Page 77 of Immersed
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Regroup
They’dbeenmappingforover an hour when Maddie stretched and yawned. “I hate to break up the strategy session, but we can’t stay here forever.”
Levi looked up from the journal, his eyes burning from studying Dr. Faine’s cramped handwriting by the single bare bulb. They made real progress—identifying several key areas where the structure’s automated systems converged, potential weak points in the containment design.
But we still don’t have an exit strategy. The journal showed how to navigate some of the shifting architecture, but nothing about getting out.
“She’s right,”Jasper said, rolling his shoulders to work out the kinks.“We need to move while we still have some energy.”
“Where to?”Levi asked, closing the journal and tucking it back into his jacket.
“The atrium,”Maddie suggested.“It’s the most central location, and if Tyler or Owen are still alive, that’s wherethey’dprobably head.”
If they’re still alive.
“The main structural support runs through there, too,”Jasper added, studying their crude map on the floor.“If we want to understand how this place really works, that’s where we’ll find answers.”
Asherhadbeen silent during their planning, standing behind Levi and Jasper as they worked. Now he spoke up, his voice carefully neutral. “Splitting up didn’t work well for the others.”
“We’re not splitting up,”Maddie said firmly.“We stick together, no matter what.”
They gathered their supplies and prepared to leave their small sanctuary. Levi pulled out Dr. Faine’s journal one more time, flipping to a blank page and quickly sketching the location of the safe room—third floor, east wing, behind the false wall near the old maintenance shaft. He added notes about the separate electrical system and the hidden door mechanism.
In case I need to find this place again.
He felt a pang of regret as Jasper sealed the hidden door behind them—this might be the last safe spacethey’dfind.
The passages outside felt different than before. The flickering lights seemed dimmer, and the automated sounds in the wallshadtakenon a more urgent rhythm. The sanitarium knew theyweremoving again.
It’s been waiting for us,Levi thought with growing unease.Letting us rest sowe’dhave more energy to run.
They made their way through the maze of passageways, using Dr. Faine’s notes to navigate the shifting architecture. Twice, theyhadto backtrack when passages rearranged themselves, but gradually they worked their way toward the center.
Theyweremaybe fifty feet from what should have been the atrium entrance when they heard it.
“Help! Somebody help me!” Owen’s voice echoed from somewhere ahead. Desperate, terrified, but definitely alive.
“Owen!” Jasper shouted back.
“We have to help him!”Maddie grabbed Jasper’s arm.
Without waiting for discussion, both of them took off running toward Owen’s voice.
“Wait!”Levi started after them, but Asher’s hand clamped down on his wrist like a vice.
“Let them go. It’s obviously a trap.”
“Owen!”Jasper’s voicewasgetting farther away as he and Maddie disappeared around a corner.
Levi tried to pull free of Asher’s grip.“We have to follow them. If Owen’s alive—”
“Owen’s probably dead,”Asher snapped.“And now they will be too.”
But I might need them.The NPCsweren’tjust people to protect—they might be essential to solving this nightmare. What if the structure required multiple people to operate certain systems? What if escapewasonly possible with a full team?
“Help! Please, I can’t—”Owen’s voice cut off.
