Chapter 40: The Doorway

Noah awoke to the first rays of sunlight piercing through the dense canopy of trees. The air was cool and damp, and the clearing in front of the massive iron doors was eerily quiet. The bodies of the aberrations he had slain the previous day were still there, motionless and twisted, but the grindstone's scan confirmed no new threats in the immediate vicinity.

He stretched, his muscles still sore but his mind sharp and focused. Today was the day. Whatever lay behind those doors could hold the answers he'd been chasing—the reason for the anomalies, the whereabouts of Valerie and the others, and maybe even a clue about how to get back home.

Noah crept closer to the doors, his movements slow and deliberate. As he stood before them, he ran his fingers along the cool, rusted surface, examining the intricate patterns and faded symbols etched into the metal. They were unlike anything he had seen before, a mix of alien geometry and purposeful design.

"Alright," he muttered. "Let's see what we're dealing with."

He activated the grindstone's scanning function. A faint blue grid spread across the surface of the doors as the device analyzed them. After a moment, a notification appeared.

"Structural Integrity: High. Access Mechanism: Electronic Lock Detected. Power Source: Inactive. Override Options: Manual or Keycard Required."

"Of course," Noah sighed. He crouched down, inspecting the base of the doors. The lock mechanism was visible, a small, recessed panel with a slot for a keycard and a series of buttons for manual input.

Noah frowned. He didn't have a keycard, and brute force wasn't an option—the grindstone estimated that the doors could withstand even his enhanced strength without budging. He would need another way in.

He stepped back, considering his options. If the power source was inactive, it might mean there was no one inside. But the behavior of the aberrations suggested otherwise. They had been actively patrolling the area, as if guarding the doors—or preventing something from escaping.

Noah's gaze shifted to the surrounding area. There might be another way in, perhaps a ventilation shaft or an auxiliary entrance. He activated the grindstone's map overlay, scanning for any anomalies or hidden paths in the immediate vicinity.

A faint ping appeared on the map, marking a narrow crevice about 200 meters to the east. Noah's lips curled into a small smile. "Bingo."

He made his way toward the crevice, moving swiftly but cautiously. The terrain grew uneven, with jagged rocks and loose gravel making the journey treacherous. When he reached the location marked on the map, he found a small opening partially obscured by overgrown foliage.

Noah knelt down, brushing aside the leaves and branches to reveal a narrow tunnel carved into the rock. It was barely wide enough for him to squeeze through, and the darkness inside was impenetrable.

He activated the grindstone's flashlight function, a beam of bright white light cutting through the shadows. The tunnel extended downward at a steep angle, the walls lined with smooth metal that was heavily corroded with age.

"This has to lead somewhere," Noah muttered, taking a deep breath before slipping inside.

The descent was slow and claustrophobic. The air grew colder as he moved deeper, and the silence was broken only by the faint hum of the grindstone and the sound of his own breathing. After what felt like an eternity, the tunnel opened into a small chamber.

The room was dimly lit by flickering emergency lights, their red glow casting eerie shadows across the walls. Rows of metal shelves lined the room, most of them empty or overturned. Broken equipment and scattered debris littered the floor.

Noah's eyes scanned the area, his grip tightening on his weapon. The grindstone's HUD remained clear of threats, but he didn't let his guard down.

At the far end of the room, a large terminal was embedded in the wall. The screen was cracked, but it flickered faintly as if still operational. Noah approached cautiously, brushing away the dust and debris that covered the console.

The terminal came to life as he touched the screen, displaying a series of corrupted files and garbled text. Noah frowned, navigating through the interface with the grindstone's assistance. Most of the data was unreadable, and no new information seemed to present itself.

"What were they doing in here?" he muttered under his breath.

He turned away from the console and continued exploring the chamber. The room was clearly abandoned, its contents either destroyed or taken during the evacuation. But what purpose had this space served? And why were those aberrations guarding the doors outside?

As Noah moved through the chamber, he found himself back at the two massive iron doors, now viewing them from the inside. They loomed over him, imposing and silent, their presence an unsettling reminder of the unanswered questions this place held.

His brow furrowed as he stared at the sealed doors. "There's nothing in here. So, what were they protecting?"

The question lingered in his mind as he retraced his steps, returning to the tunnel he had come from. Whatever the answer was, he knew one thing for certain—those doors, and the mystery behind them, were tied to everything he had been searching for.

End of Chapter 40