《Dr. Immortal (Completed)》 Introduction Dr. Evelyn Hart adjusted her glasses, the faint clink of metal frames cutting through the room¡¯s stark silence. The thick dossier before her bore a plain black cover¡ªno logo, no title, just SITE-X0 and X-2 Clearance stamped across the top in bold, unassuming letters. Her fingers hesitated for a fraction of a second. The scent of the freshly printed report mingled with the room¡¯s clinical air. A tall, suited man stood at attention nearby, hands clasped behind his back, his expression carefully neutral. An intermediary for AEGIS: Advanced Exploration Geodynamic Investigation Syndicate. X-2? she internally reflected, vision narrowing and brow furrowing in quiet scrutiny. X-level access? That¡¯s not a casual mistake. She flipped the folder open, each page crackling as she sifted through the contents. A new site the syndicate discovered? The first thing that caught her attention was a high-resolution photograph of a storm-lashed sea. In the distance, a jagged island was half-shrouded in mist, situated like an ancient monolith. Faint, glowing lilac veins spiderwebbed across visible portions of its rocky surface¡ªimpossible patterns that looked more like circuitry than natural stone. She thumbed to the next image¡ªa grainy, underwater silhouette of something vast, indistinct, and far too large to be a whale. Her eyes darted to the clearance stamp again. X-2. Her gaze darted to the man who had delivered this dossier. ¡°Is this a mistake?¡± His hands were clasped behind his back, his stance rigid and polished. Not military, but something worse. An AEGIS liaison of the highest clearance. Shadow Man¡¯s lapdog. He tilted his head slightly in acknowledgment of her words but said nothing. Evelyn tapped the stamp on the cover with two fingers. ¡°I¡¯m cleared for O-2 at the Lunar Site. Omega-level clearance. This¡­¡± Her gaze lifted, sharp and probing. ¡°This says X-2. Alpha-tier.¡± Her eyes stayed locked on him, watching for the faintest flicker of acknowledgment in his neutral mask. ¡°Are you telling me I¡¯ve been bumped up the ladder without being told?¡± His lips pressed into a faint, tight line that could have been a smirk¡ªjust barely. ¡°We both know they don¡¯t tell you when you¡¯ve been promoted, Dr. Hart.¡± She clicked her tongue and leaned back in her chair, fingers laced behind her head. ¡°Promoted, huh? Funny, I didn¡¯t hear the applause or get my ceremonial dagger laced with sacrificial blood. Maybe I missed the parade.¡± Her gaze flicked back to the folder. ¡°So, X-2 clearance. That means unrestricted access to everything related to this mysterious new site. No redactions, no missing pages, no ¡®above your pay grade¡¯ runaround that I¡¯d get at the C0 Site. Just the unfiltered truth.¡± Evelyn¡¯s eyes narrowed further, her voice shifting to a cool, measured calm. ¡°Is that what this is? Or is this just another trick where you ¡®let¡¯ me see more, but still keep me in the dark?¡± ¡°Access is granted as needed,¡± the man replied, his tone as rigid as his posture. ¡°X-2 clearance reflects operational necessity, Doctor. You¡¯re to be briefed on everything relevant to the site¡¯s current state, risks, and¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªand whatever mess you¡¯ve dragged me into this time,¡± she interjected, lips curling into a humorless smile. ¡°Spare me the company droll. If I¡¯ve been bumped to X-2, then that means I¡¯m taking over something that someone higher up decided was too volatile for an O-2 Site Admin. I ran Site-C0 for three years. That was a containment site, not an exploratory breach. X-2 is an exploratory designation. Exploration is never about control. It¡¯s about taking risks with people you can afford to lose.¡± She let that linger, watching him carefully. He didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°Right. So this isn¡¯t a ¡®promotion¡¯¡ªit¡¯s a reassignment with flair.¡± She let out a short, dry chuckle, reflecting on how she¡¯d probably landed this gig. ¡°Let me guess. I was a tad too¡­brazen and cavalier in my investigations at C0. I certainly obtained results. And there was a previous director at this X0 site,¡± she mused, tapping the redacted name. ¡°Let me guess, they went missing, committed suicide, or died in some¡­unexplainable way.¡± His silence was as sharp as any confirmation. ¡°Figures.¡± She flipped another page, scanning the contents. ¡°I assume the disappearance was chalked up to this ¡®fog-related phenomena¡¯ that is mostly redacted or some other colorful euphemism you¡¯ll use to keep the incident reports tidy.¡± Her eyes caught a particular entry on the page. Her thumb traced the line: ¡°Localized Dimensional Instability: Persistent.¡± Her eyes stayed on the phrase for longer than she should have. Dimensional instability. Persistent. Fog-related phenomena. It¡¯s happening again. I feel the gears turning inside my chest¡­ The unexplored mystery waiting to be dissected. Her grip on the folder tightened as her mind briefly wandered back to Site-C0. The impossible hallways beyond the Sphinx Doors. The moments when she¡¯d been ¡°somewhere else¡± for a fraction of a second before snapping back to reality. Persistent dimensional instability, huh? I bet it is. ¡°You want to know why the clearance change matters, Dr. Hart?