Helena was the first to step through the gate.
Damian followed behind, an electric baton in hand.
Nick and Luka entered last.
Inside the research facility, the air was noticeably colder. The stench of dampness, old chemicals, and something else—something sharp and foul, the smell of dried blood and rotting flesh—assaulted their noses. The fluorescent lights overhead flickered erratically, casting stretches of pitch-black darkness between the rows of corridors.
The moment the last person stepped through the gate, the loudspeakers mounted on the ceiling crackled to life with a shrill "BZZT..."
Then a voice rang out. It wasn't the voice of the lighthouse—it was a middle-aged man's voice, hoarse and muffled, as though it had been recorded on some old, malfunctioning machine.
"WELCOME TO ELYSIA-9 RESEARCH FACILITY."
"PLEASE FOLLOW THE RULES LISTED BELOW."
Nick raised his head and stared at the nearest speaker. The others stood perfectly still, listening.
