Tessa and Lynn exchanged a look. The thought of venturing into the ruins at night, especially after experiencing the unsettling effects of the third floor, sent a shiver down their spines. But they couldn't deny Jacob's point. They needed to do something, anything, to break the deadlock.

"Alright," Lynn finally agreed, her voice resolute. "Let's do it."

With a newfound determination, they gathered their gear and slipped back into the ruins under the cloak of darkness.

Meanwhile, back at the command center, Kira's sharp eyes remained glued to the monitors. She noticed their clandestine departure immediately, a frown etching itself onto her face. Without a word, she grabbed her gear and set off in pursuit, a mixture of anger and concern fueling her steps.

The third floor was even more sinister in the darkness. The team's flashlights cut through the gloom, casting eerie shadows that danced and writhed on the walls. The eyes in the drawings seemed to come alive, their gaze tracking the trio's every move.

Kira followed their trail, her footsteps silent and swift. She was determined to stop them before they made a mistake they'd regret. The tension in the air was palpable, a symphony of unspoken fears and anxieties.

Kira understood their motivations better than most. She had been close to Alphonse, and the news of his death had hit her hard, far more than anyone realized. Witnessing his decapitated head on that statue had been one of the most horrifying experiences of her life.

She finally caught up with them on the third floor, its darkness so profound that she couldn't see her own hand in front of her face. Only the faint sounds of their footsteps guided her through the oppressive gloom. When she reached them, they hadn't made much progress.

"What the hell were you three thinking?" Kira's voice cut through the darkness, laced with anger and worry.

"We apologize," Lynn began, her voice barely a whisper. "It's just that..."

"I couldn't let this mission fail after what happened to Alphonse," Jacob interjected, his voice thick with emotion. "First, I thought he had survived. Then, I found out he had died. And finally, when I learned about the state of his body... I just couldn't."

Kira sighed, her anger tempered by understanding. "I get it. But we had a whole team searching this place for clues, and they found nothing."

"They didn't look at everything," Tessa countered. "The vines and overgrowth are untouched. We plan to check the walls, see if they missed anything."

"Okay," Kira conceded, her tone exasperated. "This place is massive, so we can only check certain areas. Any ideas where to start?"

"I do," Tessa said, tapping her device. A holographic 3D map of the floor materialized. "There are three rooms that are unusually small. They couldn't have held much, so maybe they were designed to hold clues or keys for the door."

"That makes sense," Kira admitted. "Alright, but we stick together, and you listen to my orders. Hopefully, Chief Clara won't be too mad about this."

A glimmer of hope flickered in the darkness as they set off, united in their determination to find answers and honor Alphonse's memory.

With a renewed sense of purpose, the group ventured deeper into the third floor's labyrinth, guided by the holographic map. The first room they encountered was small and cramped, its walls adorned not with paintings, but with intricate carvings of the humanoid figures. These figures, however, were even more unsettling than the ones they'd seen before. Their bodies were twisted and elongated, their multiple eyes wide and staring, and some even possessed several arms, each ending in sharp claws.

The second room was even smaller, the air thick with an oppressive energy. Here, the carvings depicted the figures with even more eyes, some partially open, as if watching their every move. The feeling of being observed was so intense it was almost tangible, sending shivers down their spines.

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The third room, the smallest of all, was the most disturbing. The humanoid figures carved into its walls had all their eyes wide open, their gaze piercing and accusatory. Additionally, they possessed a multitude of arms, each reaching out from the wall as if trying to grasp them. The oppressive atmosphere in this room was almost unbearable, making it difficult to breathe.

A sense of dread settled over the group as they realized the progression in the carvings. It was as if they were descending into a deeper level of horror, each room revealing a more disturbing aspect of these enigmatic figures. The tension was palpable, the silence broken only by the rapid beating of their hearts and the shallowness of their breaths.