¡± The agent broke the silence, his voice steady, calm. ¡°It¡¯s because this site is active. The architecture isn¡¯t dormant like Site-C0 was¡­before your¡ª¡± ¡°Meddling?¡± she said with a half smile. She wasn¡¯t new to the game of secrets in AEGIS, nor many of her superiors¡¯ agitation toward her bold methods. Her previous assignment at Site-C0¡ªa lunar base centered on a mysterious alien ruin buried beneath the moon¡¯s surface¡ªhad been a testament to that. The architecture may imply Egyptian origin.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Whether they had reached the moon or if a lunar entity had come to them was still a hotly debated topic among her teams. However, unlike the site¡¯s previous administrators, her bold actions had led to uncovering an element there that rejected radiation, a discovery that revolutionized space exploration for the syndicate. But it had come at a cost. A heavy one. Progress never came cheap. She¡¯d signed that bill herself¡ªtwice. Six months ago, I made a major breakthrough on the moon, getting past the impervious Twin Sphinx Doors, and now they¡¯re trying to shift me to a new site¡­ I suppose this is more pressing. Or¡­I¡¯m just the next expendable officer in rank, she grumbled, flipping the page up to view some of the stranger details that intrigued her. Either way, if I refuse this, then it will come back to bite me in the ass. Something about it felt wrong¡ªoff in a way that even the non-Euclidean halls of Site-C0 hadn¡¯t managed. ¡°What does the ¡®X¡¯ stand for?¡± she asked, tilting her head and prodding for whatever other information she might get from the agent¡ªthey usually came with a tad more info than they divulged. ¡°Surely, I¡¯m at the clearance now to know.¡± The agent¡¯s lips twitched, the barest flicker of amusement surfacing on his otherwise inscrutable mask; he¡¯d probably heard that from every potential site director. ¡°Unknown. My own superiors wonder how The Shadow Man designates names. Some suggest it¡¯s a designation for unexplored territories. Others think it marks danger levels. Either way, it fits the mystery of AEGIS.¡± ¡°That, it does¡­¡± Evelyn tapped the folder with her manicured fingernail. ¡°And I suppose I don¡¯t get the full, unredacted version of this until I¡¯m on-site and it¡¯s too late to back out?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct, Dr. Hart. You¡¯ll have complete access to the findings once you arrive and take the position. In the meantime, you¡¯ll need to assemble a research expedition team for the next phase. Immediate deployment, I¡¯m told. Top priority. The restrictions on electrical use while at Site-X0 are listed there¡ª500-watt active use is¡ª¡± ¡°Apocalypse-Level Restricted¡­ I can read, thank you,¡± she mumbled, shifting in her chair to glare at the bright red ink. Site-C0 never had anywhere near that level of scrutiny, but she¡¯d heard rumors about another site on the moon that may be in that range. ¡°An A-Level site, hmm? It¡¯s also somehow connected to Site-E0¡­ A Chav¨ªn Civilization temple buried beneath the Amazon? ¡°I¡¯m granted partial oversight over Sites E0 and C0 as it applies to my research and exploration of X0, am I? Well, I suppose that makes me incredibly lucky or unlucky, depending on how you look at it¡­ Hmm. I¡¯m interested,¡± she chimed. ¡°Why is this site so important to AEGIS?¡± ¡°All I can say is that it is¡ª¡± ¡°Yes, yes,¡± she drooled, rolling her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s Threat Level-A. So, its danger is the primary reason for our involvement. I was hoping for a bit more. Exploration and possible advancements are secondary, but I¡¯m the type to incorporate new technologies and methods, which your bosses know¡­ Nor am I particularly bound by restrictive ethics opposing progress.¡± ¡°Your transport is waiting outside,¡± he immediately responded, his lips twitching slightly at her assessment. She arched a brow, her mind flicking through the implications. Immediate deployment. Just like last time. She felt the weight of her decision like an iron anchor tethered to her chest. It isn¡¯t like I have any attachments to hold me here on the moon, and a change of scenery would be nice¡­ At least I¡¯d have better meals¡ªas highlighted¡ªif we¡¯re still connected to Earth. Unanswered questions gnawed at her, but she knew better than to press. ¡°Hmm. And the mission parameters for this team I should assemble? This bit about an immortal fish being the only thing that survived the ¡®Fog Incident¡¯ gives me some ideas,¡± she noted, her voice calm but sharp as she flipped to the back of the heavy folder, catching sight of her diamond-shaped birthmark on the back of her left hand. ¡°Let me guess, ¡®don¡¯t die¡¯ of¡­ Oh? Expect to die¡­or worse? Well, that certainly makes recruiting more challenging,¡± she smiled, feeling an adventurous surge well up within her. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose I will be hiring your typical agents. I accept the reassignment!