We stepped into the spiral.
The lights were flickering. Yellow lights hummed faintly along the walls, casting a light shadow around us.
Each step felt the same. Slightly damp and uneven.
220 was at the front. She had alredy put the torch in her small bag.
I glanced at the walls. The yellow lights, the endless repetition.
''Do you know liminal spaces?'' I asked.
220 didn't hesitate.
''Yeah I do.'' She paused. ''I'm actually a big fan.''
For a second--That caught me off guard.
A liminal space fan? Here?
Nice...
I looked around again. Trying to live the moment.
''This place kind of feels like one.'' I said. ''I always wanted to be in a place like this.''
220 nodded slightly.
''It does.'' She said. ''But that's just the psychological side of it.''
She glanced at the walls.
''if there is no air circulation, there is a big problem for us. That makes it dangerous.''
Right.
''Yeah. You are right.''
At the begining, nothing felt different. The air was still cold enough to feel disturbing. Our footsteps echoed softly.
We climbed. One turn and another.
After what felt like a full floor, I slowed down and said:
''Wait.''
220 stopped a few steps above me and looked back.
''There is no exit,'' I said, glancing upward.
The spiral continued, but there was no visible opening in the staircase. just more steps and more yellow light.
She followed my gaze, silent for a moment.
''...It might not lead anywhere.'' I added.
220 didn't answed immediately.
Then, she said calmly afterwards.
''Or it leads somewhere we can't see yet.''
Of course.
That wasn't enough for her. But it became enough for me.
We kept climbing.
...
Somewhere along the next turns, something changed.
I noticed it first.
Small holes.
They were scattered along the wall at irregular places, barely noticable unless you were looking closely.
I slowed down, stepping closer to one random hole.
''...What is this?''
Something about it was... different.
I leaned closer this time, and started spying in detail.
The moment I brought my eye near it--
A faint warmth brushed against my face.
Then,
A faint wave of moisture. I flinched.
I leaned it again.
This time, I felt it clearly. Warm, damp air.
It wasn't strong, but subtle and controlled. Then a faint smell.
Soil. Actual soil.
It was almost alive.
I pulled my head back.
''...Weird.''
I turned forward--and froze.
220 was gone.
''...?''
I blinked, scanning the spiral ahead.
Nothing.
Just the same yellow lights.
My chest tightened.
''220?''
No answer. I took a step up. Then another.
I started moving Faster.
''220?''
No answer. Still nothing.
Damn it.
I started climbing quicker, footsteps echoing sharper now.
The heat, the air. Everything felt heavier.
...
(220's sight)
The temprature had shifted. Not extreme, But enough to notice.
I slowed down and placed my hand on the wall for a second.
Warmer than before.
...So it's not stable.
My eyes moved along the surface. Thats when I saw it.
Droplets. Small and irregular.
Clinging to the yellow wall like they didn't belong here.
''...Strange.''
I pulled out my notebook.
-Wall moisture increasing with elevation.
-Color:Brownish
-Possible source is unknown.
One of the droplets slid down slowly, Leaving a dirty trail behind.
Not condensation alone.
I narrowed my eyes. If this was airflow--
Then something was feeding it. And if something was feeding it--
Good.
That means--
...
I paused. Something felt off.
Too quiet. I turned my head slightly.
''...518?''
No response. My grip on the notebook tightened.
I looked down the spiral. Empty.
...No, this is bad.
''518?'' Louder this time.
Still nothing.
''Idiot...''
I muttered.
Why would he stop?
Dont make me come back for you.
I started descending fast. Steps sharper now.
...
(518's sight)
I turned the corner--
--and almost ran straight to her.
''--!''
We both stopped abruptly. Too close.
One more step and we would have collided. I stepped back.
Still breathing heavier.
''You disappeared,'' I said immediately.
220's eyes narrowed.
''You stopped.''
''I was checking something.''
''In a place like this?'' she snapped. ''Without saying anything?''
I frowned.
''You went ahead without checking if I was still there.''
A brief pause. And then tension
neither of us backing down.
220 exhaled sharply.
''...Fine. Doesn't matter.''
It clearly did.
Her gaze shifted back to me.
''There is a change above,'' she said. ''You need to see it.''
I hesitated. Then continued.
''...There were holes in the wall.'' I said ''I looked inside one.''
She didn't interrupt.
''There's airflow.'' I continued. ''And smelled soil and moisture.''
