As Sophia stepped through heavy doors of the Restricted Archives, the transition was jarring... the bright, sterile fluorescent glow of the Main Hall was instantly severed, replaced by a thick, velvety darkness that felt heavy against her skin.
She stood still for a heartbeat, her eyes straining against the gloom.
"What the hell..." she muttered, her voice swallowed by the sound-dampening weight of the towering shelves. "All that big budget, and they can't even afford a few lights in the back wing? Typical."
She pulled her designer coat tighter around her, a scowl deepening on her face. The silence here wasn't peaceful; it was oppressive.
"And why the fuck did that bitch have to hide here of all places?" Sophia cursed under her breath, her irritation spiking.
