1:25 AM

“This is disgusting,” one of the men said. His voice was youthful — he sounded about the same age as her. A brown, thin leather coat was draped over him. Something long protruded from the back of the coat, but she couldn’t discern what it was. He gagged. Autumn shrunk into the shadows. “What happened to these people?” Another voice emerged. His was older and rugged. He too had a leather coat, although his was thicker and darker. She discerned the shadow of a pistol in the darkness. He’s got a gun.

“The radio dispatcher claimed there was an emergency at the lab. He didn’t go into much detail, but he claimed that something got out. I’m under the impression that he probably died — either from whatever escaped or from his own partners. I wouldn’t be surprised if the latter is the case simply because normally people that end up in this position are have been doing something bad. Really bad.” The man who spoke was taller and had a wider base. His voice was rugged, but coherent and thoughtful. The other man was slimmer. The older man retrieved a flashlight and examined her father’s corpse.

“He’s got blisters all over his body,” he said. “Perhaps it was some kind of contaminant — like a gas.” Autumn’s eyes widened. Who are these people? “I don’t know, though. It could be anything. No point in speculating.” The slimmer man knelt and joined the examination. He grabbed the man’s nametag and spoke.

“Dr. Estes. That’s— that’s Autumn’s dad.” They both paused. “You don’t think that— that she’s somehow involved in this?” Her eyes widened. They know me. How do they know me? Is this—

“I doubt it. Her dad’s been working here for the last three years. I believe he was simply caught up in whatever happened. The disappearances haven’t been local either. They’ve been happening across the county, which— well it would maybe would link it back to here. I don’t know. They were clearly doing some inhumane experiments here so I suppose I shouldn’t put it past them to experiment on their own children. I definitely wouldn’t put it past Hill. That man was odd.”

Hill. It was the third time that name had appeared. Who is that? He was important somehow. Did he own the lab? He denied that man’s request, so perhaps he was the head scientist or something. She shook her head, shooing away her thoughts. Her attention returned to the two men. The younger man looked down at her father’s coat.

“Look, there are scratch marks. At least that’s what it looks like. I think— I think maybe a person did this. Or an animal? Maybe they were testing on a bunch of feral animals or something.” The older man tilted his head.

“What the—” He stopped, using his flashlight to look around at the other bodies. He turned away from her and crouched toward another dead man. The corpse’s right leg had been torn off. “Miles, come look at this.” The younger man, Miles, stood up and walked toward him. He bent down and grasped the corpse’s lanyard. He yanked it back, causing the string-like section to split in half. He slid it into his coat pocket. “There’s a man. Henry. He’s an officer. He can help.” Goldstein claimed he shouldn’t have been able to get in. Did they know she was here? Were they tricking her so she’d reveal herself? She listened intently.

“Oh,” Miles whispered. “He’s got the blisters too. On his face.” The older man — Henry presumably — sighed and gazed up at Miles.

“I think you’re gonna need to go back. Take the elevator and use the vent to try and escape, alright? This— you’re too young for this. You’re not ready. Watch yourself as you leave and try and contact the other officers. They’re probably asleep right now but tell them to go in the same way we came.” Miles grumbled. A vent? Goldstein didn’t say anything about a vent. Was that too obvious?

“I’m not leaving you here alone. We’re both going and getting help right now,” Miles declared. “Come on.” He marched to the elevator. An abrupt urge came upon Autumn. She wanted to shout for help, but Goldstein’s words came back to her. Don’t trust anyone.

“I can’t leave. There could be people in here still alive that need help. I am an officer. You are an intern. This is not your job to deal with. If you die here, I will be liable. You need to leave. Now. I’ll be fine.” Henry’s voice was stern. She shuddered. There’s an escape on the first floor. No. They must be lying. It must be a trap. It—

Her thoughts were cut short as a bright light hit her eyes. Henry had turned around, looking for other bodies. His flashlight, however, found Autumn instead. She grimaced, shielding herself from the light. Miles stepped back in surprise.

