After veering off from the main path and taking the short side route, we formed into two lines and began descending the staircase that led downward into the depths of the facility.
Surprisingly, the surroundings weren't as dim or oppressive as I expected from a prison. The air didn't reek of rot, and the temperature was moderate. It was just like any other climate-controlled inner sanctum you might find in a corporate bunker or classified lab.
Or at least, that's how it appeared—for the first half of the descent.
"Hurry it up! You fuckers don't have all day to crawl to your damn cells…!" the fat officer barked once again, swinging his boot at those who dared to slow their pace.
At the base of the staircase, we found ourselves in a vast, open space. There was nothing in this chamber except for two visible entrances—one behind us, the way we came from, and another situated far at the opposite end.
The moment I laid eyes on it, a strange tension coiled in my gut.
