The facility never truly slept.
But there were moments—
Short, fragile moments—
Where everything felt still.
This was one of them.
Dim lights flickered along the underground corridors. The deeper levels remained quiet, sealed behind layers of reinforced steel and suppression barriers.
No personnel.
No movement.
Only silence.
And something breathing within it.
Kael opened his eyes.
"…Again."
He sat up slowly, the faint echo of something lingering in his mind.
Not a dream.
A call.
Subtle.
But persistent.
"…It's coming from below."
He stood.
The room was unchanged.
The same walls.
The same calm.
But now—
He could feel it.
A faint pull.
Like gravity.
But not physical.
Something deeper.
Something familiar.
Kael walked to the door.
It opened instantly.
No guards.
No resistance.
"…They really trust me."
Or maybe—
They had no choice.
The hallway stretched out before him.
Empty.
Kael stepped forward.
Slow.
Calm.
But every step—
Took him closer.
Down.
The facility had many levels.
Most people never saw the lowest ones.
Because they weren't meant to.
Kael didn't hesitate.
He moved through corridors, past sealed doors, past security checkpoints—
Each one reacting slightly as he passed.
Lights flickered.
Systems glitched.
The System—
Rejecting him.
Again.
"…So even this place runs on it."
That explained a lot.
He reached an elevator.
The panel lit up on its own.
Without him touching it.
"…Convenient."
The doors opened.
Slowly.
Inside—
Only one option remained active.
B13
The lowest level.
Kael smiled faintly.
"…Guess I'm going the right way."
The doors closed.
As the elevator descended—
The air changed.
Heavier.
Colder.
And then—
It stopped.
Ding.
The doors opened.
Darkness.
Not complete.
But close.
The hallway beyond was different.
Older.
Less maintained.
As if this part of the facility—
Wasn't meant to be used.
Kael stepped out.
Immediately—
He felt it.
Stronger now.
Clearer.
"…So it's you."
The pull intensified.
Leading him forward.
Step by step—
He followed it.
Until—
He reached a door.
Massive.
Reinforced.
Covered in seals.
Symbols carved into its surface.
Not technological.
Ancient.
"…What the hell is this…"
The air around it vibrated slightly.
Like it was alive.
Kael stepped closer.
And the moment he did—
The seals reacted.
They flickered.
Glowed.
Struggled.
Then—
One of them cracked.
A faint voice slipped through.
"…You came…"
Kael's eyes narrowed.
"…So you can talk."
A pause.
Then—
A low chuckle echoed from behind the door.
"…Not many can hear me…"
Kael crossed his arms.
"…I'm not like 'many.'"
"…I know."
Silence.
Heavy.
"…What are you?" Kael asked.
The voice didn't answer immediately.
As if considering.
"…Something they were afraid of…"
A pause.
"…Something they tried to erase."
Kael frowned slightly.
"…Didn't work."
Another chuckle.
"…Obviously."
The air grew colder.
"…And you?"
The question came from behind the door.
Slow.
Curious.
"…What are you?"
Kael didn't answer.
Because—
He didn't know.
"…Still figuring that out."
Silence.
Then—
"…Interesting."
A faint pressure spread through the hallway.
"…You feel… similar."
Kael's eyes sharpened.
"…Similar?"
"…Not the same…"
A pause.
"…But close enough."
Something inside Kael reacted.
The Abyss.
Stirring.
The shadows beneath his feet twisted slightly.
The thing behind the door laughed softly.
"…Yes…"
"…That."
Kael stepped closer.
"…You know what this is?"
"…Of course."
A pause.
"…It's not from their System."
Kael's heart slowed.
Just slightly.
"…Then what is it?"
Silence.
Longer this time.
"…Freedom."
The word echoed.
Deep.
Kael's eyes darkened.
"…Doesn't feel like it."
"…That's because you're still holding back."
The seals flickered again.
Straining.
"…Let me out."
The words were soft.
But heavy.
Kael didn't move.
"…No."
Silence.
Then—
The pressure vanished.
Instantly.
"…Good."
Kael blinked.
"…What?"
"…If you had agreed…"
A pause.
"…You wouldn't have been worth it."
Kael smirked slightly.
"…You're testing me?"
"…Of course."
Another pause.
"…Because you're the only one who can open this."
Kael's expression didn't change.
"…Not interested."
"…You will be."
Confidence.
Absolute.
"…Why?"
Silence.
Then—
The voice lowered.
"…Because when the time comes…"
The seals trembled.
"…You won't be able to do this alone."
Kael's gaze hardened.
"…Do what?"
No answer.
The presence behind the door faded slightly.
"…We'll talk again…"
And then—
Nothing.
Silence returned.
Heavy.
Kael stood there.
Thinking.
"…Freedom…"
His hand clenched slightly.
"…Or something worse."
He turned.
Walking away.
But this time—
His mind wasn't calm.
Because now—
There was something else.
Something like him.
Something waiting.
And deep down—
Kael knew—
This wasn't a coincidence.
As he stepped back into the elevator—
The lowest level returned to silence.
But behind the sealed door—
Something smiled.
Because the anomaly—
Had finally found another.
And soon—
The world above—
Wouldn't be able to contain either of them.