CHAPTER SEVEN – THE FACILITY THAT NEVER EXISTED
The abandoned military complex sat hidden deep inside a forest, surrounded by rusted fences and decades of silence.
Officially, it had been demolished years ago.
Officially, it didn't exist.
Yet satellite images showed fresh tire tracks leading to the main entrance.
Richard stepped out of the armored SUV beside Emily.
Behind them, Detective Harris led a tactical team toward the massive steel doors.
Liam squeezed Emily's hand.
"I've seen this place."
Everyone stopped.
Richard looked down.
"What do you mean?"
The little boy frowned as if trying to remember a forgotten dream.
"I dreamed about it."
Emily knelt beside him.
"What happened in the dream?"
"There was a man with white hair."
Richard's heartbeat quickened.
"My uncle?"
Liam slowly nodded.
"He kept saying I belonged here."
A deafening metallic sound interrupted them.
The enormous doors slowly opened.
But no one stood behind them.
Only darkness.
The tactical team entered cautiously.
Emergency lights flickered to life one after another, revealing spotless hallways that looked as though someone had left only minutes earlier.
"This place has power," one officer whispered.
"Someone's still using it."
At the end of the corridor stood a single projection screen.
As Richard approached, it suddenly illuminated.
Charles Hawthorne appeared on the screen, smiling calmly.
"If you're watching this, Richard, you've finally caught up."
Richard clenched his fists.
"Come out!"
Charles ignored him.
"You've spent your entire life believing the Hawthorne empire was built on innovation."
He smiled.
"It was actually built on secrets."
The screen went black.
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Then one sentence appeared.
LEVEL B3
