Infiltration

The mining facility loomed ahead, a rusting skeleton of steel and concrete. Time had not been kind to it—decades of wind and neglect had chipped away at its structures, leaving only a husk of what once must have been a thriving operation. But Jessica knew better. The real work wasn’t above ground—it was buried deep beneath them, hidden from the world.

"We circle around first," Olivia whispered, her eyes scanning the perimeter. "Check for movement, patrols, cameras. If this is still active, they’ll have security."

Leanna nodded, adjusting the strap of her backpack. "Agreed. No unnecessary risks. We don’t know what we’re walking into."

Kevin let out a slow breath. "Or who we’re walking into."

Jessica flexed her fingers, feeling the tension coiling in her muscles. The facility was silent—but not dead.

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Moving in a staggered formation, they made their way around the facility’s outskirts. The once-busy service road had been overtaken by weeds, and the high-voltage warning signs on the fence were so faded they were nearly unreadable. But then Olivia noticed something—a set of tire tracks, fresh in the dirt.

She crouched down, running a gloved hand over the impressions. "They were here recently. Maybe last night."

Jessica exhaled sharply. "Then the facility is active. And they know how to cover their tracks."

Leanna motioned for them to move forward. They reached the back of the compound, where the mine’s ventilation shafts were built into the rock. Several had collapsed over time, but one—a heavy steel grate covering a large exhaust shaft—had been recently reinforced.

Hannah frowned. "No way they did that if they weren’t using this place."

Kevin tested the lock. "I can get this open. But once we’re inside, we’re in. No easy way out."

Jessica met his gaze. "Then let’s make it count."

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Kevin made quick work of the lock. With a quiet clank, the grate swung open, revealing a dark, narrow tunnel sloping downward. The stale air smelled of dust, metal, and something else—something sterile.

Leanna clicked on her flashlight. "Stay close. If this is anything like the last facility, it’ll be heavily secured once we reach the lower levels."

They moved in single file, their footsteps muffled by the damp earth beneath them. The deeper they descended, the more unnatural the space felt. It wasn’t a mine anymore—it was something else.

Jessica reached the end of the tunnel first. A heavy reinforced door stood before them, its panel glowing faintly with an electronic lock. A biometric scanner flickered to life as she approached, its light scanning the air as if searching for an authorized user.

Olivia’s voice was tight. "This isn’t abandoned at all."

Jessica hesitated, then—on instinct—placed her palm on the scanner.

A soft beep echoed through the tunnel. The door unlocked. The others froze, eyes darting between Jessica and the door. Why had it let her in?

Jessica’s chest tightened. "Looks like they were expecting me."

Leanna swallowed hard. "Then we go in prepared for anything."

Jessica pushed the door open, stepping into the darkness. And the abyss welcomed her back.