The Hollow Box (Part-5)

Episode 5: “Sub-Level 6”

Lara and Lana sneaked out of the house at around midnight.

Clad in black, equipped with gloves, flashlights, and their mother's locket securely in Lana's coat pocket, they slipped through the Arundel General Hospital side entrance. Before the funeral, Lara had taken an old staff ID out of her mother's drawer as a precaution.

It was quieter than normal in the hospital. Too silent. As if the walls were listening.

Behind the morgue, they located the service elevator. Although Sub-Level 6 was not listed on the panel, a hidden button illuminated when Lara held the ID badge up to the control box.

Level -6.

Lana gave her sister's hand a squeeze.

“Ready?”

"No," Lara said in a whisper. "But let's still go.

"As it lowered itself farther than any area of the hospital should, the elevator moaned. A blast of chilly air slammed into the doors as they opened.

The corridor in front of them was composed of metal and ancient brick. Overhead, fluorescent lights flickered. The majority of the rooms had been blocked off. However, one door was open.

Experimental Ward, Room 6A.

They discovered bizarre, still-operating devices with glowing green lights, dusty medical files, and charts fastened on boards.

Lara opened a folder with the name Patient 12-Eleanor Clark on it.

The name of her mother.

However, her mother wasn't in the picture.

It was a female. pale skin. White hair. Black eyes. Perhaps sixteen.

She appeared to be... not human.

Then there was a murmur.

"Help me."

The sisters whirled around.

There was a locked observation chamber in the room's corner. And the girl from the picture was within it, either unconscious or asleep. She had the same appearance.

She was still young.

Lana took a step toward the window.

Abruptly, the girl's eyes opened. As dark as ink. And frightened.

Then there was a red flare of emergency lights.

There came an automatic voice:

"Lockdown initiated due to containment breach in Sub-Level 6."

“Who do you think Iris really is — a victim, a key, or something far more powerful?”