I stepped out of my room, the cold of the dim corridor hitting me immediately. It felt colder than yesterday for some reason.
I kept close to the right side. Each step echoed faintly, reminding me how empty this place really was.
As I passed a door on my right, it suddenly swung open, catching me off guard. I stumbled slightly, heart racing.
From the doorway, 220 appeared, calm but alert.
Her gaze met mine, and for a moment, I couldn't read her expression.
''So... our rooms are next to each other, huh?'' she said with a curiosity in her voice.
I paused, collecting myself. Trying to respond without sounding suspicious.
''Yeah... seems like our rooms are right next to each other.'' I said , trying to sound casual.
I glanced in a curious way and said:
''But why are you up so early?''
She tilted her head, eyes scanning the corridor. But now, I could tell what she was thinking.
''I'm planning to explore a bit. Want to come along?''
She said with a straight tone. Well, I would rather to explore with a person near me.
''Well, same purpose. I can accept your offer and that would be great to protect ourselves from threats. There could be everything inside this massive building.''
She nodded And started speaking afterwards.
''Where should we start?''
''Well, if its up to me, I can say the 1st foor because I am concerned about this silver door in the waiting room. And remaining parts of the 1st floor.''
''Reasonable. Lets go.''
I nodded and started walking. She started following me from behind.
Complex was half awake and corridors were empty.
Most of the doors were still closed, and I mostly adapted the pale light in this corridor.
220 was walking ahead without hesitation.
I followed her silently.
A few moments later, we reached the staircase that connected the second floor to the first floor.
Just as I was about to say something, 220 suddenly raised her hand.
''Wait.''
Her expression changed slightly, like she noticed something I couldnt.
Without explaining, she touched the tip of her finger with her tongue and started examining something.
I stared her with a confused expression.
''What are you doing?''
She didn't answer immediately.
After about 30 seconds, she glanced down the staircase.
''Cold air. Bellow, It's cooler than it should be.''
I glanced down the staircase.
Then let's check it.
''Then we should take a look,'' I said.
220 didn't object. She simply started walking down the stars, and I followed.
The air form in the stair was faintly cooler than second floor.
With each step we took downward, the chill became more noticable.
220 didn't lower her hand. Her finger hovered in the air, catching subtle shifts in temperature or moisture that I couldn't detect.
I frowned. ''Still doing that?''
She didn't answer immediately. Instead, her eyes narrowed as she studied the air again.
''Something's off down here. The cold isn't natural... it's coming from somewhere spesific.''
I followed her gaze and said.
''There is only one answer. The silver door in the waiting room.''
''Let's see.''
We finally reached the 1 st floor.
A chill brushed against my skin, sharper than I expected. I drew my arms close to my chest.
Not unbearable but it'sdisturbing.
Meanwhile, 220 reached into her pocket and pulled out a small notebook and pen.
She began scribbling something. While wrting, her eyes darting around the hall.
We started walking to the waiting room.
''We should definitely wear something thick tomorrow.''
220 nodded and picked up her pace.
I did the same. I didn't want to fall back.
We arrived at the waiting room.
I pointed the silver door. A cold steam was elevating from the cracks.
As we approached, 220 got her notebook and scribbeled something.
I touched the silver door. And in instant, I instinctively pulled my hand.
It was so cold that my fingertips felt numb, as if the blood had stopped flowing. Then 220 spoke.
''the source of the cold must be behind this door according to your reaction.''
She chuckled softly.
I was trying to warm my finger when she said this.
''Lets go. Lead the way.''
220 nodded and started walking in front.
We left the waiting room and started walking towards the back side of the 1 st floor.
The roads were becoming increasingly dark.
When I looked behind me, There were the lights in the areas being used, and other side, There was a disturbing darkness.
When the darkness started to become disturbing, 220 stopped and took a flashlight from her bag.
When she pressed it, the yellow light splited the darkness.
''It looks like a expensive flashlight.''
''It is.''
Why would a person carry a flashlight with her? That meant she planned everything before we had arrived at complex.
We turned left. 220 stopped for a brief moment and examined the corridor. Then she started walking again.
There was a big gap in front of us. There were tables all across the room and top of it, there were inverted chairs.
''220, show me the structure of the room please.''
