs a sense of entrapment tightened in my chest until the tunnel opened slightly allowing us to stand hunched beneath cracked concrete arches

It's stale down there, John said softly, but it's breathable, just not for long periods. let's make it quick i said hoping i sounded more confident than i felt we crawled through the partially collapsed entrance debris scraping against our backs a sense of entrapment tightened in my chest until the tunnel opened slightly allowing us to stand hunched beneath cracked concrete arches

My flashlight beam cut weakly through the gloom, illuminating a side passage carved roughly into the stone wall. John edged forward first and I followed closely, my heart hammering unevenly. Inside, old military crates lay scattered, their wooden frames splintered and rotting. Nearby, rusted oxygen tanks lay clustered, many dented as if thrown aside in haste.

My flashlight beam cut weakly through the gloom, illuminating a side passage carved roughly into the stone wall. John edged forward first and I followed closely, my heart hammering unevenly. Inside, old military crates lay scattered, their wooden frames splintered and rotting. Nearby, rusted oxygen tanks lay clustered, many dented as if thrown aside in haste.

A pile of twisted metal frames resembling cots sat slumped against one wall. "'This place looks like it was abandoned in a hurry,' John whispered. He lifted the air sensor again, checking the dial nervously. "'Fifteen minutes, tops. Then we're out.' I nodded, tension tightening my jaw."

A pile of twisted metal frames resembling cots sat slumped against one wall. "'This place looks like it was abandoned in a hurry,' John whispered. He lifted the air sensor again, checking the dial nervously. "'Fifteen minutes, tops. Then we're out.' I nodded, tension tightening my jaw."

At the passage's end was a junction room lined with metal lockers, their doors hanging ajar or fallen entirely off their hinges. John moved carefully toward one still upright. He shone his flashlight into it, then reached inside slowly. Jesus, he breathed, lifting out a cracked and deteriorating gas mask. Behind it was a damp clipboard, pages stuck together from water damage and age.

At the passage's end was a junction room lined with metal lockers, their doors hanging ajar or fallen entirely off their hinges. John moved carefully toward one still upright. He shone his flashlight into it, then reached inside slowly. Jesus, he breathed, lifting out a cracked and deteriorating gas mask. Behind it was a damp clipboard, pages stuck together from water damage and age.

Carefully, he peeled a sheet loose. He read aloud, voice hushed, tense. Specimens still viable, no breach since 9, 14. Rangers rotated monthly, do not exceed 20 minutes outside airlock. My mouth went dry. Specimens? John's flashlight moved restlessly, illuminating a dark opening in the corner of the junction room.

Carefully, he peeled a sheet loose. He read aloud, voice hushed, tense. Specimens still viable, no breach since 9, 14. Rangers rotated monthly, do not exceed 20 minutes outside airlock. My mouth went dry. Specimens? John's flashlight moved restlessly, illuminating a dark opening in the corner of the junction room.

It was narrow, smooth-edged, and angled sharply downward, almost like a chute or ventilation shaft. It wasn't built with concrete or steel. It looked as if it had been burrowed or melted directly into the rock. I approached hesitantly, peering down. The darkness felt bottomless, oppressive. Then I heard it, soft at first, rhythmic scraping deep within.

It was narrow, smooth-edged, and angled sharply downward, almost like a chute or ventilation shaft. It wasn't built with concrete or steel. It looked as if it had been burrowed or melted directly into the rock. I approached hesitantly, peering down. The darkness felt bottomless, oppressive. Then I heard it, soft at first, rhythmic scraping deep within.

It echoed up faintly, the distant sound of metal dragging slowly across stone, deliberate and unceasing. Did you hear that? John's voice was strained, his flashlight trembling slightly. I nodded slowly. Let's go. We've seen enough. John didn't argue. As we turned back, I caught something else in my flashlight's beam. Small boot prints etched freshly into the dirt beside us.

It echoed up faintly, the distant sound of metal dragging slowly across stone, deliberate and unceasing. Did you hear that? John's voice was strained, his flashlight trembling slightly. I nodded slowly. Let's go. We've seen enough. John didn't argue. As we turned back, I caught something else in my flashlight's beam. Small boot prints etched freshly into the dirt beside us.