The sterile hum of Lab-76 was alive with controlled chaos as Dr. Noah and Dr. Ethan prepared for the day's investigation. Backpacks stuffed with tools and equipment lined the counters, while the faint beeping of monitors provided a rhythmic backdrop.
Kieran strode in, his white shirt crisp against the dim laboratory light, his black pants tailored to perfection. His sharp gaze swept the room. "Are you both ready?"
"Yeah, almost done," Ethan replied, tightening the straps on a bulky pack.
Kieran glanced at the gear with measured approval. "How many are joining us?"
"Thirteen in total. Three of us, plus ten researchers," Ethan said, zipping his bag.
Noah slung his own bag over his shoulder with a grunt. "Let's get moving. No point wasting daylight."
Kieran gave a nod, his expression unreadable. "Let's see what we're walking into."
The convoy set off moments later, three cars slicing through the eerie quiet of the Vastora region. Kieran, Ethan, and Noah occupied the lead vehicle, with Ethan at the wheel. The dense forest flanking the road seemed to swallow the sound of their progress, leaving only the low hum of engines. Dilapidated buildings peeked through the overgrowth, their skeletal remains reclaimed by nature.
Kieran gazed out the window, his tone contemplative. "It's like time forgot this place."
Noah adjusted his glasses, his voice tinged with unease. "The entire region's been abandoned for decades. Lumora sits at the very edge of Vastora—nobody comes here anymore."
The road narrowed as they approached a massive bridge, its crumbling edges a testament to neglect. Moss and ferns crept across its surface, clinging to every crack. The river below shimmered under the wan sunlight, deceptively serene.
Ethan tightened his grip on the wheel, his jaw set. "Crossing this feels like tempting fate."
The cars rumbled over the bridge, the uneven surface making the ride unsteady. Beyond it, the skyline of Lumora loomed—an apocalyptic sprawl of shattered skyscrapers, rusting vehicles, and overgrown streets.
Their destination was an open field just outside the heart of the city. At its edge, a moss-covered gate bore the faded word Symmetry. Beyond it, rows of crosses marked a crude cemetery. Small, moss-encrusted buildings dotted the area, their windows dark and foreboding.
The convoy came to a halt, and the group stepped out, the air thick with a mix of decay and damp earth.
Kieran scanned the area, his voice carrying authority. "We're splitting into two teams. One will search the buildings on the left, the other will comb the field. Dr. Noah, you'll oversee the field team. And Ethan you'll take the buildings."
As the teams organized themselves, Kieran's gaze lingered on a structure at the far edge of the cemetery. Unlike the others, this building seemed less ravaged by time, its entrance partially obscured by dense vines. Something about it called to him, a quiet yet insistent pull.
"Stay sharp," he instructed his team before striding toward the enigmatic building, his steps resolute.
The rest of the group exchanged uneasy glances before dispersing. The air grew heavier as Kieran neared the structure, each step amplifying the stillness around him. Somewhere deep within the shadows of Lumora, answers—or perhaps new questions—awaited.