¡± The agent handed her another sheet, his movements precise. ¡°My superior thought you might. Primary objective: establish a foothold on the sole island the previous site administrator discovered before the¡­fog incident. Naturally, you will first need to scope it out with a few teams who won¡¯t necessarily be missed.¡± ¡°Naturally,¡± she mused, scanning down the mission objectives with a few finer details on what they first needed to determine and a few of the occupation positions piqued her interest. ¡°All equipment must output less than 450 watts. So long as each stay under that amount, we¡¯re safe on Site-X0, but¡­that might change once beyond its walls. Fascinating. I look forward to reading why¡­ ¡°It¡¯s the standard assess survivability and resources operation, hmm? Secondary objective: recover data from the previous exploration team. They managed to transmit a partial report by¡­intensifying their signal beyond the recommended limit. Brave souls, sacrificing themselves for science,¡± she chuckled. ¡°Ah, and doing so attracted¡ªsomething¡­¡± The agent¡¯s stoic face didn¡¯t flinch as she lifted her eyes to him for a moment before returning to the relatively simple objectives. ¡°The superiors need a detailed analysis of what remains. Excellent. Always reassuring to read such vague details. And if this all goes to hell?¡± The agent¡¯s smile returned, razor-thin. ¡°You¡¯ve handled worse, Dr. Hart. I read in your breakthrough report that you met one of the ancient aliens from the moon labyrinth.¡± She snapped the folder shut and stood. The scrape of her chair against the floor sounded loud in the sterile room as her heels clicked against the tile. ¡°An artificial intelligence, not the alien race themselves but theories abound. I suppose after I convinced it to be somewhat responsive, they¡¯re redirecting my talents to a new field. Perhaps I can convince the little sand scarab to offer me some advice.¡± Pausing by the door and reflecting on her first site introduction to AEGIS, she turned to glare at the agent. ¡°But tell The Shadow Man that if this turns out to be another damn ruin with an alien AI that has a type and tries to seduce me, I¡¯m renegotiating my contract.¡± The agent opened the door for her, a glint of amusement flickering in his eyes. ¡°I read that intriguing detail about its inquiries about mammal reproduction, Doctor. Welcome to Site-X0.¡± As Evelyn stepped into the hallway, her thoughts turned inward. Ancient ruins beneath the moon had already redefined what she thought was possible, with ancient Egyptian AIs that potentially had deeper roots with another species. It still had her interest. However, what this new assignment promised was something with higher stakes. What can I find in a seemingly endless ocean, hidden within the Earth¡¯s crust? She gripped the folder tightly against her side, the clicking of her heels the only sound on her way to the elevator; she already had someone in mind to lead the first expedition. I¡¯ll need someone with a bit of humor to lead this¡­ A survivalist with a PhD in ocean biology¡ªreckless enough to accept such a task without too many questions¡­ The curly, brown-haired woman¡¯s face flashed across her mind. I haven¡¯t seen her since college. Yes, she¡¯ll do. Chapter 1 The dense green of the rainforest cliffs overhanging an ocean drop swelled around her, every canopy sway throwing dapples of golden light across the slick, rain-kissed stone. Dr. Isla Reyes clung to the cliffside with practiced ease, fingers curling into damp crevices of rock as her boots found their footing against the uneven face. She glanced down¡ªfifty feet to the dark water below, its surface flickering with ripples from unseen, rare fish just beneath. Her rope creaked softly with each shift of her weight, the kind of noise you learned to ignore lest it consume you. One sample left. Ten minutes tops, and I¡¯ll be back for a hot meal. She sucked in a slow breath, her eyes narrowing on a small ledge a few feet below. Her collection bag bounced lightly against her thigh, already holding a few vials of iridescent algae she¡¯d scraped from the stones. Just get the last one, and we¡¯re done. ¡°Dr. Reyes! Dr. Reyes, are you there?!¡± the static-laced shout burst from her commlink, jarring her grip. She jolted, fingers scrabbling for purchase as her heart slammed against her ribs. ¡°Dr. Reyes, it¡¯s, umm¡ªit¡¯s important! Hello?¡± Marcelo, she cursed internally, biting down a growl. If I die because you can¡¯t figure out where the hot chocolate is again¡­ ¡°I¡¯m hanging off a cliff with half-frayed ropes because someone couldn¡¯t get better funding, Marcelo,¡± she hissed, wedging her shoulder tight against the rock face. ¡°I¡¯ve got a raging ocean alcove below and a rare underground stream halfway down full of new discoveries awaiting me, so unless the rainforest¡¯s on fire, you¡¯ve got ten seconds before I turn this radio into fish food.¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡ªit¡¯s not a fire!¡± Marcelo¡¯s words tumbled over each other, his usual easy going demeanor twisted with panic. ¡°It¡¯s, uh, she said she knew you¡ªDr. Hart? She just, umm¡­flew in.