The three huddled together at the living room. Ryan, Aria, and Samuel had spent almost an hour and half in perfecting their plan, poring over blueprints and strategizing every detail, but one crucial factor remained and it was frustratingly unknown.
"Are we sure it's night time?" Aria asked and they all frowned.
Ryan's brow was furrowing in concern and calculations. "We can't be certain. We slept, but was it through the night or just a few hours?. They were all trying to recall what time it would be and the hours they had slept through.
Samuel rubbed his eyes. "My body says it's night time, but my mind's a mess." His voice trailed off, lost in thought.
Aria nodded, her brow also furrowed in concentration. "Mine too," she said barely above a whisper. "If I'm calculating well, I'd say we slept throughout the afternoon and evening... and now it might be night time."
Ryan frowning face was still intact, "We can't be certain," he whispered, "but we have to assume it's night. We can't afford to go out during the night."
Samuel and Aria exchanged knowing glances, after all Ryan had told Aria that night time was when death flowed. They nodded in unison and Aria leaned back into the couch, stretching her injured leg out.
"Let's wait a few hours," she suggested,. "Then we make our move and pray the time favors us." Ryan nodded, his frown deepening. "Agreed. We'll give ourselves the best chance at success." The trio waited and the freaking silence was oppressive, as the hours ticked by with agonizing slowness.
Ryan's eyes never left his gun, the matte black colored gun reflecting the light. His fingers moved, checking the magazine, the chamber, and the safety. He holstered it, his hand resting on the grip while tracing the outline.
Samuel eyes also went to the small gun at his hand, he inspected the small gun Aria had provided to him, some hours ago, he checked the magazine, checked the rounds, and slid it back into place.
As the minutes ticked away, tension mounted, thickening the air and making their hearts beat faster.
"Time's almost up," Ryan whispered while the room light emphasized the gravity etched on his face.
Samuel and Aria both raised their heads in unison, their eyes locking onto Ryan's intense gaze.
Ryan stood up from the couch with his gun held and Samuel followed suit with Aria small gun in his hand.
Aria picked up her walking stick, and she used it to support herself as she stood, her movements was slower but determined.
The trio faced each other, and then they nodded, turning to look at the entrance closed wall.
Samuel adjusted the small gun at his lower back, ensuring the weapon sat comfortably and was easily accessible when needed.
The trio approached the closed solid wall, that is their entrance and out. Aria moved forward and was about to press the button on the wall when Ryan handed her a sleek remote that he had discovered on the bedroom dresser.
"I saw this too," he said and measured.
Aria and Samuel examined the remote, its buttons labeled in bold letters: Left Wall, Right Wall, Entrance Wall, and Iron Door. The plastic casing felt cool to the touch but Samuel's eyes narrowed as he turned his gaze to Ryan. "What else have you seen?" he demanded accusingly, because Ryan had seen all this things but he didn't tell them till the conversation kept coming up.
Ryan shifted uncomfortably, at the intense glare Aria shoot at his before she pressed the entrance Wall button.
The wall slid open revealing the lit tunnel that stretched into the distance. The air was stale and heavy with dust.
"We'll resolve this later," Aria said to Ryan while he scratched the back of his neck.
Samuel pushed past Ryan and walked out of the room into the tunnel. "Let's move," he called back with Aria following and Ryan moving to carry the shovel amd sac he had told them about.
As they stepped into the tunnel, the dim fluorescent lights above flickered to full life, casting shadows on the cold, gray concrete walls while they moved forward. The air was stale and musty, heavy with the scent of damp earth and decay.
Aria's thumb pressed the button again and the entrance wall slid shut behind them with a resounding thud, the tunnel didn't shake like how it did when they first opened it.
The tunnel's silence enveloped them after sealing themselves out from their safety.
Ryan glanced back, his eyes tracing the place where the wall had closed, there was no handle, no visible exit like nothing was there, the only thing visible was the smooth and unbroken concrete.
They pressed onward, their footsteps synchronized and their gazes fixed on the path ahead as they approached the staircase.
Samuel was the one leading the way, his footsteps echoing off the walls as he stepped onto the first stair, each step creaking softly beneath his weight.
Ryan followed closely, while Aria halted at the first step, her hand grasping the walking aid, her injured arm was holding the remote.
Samuel and Ryan turned to her as they stopped, "This is it," Aria said and Samuel nodded with Ryan, a silent understanding passing between them.
This was where they would leave Aria and proceed to retrieve the soil while she stood on guard and vigilant.
"Be careful," Aria whispered to them and with a shared nod, Samuel and Ryan turned to back the stairs facing the iron door.
Aria inhaled deeply, her chest rising with anticipation, as she prayed for daylight to greet them on the other side. Her fingers trembled slightly as she pressed the button labeled "Iron door,".
The door creaked, its metal hinges groaning in protest, the sound echoing through the tunnel and slowly, the door swung open.
Warm sunlight spilled into the tunnel, illuminating the dusty air.
Ryan and Samuel that were nearest the door, squinted their eyes as the golden light bathed their faces, making them blink rapidly.
Aria released the breath she was holding with her shoulders relaxing, and she smiled, relief washing over her.
Daylight was confirmed and her anxiety got eased, they had slept through the night and it was nearing afternoon again.