The sunlight streaming through the doorway revealed dusty cobwebs clinging to the stone walls. Ryan walked back to Aria, his footsteps echoing off the earth and he gently lifted her onto his back again.
"Hold tight," Ryan whispered and Aria wrapped her arms around his neck, her grip tight.
Samuel quickly grabbed a huge-looking stick he saw on the floor, the wooden surface was worn but smooth.
"For defense," Samuel explained as he grasped the sturdy stick.
Ryan nodded and his hand instinctively checked his gun. The familiar weight of the firearm offered a measure of comfort, it was do or die.
Ryan cocked his gun while Aria quickly turned on her small torchlight, the torch adding more light to the walls.
"Ready?" Ryan said to them, steady.
Samuel grip tightened on his stick."Hell yeah" The trio descended the stairs, their footsteps echoing off the cold stone. The air grew colder and the darkness seems to press in around them.
Dust particles danced in the air, swirling around them like a maddening dance moves as they descended the stairs.
Aria's torch led the way, its small light slicing through the darkness like a sword. (^^)
The light casted shadows on the walls, making it seem as if they were being stalked by unseen threats.
Their footsteps echoed softly, the sound bouncing off on the cold stone. Each step creak under their weight.
Ryan was the first to reach the last step with Aria clinging to his back, her injured leg wrapped around him, her torch leading the way.
As they reached the bottom, Aria swept her torchlight over their surroundings, illuminating the vast underground.
"What do you see?" Samuel whispered from behind.
"Looks like some sort of underground chamber," Aria replied with wide eyes in wonder.
Samuel stepped beside them, his eyes scanning the space, taking in the vaulted ceiling that was lost in darkness.
"It's freaking huge," Samuel breathed, awe etched on his face.
The underground tunnel or we could say chamber stretched out before them, its dimensions were endless. Shadows hiding secrets in every corner.
The air was heavy with dust and the stench of decay. Ryan walked closer to the stone walls, examining them carefully, Aria still clinging to his back, shining her small torchlight on the surface.
"Cement," Ryan whispered tracing his fingers around the rough texture.Dust and cobwebs are the only signs of it been old.
"Doesn't look like it's been used for some time," Aria said in a whisper, looking at the walls too.
Samuel moved closer to them, his eyes scanning the surface of the wall, his heavy footsteps echoing on the ground.
"What's this?" Samuel asked, his finger tracing a faint symbol etched into the wall.
"Wait!" But it was too late. Samuel had already pushed the symbol, and a low rumble shook the ground, causing the dust to swirl around them.
"No!" Aria torchlight trembled as the ground began to shake, Ryan's grip on his gun tightened.
"What have you fucking done?" Ryan almost shot Samuel out of anger, can't he just behave for one fucking seconds.
"I didn't know!" Samuel protested while The walls continue to shake, and the sound of grinding stone filled the air. The ground trembled beneath their feet.
Ryan swiftly turned, his boots scuffling against the shaking floor, and sprinted towards the stairs, Aria secured to his back. Samuel who was momentarily stunned, quickly regained his composure and followed closely behind, his footsteps echoing off the dusty concrete walls.
"Click" Lights on
"Click" Lights on
"Click." The sound of flicking switches echoed through the underground tunnel as lights began to illuminate the once-dark space. The sudden brightness made them squint their as as their pupils constricted after the prolonged darkness.
Fluorescent tubes upon fluorescent tubes lits up the place and Ryan who was already at the stairs, glanced back over his shoulders, his eyes wide in shock.
"What the...?" Ryan whispered, barely audible, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"The hell..." Samuel muttered, also turning his head back, his eyes mirroring Ryan's surprise,
his gaze scanning the newly illuminated tunnel.
"How the heck did it light up so fast?." Aria, still clinging to Ryan's back, leaned forward.
"The lights,They're everywhere. It's like someone flipped a switch." Aria said, looking at Samuel who left her gaze quickly and scanned the area.
"The whole tunnel is lit up," Ryan spoke up, his voice filled with awe and his eyes scanned the newly illuminated passway. "There must be a generator or something somewhere."
Samuel nodded thoughtfully . "But where? We didn't see any signs of power sources when we entered. No humming, no electrical outlets, nothing."
"Could it be automatic? isn't this 2178." Aria said, she's starting to think that she wasn't even in the future because most things are the same with 2024.
They stopped at their spot and turned their bodies to face the tunnel once again, and without a word, they silently descended the stairs again, their gazes fixed on the lit up space below.
"I move right, you move left," Ryan ordered Samuel, low and steady scanning the area for potential threats.
"Why don't I go right instead" Samuel protest and Aria rolled her eyes, still clinging on Ryans back" Just do something for once" she bit back a curse.
Ryan didn't even say anything and just moved to the right wall with his gun at the ready, checking for any signs of danger.
They swept the area, their footsteps echoing off the cold and concrete walls, the only sound was the eerie silence that enveloped them. The fluorescent lights above cast long shadows behind them, making it seem like they were being followed by their selves.
Aria clings deeper into Ryan's back, her injured leg wrapped around his waist, her heart racing with anticipation.
They continued walking deeper into the tunnel, the silence growing thicker around them and the air was heavy with tension.
The tunnel stretched out before them, a seemingly endless labyrinth of concrete and steel.