¡± Isla¡¯s hand froze mid-reach. Her mind snapped to the name like a hook-catching line. Hart? Evelyn Hart? No. Not her. Not here¡­ That corporate-loving bitch wouldn¡¯t set foot on a camp site, much less the Amazon jungle. ¡°Come again?¡± her voice dropped to a dangerously slow cadence. ¡°You¡¯re not playing some prank on me?¡± ¡°No! Dr. Hart!¡± Marcelo repeated, his words hitting like stones skipping water. ¡°She¡¯s here! With a¡ª¡± he paused, breath hitching like he still couldn¡¯t believe it himself. ¡°Helicopters, Dr. Reyes. Military ones. Big ones. There¡¯s a whole convoy outside the camp.¡± Isla pressed her lips into a hard, thin line, shifting her grip to a firmer hold. ¡°Tell me you¡¯re joking, Marcelo. Please, tell me this is some twisted prank to get back at me for making you scrub the tanks¡­because I can actually see that, and it¡¯s scaring me.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Not a prank, Doc. She¡¯s not even in the helicopters,¡± he added, voice rising with disbelief. ¡°They¡¯re carrying¡ªlike¡ªthis mobile house? She went in to make tea for the two of you! Like one of those prefabs, but it¡¯s got antennas and satellite dishes and¡ª¡± Damn it. Is she finally here to get her pound of flesh from me? Shit¡­ I knew that prank would come back to bite me in the ass someday with that woman. She could feel her pulse in her ears now, sharp and heavy like distant thunder. Evelyn Hart didn¡¯t visit people. She didn¡¯t ¡°drop by.¡± If she was here, it wasn¡¯t for small talk. She bit her tongue, tasting copper. Her fingers tensed against the rock, the rough edges digging into her calluses. ¡°What did she ask, Marcelo? Dammit, tell me, man. I have half a mind to just disappear into the jungle. Like hell, she¡¯d get her heels dirty to find me, but I guess she¡¯s working for some military contractor now if what you¡¯re saying is true¡­ Shit.¡± Marcelo coughed awkwardly. ¡°Excuse me, Dr. Hart¡ªwhat? Umm. She, uh, asked if you were occupied¡ª¡± ¡°Did she say it like that?¡± Isla snapped, knowing the corporate vulture better than that. ¡°Eh, well¡­ More like, ¡®Where is she hiding?¡¯ ¡± That sounds more like her¡­ Isla exhaled slowly, sharp breaths blowing through her nose as she adjusted her harness, shifting her weight for the climb back up while considering her options. If Eve actually tracked me down out here¡­the sample can wait. She¡¯s the type to make a scene¡­and not the pretty kind. Her thoughts returned to the murder in their last year at Oxford¡ªher roommate¡ªthe killer was never discovered, but due to how vicious Jill was to Evelyn, Isla always had her suspicions. The straight, brown-haired woman¡¯s cold, half-smile and sharp gray eyes had burned a nightmare in her brain since the funeral. Evelyn was a storm chaser in a silk suit: precise, methodical, and only present where danger and profit intersected. The question was, was she here for business or vengeance¡­because there was no in between. Her arms burned as she ascended, rope jerking with every push of her legs. She could already hear the woman¡¯s voice, that condescending hum that always made her want to snap a pen in half. Back then, Hart¡¯s only goal had been to one-up her in every debate, every theory. And she had¡­every time. Ever since she¡¯d gone into some military administrative position, she hadn¡¯t heard her name and hoped she never would again. Isla had taken the scenic route¡ªthe free one. No sponsors, no syndicates. Just grants, patience, and grit. ¡°Marcelo,¡± she grunted, pulling herself over the ledge. Sweat dripped down her brow, hot and stinging. ¡°If she touches my samples, I¡¯m holding you responsible.¡± ¡°Already locked the door to the storage lab, Doc,¡± Marcelo muttered, voice quieter this time. ¡°I don¡¯t think she¡¯s after your samples, though.¡± Isla¡¯s brow lifted, water flicking from the tip of her nose. ¡°Then what?¡± A beat of silence. No static. No breathing. ¡°¡­Think she¡¯s after you,¡± he muttered, so soft it barely made it through the commlink. Her breath hitched. Her hands tightened into fists. I was afraid of that¡­ Chapter 2 The sharp, rhythmic thump of helicopter rotors echoed through the canopy, low and steady like a warning drum, telling her to run. She¡¯d rarely been afraid of anything in her life, but Evelyn¡¯s smile was something demonic¡ªotherworldly. Only those who really got to know her would see that side of the corporate woman, though. Isla¡¯s boots crunched against the wet underbrush as she neared the clearing. The path to base camp was familiar, every curve of the trail, every tree root, memorized through daily treks¡ªshe¡¯d basically carved it herself. She kept her pace measured, steady breaths in and out, her eyes never straying from the forest ahead. Don¡¯t let her see you sweat. Her fingers flexed at her sides, knuckles stiff. She hadn¡¯t felt this kind of coiled tension since her graduate thesis defense¡ªa slow, rising burn in her chest like a fire caught in a steel box. Back then, Evelyn¡¯s eyes had been on her too, watching from across the hall with that knowing smirk she always wore when she knew something