"We'll be in California in less than seven hours." The flight attendant's announcement drifts through the cabin just as I pull on my headphones. I glance around the private jet.
It's impressive, sleek, and rented by the SSL to ensure we all arrive safely. There are 12 other doctors on board besides me and my group, and I don't recognize any of them. That's not surprising; we don't work at the same hospital.
-
The flight went by faster than I expected. I barely remember takeoff before sleep pulls me under, and by the time I open my eyes, we're already landing.
It's 10 PM in California when we step off the jet. We're greeted by guides, all dressed impeccably in suits, who quickly lead us to a nearby hotel. It's just for tonight—we're leaving for the lab first thing in the morning.
-
Lying in bed, I hear Noah's voice break the quiet. "We're starting a new life tomorrow," he says, sounding both nervous and excited.
I turn off the lights and settle into my bed, my heart pounding at the thought. "I can't wait."
-
"Dr. Chase Meredith, you and your team, along with twelve other doctors, have been selected for transfer to SSL—Swift Science Laboratory—one of the largest and most prestigious research facilities in California. As I mentioned earlier, this laboratory operates under strict confidentiality. If you choose to accept this assignment, you will not be permitted to return for an indefinite period. Please take time to consider your decision carefully."
"I don't need time to think," Chase replied without hesitation. "I've dedicated my entire life to preparing for an opportunity like this."
I hear Noah from his bed across the room. "Same here. I'm ready." His guide nods, pulling a set of papers from his bag and handing them over.
The papers are crisp, the black ink stark against the white pages. I glance at them, confused, until my guide speaks again. "You'll need to sign with your fingerprint. These papers confirm your agreement to join the SSL."
Noah and I both nod, pressing our thumbs to the designated spot and watching as our prints appear on the page.
The guides gather the signed documents, slipping them back into their bags. "Follow me, please." my guide says, gesturing toward the door.
Outside the room, the hallway is buzzing with activity. Our friends, along with the other doctors, are already gathered. Judging by their expressions, everyone has signed the papers.
We're ushered outside, where a large coach bus waits for us. It gleams in the early morning light, its size almost intimidating. I can barely contain my excitement as I follow my guide onto the bus.
Inside, each doctor sits beside their guide. The hum of the engine vibrates through the floor as the bus begins to move.
"How long until we get to the lab?" I ask, taking a small box of food from my guide.
"Seventeen minutes," he replies, his voice flat and emotionless.
I nod, slightly unnerved by his robotic tone, but I push the thought aside. My dream is about to come true in less than twenty minutes.
I unwrap the food—a cupcake and a milkshake. It's simple, but it's enough to curb the hunger gnawing at my stomach. We'd left so early that none of us had the chance to eat breakfast.
-
Ten minutes into the ride, the scenery starts to change. The tall buildings of the city fade away, replaced by endless stretches of trees and grass.
Then the bus takes a sharp right. There's no visible road, just a path through the dense woods. The air feels different—quieter, heavier.
We weave through the trees until a massive wall comes into view. It towers above us, easily over 100 meters tall, and seems impenetrable.
Before I can ask what's going on, the wall splits open. The sound is low and mechanical, and the sheer size of the gates leaves me speechless. The bus rolls forward, and as soon as we're through, the wall closes behind us.
Gasps and murmurs fill the bus.
"Is this real?"
"This is insane."
"Wow…"
I barely register the whispers around me. My eyes are glued to the view outside.
At first, all I see are more trees. Then, after a few minutes, the landscape shifts.
A pristine town emerges, like something out of a sci-fi movie. The streets are spotless, lined with identical white buildings. Parks and small lakes are scattered throughout, perfectly manicured and symmetrical.
"It's an entire hidden town," I whisper, barely able to breathe.
It's beautiful—almost too perfect. There are only a handful of people outside, all of them moving with quiet precision.
The bus doesn't stop. It glides through the town, giving us a chance to soak it all in.
But then the scenery changes again.
We leave the town behind and pull into a desolate, isolated area. The contrast is jarring. Armed guards patrol the perimeter, their presence intimidating.
The bus stops in front of what looks like an abandoned house.
Noah leans toward me, his voice low. "What the fuck? I expected skyscrapers, not… this."
I shake my head, equally confused, as we're instructed to follow the guides into the house.
Inside, it's even smaller than it looked from the outside. Dust coats the wooden floors, and the air feels stale.
One of the other doctors finally breaks the silence. "Where is the lab?"
Her guide turns to her, his expression unreadable. "Right beneath us, ma'am."
Before anyone can react, the guides step away from the center of the room.
The floor creaks, and then, with a loud crack, a circular section opens. A ladder descends into the darkness, and a glowing blue platform hovers just six feet below the floor.
I stare at the opening, my heart pounding. This place hasn't stopped surprising me since we arrived, and every new reveal only fuels my excitement.
This is it. This is what I've been waiting for.