The maintenance tunnel narrowed into a skeletal ribcage of pipes and ancient wiring.Metal dripped with condensation.The walls felt too close—like the structure was exhaling around them.
Alex kept one arm around Kayden, guiding him through the dark.Phineas led with the trembling flashlight beam, muttering to himself like a broken radio.
"Map said straight.But the map was older than electricity.So maybe straight means left.Or right.Or instant death—"
"Phineas," Alex hissed,"please stop talking."
Phineas nodded rapidly."Stopping now. Stopped. Very stopped."
Kayden's steps dragged, each one a fight against exhaustion and the aftershock of resonance.APEX flickered inside him, not malfunctioning—calculating.
Then—
APEX pulsed sharply.
"Operator.Turn right."
Phineas spun.
"RIGHT IT IS—IF WE DIE, BLAME APEX—"
They took the turn.
And the tunnel opened into a wide metal chamber.
Alex's breath left him.
"…whoa."
In the center of the room stood a massive, cylindrical elevator—thick steel walls,rounded edges,a faded SRD emblem across the side.
Not sleek.Not modern.
Old.
The kind of old that carried cobwebs of forgotten technology and silence stretching decades.
Phineas lifted the flashlight higher.
"'Prototype Surface Ascent Unit,'" he read aloud from a rusted label."'Use only with Operator clearance.'Operator clearance—OH WAIT, WE HAVE ONE OF THOSE!"
Kayden swayed.
Alex steadied him.
"It's still functioning?" Alex asked.
Phineas shrugged violently.
"How would I know?! It looks like someone welded a submarine to a toaster!"
Kayden stared at the elevator.
Every part of him felt pulled toward it.
Not by fate.Not by destiny.
By design.
APEX whispered inside him:
"Operator.This unit predates SRD's modern restrictions.It can be activated by resonance input."
Kayden whispered:
"…by me."
Alex frowned.
"Kayden, you're barely standing.You can't push yourself again—you'll collapse."
Phineas nodded rapidly.
"Yeah, yeah, listen to big brother,you already almost blew up a hallway—twice—in the last hour—"
Kayden lifted a trembling hand.
"I don't need a full surge.APEX says I just need a pulse."
APEX corrected gently:
"Not a surge.A signature."
Kayden blinked.
"A signature…?"
"Your resonance identity.Not force.Recognition."
Alex frowned.
"Like a fingerprint?"
APEX answered:
"Correct."
Phineas whistled.
"So it's basically a magical fingerprint elevator.Cool. Weird. Terrifying.Mostly terrifying."
Kayden stepped closer.
The elevator's metal surface reflected his face—pale,tired,eyes flickering with faint static.
He placed his palm on the cold steel.
For a moment—
Nothing.
Then—
PING—
A blue ring of light rippled outward from his hand.
Alex sucked in a breath.
"It's responding."
APEX hummed:
"Resonance signature accepted."
The elevator shuddered.Old mechanisms groaned to life.A deep, ancient hum vibrated through the chamber.
Phineas jumped back.
"OH MY GOD IT'S MOVING—IT'S—WAIT—DO THESE THINGS HAVE SAFETY TESTS—??"
The elevator door split open—
a quiet sliding motion,like a mouth parting in a long-forgotten yawn.
A faint, cool breeze drifted out.
Alex looked inside.
A small cabin.Round ceiling lights flickering.Control panel broken.A cracked mirror.Old harness straps hanging like wilted vines.
Kayden's heartbeat quickened.
"We can actually get to the surface?Really?"
APEX pulsed softly.
"Probability: 62%.Better than alternatives."
Phineas raised both arms dramatically.
"I'LL TAKE THOSE ODDS! WHO'S FIRST INTO THE 'PROPELLED COFFIN' ELEVATOR—?"
Kayden took a step forward—
Then collapsed.
His knees hit the floor.
Alex caught him instantly.
"Kayden—HEY—Kayden—look at me—"
Kayden's eyes fluttered.
"I'm okay—just—dizzy—"
APEX disagreed:
"Operator—resonance output exceeded threshold.Motor control degrading."
Alex cursed under his breath.
"We shouldn't have asked you to open it—"
Kayden weakly shook his head.
"No…it's fine…just need… a second…"
Phineas peeked nervously into the tunnel behind them.
"Uh, reminder—SRD Omega guys are STILL CLOSE ENOUGH TO COUNT OUR EYELASHES!"
As if on cue—
A thunderous BOOM echoed from deeper down the tunnels.
Kayden's head jerked upward.
"They're here…Alex—they're coming—they're coming fast—"
Alex lifted him up again.
"Phin—inside. Now."
Phineas dove into the elevator cabin like he was diving into a pool.
Alex guided Kayden inside next.
The elevator hummed in response to Kayden's presence—a low, eerie vibration.
Not hostile.
Anticipating.
Kayden whispered:
"…APEX.What do I do now?"
APEX answered:
"Initiate ascent.Place your hand on the central panel."
Kayden looked at the broken control panel—half-sparking,half-dead.
"I don't… see it…"
Alex pointed to a circular metal plate—small,almost hidden,set into the wall beside the mirror.
"Here. Try this."
Kayden placed his hand on it.
A soft blue glow seeped through the cracks.
APEX spoke:
"Resonance alignment ready.Awaiting your signal."
Kayden closed his eyes.
He inhaled.
Exhaled.
And whispered:
"…go."
The elevator lurched upward—
slow at first,like waking from a long, mechanical sleep.
Kayden sagged into Alex's arms.
Phineas screamed:
"WE'RE MOVING—WE'RE ACTUALLY MOVING—HOW IS THIS A GOOD IDEA—"
Alex held Kayden tighter.
"We're leaving, Kay.We're leaving SRD."
Kayden managed a small, shaky smile.
"…really…?"
But then—
APEX pulsed sharply.
"WARNING."
Alex froze.
"What—now—?"
APEX's voice darkened:
"Omega units detected on upper levels.Tracking ascent."
Phineas shrieked.
"THEY KNOW WE'RE USING THE ELEVATOR—?!"
Kayden's pulse spiked.
APEX whispered:
"Prepare for interception."
Kayden opened his eyes.
"Alex…"
Alex held him tighter.
"I'm not letting them take you."
Phineas clung to a railing.
"CAN WE MAYBE TIE THE RAILS OR THROW SHOES OR—SOMETHING—?"
Kayden looked up at the elevator ceiling, trembling.
Above them—
the faint soundof boots hitting metalechoed closer.
They weren't alone.
They weren't safe yet.
And the elevator was still rising.