you didn¡¯t. This was worse. This wasn¡¯t an academic review. This was a hunt, considering where she¡¯d been tracked down. The more she thought about it, the more uneasy it made her. I¡¯m a dot on a page in Evelyn¡¯s perfect life¡­ She shouldn¡¯t want anything from me. But¡­here she is, in all her glory. Through the gaps in the tree line, she spotted it. The mobile base. Why does she have to look cool at everything she does¡­ Two twin helicopters hovered low, holding the prefab structure in place with steel cables thicker than her arm. The base was more than just a research pod¡ªit was a full-blown command center. Black panels gleamed like obsidian against the green of the forest, water slicking down its sides from the recent rain. Solar arrays extended from the top like metal fronds, angled to catch as much sun as possible. Antennae bristled from the roof, and a row of glowing blue lights ran along its undercarriage, blinking slowly in sequence. Her gaze narrowed. Military? No. Military-grade tech is built rugged, redundant, and disposable, intended for even the lowest common denominator to be able to drag it 300 miles through some blasted desert or forsaken jungle and still paint a target red with its own blood on the other end. This¡­this is cutting-edge. Advanced. Expensive. Yeah, no way this is just an ¡°invitation¡± for tea¡­ On second thought, Evelyn doesn¡¯t even like tea. She¡¯s a coffee drinker. Marcelo¡¯s voice buzzed through her earpiece. ¡°Uh, Doc? She¡¯s making tea. Pretty sure it¡¯s tea. I saw a kettle in her hand when she came out to check to see if you were coming.¡± Isla exhaled. One slow, hard breath through her nose. ¡°She didn¡¯t come here to chat, Marcelo.¡± Her eyes traced the support struts beneath the mobile base, noting how the hydraulic legs dug into the dirt like insect claws. Self-adjusting terrain stabilizers. She¡¯d only seen them in prototypes. ¡°And since when does Evelyn Hart make her own tea? Something¡¯s up.¡± ¡°I have no idea who she is or what you¡¯re talking about, boss,¡± Marcelo muttered, the distinct clink of ceramic against metal audible through the comm. ¡°She told me to tell you she¡¯s waiting inside. Said you¡¯d be ¡®too stubborn¡¯ to let it cool before you got here, so she¡¯d boil it fresh.¡± Isla¡¯s scowl deepened. That tracks surprisingly well. It¡¯s just like her to plan it down to the minute. It isn¡¯t enough to win¡­ Evelyn makes you realize you¡¯ve lost before the game even starts, and with a show like this¡­ She always has to have the best hand. The metal door to the base hissed open as she approached. White mist curled from the crack like dry ice, cool vapor swirling at her feet as if she were walking into the den of something ancient. The air changed, colder, sterile, carrying the faint tang of ozone and fresh-cooled metal. Her boots thudded softly against the steel-plated ramp as she stepped inside. The lights adjusted, dimming slightly as the door sealed behind her with a hydraulic sound. The quiet that followed was heavier than the rainforest¡¯s natural stillness¡ªan artificial, suffocating quiet born from reinforced walls and soundproofing foam. She wiped a slick line of rain from her cheek, eyes flicking over the room¡¯s interior. Everything was clean, cold, and controlled. Touchscreen monitors lined the far wall, glowing with an insignia she¡¯d never seen before: AEGIS. Modular desks stood in perfect alignment, not a paper out of place. There was no clutter, no personal touches, not even a coffee stain on the steel countertop. And there she was. Dr. Evelyn Hart, in the position of power, standing by the counter, pouring boiling water into a porcelain teacup with slow, deliberate precision. The woman didn¡¯t look up. Her dark brown hair was tied in a sleek, no-nonsense ponytail that hadn¡¯t moved a strand out of place. Her gray eyes stayed fixed on the teacup, her strange, perfectly shaped diamond birthmark on the back of her hand catching the light. Isla knew better than to think her presentation was anything but planned. Evelyn always saw everything ten steps ahead. ¡°Dr. Reyes,¡± Evelyn greeted, voice like the edge of a blade dragged over glass. She set the kettle down with a practiced clink and lifted the cup toward her, steam curling from its surface. ¡°You¡¯re late.¡± ¡°I was busy,¡± Isla replied, stripping off her climbing gloves and tossing them onto a nearby table with a damp smack. She didn¡¯t take the tea. Didn¡¯t even look at it. ¡°Didn¡¯t expect to have to entertain surprise guests¡­or old enemies.¡± Evelyn glanced up, that smile already curling at the edge of her lips. The one Isla hated. It wasn¡¯t a smile, not really. It was a flex of power, a signal that the trap had already been sprung, and you¡¯d just realized you¡¯d walked into it.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°Come now,¡± the brunette said, sipping from the cup, her eyes never leaving Isla¡¯s. ¡°If I¡¯d sent you an invite, you¡¯d have ignored it. Be honest. No¡­you¡¯d run. We both know what you suspect of me, despite¡­all the evidence otherwise.