"Do you see anything?" Samuel called out to Ryan, his voice bouncing back with a hollow reverberation.
"No," it was Aria who responded, her voice muffled against Ryan's back. " we don't see anything" she whispered, her breath warm against Ryan skin. She clings to Ryan's back, her injured leg wrapped around his waist, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck and her heart pounded against his back with the rhythm syncing with Ryan's own.
"Keep moving," Ryan ordered, his gun held and his finger resting lightly on the trigger while his eyes scanned the environment.
They walked deeper into the tunnel, their hands tracing the walls to see if there is any hidden button like that Samuel had pressed before and the light got on. Cobwebs clung to every corners of the place.
The air was heavy with the scent of dampness and decay, thick with the weight of abandonment.
"Ryan, see," Aria whispered pointing to a small, almost imperceptible seam in the wall. Ryan's eyes followed her finger to see what she was pointing at.
"What is it?" Samuel asked, walking from the left wall to them, he didn't see anything at his own wall, so why not moved to theirs.
"Think it's safe to press it?" Aria asked looking at it.Ryan shook his head in thought, this could be their salvation or their demise, Samuel had turned up the lights by mistake when he pressed something like this but this time it might be different.
Ryan's finger hovered over the small, looking kind of button on the wall, its surface etched with a subtle symbol. "Here goes nothing," He said and Aria's grip on his back tightened, her injured leg wrapped tightly around his waist.
Ryan pressed the button and the ground began to shake again, the tremors more violent than before, as if the very foundations of the tunnel was unraveling.
The wall before them creaked, the sound echoing through the tunnel like a living entity.
They all quickly turned and ran towards the stairs again, their footsteps echoing off the walls, their frantic footsteps getting heavy as they ascend each steps quickly.
The iron door suddenly slammed shut with a deafening crash, sealing their exit and entrapping them into the tunnel.
"Oh, fuck no!" Samuel exclaimed while the right side of wall slid open, revealing a hidden passage shrouded in shadows.
Aria glanced back, her eyes wide "Ummm, guys," she called out, tapping Ryan's shoulder urgency at what she was seeing.
Ryan and Samuel spined around, their faces set with clenched jaws.
"Click."
The sound echoed through the corridor like a sharp crack, the fluorescent lights flickered to life, casting an inviting glow over the cozy space and illuminating the dust particles dancing in the air.
Aria's grip on Ryan's shoulder tightened, her fingernails digging into his shirt. "This was hidden behind that wall,"Aria said in disbelief, this tunnel was truly a mystery to them.
Ryan and Samuel spined around and they were met with a sight that left them speechless.
They descended the stairs again like puppets, their footsteps echoing through the space and as they reached the bottom, before them lay a room that seemed utterly out of place in a place like this. The room was like a normal living room, filled with warmth and comfort, inviting them to linger.
The room was furnished with plush, cream-colored couches, recliners, and a large flat-screen TV that was mounted on the wall.
"Fuck yes!" Samuel suddenly exclaimed, his face lightening up with excitement. He was the first to enter the room, his boots sinking into the soft carpet. In his eyes, they had finally found their safe haven, a refuge from the dangers that lurked outside.
"Finally, a place to rest," Samuel said and Ryan followed with Aria's weight distributed evenly on his back.
A coffee table that seems to be crafted from rich and dark wood, sat in the center of the room.
Ryan gently set Aria down on a couch nearby, its cushions soft that was wrapped in a warm, golden and brown leather. He adjusted her injured leg, ensuring she was comfortable, and tucked a pillow under her knee for support.
"You good?" Aria nodded, closing her eyes in relief.
Samuel dropped into a couch to and exhaled deeply. "Ah, heaven," he sighed, his eyes shut.
Ryan's eyes moved around the place, taking in every detail. The room was cozy, filled with warmth and comfort. Soft, golden lighting illuminated the space, casting a calming glow on the walls, a fridge was also quietly at a corner.
While two doors stood nearby at the opposite side of the room, What's behind those doors?, Ryan wondered,moving towards them slowly.
"Maybe another cozy room," Samuel suggested, with a grin.
Ryan approached the doors, he had to check if they were entirely safe before resting. They couldn't just stumble upon a place like this and relax as if they were the ones who kept it here, Ryan thought.
"Let me check it out ," Ryan said and cocked his gun, the metallic click echoing through the room. He approached the doors cautiously, his eyes scanning the surrounding area for any signs of danger, his senses on high alert.
Ryan held the door handle for the first door and opened it slowly, his gun ready to shoot as his finger was already poised on the trigger. Ryan opens the door and it creaked open, revealing a spotless bathroom with gleaming white tiles and a sink.
"Bathroom," he called out to them, the bathroom was empty, but Ryan entered and checked every corner, ensuring they were alone.
"Clear," Ryan said and Samuel nodded, "Check the other one," He ordered, like he was the one owning the place, he didn't care if something was with them, this fucking place is amazing, he thought.
Ryan closed the bathroom door and approached the second door, his gun still ready to shoot, he won't let his guard down even when he has confirmed the other room was safe.