"We should leave," Kira's voice was a strained whisper, her unease palpable. "We'll report this to Clara, and tomorrow Celine's team can investigate further."

The others nodded, their faces etched with a mixture of fear and fascination. They hurried out of the oppressive chamber, the unsettling feeling of being watched clinging to them like a shroud. As they emerged from the ruins, they couldn't shake the sense that the eyes in the carvings were still upon them, burning into their backs.

They rushed to Clara's office, their hearts pounding in their chests. The weight of their unauthorized mission hung heavy in the air.

Clara's face was a mask of fury. "So, if I understand correctly," she began, her voice dangerously low, "these three went in there alone, thinking they were more capable than an entire team?"

Kira swallowed nervously. "Yes," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

"And?" Clara pressed, her eyes blazing.

"They didn't find much more," Kira explained, her voice trembling slightly, "But they did stumble upon a new lead."

"Did this lead yield any results?" Clara's tone was sharp, her patience wearing thin.

"They found something that Celine's team missed," Kira said, her voice gaining a hint of confidence. "Something that could be crucial."

Clara's expression softened slightly. "Alright, we'll inform Celine's team," she said, her voice still firm. "But you three," she turned to Jacob, Tessa, and Lynn, her disappointment evident, "you're off this operation. You went in there without authorization. We cannot tolerate insubordination. You'll be leaving on the first convoy back."

Jacob's heart sank. He knew she had to react this way, but the sting of disappointment was still sharp. At least they had been able to contribute something.

Clara's voice softened as she continued, "Now that I've said my piece as a Kadmon chief, let me speak as your mother, Jacob." Her eyes welled up with tears. "I'm so proud of you. You found a way to make a difference, and that takes courage. I'm glad to see you all have it. As soon as this is over, I'll take you all out to dinner to celebrate your first mission with Kadmon."

A wave of relief washed over Jacob, Tessa, and Lynn. Despite the reprimand, they felt a sense of accomplishment. They had faced their fears, pushed their limits, and made a valuable contribution. And even though their mission was cut short, they knew they had made their mark.

Clara's voice, normally steady and reassuring, crackled with urgency over the comm link. "Celine, we have new information," she began, her tone grave. "Jacob, Lynn, and Tessa discovered three unusually small rooms on the third floor. They believe these rooms might hold clues to opening the ancient door."

A moment of silence hung in the air, broken only by the static hiss of the comm. Then, Celine's voice, strained but resolute, echoed back. "Understood, Chief. We'll investigate these rooms immediately."

The next morning, Celine's team, their nerves stretched taut, ventured back into the oppressive depths of the third floor. The air hung heavy with an eerie silence, broken only by the distant drip of water and the rustling of unseen creatures in the undergrowth. The eyes in the carvings seemed to follow their every move, their silent scrutiny a constant reminder of the unseen dangers lurking in the shadows.

As they reached the first of the small rooms, a wave of dread washed over them. The air grew thick, the silence pressing down on them like a suffocating weight. The carvings on the walls seemed to writhe and twist, their grotesque forms pulsating with an unnatural energy.

Celine took a deep breath, steeling herself. "Alright, team," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Let's proceed with caution."

They entered the room, their flashlights cutting through the gloom. The carvings seemed to come alive, their eyes glowing with a malevolent intensity. The team moved slowly, their senses heightened, every nerve on edge.

Suddenly, the ground beneath them gave way with a sickening lurch. A chorus of screams erupted as they plummeted into the darkness, the impact jarring and painful. The pit was a nightmarish abyss, filled with jagged rocks and the stench of decay.

Back at the command center, Clara and Kira watched in horror as the monitors went black. A wave of panic washed over them. "Celine! Report!" Clara's voice echoed through the comm, but there was only an eerie silence in response.

"They've triggered a trap!" Kira's voice was barely a whisper, her face pale.

Clara's heart hammered in her chest. "Dispatch a rescue team immediately!" she barked, her voice laced with desperation.