Ignoring the downpour, I focused, following the path of the water.
Making sure not to be noticed, I stayed close to the fence and moved a little further, getting close to the warehouse before stopping to focus more on the ground.
'There it is,' I thought, spotting it.
Even with the mud covering most of it, I could still make out the faint outline of a manhole cover as the water drained into it.
'Makes sense,' I thought.
A drainage system would be necessary, especially during storms like this.
I knelt on one knee, brushing away the mud to expose more of the cover.
'Looks like it's not welded shut… it should be removable.'
I pulled on the cover.
It budged a little but stayed stuck.
"Rust," I muttered through gritted teeth.
Trying again, I pulled harder.
The cover shifted, letting out a loud, jarring scrape as it came loose.
'Someone definitely heard that.'
Not even the rain could've masked the sound.
"Need to move fast."
Pulling a flashlight from my bag, I cupped my hand over the lens to dim the beam before switching it on and peering inside.
"Good — there's a ladder."
Not sure if it can hold my weight though… but no time to guess.
I took one last glance behind me, then climbed down into the hole, pulling the cover shut above my head.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The air inside was damp and heavy, carrying that familiar metallic scent of rust and stagnant water.
Each step down the ladder groaned under my weight, echoing faintly through the tunnel below.
'At least it hasn't snapped on me yet.'
I reached the bottom, boots splashing into shallow, murky water.
"Smells awful," I muttered, scrunching my nose.
'There's likely harmful gas in the air… and the air's a little thin.'
"Things could turn bad really fast," I whispered under my breath as I started moving.
It was pitch-black, so I kept my flashlight low, letting only a thin beam cut through the darkness.
The tunnel stretched ahead — wide enough for five people to stand side by side — its walls lined with corroded metal and stained concrete.
Drips echoed from somewhere deeper in, mixing with the faint hum of rain from above.
'Well… this is cozy,' I thought dryly, tightening my grip on the flashlight.
I kept walking, the sound of my steps splashing through the shallow water.
Every now and then, I heard squeaks and caught glimpses of rats darting along the tunnel walls.
My eyes lingered on them each time — just for a moment — but I didn't stop.
There were a few paths splitting off from the main one, narrow side tunnels swallowed in darkness, but I kept going straight.
I stopped for a moment, gasping for air, then kept moving.
The air was getting thinner the farther I went.
My wet clothes didn't help either — I was losing body heat fast.
"Need to change soon," I muttered.
I didn't know how long I'd been walking, but then I froze.
A faint yellow glow cut through the darkness ahead.
The source?
Just a few steps away, to my left, a ladder led up to a hatch.
Thin slivers of light bled through the narrow gaps around its edges, flickering faintly.
I crouched near the ladder, watching the light bleed through the cracks.
'Someone's up there,' I thought, narrowing my eyes.
I turned off the flashlight, letting my vision adjust to the dim glow above.
For a few seconds, I just listened.
The faint sound of doors opening and closing.
A distant metallic clang.
Muffled footsteps — heavy ones.
'Yeah… definitely people.'
I gripped the side of the ladder, my pulse steady but alert.
My thoughts started rolling.
Staying in the tunnel might be the smarter move — I'd stay hidden — but this place wasn't safe for long.
The air here was thin, damp, and probably toxic.
Breathing it too much would be hazardous.
The water and cold were also bad; if I stayed here, I might go into hypothermia.
And lastly… I had no idea how long until my presence was discovered. If they did find out, this tunnel would be one of the first places they'd check.
So no — I couldn't stay down here much longer.
"Alright…" I whispered quietly, making up my mind. "Let's see what we're dealing with."
I started climbing — slow, careful, making sure not to make a sound.
Each rung creaked under my weight, the echoes faint but sharp in the silence.
Once I reached the top, I paused just under the hatch.
A shadow moved past the light above.
Then another.
Voices — faint, but close.
"…get those crates moved… boss wants them in storage before dawn."
My grip tightened.
'Guess I found the storage area.'
I waited a few seconds, counting the rhythm of the footsteps above.
When it sounded clear, I reached up, pressing my fingers against the hatch.
Cold metal met my skin.
I gave it a slow push.
It didn't move.
'Locked?' I thought, frowning slightly.
I tried again, applying a bit more pressure this time.
Clink.
It shifted — just a little.
Not locked then, just heavy.
I paused again, listening.
Nothing.
No movement nearby.
"Alright…" I whispered, barely moving my lips.
With slow, steady motion, I pushed the hatch up — just enough to create a small gap.
A faint stream of warm air met my face, mixed with the smell of oil, wood, and something else…
Gunpowder.
Through the narrow slit, I could see part of the room.
Dim lights hung from the ceiling.
Wooden crates stacked against the walls.
A couple of men stood near the far end, talking, while another pushed a trolley full of boxes toward what looked like an elevator.
'They're still busy unloading… good.'
Glancing at the dim lights, I whispered, "Seems like my assumptions were wrong."
I widened the gap a little more, careful not to make a sound.
From this angle, I could see the rest of the area —
It was a warehouse, a really large one, cluttered with crates.
This must be one of the bunker's loading bays.
I exhaled slowly.
'Alright, Max… time to move.'
I pushed the hatch open a bit wider and waited again — timing the rhythm of their voices and steps.
Once the nearest guard turned his back, I slipped my arm through the opening, then the rest of my body, easing myself up and out.
The hatch closed silently behind me.
I crouched low behind a stack of metal crates, water still dripping from my clothes, breathing slow and steady.
"Made it…" I muttered under my breath, my eyes scanning the area.
I stayed low, watching the men before slipping behind a stack.
'Need to hurry.'
I pulled off my shoes, putting them in my bag, then quietly squeezed the water from my shirt and pants.
I peeked out again, making sure it was clear, before silently moving toward the back of the warehouse.
'The back's already filled, so there's less chance of people being there.'
I kept going, sticking to the shadows between the crates.
Once I reached a decent spot between two large stacks, I stopped and took a slow breath to calm my nerves.
Suddenly, a hand clamped over my mouth from behind.
Before I could react, a cold blade pressed against my neck
"Make a sound," a woman's voice whispered behind me, her breath warm against my ear, "and things will end badly for you."