Part 52: Reception Counter

As I approached the medical laboratory, its imposing structure loomed large against the darkened sky. The building was an ominous presence, its sterile exterior belying the horrors that undoubtedly lay within. Steeling myself for what was to come, I pushed open the heavy glass doors and stepped inside.

The reception area was eerily quiet, save for the low hum of computers and the soft tapping of keys. Two men, both clad in lab coats, were hunched over their desks, their faces obscured by the glow of their monitors. The sterile smell of antiseptic hung in the air, a stark contrast to the chaos outside.

"Hello, I’m Jim," I called out, my voice echoing in the cavernous space. There was no response, the men continued to work, their heads bowed as if I were invisible.