¡± She tilted her head, the light from the monitor screens catching the sharp line of her cheekbones. ¡°So, you see, you left me no choice. This way, you¡¯re not allowed to run.¡± ¡°Funny. I could still walk out that door,¡± Isla replied, jerking a thumb toward the sealed entrance, but her gut felt like a screw was drilling into it. It was the way she held herself, the way she presented herself, from the way she dressed to the cadence in her voice and facial expressions. This woman is a devil in human skin¡­ Perfect. Too perfect. No one saw it at college¡­but a dead woman and me. Evelyn¡¯s gray eyes flicked to the door, then back to her. Her smile didn¡¯t fade. ¡°You could.¡± She took another sip. ¡°But you won¡¯t.¡± She¡¯s right. Damn it. Isla knew herself too well. Knew the game. If she left now, she¡¯d spend every sleepless night wondering what she¡¯d missed. What she¡¯d lost. Because hell and heaven moved for this woman¡­and for her to have come to her. Well, that was something Isla would have bet her life against. ¡°Say your piece, Hart.¡± Isla crossed her arms, her gaze sharp as a hawk¡¯s, noticing the curious golden scarab brooch she wore between her bust. ¡°Why are you here? I know you don¡¯t like to waste time¡ªyour second is worth a man¡¯s entire life.¡± Evelyn set her cup down, fingers tapping once, twice on the counter. Her eyes narrowed just a fraction¡ªcalculating, weighing something. Her following words came slowly, deliberately. ¡°Oh, how right you are. You always knew how to dig at me while making me chuckle. A rare soul. I¡¯m here,¡± Evelyn said softly, ¡°because I need a leader.¡± She gestured toward one of the monitors on the wall, a grainy, underwater image blinking to life. ¡°And because of this.¡± The image resolved. At first, it looked like murky water, gray and clouded. But then something shimmered, a soft glow cutting through the haze. A shape. Small. Silver-blue. ¡°A fish?¡± Isla muttered, squinting at it. ¡°Wait, no¡­ What is it?¡± Moving closer, she studied its weave. The way it moved¡ªit wasn¡¯t sluggish like typical deep-sea species. Its body shimmered with opalescent light as it darted through the water, faster than it should be. Her eyes followed it, caught on how it moved without hesitation, without pause. She knew fish. This wasn¡¯t a fish. ¡°Just a fish,¡± Evelyn said, her voice low, like she was letting Isla in on a secret. She tapped the screen, replaying the footage. ¡°But¡­also something more.¡± A blade shot out of a nearby wall, hidden within, slicing it clean in two and making Isla stiffen. The wound bled a dark ink, swirling in the water for all of three seconds before the flesh knit itself back together and it resumed its course as if nothing happened. No. No, no, no. ¡°Impossible,¡± Isla muttered, stepping closer before she realized what she was doing. Her eyes flicked back to Evelyn, searching for the catch. There was always a catch with her. ¡°This is fake. Stitched footage. I know a post-production trick when I see one.¡± ¡°Do you?¡± Evelyn replied, calm as the eye of a storm. She leaned against the counter, folding her arms. ¡°I thought you were smarter than that, Reyes. Do you really think I would waste my time hunting you down to this remote place¡­not that it was that hard,¡± she added with a tilt of her head and a giggle, ¡°to what¡­ Play a prank?¡± Isla¡¯s fingers twitched. ¡°No¡­you wouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Her eyes locked back onto the screen, replaying the moment again, slower this time. The fish¡¯s body was clearly cut in two, bled, and healed almost immediately. Again and again. New footage came on, cut down the center, burned to ash, boiled. Every time, it came back good as new within seconds. No cuts. No glitches. No seams. Her throat felt dry. She swallowed once, twice. If this is real¡­ Tissue regeneration on this level is¡­impossible¡­revolutionary. It changes everything. How does it get the energy to produce cells like that? Are they new cells or the same? I¡­have to know more. ¡°It¡¯s real,¡± Evelyn softly stated, stepping beside her. Her gaze was fixed on the screen, but Isla knew she was watching her. ¡°I think this goes without saying that I know you will join. You can¡¯t help yourself. You also know that in doing so there will be¡­conditions. Documents to sign. Etcetera, etcetera. Corporate babble. But, in essence, this is only the tip of the iceberg.¡± ¡°You¡¯re joking. That god-fish is the tip of the iceberg? What did you find, some hidden wonder spot in Greenland that recently melted?!¡± ¡°Different project, but I wouldn¡¯t count that possibility out,¡± Evelyn replied with a dismissive smile. ¡°No, not Greenland. Somewhere much¡­further away, you could say. I want you to lead the team in studying and mapping out a new island with wondrous properties.¡± Her eyes flicked to Isla, the trap fully sprung. She¡¯s even better than she was in college. I hate you¡­ ¡°Tell me,¡± Evelyn murmured, tilting her head ever so slightly. ¡°Do you really want to go back to chasing boring algae on cliff faces after seeing this¡­god-fish? We call it the Immortal Fish, by the way¡­and there are more of them.