Chapter 2

Mond's steps slowed as the humming sound rose again from the end of the corridor. It wasn't very loud, but it sounded glaringly out of place in a building that should have been dead for a long time. A low drone blended with a subtle, rippling vibration, making the floor beneath the soles of their shoes feel as though it were pulsing.

Andrew raised his flashlight, cutting through the darkness of the hallway. "Hear that?"

Mond remained still. His hand had already shifted closer to the holster at his waist.

They froze in silence for a few seconds. The strange odor that had been lingering in the air earlier now felt heavier and more piercing—not just the typical scent of a chemical laboratory, but a mixture of hot metal, sharp cleaning fluids, and a pungent, unidentifiable decay.

Andrew swallowed hard. "If this building has really been empty for two years, what kind of machine is still running?"

"A generator, maybe."

"A generator that sounds like heavy industrial machinery?"

Mond glanced sideways. "Got a better theory?"

"No."

"Then keep moving."

Andrew grunted softly before stepping forward to follow.

The corridor on this top floor was much narrower than the ones below. Several doors on the left and right gaped open, revealing messy rooms filled with desks, filing cabinets, and laboratory equipment buried under thick layers of dust. Broken windows let the night air creep in, fluttering tattered plastic curtains in the corners of the rooms.

Mond shone his flashlight beam across one of the desks. A row of heavily dusted glass jars lined the surface. However, one section of the desk's surface looked clean and shiny, as if it had just been touched.

Andrew observed it too. "This is weird."

Mond stepped closer. He wiped the surface of the desk with his gloved hand, then lifted his finger. Clean. Not a single speck of dust sat in the middle of the desk.

"Looks like someone still comes to this place."

Andrew stared around the quiet room. "In that case, chances are we're not alone."

Mond turned his gaze back to the dark corridor. "Don't make me want to go home even more."

They continued walking. The drone of the machine now sounded increasingly distinct.

At the end of the corridor stood a gray metal door. Unlike the other doors along the hallway, this one looked well-maintained and clean. There wasn't even a thick layer of dust coating its handle.

Mond stopped right in front of it, followed by Andrew, who stood ready on his left.

"You want to open it?"

Mond nodded firmly. He raised his hand and gripped the door handle.

However, before his fingers could turn it, a soft beep sounded from behind the door leaf.

Beep.

Both of them instantly held their breath.

A few seconds later, the sound repeated. Beep... beep...

Andrew glared sharply at his partner. "That's an electronic system."

Mond stood his ground. He tried to force the door handle to turn. Locked.

He then pulled a small flashlight from his tactical pocket and flashed it toward the top of the doorframe. A small panel with a green indicator light was still lit.

Andrew leaned in closer. "This door has a security system."

"Looks like it."

"Inside an abandoned building."

"Yeah."

"For two years."

Mond looked at him flatly. "I know."

Andrew let out a long breath. Mond quickly raised his radio to contact headquarters.

"Dispatch, this is Officer Mond. We’re on the top floor. We found an electronically secured door and what appears to be active equipment inside."

The operator's voice crackled back a moment later. "Copy, Officer Mond. Any indication of an active threat?"

Mond glanced back at the door in front of him. "Unknown at this time." He then clicked off the radio connection.

Andrew's gaze shifted to a wall panel beside the door covered in transparent plastic. Behind it were several buttons and a cracked small screen. Most of the letters on the surface had faded, but a single line of text remained clearly legible: AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY.

Andrew raised an eyebrow. "At least they still have a sense of humor."

Mond inspected the panel. "See if there's an access card around here."

They combed the nearest desks and drawers with no results. Until finally, Andrew spotted a thin plastic card lying under the bottom of a filing cabinet.

"Got it." He wiped the dust off the surface using his gloved hand. The card looked worn, but the photo and name of the owner were still clearly printed: DR. ADRIAN VOSS - CHIMERA RESEARCH DIVISION.

Andrew froze. Mond took over the card. "Chimera?"

"Sounds like a research project name."

Mond flipped the card over, but there was no other information on the back. Andrew stared back at the metal door at the end of the corridor with a questioning look. "Why would a research project need a room this secure?"

Mond swiped the card into the reader slot on the panel.

The indicator light instantly turned red. ACCESS DENIED.

Andrew sighed in disappointment. "Great."

Mond tried once more. This time, the small screen on the panel blinked, displaying text: IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED.

Mond studied the card in his hand. "Damaged."

"So, what now?"

Mond slipped the card back into his pocket. "We find another way."

They turned to retrace their steps down the corridor. But after only a few steps, Andrew halted. "Mond."

Mond turned.

Andrew pointed at the floor with his chin. There lay a strange trace—not a footprint, but a streak of dried liquid forming a long line from one of the empty rooms toward the metal door they had just left.

Mond crouched down, bringing his flashlight close to the floor. The liquid was a deep, glossy brownish color.

"Don't touch it," Mond warned.

"I don't intend to."

Mond followed the trail with his flashlight beam, which ultimately ended right in front of the mysterious metal door.

Andrew slowly stood up. "That means something was dragged inside."

"Or maybe coming out."

The two of them exchanged glances.

Suddenly, the humming noise from behind the door rumbled louder than before.

Vmmmmmmmm...

Followed by a heavy thud, as if a massive object was being dragged across the floor inside the room.

Reflexively, Andrew drew his pistol from its holster. Mond made a matching move. They stood on high alert, locking their gazes on a single point in front of them.

The atmosphere fell abruptly silent for a few seconds.

Then, a tapping sound was heard.

Once. Tok.

Andrew held his breath.

A second tap followed. Tok.

Mond raised his left hand, gesturing for his partner to stay calm and quiet.

The third knock sounded much louder and firmer. TOK.

Andrew whispered hoarsely, "Mond..."

Mond did not answer.

From behind the door, the sound of an object scraping against the floor rattled, followed by a faint whisper that was barely audible—sounding so weak, pleading from behind the cold iron wall.

"...help..."

Andrew's eyes widened. Mond narrowed his gaze toward the door.

The voice whispered again, fainter yet heartbreaking. "...help me..."

Mond raised his weapon higher. "Police!" he called out firmly. "If someone is in there, step away from the door!"

No reply.

Andrew stepped forward half an inch. "There might be a victim in there—"

Before Mond could reply, the green light above the doorframe suddenly blinked a glaring bright red.

At that exact moment, all the lights in the building went completely pitch black.

The sound of the machine's hum cut out abruptly, leaving a choking darkness. In the midst of the enveloping gloom, a mechanical click echoed from behind the door.

Click.

The door lock sprang open.