220 responded. Her eyes lit up.
''Good.'' She said. ''That explains everything.''
220 scribbled something again.
''Explains what?'' I said with a curious tone.
220 turned without waiting.
''Follow.''
220 started climbing the stairs. I followed.
As we climbed, I can now tell the differance. The air around us literally heating up.
''You are right. There is a difference.''
''Not only with this.''
What did she mean by that? Is there more?
As I climbing the steps, the steps started to slip.
Then, I glanced at the walls. My eyes widened.
The brown droplets clung to the wall, thick and unnatural. Something about pulled me in.
I reached out--
A hand snapped around my wrist. Tight and sudden.
''Don't''
220's voice wasn't loud.
I glanced at her. Her eyes weren't curious anymore. They were sharp.
''It could be contaminated.'' she said, not letting me go. ''Or worse.''
I frowned. Trying to pull my hand back.
''It's just water.''
''It's not. Thats the thing I wanted to show you.''
I waited and thought for a while. Finally I understood.
''So you are saying that the steam is pouring from that tiny holes and condensing right here.''
220 released my hand.
''Correct. Lets keep climbing. And don't even think about touching it again.''
''Alright.''
She started climbing hastily. I think she doesn't want to inhale this steam for a long time.
I increased my pace. Trying not to breath too much.
We kept climbing.
Somehow, the air felt thicker. It starting to get hard to breath.
''Is it just me, or--''
''The temperature is rising,'' 220 said, Alredy taking out her notebook.
She wrote quickly. A drop of sweat fell on the page.
Then another. The ink blurred.
And the pen fell.
...
''This isn't normal.'' she said quietly while trying to grab her pen back.
While she was bending down, I quickly bent down and picked it up from the ground and handed it over. Bending down felt very difficult.
We kept moving. Way slower now.
My vision blurred for a moment. I blinked.
The air burned slightly when I breathed in.
''220. we should go back. Now.''
"You are right. Lets go back and make a plan."
We started descending.
The air felt so dry and I could see fluctuating.
...
We finally arrived at the droplet zone. The air was more stable here.
"I recommend going back." I said.
"No. There could be a crucial information above. I dont think these stairs made purposeles."
She said. Her voice was determined as always.
"Then how?" I said."How could we get pass this heat wave clinging around?"
Then in a sudden, she took out her bag.
"I have an idea."
She unzipped the bag and took out two medium-sized water bottles.
I grabbed without explanation and--
The water was very cold. I felt like opening one and drinking it.
I turned the bottle over to check the amout inside.
1 liter. Perfect.
I frowned slightly, still holding the bottle.
"There was only one bottle in the refrigerator... Why do you have two?"
220 paused for a second.
"...I read the rules last night." She said.
"Rules?"
"I mean principles. On the back of the ID card. There are mentions of facilities."
I stayed silent.
"I checked them." She paused. "Around midnight."
"Really?" I said with a curious tone.
"Yeah. There is a place looks like... a mall. Shops and living areas everywhere."
"Shops? How do they look like?"
"They have almost everything for daily life. They accept points."
I stopped for a moment. Thinking.
"So you say everyone starts with points. Right?"
"You are right. We all start with 100 points."
"What can you buy with 100 points? Just asking."
220 shifted her gaze towards the walls. Examining the brownish water again.
"Enough to buy 400 bottles of water."
I blinked.
400? That means the economy is stable in here.
I looked down at the bottle in my hand again.
Cold and full.
I narrowed my eyes again.
"Why did you said in bottles?" I asked."Is there something you are not telling me?"
220 didn't reacted immediately.
"...Prices aren't listed." She said
I stayed silent. Examining her words.
"You only see them at the counter."
I frowned."So?"
She exhaled quietly.
"Once you see the price... you have to buy it."
...
That made me pause.
"And you tested with water."
"Yes." She paused. "I didn't risk anything else."
220 wiped her forehead, breathing more steadily now.
"Enough...We need a plan."
I sighted. Started listening to her.
"We go up Fast. No stops."
She shifted the bottle slightly.
"We use the water, only 5 percent each time. Small amounts to keep your head cool. No drinking."
I nodded.
"And what if it runs out?"
She looked up straight at me.
"If either of us drops bellow twenty percent, we turn back immediately."
No hesitation.I nodded.
"Alright. Got it."
She reached up for her notebook.
For a second, she just stared at it.
A drop of water sliding down her wrist, landing landing on the purple cover.