“Autumn?” Without regard, Miles rushed over to her. He knelt next to her. This is a trap. This is wrong. She slid back, pushing herself away from him. A part of her mind wanted to let go. Wanted to trust them. She wanted to be done with this. She wanted to go home. Don’t trust anyone. The words pierced through her skull. You can trust them. You can. The phrase repeated through her mind as she continued back. “Autumn, it’s me, Miles. It’s okay. You’re safe.” He reached out his hand.

“Miles, get back!” Henry demanded. He rushed over to him and pulled him away. Autumn continued to slide herself across the bloody floor. “Look at her. She’s terrified. You’re not helping.” He was right. Her heart pumped vigorously. No. This isn’t a trap. It can’t be. Why would he care? Why wouldn’t they kill me now? She stopped. Miles stared at her. Fear surged in his eyes. No. Not fear. Worry. Did I know him?

“I— Autumn. It’s me,” Miles repeated. Autumn’s eyes jolted between the men. Henry stepped forward and knelt. She could see his brown, thin hair under the flickering light. A thick layer of stubble swaddled his chin. Despite Henry’s rough appearance, he carried a look of comfort with him. Her heart slowed, calming her rapid breaths.

“Autumn, do you remember me?” Henry had realized the same way Goldstein had. It must have been her eyes — the fear within them indicating a foreignness to his appearance. She shook her head in response.

“What?” Miles muttered under his breath. She barely heard it. “Do you remember me?” She shook her head again.

“I—” Autumn began, “I’m sorry. I don’t.” Henry placed his head into his hands. He sighed. Miles looked confused. Scared.

“Something’s happened. My guess is that the missing people have been used here for experimentation or something like that. That’s why it’s been so hard to find them.” He peered back at Miles. “The lab has been covering up the disappearances. I assume Hill and Young were at the front of it, though I’m not sure. I mean— it might be a stretch but Autumn’s disappearance lined up pretty well with the others around the county. I— I don’t know.” He shook his head and turned back to Autumn. “Are you hurt?”

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“I was— I mean. I am somewhat. But I wrapped myself so it should be okay for now.” She contemplated telling Henry about what Goldstein had said. “I can see it. In your eyes. You have it’s eyes.” Did Henry see it too? Did he know? He hadn’t sounded conniving at all, but perhaps, she thought, that he wanted Miles to leave so he may continue some devious plot. No. “There were others like me. I don’t know where they are. I never saw them. Only heard. I think they’re all dead. I’m the one-hundred and fifty eighth. At least that’s what the computer said.” Henry rubbed his hand upon his face in disgust. She decided against telling him about the gas and what it had done to her. The supposed child that was in her mind. They would think I’m insane. Henry breathed a heavy groan.

“Alright. Miles, you take Autumn back to the first floor and both of you leave through the vent. I think she might have a concussion, so you need to be extremely careful climbing through the vents.” Henry approached Miles and smashed the flashlight into his chest. “There’s your reason to leave. Now go.” Miles continued to watch Autumn, his eyes not separating from hers. He quivered.

Miles lowered his head. He whispered something beneath his breath that Autumn couldn’t hear. She just looked at him. “Don’t trust anyone,” Not until I leave. Miles approached her. Each step was precise. He reached his hand out, and as he did, a strange feeling overcame her. She thought back to Charlie, who had reached her hand out for her to hold. Is it fear? Panic? Or maybe… something else entirely. She hadn’t felt that feeling then, but she felt it now. It was safety. Hope. Freedom. She knew that she would die without help. And despite Goldstein’s words of caution, she understood that her only chance of finding that freedom she desperately sought was in the hands of Henry and Miles. The first-floor vent was her only shot of escape. Something was hunting her. Sunset. The emergency exit is too far to go alone. Too dangerous. You have to trust them. It’s your only hope. Just be ready to run. She grasped Miles’ hand. With a hefty grunt, he leaned back and pulled Autumn to her feet.

The elevator door opened with a satisfying ding. The light from inside blinded Autumn for a moment, but a moment later her eyes adjusted. Two male scientists were pushed up against the wall. Blood was painted on the walls and ceiling. Miles ignored them and walked ahead. She trailed, avoiding the bodies and posting herself near the door. For the first time, she realized, she studied Miles’ features. He had ruffled chocolate hair. It appeared that blood had already wrestled its way into it as his hair had a red tint that glittered in the light. His nose had a bandage wrapped on it. His dark eyes searched the buttons. He pressed the button labeled 1F. The doors started to shut.

