Page 76 of Immersed
Jasper scooted closer to Levi, pulling out a piece of debris that could serve as makeshift chalk.“You want to map what we’ve seen? Compare it to the original layout?”
“Good idea.”Levi moved to sit beside him on the concrete floor.“I have something that might help.”
He pulled Dr. Faine’s journal from his jacket pocket, the leather binding worn smooth from repeated handling. The pages fell open to the schematics and research notes.
Jasper reached for the journal.“Can I take a look? I might be able to correlate his designs with what we’ve actually seen.”
Asher moved closer.“I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“Hey, no worries, man,”Jasper said, hands raised.“I’m not trying to step on anyone’s toes here.” He glanced between Asher and Levi, taking in the way Asher positioned himself near Levi, the obvious signs of recent conflict between them.
“Look,”Jasper began,“I can see there’s some tension here. Maybe you two have been through some intense shit together, maybe there’s something developing. I’m not here to break up whatever dynamic you’ve got going.”
Oh God.Levi felt heat flood his face. Jasper thought theywere... involved.If only you knew.If only any of you knew what he’s really like.
“I’m super duper straight,”Jasper added with his characteristic easy smile.“And if Iwasgoing to stress-fuck anyone in this nightmare scenario, it’d probably be Maddie.”
“I mean, I wouldn’t say no,”Maddie replied with a shrug.“Apocalypse rules and all that.”
The casual acceptance of their supposed relationship made Levi’s stomach churn.
They think we’re a couple. They think what we have is normal. Romantic.
“Thank you for understanding,”Asher said with deceptive mildness, looking pleased with Jasper’s interpretation.“Levi and I have been through a lot together.”
He’s rewriting history,making it sound like we’re partners instead of predator and prey.
“I totally get it,”Jasper said.“Survival situations can intensify feelings, but we should still pool our knowledge if we want to get out of here alive.”
He gestured to the journal in Levi’s hands.“Those schematics could be the key to understanding how this place works.”
Levi looked at Asher, whowasstill wearing that pleased expression. The possessive contentment in his eyeswasclear—he liked being seen as Levi’s... what? Partner? Boyfriend? The very idea made Levi sick.
But I need their help,he reminded himself.I can’t blow everything up right now, no matter how fucked up this is.
“Here,”Levi said, opening the journal to the plans.“These are the original schematics, plus Dr. Faine’s modifications.”
Jasper leaned closer, studying the diagrams and began sketching on the concrete floor, mapping out the areas they explored and comparing them to Faine’s designs.“The passages we went through don’t match the original blueprints at all. They match these modified plans.”
Maddie moved closer to look at their work.“So this doctor guy redesigned the whole place?”
“Not redesigned,”Levi said, studying Faine’s notes.“Enhanced. He turned it into a giant containment system.”
“Containment for what?”she asked.
Levi met her eyes, seeing his own growing horror reflected there.“For people like us.”
We’re lab rats.All of us. Just lab rats in Dr. Faine’s maze.
“Well,”Maddie said after a moment,“that’s fucking terrifying.”
“Now we know what we’re dealing with,”Jasper added, still sketching.“And knowledge is power, right?”
Asher moved to stand behind Levi, observing his and Jasper’s work together.
He’s enjoying this.The way Jasper interpreted our relationship, the way everyone just accepted it. He likes having that cover.
For now, theyhadwork to do. The journal held secrets about the structure’s true nature, and maybe—just maybe—clues about how to escape Dr. Faine’s automated nightmare.
