The sixth floor was silent.
That was the first thing John noticed.
The fifth floor had been filled with shouting, alarms, and the frightened voices of prisoners.
Down here, there was nothing.
No guards.
No researchers.
No machines.
Just silence.
John stood at the bottom of the staircase, sword in hand.
Behind him, Aerion and Darius reached the final step.
Sylvara followed.
Lythriel had remained on the fifth floor to help free the prisoners and guide them toward the surface.
John looked at the corridor ahead.
"Something's wrong."
Darius nodded.
"There should be security here."
"Exactly."
Aerion looked around.
"Maybe everyone evacuated."
John shook his head.
"Then why didn't they take whatever's down here with them?"
Another vibration passed through the floor.
Not an explosion.
A heartbeat.
**Thump.**
John felt it through the soles of his boots.
Then again.
**Thump.**
Darius's face became pale.
"That's not machinery."
"No."
John continued walking.
---