220 did the thing I asked for.
''Did you finally notice?'' 220 asked, her voice glinting with faint amusement.
I blinked, caught off guard.
''Notice what?'' I said with a curious tone.
220 tilted her head. She said that while scribbling something in her notepad.
''This place... it's a mirror of the other side. Look at the spacing, layout and place of installation of fluorescent lamps.''
220 moved the flashlight around the room.
I stepped closed, examining the arrangement closely.
My heart skipped.
''You are right... it really is. The enterance of the meeting room mirrors the original one exactly.''
220 scribbled quickly in her notebook, then looked up at me.
''See? it's all symmetrical. But... the dust. Look at it.''
She gestured to the thick layer covering the surfaces.
''This structure has been sitting here for a long time, untouched.''
I ran a hand along a table, disturbing a small cloud of dust. Expecting it to fly away like normal.
But as my hand swept through it, a sudden movement caught my attention. My eyes widened.
Tiny, dark shapes scattered, scrambling across my hand and the table.
Spiders.
Dozens of them.
I froze for a second, heart beating excesively. Then a sharp, unconscious gasp escaped me.
''W-what the--!''
I stuttered. stepping back and stumbling over a chair. My biggest fear has come true.
And then, I started flicked my hand violently to get rid of spiders.
220 looked up as she finally pointed her flashlight towards me. Then, a fait smirk appeared.
''Relax.'' She said calmly, though I could tell she was slightly amused. ''They are harmless... Probably.''
I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself. My pulse racing. The large number of them made it impossible to ignore.
''Ugh... I cant. I need... a moment!'' I said, walking around aimlessly to steady myself. My voice betraying my panic.
220 glanced at the swarm of spiders scattered across the table.
Without hesitation, She put her hand on the table.
One tiny spider crawled over her fingers. She observed it calmly. Then flicked her hand to drop it.
I blinked. Still pale from the experience.
''You are really not scared of them. Aren't you?''
She paused for a moment. Writing something to her notebook.
''No. I am very afraid. But even so... Im curious.''
Her words hung in the air.
Calm yet revealing. She faced things that scared her, not to conquer them, but to understand.
I nodded slowly, still processing her attitude.
''I see. Thats... actually impressive.'' I muttered.
She started walking afterwards.
''Lets go.'' she said in a determined tone.
I nodded again.
''L-lead the way'' I stuttered again. I hate it.
220 chuckled softly. Then started walking.
we continued along the corridor.
The chill of the first floor wrapping around us.
220 moved ahead, still scribbling in her notebook. her eyes scanning every detail.
I stayed close, watching around for any threats or hints.
As we rounded a corner, the corridor opened to a wider space, the area where a main staircase should have been.
But instead of the wide staircase I expected, a narrow, square chamber revealed a spiral staircase coiling around upward and downward.
I froze. This wasn't the thing I expected.
''This isn't what I expected.'' I whispered.
220 glanced at me, eyes calm.
''I guess it wasnt completely mirrored.''
220 tore a piece of paper, balled it up, and threw it on the ground.
I bent down and picked up the paper that 220 threw. and unfolded it.
Strange symbols and lines sprawled across the paper. Maps, schematics and explanations that made no sense to me.
I flipped the paper, hoping for a thing that is at least understandable.
Nothing. Only more lines and symbols.
I frowned. Then, I crumpled the paper and tossed it.
The air around the staircase felt heavier. The faint yellow light inside the narrow stair is visible from almost everywhere.
I leaned slightly forward to see inside. The walls were stained, a faint yellow paint along the edges. And also black moisture stains on the corners.
Along the edges of the spiral, Thin strips of fluorescent laps casts a dim yellow glow just enough to see around clearly.
The lights were uneven, lamps were flickering without rhythm.
A faint smell of rusty metal from handrails hanging in the air.
220 finally glanced at me.
''Shall we ascend?''
I could feel the curiosity and caution she always carried.
Ascend? really. I showed a bored expression as I heard this.
''We could also descend by the way. There is a way down! Look! '' I smiled, trying to convince her by pointing the descending stairs.
220 frowned at me like I said something wrong.
''I hate descending. Thats the last thing I want to do here.''
I pressed my forehead on the wall, lightly hitting it, and... well, just accepted my fate