“We were friends. Good friends,” Miles said, his words shattering the silence. Autumn gripped her arm. “I mean it wasn’t ever anything, you know, weird or nothing. I— nevermind. Sorry. I’ve just— never had a friend lose her memory.” He watched her. She saw the distress within him compile.

“It’s okay. I understand. I’m sure they’ll come back eventually. I believe you.” She wasn’t sure if she truly believed him, but his reaction appeared genuine. “Let’s just focus on getting out of here. How’d you get in anyways?”

“When we got here,” Miles began, “The front doors were shut off. There was like this,” he used his hands to visualize, “big, metal shutter that stopped us from getting inside. We were gonna wait but we noticed a vent that looked big enough for us to fit in. So we did. It was pretty high up though I think we can probably get back in it.” There was an unnerving pause of quiet. “We— uh, tried the other floors, but they were blocked off. I think people tried to kind of like— I don’t know what do those people in the zombie movies do? Uh…” he groaned for a moment until realization struck him, “barricade! They barricaded the entries so that you can’t get in. The first and fourth were the only options we had.”

Autumn contemplated for a moment. If the second floor is barricaded, my only hope — if the vent plan fails — is to use the stairs. That means I’ll either have to wander through the first floor or the third. There was nothing but the gentle hum of the moving elevator. That would be certain death if Goldstein was correct. She jolted as the room crashed into place. After a moment, the door slid open with another vibrant ding.

Before her was a condensed hallway. At the end was a thin, black door which had a similar appearance to those on the fourth with one distinct difference. Stuck onto the wall was a tiny grey box with a thin strip carved into the top. Miles rushed toward the door and reached into his coat. His hand wrestled within, eventually extracting the severed lanyard he retrieved from the dead scientist. He shuffled the tag around, revealing a thin black card with a red strip on its lower half. He slipped the card into the reader. A second passed.

The reader released a harsh error sound. A woman’s voice emerged from a speaker nestled inside the box. It was robotic and toneless.

“You do not meet the required access qualifications to enter this restricted area.” A disturbing silence dispersed into the room. Miles tried again. His hand quivered. The error sound returned.

“You do not meet the required access qualifications to enter this restricted area.”

“Required access?” he muttered to himself. “This is an elevator hallway!” He halted. “This is a sick joke.” He threw the lanyard against the door. It swam across the surface of the door and floated onto the tiles. “The vent is on the other side of the door. Well— not directly on the other side but it's like a room over. I don’t even remember what was in them so I don’t know what boogeyman stuff they think we’re gonna find in there. It’s stupid.” He kicked at the door. It didn’t budge. “Welp. That was the last thing I could think of.” Autumn pretended to watch him, but she was consumed in her own mind. The third floor it is then. At least I’m not alone. She sighed.

“Look, I know where another exit is. One of the scientists, he wasn’t fully dead yet when I showed up. He told me there was an emergency exit on the second floor that would take us around the back of the building. If there really are barricades and stuff on the second and third floor, that means there are probably still people alive on them. They can help.” She paused, thinking. “Do you think we could just break down the barricades? What are they made of— just wood or whatever?”

“We can try, but I doubt it. They used some wood, but it was a lot of unused metal scraps that they managed to attach to the walls.” Whatever it was that killed them — that Sunset thing — it can use the elevator. She shivered at the thought. “Unless you found anything that can deal with that, no. We’re better off finding Henry before he goes to the third floor and start working our way down from there.” Autumn nodded.

“Alright, I believe you. I suppose we should go now before Henry wanders too far.” Miles inhaled. He was shaking as the two trotted back toward the elevator. He attempted — and failed — to hide it from her. She noted, though, that her constant shudders had disappeared after her encounter with Goldstein. The elevator door opened with a ding. Did his death cause it? Or am I simply accepting my own death? No. She shook her head. I can’t believe that. I will escape. No matter what. She turned her head toward Miles. He looked down at the elevator panel, his arm struggling to press the button. Her eyes narrowed. No matter what.