Then, she closed the notebook.
And placed it on the ground, near the wall.
"You're leaving it?" I said.
"It wont survive the water." She said. "The ink may be spread."
She paused for a second.
"And I wont risk losing what's inside."
I glanced at the stairs, gripping the bottle hard.
"Get ready for the last ascend. I will lead the way this time."
220 nodded.
"Alright. Lets go."
I took the first step. And increased my pace like 220 asked. She followed behind.
The spiral tightened above me.
I was walking hastily. Trying not to waste any moment.
"Let's go faster." I said while still climbing.
"Alright."
I increased my pace.
Step after step, the heat changed and it started to feel unbearable.
I attempted to reach my water bottle and poured on my head.
The water spread, the cool hiting me like a cold breeze.
"Dont waste a single drop." 220 said while she was pouring too.
I looked at my bottle. About 85 percent. Not bad.
"220 what's the condition?"
"I'm about 95 percent. What about you?"
"85. Let's not talk unless it's necessary."
"Understood."
We keep walking at the same pace.
The spiral tightened as we climbed.
At first, I tought it was just the angle.
Then I noticed it. Space was getting narrower.
Step by step, the wall felt nearer before.
"220..."
"I see it." She replied. "Keep moving"
I started to move more carefully.
I gripped the bottle tighter.
The brownish water appeared again. But this time, it was more sticky and jelly type.
My legs started to burn and my lungs started to ache.A sweat swipped into my eyes. Making me see the surrounding blurry.
I reached the bottle again and poured more than I should have.
"Hey, I said dont waste it!"
A small splash of water hit my cheek. Not from the bottle this time. From the walls. Moisture clung everywhere.
The fluorescend lamps became more unstable now. One second bright and the other second, off. Casting uneven shadows.
I started feeling it. More sharper now. The heat is still rising. Not rapidly but enough to notice.
I reached the bottle again. I accidently poured more than I should have again.
"Be careful with the water." 220 said with a angry tone.
"Only small amounts."
It was a bit late but I nodded anyway.
...
Finally, the top. I can see it. A faint opening above. And a metal door.
I stepped first. Then 220.
I rested my forehead on the dry place of the wall.
"We finally reached it."I said with a low pitch. Letting the exausion take over me. My wet formal clothes alredy sticked on my back.
"Yeah. But no relaxion. The heat at its peakest level"
220 poured some water on her head. I poured it too.
"I think I'm bellow 25."
"What we said before? We are going back."
220 started going back. But I stopped for a moment. Examining every detail.
Firstly, I pushed the door. It didn't budge.
"Only if I had the card"
I said with a low pitch. Then I realized the black glass shards on the ground.
I picked some and put in my pocket. And turned back immediately.
...
Finally. The first floor. I exited the staircase. Exausted. The cold felt good.
Then, my eyes searched for 220.
She was crouched near a wall with her flashlight and scribbling something.
"You ruined it" She said with a straight tone.
She wasn't wrong.
I didn't answer.
"You didn't follow the instructions. And kept making mistakes."
I looked down for a second. Then reached into my pocket.
"...Not completely."
I pulled out the black shard. Sharp.shining. I handed it over.
She grabbed it. And--
"-!"
A small sound. A thin line opened across her palm.
The blood didn't drip immediately. Its just stayed here.
Then, it started to move.
"...Careful" I said.
Her eyes were still on the shard. Gripping tighter this time.
"Interesting." She said.
Like it didn't matter. I frowned
"You are bleeding."
"I know." Said with a flat tone.
She tilted the shard. Watching how it caught the light.
"This isn't normal glass."
Another drop fell onto notebook.
"The surface is stable."
I stared, confused.
"You are seriously ignoring that?"
She didn't respond. She was too busy with her work alredy.
"Well I'm turning back."
"I am gonna stay here for a moment. You can go."
I started moving. I didn't need the light. I still remembered the way.
...
A few steps in--
Something felt off.
I stopped and listened. It was silent.
Then a faint sound behind me.
I turned. Nothing.
But I can tell someone is watching.
I turned back again--
--and froze.
A small flame lit the dark. A lighter in their hand.
Half visible.
A person with long hair. One eye covered. The rest lost in shadow.
They didn't move or speak. Then--
A quick motion.
They crumpled a paper and threw on my side.
I looked down. Then back up.
But they were alredy gone.
I unfolded it.
...
My eyes narrowed.
Why me?