Episode 26 – The Vault Of Ghosts
The Moon Hung Heavy In The Sky, Casting A Ghostly Glow Over The Hospital Grounds. Inside The Facility, Everything Was Quiet—Too Quiet. But Inside Iris's Mind, A Storm Was Raging.
She Had Seen It.
In The Sub-Basement Level Beneath The Psych Ward—A Sealed Vault Hidden Behind A Wall Panel. Marked Only By A Red Crescent Moon And A Black Number: V-13.
And What She Saw Inside Would Haunt Her Forever.
She Could Still Hear The Voices—Not From People, But From The Tapes. Dozens Of Them. Recordings Locked Away From The World.
Patients Screaming. Crying. Pleading For Their Lives.
One Voice Stood Out Among Them.
Her Own.
---
Earlier That Day…
"I Think There's A Hidden Room," Iris Whispered To Lillian, The Nurse Who Had Slowly Become Her Ally. "Something Alec Doesn't Want Me To Find."
They Were In The Storage Wing, Pretending To Organize Medication Supplies. The Cameras Were Down For Maintenance—Thanks To A Power Surge That Iris Had Helped Engineer.
Lillian's Eyes Flicked Toward The Ceiling. "You're Talking About V-13, Aren't You?"
Iris Froze. "You Know It?"
Lillian Nodded, Her Voice Tense. "It's A Forbidden Zone. Even We Don't Go Down There. Only Alec… And That Other Doctor, The One With The Burned Hand."
Iris Felt A Chill Crawl Down Her Spine. "What's Inside?"
Lillian Hesitated, Then Said Quietly, "The Ones Who Didn't Make It."
---
The Descent Into Shadows
At 2 AM, Iris Slipped From Her Room, The Master Key She'd Stolen From Dr. Verner Tucked Into Her Sleeve. Her Heart Thundered In Her Chest As She Navigated Through The Dark Halls, Past The Sleeping Security Guard.
She Reached The Elevator And Inserted The Key Into A Hidden Panel. A New Button Lit Up—Sublevel 4.
As The Elevator Descended, A Faint Static Filled The Air. The Lights Flickered. For A Moment, It Felt Like She Was Sinking Into The Abyss.
The Doors Opened With A Hollow Ding.
Cold Air Rushed In. The Walls Down Here Were Older, Cracked, Stained. Faint Blood Smears Traced Along The Floor Like Ancient Trails.
She Found The Panel—Just Like Lillian Had Described. Behind It: A Metal Vault Door. She Turned The Rusted Wheel Until It Gave Way With A Groan.
The Room Beyond Was Ice Cold. Lit By A Single Flickering Bulb.
Tapes. Files. Drawers. Strange Metallic Chairs With Restraints.
And Monitors.
One Was On.
She Pressed "Play."
A Video Flickered To Life. A Girl—Barely Eighteen—Was Strapped To The Chair. Her Eyes Wide With Terror.
"Subject 9B," Said Alec's Voice Coldly From Offscreen. "State Your Name."
"I—Iris Vale."
Iris's Legs Buckled.
It Was Her.
---
The Experiment
The Video Continued.
Alec Was Injecting Something Into Her Arm. Her Screams Pierced Through The Static. A Second Voice Entered—A Woman's.
"She's Rejecting It. Her Heart Rate's Spiking!"
"We Continue," Alec Snapped.
Iris Grabbed The Edge Of The Console, Fighting Nausea. "What Did They Do To Me?"
More Files Lined The Shelves. She Pulled Open A Drawer Marked V-Subjects. Photos Tumbled Out—Each With A Code And A Death Date.
All Victims.
Most Were Marked "Failed."
Only One Was Stamped "Success."
V-9B: Iris Vale.
Her Blood Ran Cold.
They Were Experimenting On Memory Manipulation. Psychological Reprogramming. Erasing Trauma—But In Doing So, Creating New Nightmares.
And She Had Been Their Favorite Subject.
---
Footsteps Approaching
Suddenly—A Sound.
The Click Of Shoes On Concrete.
She Ducked Behind A Steel Cabinet, Heart In Her Throat.
The Door Opened.
Alec Entered.
He Looked Calm. Too Calm.
"I Know You're Here, Iris."
She Didn't Breathe.
"I Was Hoping You'd Find This Place," He Said, Strolling Slowly. "You Always Were Curious. That's What I Loved About You."
He Walked Past The Cabinet.
She Stayed Still. Silent.
"I Wanted You To Remember Naturally. But You're Rushing It. Dangerous."
Then—Silence.
Until—CRASH!
He Kicked The Cabinet.
It Tipped Backwards—Right Toward Her.
She Darted Out Just In Time, Sprinting Toward The Vault Door.
"IRIS!" He Roared.
She Slammed The Door Behind Her And Turned The Wheel—But It Wouldn't Lock.
Footsteps Closed In.
She Threw Herself Into The Elevator And Pressed Every Button.
Alec Reached The Door Just As It Closed.
"YOU'RE MINE!" He Screamed, His Eyes Wild.
The Elevator Shot Up.
She Collapsed To The Floor, Breathing Raggedly.
---
Back In Her Room
She Hid The Video Drive In Her Mattress. Covered The Bruise On Her Arm. Wiped The Blood From Her Scraped Knee.
She Knew Now.
This Wasn't Just About Love Or Possession.
It Was About Control.
She Wasn't Alec's Fiancée.
She Was His Experiment.
But Now—She Had The Truth.
And Truth Was Power.
---
Later That Night
The Voice Came Through The Vent Above Her Bed.
A Whisper.
"You're Not Alone, Iris."
She Shot Up.
The Voice Came Again.
"We Remember Too. And We're Waiting."
She Crawled To The Vent And Peeked Through The Grate.
For Just A Moment—She Saw An Eye.
Watching Her.
Then It Vanished.
Her Heart Pounded.
The Other Subjects Were Still Alive.
Somewhere In This Hospital.
And They Wanted Her Help.