¡± Her breath slowed. Her eyes stayed on the fish. No. She could admit it without a second thought. She didn¡¯t. She couldn¡¯t admit it to the devil herself, and the fiend seemed to catch on because she didn¡¯t wait for an answer. ¡°Good,¡± Evelyn replied, her smile widening as she held out her hand. ¡°Welcome to AEGIS and Site-X0, Dr. Reyes. You¡¯re my first pick, by the way. The others were¡­leftovers. I hope you¡¯re honored because you¡¯ve jumped a line of thousands who are already qualified to take your very important job. It pays to have connections!¡± Damn it. Her hand moved before she could stop it, her fingers closing around a devil¡¯s. ¡°It¡¯s good to be aboard. But just tell me¡­ Did you kill Jill?¡± ¡°Which one?¡± Evelyn asked, returning to her cup of tea with the slightest of smiles playing at the edge of her lips. ¡°I¡¯ve known a few Jills. It¡¯s a fairly common name.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been suspected of murdering multiple Jills?¡± Isla mumbled, a shiver running down her spine. ¡°Killing and murder are such¡­charged words,¡± Evelyn chuckled, a glint appearing in her eyes. ¡°And suspect? No. I dare say your imagination must have gotten the better of you. Jill¡¯s body was never found. Was it? Although, we did attend the funeral. Didn¡¯t we? Life is interesting. Well, no time to waste. Discovery awaits.¡± Chapter 3 Churning waves. Jagged rock. Fog rolling in low sheets, blanketing the sea like a stage being set for an ancient ritual. The storm hangs overhead, gray clouds swirling like ink in water. The helicopter¡¯s hum cuts through the distant roar of crashing waves. A camera pans to reveal it: Site-X0. A rocky outcrop rises from the sea like a crooked monolith, its surface lined with ancient, sharp angles that seem to resist erosion. Dark basalt juts out, uneven and raw, but amidst the chaos of stone, something unnatural calls attention to itself: a triangular aperture set into the rock¡ªa doorway. It isn¡¯t carved. It¡¯s fused. A seamless entry shaped by forces beyond human hands. The aperture pulses faintly with soft, golden light. Glyphs weave along its border like fireflies on parade, each symbol flickering with a rhythm that feels like a heart that¡¯s just woken up. A mist seeps out, curling at the base like dry ice spilled across stone. The entire entrance hums with a faint, harmonic tone that reverberates in Isla¡¯s chest as the helicopter descends. * ¡ª * ¡ª * Isla sat with her elbows on her knees, her eyes locked on the rising structure below as the helicopter tilted into its approach. Her harness dug into her shoulders, rain sliding down the side of the window as the storm raged outside, shaking the vehicle they descended in. The mist obscured part of the outcrop, but her eyes had no trouble finding it. Her focus darted to every detail of the unearthly sight. A triangular gateway in the middle of the Bermuda Triangle? How has no one noticed this on any satellites or any shipping lanes? Her gaze shifted to the calm woman seated beside her, wearing a soft smile. I guess there are such things as secret organizations that play on another level than the public is aware of. And, of course, Evelyn would be a part of that. She returned to her study, spotting the glowing glyphs around the base. It looked like a giant, rocky island that had been excavated to reveal the buried ruins. Her fingers gripped the seat¡¯s edge until her knuckles whitened. Her heart knew it before her brain could catch up. Precursors¡­ Evelyn¡¯s ridiculous thesis that Jill always teased her about. It¡¯s real. Her gaze darted to the brown-haired woman opposite her, casually scrolling through a tablet as if reviewing a grocery list. Not a glance spared for the awe-inspiring site below. Not a single flicker of wonder or unease. ¡°First thoughts?¡± Evelyn asked, not looking up. ¡°Symmetry,¡± Isla muttered, eyes narrowing as she studied the glyphs. ¡°Ancient civilizations aren¡¯t my field of study, but they used a triangular gateway instead of a circular one. Triangles are stronger in nature¡ªstructurally, mathematically¡ªbut it¡¯s not just that. Look at how the symbols move. It¡¯s not random. It¡¯s a recursive loop, like an algorithm running in physical form.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Evelyn swiped her tablet. ¡°And here I thought you¡¯d just say ¡®cool door.¡¯ It seems I was right to select you for the task. But that¡¯s nothing new. Your eyes have gotten sharper with experience.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t patronize me, Hart.¡± A smile tugged at Evelyn¡¯s lips. ¡°I¡¯m not. I was genuinely curious and complimenting you.¡± The helicopter pitched to the side as it prepared for landing. Isla gripped the seat, eyes flicking between the outcrop and the swirling sea below. White spray shot up in plumes every time a wave smashed against the cliff face. Her breath fogged the air in front of her. ¡°This is it, huh? You name them with letters? Site-X0.¡± ¡°Hmm? Oh, well, not exactly. This is the entrance to the site. The Precursors, as I called them, are once again¡­¡± she spun her finger in the air, making Isla roll her eyes. ¡°The tip of the iceberg?