Page 84 of Immersed
“We’ve been tracing out the building configuration on different pieces of paper,”Tyler explained, gesturing to the scattered sketches.“Trying to see where things line up.”
“Having machinery that can move entire sections of walls or hallways is difficult,”Elliot added.“But we know it’s possible because we can hear the systems. And any good engineer knows that the more moving parts you have, the more likely it is to fail.”
“So the building drops certain permutations of the walls as it goes along,”Tyler continued.“As it moves and shifts.”
Levi moved closer to examine their work. They drewthe same basic floor plan on multiple pieces of paper, but with slight variations—passages that branched in different directions, rooms that appeared or disappeared.
“Can I see those?”he asked.
As he studied the papers, something clicked.“What if we layered them on top of each other? Like one image, but we can shift individual pieces as the walls move?”
He began stacking the papers, aligning the common elements.“It would act like an evolving map. If we can figure out which walls moveand in what direction, we can turn the piece that moved so we can see where the hallway points afterward.”
Like those sliding block puzzles, but three-dimensional and trying to kill us.
“That’s brilliant,”Jasper breathed, leaning in to see how the papers fit together.
Asher’s expression shifted into something that looked like pride.
“This might be the way to get us to safety,”he said, and therewassomething in his voice that made Levi’s skin prickle with awareness.
Working together, they spent the next twenty minutes creating multiple versions of the same floor plan, each one showing different wall configurations. Using wire from Jasper’s seemingly endless supply of useful items, they punctured small holes and connected the paper sheets so individual pieces could rotate in place.
“Once we figure out a way back to the atrium where we left our equipment,”Levi said, testing the makeshift mechanism,“we might have a chance.”
A chance at what, though? Escape felt like an impossible dream, but having a planwasbetter than wandering blindly through the automated maze.
They gathered at the hidden door, listening intently for any sounds from the passage beyond. The building’s hummingwasconstant, but no immediate threats seemed to be lurking outside.
“I think it’s time to go,”Asher said.
One by one, they slipped out of the safe room and into the dimly lit hallway. Flickering lights overhead cast their shadows long and distorted against the walls.
They’dmade it maybe thirty feet when they heard it.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
The sound echoed from somewhere down the hall behind them, relentless and precise.
“That’s not one of our friends,”Levi said quickly, remembering the horror they encountered before.“It’s a monster. Keep moving.”
But the clappingwasgetting closer. Louder. Faster.
Clap-clap-clap. Clap-clap-clap.
“Move,” Asher commanded. “Now.”
So much for safety,Levi thought grimly as they fled deeper into Dr. Faine’s maze.
But at least now theyhada plan. Even if it might not be enough to save them.
The applause grew deafeningly loud as they sprinted through the passageways, their makeshift map clutched in Levi’s hands. Behind them, the horrorwasgaining ground, its wooden blocks striking together with relentless precision.
Clap-clap-clap-clap-clap.
“This way!”Asher shouted, pulling them down a side passage as the building’s walls began their familiar grinding motion.
Levi consulted their paper map, rotating one of the sections as he heard the telltale sound of shifting architecture.“If that wall moved... the passage should connect to—”
