Chapter 4 - 3820
3820: Chapter Four: It Begins Again, Part 4 - Aaron McKinsley
At 7:00 a.m., Aaron cranked his truck and headed deeper into Dobbs City. He made his way to Building 3820. When he arrived, he had to wait another hour for someone to come and unlock the building. He entered and began to carry out his duties.
The elevators weren't working yet. Aaron sighed and began to climb the stairs. When he got to the fourth floor, the stairs ended. Not good, because he needed to examine the infrastructure that was on the top floor. The elevator would have taken him up to the top. For now, all he could see was a service ladder. He hoped that he wouldn't have to carry very many tools up that narrow ladder. He climbed to the top.
When Aaron entered the topmost area, he scanned and then inspected the air conditioners. They met his approval, so he reversed his path and began heading back down to the first floor. The rest of his inspection would take place in a small area in the basement. He found the stairs that led downward and went toward the bottom of the building.
Aaron made his way through the basement, an area that would, in the future (or so he had been told), be home to laboratories operated by the Dobbs Institute. He quickly found the service door for the heaters and air conditioners. It reminded him of a watertight door on a submarine or a ship. He opened the door. It was dark inside.
He took a step inside the room and felt around for his cellphone. He forgot his flashlight, so he decided to use the light on his phone. Just about the same time he turned on the light, he noticed that his feet were suddenly wet. He sighed again, heavily. Apparently, something down there was leaking water.
Aaron stepped forward and then stumbled. He had not seen the three stair steps which were concealed by even higher water. He did his best to hold his phone high as he splashed in the dark water. He managed to save his phone, he thought, and then stood. The water was knee-deep.
"Damn," Aaron muttered to himself. He couldn't risk looking a light switch and possibly being electrocuted. He was going to have to go back up and find his work light.
As Aaron turned toward the door, three things happened in quick succession. First, for no apparent reason, the heavy door slammed shut. Second, his phone began to flicker and then stopped working. It was wet, after all.
Finally, Aaron noticed a sickening blue light appear in front of him. It seemed to be across the room, and in motion. Yes, it was moving. As quickly as possible, he slogged his way back toward the door, his only exit. He had almost made it when the blue color manifested itself as some kind of portal. Aaron was pulled inside, and no was close enough to hear his cries for help.
See Part 5 here.
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