The vanishing hour

Chapter ten

Chapter Ten: The Vanishing Hour

Milo had never felt this kind of fear.

Not when the disappearances started. Not when Daniel came back wrong.

But now? Now it was personal.

Daniel was gone.

And Milo was going to bring him back.

Elena clenched her fists. “We don’t have much time.”

Milo exhaled sharply. “The keycard. The one in the research facility photo. If the scientists used it to control the curse, maybe—”

“We can use it to close the door,” Elena finished.

Milo nodded. “And if Daniel is still in there…”

Elena swallowed. “We pull him out.”

They didn’t waste another second.

---

Horizon Biotech – 12:03 PM

The research facility felt different this time.

Colder. Hungrier.

Milo shoved open the rusted door. The stale air shivered around them.

Elena moved fast, flipping through cabinets, overturning desks. “It has to be here.”

Milo’s hands shook as he rifled through a pile of old files. Then—

A glint of black.

His breath caught.

He pulled out a small, black keycard.

Elena turned. “Is that—?”

A deep rumbling filled the air.

The walls shuddered.

Milo looked at her. “We have to go.”

---

The Door – 12:30 PM

The alley was wrong.

The door loomed in front of them, taller than it had been before. The blue light bled through the cracks.

Milo’s pulse pounded. “Daniel’s in there.”

Elena nodded. “We shut this thing for good.”

Milo stepped forward and swiped the keycard.

A deep, vibrating click.

Then—

The door swung open.

Milo barely had time to react before something pulled him inside.

---

The Other Side

Darkness.

Not empty. Alive.

Shapes moved in the void, whispering in voices that weren’t their own.

Milo staggered forward, his breath coming in sharp gasps. “Daniel!”

A shape separated from the others.

Milo’s heart clenched.

Daniel.

He stood still, his back to Milo. His body was covered in the strange markings, glowing faintly in the dark.

Milo took a shaky step forward. “Daniel, it’s me.”

Daniel’s head tilted slightly. “You shouldn’t be here.”

Milo swallowed hard. “I’m getting you out.”

Daniel let out a breath—almost a laugh. “You can’t.”

Milo clenched his fists. “Watch me.”

Then he grabbed Daniel’s wrist and pulled.

The darkness screamed.

The whispers rose into a horrible, deafening roar. The shapes lunged toward them—but the markings on Daniel’s body flared, and they recoiled.

Daniel gasped. His eyes snapped up—clear, for the first time.

Milo gritted his teeth. “We’re leaving.”

Daniel stumbled forward.

The door was still open, a sliver of light cutting through the dark.

Milo ran, dragging Daniel with him.

The shadows shrieked—the door was closing.

Milo lunged.

A split second of weightlessness—

Then—

They hit solid ground.

Milo gasped for air, chest heaving.

They were back.

The door was gone.

Elena crouched beside them. “You did it.”

Milo turned to Daniel, his heart hammering. “Dan?”

Daniel opened his eyes.

They were his.

No void. No darkness.

Just him.

Milo let out a shaking breath.

It was over.