THE HIDDEN FACILITY
730 Words
The keycard in your hand suddenly feels heavier.
Like it’s pulling you forward.
“You kept this from me,” you say quietly.
Maya doesn’t respond immediately.
“That facility wasn’t supposed to exist anymore,” she finally says.
“But it does,” you reply.
“And now you know why they wanted you alive.”
Behind you—
Footsteps.
Closer.
You don’t have time.
“Ethan,” you say, holding up the keycard.
“Please tell me this opens it.”
He studies it.
“Oh yeah. That’s not just a keycard.”
He looks at you.
“That’s root access.”
You slide the card into the panel.
For a moment—nothing.
Then—
ACCESS GRANTED
The door hisses open.
Cold air spills out.
Darkness beyond.
You and Ethan exchange a look.
Then step inside.
The door slams shut behind you.
Locking.
The keycard in your hand suddenly feels heavier.
Like it’s pulling you forward.
“You kept this from me,” you say quietly.
Maya doesn’t respond immediately.
“That facility wasn’t supposed to exist anymore,” she finally says.
“But it does,” you reply.
“And now you know why they wanted you alive.”
Behind you—
Footsteps.
Closer.
You don’t have time.
“Ethan,” you say, holding up the keycard.
“Please tell me this opens it.”
He studies it.
“Oh yeah. That’s not just a keycard.”
He looks at you.
“That’s root access.”
You slide the card into the panel.
For a moment—nothing.
Then—
ACCESS GRANTED
The door hisses open.
Cold air spills out.
Darkness beyond.
You and Ethan exchange a look.
Then step inside.
The door slams shut behind you.
Locking.
The keycard in your hand suddenly feels heavier.
Like it’s pulling you forward.
“You kept this from me,” you say quietly.
Maya doesn’t respond immediately.
“That facility wasn’t supposed to exist anymore,” she finally says.
“But it does,” you reply.
“And now you know why they wanted you alive.”
Behind you—
Footsteps.
Closer.
You don’t have time.
“Ethan,” you say, holding up the keycard.
“Please tell me this opens it.”
He studies it.
“Oh yeah. That’s not just a keycard.”
He looks at you.
“That’s root access.”
You slide the card into the panel.
For a moment—nothing.
Then—
ACCESS GRANTED
The door hisses open.
Cold air spills out.
Darkness beyond.
You and Ethan exchange a look.
Then step inside.
The door slams shut behind you.
Locking.
The keycard in your hand suddenly feels heavier.
Like it’s pulling you forward.
“You kept this from me,” you say quietly.
Maya doesn’t respond immediately.
“That facility wasn’t supposed to exist anymore,” she finally says.
“But it does,” you reply.
“And now you know why they wanted you alive.”
Behind you—
Footsteps.
Closer.
You don’t have time.
“Ethan,” you say, holding up the keycard.
“Please tell me this opens it.”
He studies it.
“Oh yeah. That’s not just a keycard.”
He looks at you.
“That’s root access.”
You slide the card into the panel.
For a moment—nothing.
Then—
ACCESS GRANTED
The door hisses open.
Cold air spills out.
Darkness beyond.
You and Ethan exchange a look.
Then step inside.
The door slams shut behind you.
Locking.
The keycard in your hand suddenly feels heavier.
Like it’s pulling you forward.
“You kept this from me,” you say quietly.
Maya doesn’t respond immediately.
“That facility wasn’t supposed to exist anymore,” she finally says.
“But it does,” you reply.
“And now you know why they wanted you alive.”
Behind you—
Footsteps.
Closer.
You don’t have time.
“Ethan,” you say, holding up the keycard.
“Please tell me this opens it.”
He studies it.
“Oh yeah. That’s not just a keycard.”
He looks at you.
“That’s root access.”
You slide the card into the panel.
For a moment—nothing.
Then—
ACCESS GRANTED
The door hisses open.
Cold air spills out.
Darkness beyond.
You and Ethan exchange a look.
Then step inside.
The door slams shut behind you.
Locking.
- Writer
