Chapter 29 - The Journey Ahead

After a bit of rest, I rummage through my bag looking for any trinkets or pieces of rubble I’ve picked up throughout the wasteland that could be used to pick the lock on that door. I take out a thin, metal wire that should suffice. I twist it into the correct shape until it seems like it should suffice.

Ell1s is probably busy somewhere else again, and I doubt he'd want to bother me again for a bit after our long chat. He probably still thinks I’m sleeping as well. This is the perfect time to sneak around and finally get to the bottom of this place. I take one last look at the files I’ve collected and the near-empty room I’ve been residing in, and step back out into the hallway.

As I walk, my footsteps against the metal ground seem louder than usual. If this works… what’s my next move? What will happen if this really works? I try to slow my mind from racing as I maintain my pace and grow closer to the location of that door.

I… kind of feel bad. But wouldn’t this be helping him?

I’m sure he’s tired of spending years rotting away in this place, slowly decaying. Nobody should have to go through that. Maybe it’s a good thing that I’ll put him out of his misery.

A small part of me still wants to stay.

But the other part of me is screaming at me to keep going and not to look back. To continue my journey and search for any remaining survivors in this cruel, crestfallen world. To continue living even if it means to suffer…

And I’m going to die soon anyways, aren’t I? My body is growing weaker. Strands of my hair have begun to fall out. I feel as if I’m a shell of what I used to be. I may as well make the rest of my life worthwhile and die trying.

I approach the door in front of me, and crouch down to inspect the padlock. Shouldn’t be too hard to pick…

I grab the thin metal wire in my hand and insert it into the lock, twisting it around with the pins inside until I hear a clicking noise. The padlock falls to the ground and the door slowly creaks open. I peek inside and see a long, winding staircase connected to the door, extending downwards.

Here we go.

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