by J. Dursky
Chapter 19
They pull in the drive at the depot. I knew there was something suspicious about this place. I need to find some sort of cover. I take a route I noticed when I was walking around yesterday. Now I know a little bit more about the area. I try to suppress the memories of what happened to Ayla when we were here. It feels like it has been much longer than it has, but I cannot dwell on it right now. I drive past the gravel where they turned. They went to the main entrance of the depot.
I pull the bike into a farm entrance on the opposite side of the road and run toward the depot through the trees. There is a clearing between the trees and the fence. I stay in the woods until I see what they are doing. They must have some sort of base in one if the buildings. Maybe the whole depot is the base. I can’t believe this was under our noses the whole time and no one knew it was here. It makes more sense to me now why they added the security over the last couple years.
They park next to one of the smallest buildings on the property. It looks like it is only there for historical value. It is very small and made of wood. Some of the boards are broken or missing all together. It’s taller than it is wide and looks like it has never been repaired. It’s so small there can’t be more than a few desks or tables in there. I don’t know why they would go into that one.
Everyone gets out of the truck and walks toward the building. It is Dr. Hunter, Jensen, the General, and seven soldiers. It looks like Dr. Hunter is yelling at the General. The General just stands there like he is hearing him out, then turns to walk in the building without responding. The Doctor is still pleading his case as he walks away. They open a set of double doors, go inside, and shut the doors behind them. I survey the rest of the grounds. I don't see any patrols. I need to find a way in. If Jensen found a way to get out of there, I should be able to find a way to get in.
It is still before noon. I can tell by the position of the sun, but I do not know how early it is for sure. It is hot today, hotter than yesterday at this time. I cannot wait until the cover of darkness. It is not an option. I don't want to walk all the way around the fence to look for a way inside. The section of fence in front of me is just like the rest. It is chain link, ten feet tall or so with spiral barbed wire on top. Where I stand the barbed wire on top is bent. It’s spread apart between the spirals a little. This must be where Jensen escaped. I think I can bend it a little more so I can fit as well.
I climb the fence and land on the gravel inside the perimeter. I bend the fence back in place hoping no one notices it was changed. I look around for the ventilation shaft Jensen told me about. I think I see it. It’s on the closest building to the fence I just crossed. I feel a mild tremor in the ground beneath me. The base must be underground. If the vent is large enough I should be able to get inside. The building next to the one they entered is bigger, more modern, cleaner, and appears to be more technological. It has air conditioners on the roof and it seems like my best option.
The building is brick on the corners. The corner closest to me has a pipe running alone the entire corner vertically. The pipe has metal straps bolted across the cylindrical tube, straight into the brick. It looks sturdy enough so I climb it.
The roof is covered in rocks. It has about a 24 inch raised edge for a little cover, plus several air conditioners and air vents. I see a vent large enough I think I can fit, but I’ve never done anything like this. I wonder if it’s as easy as it seems in the movies. I hope it will actually support my body weight. Hopefully I don’t go crashing into some military personnel. I have to try, I don't have a whole lot of options. I pull the slotted vent cover off the end and climb in.
From the side it looks like an aluminum lower case "r." I do not know how deep it goes, but assume if it runs along the ceiling inside the building so it cannot drop too far. It seems small. I don't know if I can fit now that I am actually climbing inside. I force myself into the shaft. I picture a fat Santa stuck in a chimney, I do not want that fate. It doesn’t seem like a good way to go out. I slide down with my shoulders pressed against both sides. It is rubbing both sides of my body but is bigger than I thought it would be in here. I still have no idea how Jensen could climb up unless he had a rope or some sort of help.
I crawl as slowly and quietly as I can. I don’t want any attention. The first vent cover I get to, I pause to look around. I see several tables, desks, computers, and file cabinets. I do not see anyone or hear any voices. I want to find a way down to look around a little. At the end of the tube where it bends to turn a corner, there is a vent cover that is large enough I can climb out. I kick the cover off and drop to the ground.
When I climb down I take a quick look around to make sure there are no people. I don't see any. I notice something strange about this room. There are no windows, doors, or any sign of a way in or out of here. There is no such thing as a room without any exits. I hide the vent cover, it cannot be put back on now that I stripped the screws and have no tools to replace it with. I start snooping around the room.
A thought pops in my head of hidden passages. Something like a spiral staircase hidden behind a bookshelf that can only be revealed by pulling out the correct book. Only there are no bookshelves in this room. The file cabinets are not big enough to hide anything behind them and most are not up against the wall anyway. I notice the pattern on the floor. It is typical office style carpet. It is thin and tough. It has square patterns of dark colors, the type to mask dirt easily.
In the center of the room there is an open space, all of the desks face away, toward the walls. I walk over to the open space and look at the floor. Some of the carpet is cut in places, not matching the pattern. I think there is something under the floor or someone did a really bad job installing this. I drop to my hands and knees. I pick at the frayed edges, and crawl around in a rectangular shape.
I hear a noise below me, I hear voices. There is someone under the floor. There are two people talking to one another and the voices are getting louder. They must be getting close.
I concentrate on the voices. I want to hear what they say. "I will meet you there. I need about 30 minutes to finish my report." A voice says.
Before I can stand, the floor starts to move. The odd shape cuts in the carpet start dropping into the floor. One rectangle at a time about 12 inches wide and four feet long fall at an even pace one at a time. It is making a staircase. I duck behind a desk.
I’m not hidden well but I’m toward the back of the person coming up the stairs. When they reach the top of the stairs and turn, they’re looking down at a tablet in their hands. I stand and reveal my position.
"Dr. Hunter."