Member-only story
The day I knew you weren’t there. (4)
Through the Hidden Corridor
Laura followed the official into the narrow corridor, her ears still ringing from the echo of the alarms. The door slid shut behind them, sealing off the main lobby with its flashing lights and mechanical warnings. A single overhead strip of flickering illumination guided them forward. The place smelled of stale air and old electronics, as though it hadn’t been used in years.
She gripped the note from her sister in one hand, almost crumpling it with tension. This moment felt surreal — an underground passage deep in the Office of Vital Records, an alarm shrieking overhead, and the pressing knowledge that she was about to face truths she couldn’t unsee. The official kept glancing back at her, as if to make sure she hadn’t turned around or lost her nerve. But Laura pressed on, fueled by both fear and a fierce resolve.
“It’s been a while since I’ve come down here,” he muttered, running a hand over the rough concrete walls. “They tell us not to enter unless we have a direct order, but orders usually come from above. My guess is that you’ve already triggered the highest level of attention possible.”
Laura’s throat felt dry. “You mean the alarm system is targeting me specifically?”