Chapter 19 - Steel Will

Holloway's fingers drummed against the steering wheel as he remembered something. "A gun, I don't have one. They took it."

Emma, still feeling guilty about earlier, reached for her sidearm. "Here, you can have mine. Just promise to protect us."

Holloway stared at the gun for a long moment. Then, he rested his hand on hers and pushed it away gently.

"There's no point in handing me your gun. You need to keep it in case something happens to me." He turned away, his voice quieting. "And don't feel bad about earlier. I accused you of being scared when I was the one who dropped this case years ago."

The regret in his tone was palpable.

Kath offered a small smile. "You're doing the right thing now, Mr. Holloway. That's what matters."

Emma felt a weight lift, only slightly, but there was still the issue of weapons.

"But what about firepower?" she asked. "We need something, right? What are you going to do?"

A smirk tugged at the old detective's lips. "You don't have to worry about that. I've got it covered."

Emma and Kath exchanged a look of confusion as Holloway gestured for them to get in the car.

At Holloway's house, Emma and Kath were even more confused.

"What are we doing here?" Kath asked, glancing around the dimly lit interior.

Holloway didn't answer. He walked to the staircase, crouching by a small, dust-covered door. It looked untouched for years. With a grunt, he pulled it open, and a rush of stale air escaped.

"Follow me."

The wooden steps groaned beneath their weight as they descended.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

Each footstep sounded too loud in the silence.

Then-

Light.

Their jaws nearly dropped.

Weapons.

Knives. Swords. Daggers.

And most importantly, guns.

Holloway grabbed a Glock 19, slipping it into his pocket, then reached for a Benelli M4 shotgun. The way he handled it, the way his fingers traced the worn grip, told them he wasn't just familiar with it, he was comfortable with it.

"Now," he said, turning to them with that same knowing smirk. "Choose yours."

Emma hesitated before picking up a Sig Sauer P226, heavier than what she was used to. Kath, after some deliberation, settled for a compact pistol, still uncertain but aware she might have no choice but to use it.

Holloway, meanwhile, was loading the shotgun with practiced ease.

Emma gave him a look. "Expecting a fight?"

He gave a dry chuckle. "I don't expect anything. I prepare for everything."

With their weapons secured, they left for the Veritas Foundation.

The abandoned facility loomed in the moonlight, overgrown vines twisted through cracks in the concrete. The main gate was sealed shut with thick chains, rusted but unyielding.

Emma rattled it. No luck.

Kath kicked a loose brick. "Great. Did we drive all the way here just to stare at a fence?"

Holloway scanned the area, then pointed toward the side. "There's always another way."

They moved along the outer wall, flashlights low, searching.

Emma whispered, "There has to be a side door."

Kath sighed. "Or a hole. Maybe we just-"

Click.

They froze.

Holloway turned first, gun raised. Nothing. Just the wind… or so it seemed.

Emma frowned. "You heard that too?"

"Yeah," Holloway muttered. "Keep moving."

They finally spotted something, a side door, half-covered in rusted metal sheets. But when Emma tried the handle, it didn't budge.

"Locked."

Holloway took a step forward, shotgun in hand.

Emma blinked. "Wait, are you seriously-"

BOOM.

The shotgun roared, blasting the lock apart.

Metal fragments clattered against the ground, the echo ringing through the night.

Kath flinched. "Subtle."

Holloway smirked. "I was gonna use a crowbar, but this was faster."

Emma didn't argue. They needed to get inside, quietly was no longer an option.

The door creaked as they stepped in.

Darkness swallowed them whole.

The air was thick, stale, carrying the scent of mold, rust, and something faintly metallic.

Emma clicked on her flashlight. The beam swept across overturned desks, filing cabinets, and peeling walls.

Kath rubbed her arms. "Why does this feel wrong?"

"Because it is." Holloway crouched, running his fingers over a dust-covered filing cabinet. "This place wasn't just abandoned. It was erased."

Emma's eyes landed on a set of lockers. She pried one open.

A lab coat hung inside. The sleeves were stained dark brown.

Not rust.

Blood.

She turned to the others. "If they left, they didn't do it willingly."

Kath exhaled sharply. "Great. Love that."

Then-

Crunch.

Emma froze.

Glass breaking underfoot. Not from them.

She swung her flashlight down the hallway. Nothing. Just an open door, leading deeper into the dark.

Kath's voice barely registered. "Tell me that was one of you."

Holloway's voice was low. "We're not alone."

They pressed on.

Each room they passed was a piece of the past left to rot.

Lab rooms were filled with overturned desks and shattered monitors.

One room had a hospital bed with rusted restraints. Dried stains trailed down from the leather straps.

Kath shuddered. "Whatever they did here, I don't wanna know."

Emma crouched near a desk, rifling through old folders and paperwork. Most of it was redacted.

Then-

Her fingers brushed something.

A clipboard.

She lifted it, blowing off the dust.

Check-in Log: February 12, 2038.

Her pulse quickened.

Kath leaned over her shoulder. "That's… today's date."

Emma didn't answer. Because she understood what that meant.

Someone signed in before them.

And they were still here.

Before she could say anything, Holloway called out.

"Found something."

They rushed over.

He stood near an old bureau desk, pushing aside papers and dust. Beneath them was something unexpected-

A map.

Torn, but detailed, outlining the entire facility.

Emma traced the faded ink. It marked offices, archives, and a lower level.

Her stomach twisted. There was a basement.

Kath swallowed. "We're following it, aren't we?"

Holloway didn't hesitate. "Damn right we are."

They moved carefully now, following the map's path toward a stairwell.

It led downward.

Emma gripped her gun. Basements were never good.

Kath hesitated. "Are we sure about this?"

Holloway glanced back. "Nope."

Then, without another word, he took the first step down.

The darkness swallowed them whole.