Previous Chapter Summary:
Emma and the others escaped through a hidden underground tunnel after black-clothed attackers broke into Mickle's secret research room. Carrying a mysterious tape and clues about the 1998 experiment, they ran into the darkness while the attackers followed closely behind.
Emma's breath grew heavier as she ran through the dark tunnel.
The sound of heavy boots echoed behind them—slow, steady, and terrifyingly calm.
They were still following.
"Faster," Adrian whispered, gripping the broken wooden stick tightly. "They're getting closer."
William's weak flashlight trembled in his hand, throwing shaky light across the wet brick walls. Water dripped from the ceiling, and the damp smell of soil and rust filled the narrow tunnel. It felt less like a passage and more like a grave.
Hena held Emma's hand tightly, her fingers cold and shaking.
"Emma… I'm scared," she whispered.
Emma squeezed her hand gently.
"I'm here," she said, even though her own heart was pounding violently in her chest.
Suddenly, Jay stopped.
"Wait."
Everyone froze.
Adrian turned back. "What is it?"
Jay crouched down and pointed the flashlight at the ground.
There were dark stains on the floor.
Emma stepped closer and felt her chest tighten.
Blood.
Dry, but not completely faded.
William swallowed slowly. "This is old… but not too old."
Jay moved the light toward the wall.
Deep scratch marks covered the bricks, as if someone had desperately tried to escape.
Hena's voice trembled. "Did someone die here?"
No one answered.
From far behind, a voice echoed through the tunnel.
"They went this way!"
Adrian clenched his jaw. "We don't have time."
Jay pointed forward.
"This way."
The tunnel bent slightly, and after a few steps, an old iron door appeared in front of them.
Rust covered its surface.
Beside it was a small code lock.
Emma stepped forward.
"Can we open it?"
William pushed the door, but it didn't move.
The footsteps behind them grew louder.
Hena's voice shook. "Emma… hurry…"
Emma looked at the tape in her hand.
She wiped off the dust and noticed small letters written on it.
M-1998-SR2
Her eyes widened.
"M… Mickle…"
Jay spoke quietly, "SR means Safe Room."
William looked at him. "Then 1998 must be the code."
From behind, a shout echoed.
"Stop them!"
Emma quickly pressed the numbers.
1… 9… 9… 8…
Click.
The door unlocked.
"Inside!" Adrian said.
They rushed into the room, and Jay slammed the door shut behind them.
Boom!
Heavy blows hit the door from outside.
Hena flinched. "They're trying to break in…"
Emma slowly looked around.
The room was small.
Old maps hung on the walls.
Wooden boxes lay scattered on the floor.
In one corner stood an old radio set.
And in the middle of the room was a table.
Emma stepped closer.
Her heart skipped a beat.
There was dried blood on the table.
And a handprint.
As if someone had tried to hold on while dying.
William's voice shook.
"This… could be Mickle's…"
Emma whispered, "No…"
She opened the table drawer.
Inside was a small folded paper.
Her hands trembled as she opened it.
"If Emma finds this, go to tunnel section 3. The original recording is hidden there."
Emma's breathing stopped.
"The original recording… is in tunnel section 3…"
Jay walked toward the map on the wall.
He placed his finger on a marked location.
"Here."
A red mark pointed to Tunnel Section 3.
William sighed slowly. "Mickle planned everything…"
Suddenly—
The radio turned on by itself.
Static filled the room.
Krrrrrrrr…
Everyone froze.
Then a broken voice came through.
"Emma…"
Emma's body went cold.
It was her father's voice.
"Emma… if you hear this… don't trust—"
The signal cut.
Static again.
Then—
"1998 was a mistake…"
Hena began to cry softly.
"What does not human mean…"
The radio crackled again.
"They are not human… they were changed…"
The signal suddenly died.
Silence filled the room.
Boom!
The door shook violently.
A crack appeared on the surface.
Adrian shouted, "They're breaking in!"
Emma held the tape tightly.
"We have to go to tunnel section 3."
Jay looked at her carefully.
"Are you sure?"
Emma nodded.
"Yes."
Jay stayed silent for a few seconds.
Then he said, "Alright."
But William noticed something.
Jay was staring at another part of the map.
A different section.
As if he knew something more.
Boom!
The door cracked open slightly.
Shadows of black-clothed figures appeared outside.
"Move!" Adrian shouted.
Emma pushed open a hidden back door, and they ran again into another tunnel.
Jay stayed behind for a second.
He looked at the map and whispered quietly—
"Section 3… or Section 7…"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Then he ran after them.
Behind them, the attackers finally broke into the safe room.
Emma kept running through the darkness.
Her father had hidden the truth.
And now that truth was waiting ahead.
But what she didn't know was—
not everyone was searching for the same truth.