¡± ¡°Precisely,¡± Evelyn mused, holding a finger to her scarab brooch with a secretive smirk. ¡°This is my new home for the foreseeable future. So try not to make a mess of it.¡± The helicopter touched down with a lurch, and within seconds, heavily armed men were swarming them. Catching the badges they wore, she saw three stars on their sleek, dark armor as they moved into position around the aircraft. The Amazon site they¡¯d briefly visited only had single stars on theirs. I guess this is a higher tier research site for AEGIS¡­ Her gaze darted from their hybrid of a submachine gun and something far bulkier¡ªsome kind of rifle, though it didn¡¯t look anything like she¡¯d seen¡ªbefore glancing at Evelyn. A man quickly moved to cover her with some kind of light-based umbrella. It didn¡¯t look like she¡¯d get such treatment. What kind of shit have you got me wrapped up in? It¡¯s like I¡¯m stepping into a sci-fi book. One of the soldiers tapped the side of the chopper. ¡°Clear!¡± he barked through his commlink. ¡°After you,¡± Evelyn offered, her grin wider now. ¡°Sure, send the scientist out first,¡± Isla muttered, detaching her harness and rising to her feet. She grabbed her duffel bag, slinging it over her shoulder as the cold air swept in through the open door¡ªit was stronger than she expected. Salty. Damp. Sharp with that electric tang before a lightning strike. Isla wiped the rain from her face, breathing steadily as her boots crunched over slick volcanic stone. Her gaze locked onto the aperture. Her instincts whispered for her to run, a feeling so visceral it gnawed at her gut, but she¡¯d overcome that fear through several ventures into nature¡¯s unexplored regions. This, however, felt slightly different. Her heart thrummed in her chest with each flicker of the glyphs, like her pulse was answering some unseen call. She stopped just shy of the mist, boots grinding on stone. The steady thrum of the rain fell silent in her mind as she studied it.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°You¡¯re hesitating,¡± Evelyn¡¯s voice came from behind her, smooth and sharp as a razor sliding across glass. The older woman¡¯s footsteps echoed softly, heels clicking with unnatural clarity despite the storm. The woman¡¯s expensive coat swayed as she stepped to Isla¡¯s side, her face half-lit by the glow of the glyphs. She adjusted her gloves with practiced care, eyes sharp but patient. Her shouted words bled through the surging waves, assaulting rain, and pulsing runes. ¡°The longer you stare at it, the more power it holds over you¡­ And this is only the beacon that marks the destination on the Ancient Chav¨ªn map in the Amazon temple I showed you on our way here. The real power is deep inside¡ªsomething AEGIS had to unbury since they sealed it up.¡± ¡°Ancient Chav¨ªn map? I don¡¯t follow,¡± Isla muttered, still staring. ¡°Are you saying this is only GPS coordinates? Not some teleportation triangle? And sealed up¡­ It sounds like they were trying to keep something locked away.¡± Her gaze shifted to the flickering symbols woven into the rock. Glyphs like sunbursts, jaguar faces, and fractal patterns twisted into endless loops. Evelyn only tilted her head toward it with a smile that never reached her eyes. ¡°Would you like me to go first, Doctor Reyes? I assure you, it won¡¯t be my first walk through the unknown. I can hold your hand if it makes you feel better,¡± she snickered as the soldiers around her stepped inside without a second thought, sinking into the watery pool as if made of gelatin. Isla clenched her jaw, eyes darting to the damnable woman¡¯s face¡ªher boss now, it seemed. Her fingers flexed at her side, knuckles stiff. ¡°I told you before. Don¡¯t patronize me, Hart.¡± She stepped forward, boots cracking against stone, and faced the swirling liquid-light surface of the gateway. ¡°If this takes me to that Immortal Fish, then I¡¯m not backing down.¡± Her reflection stared back at her. A warped, watery version of herself¡ªher brown curls twisting like ink in water, eyes deeper than they should be, her outline stretching and bending like she was being seen through frosted glass. She lifted a hand. Her reflection moved a split-second too slowly. ¡°...That¡¯s not how reflections work, Evelyn,¡± Isla muttered, curling her fingers to a fist. Her heart jumped once, hard, in her chest. ¡°Okay¡­ No thinking. Just go.¡± Evelyn¡¯s smile widened, but she said nothing as Isla took her first step into the inky pool. Her breath caught as her foot met the ¡°water¡± of the gateway. It wasn¡¯t wet. It wasn¡¯t even cold. It was¡­different. Like stepping onto a trampoline with no resistance, only for it to release her. Her body sank in, eyes wide, arms tense at her sides. Light folded inward. Her limbs blurred, dissolved, and twisted into motes of color. Her senses bent. Sound became distant and hollow. Her heart felt like it was hammering in slow motion. Her ears popped. Her heartbeat echoed in her skull. Air was gone. Not gone. Replaced. Her lungs ached, but she didn¡¯t suffocate. She floated in the space¡ªbetween spaces¡ªfor what felt like hours, minutes, seconds. There was no time here. She emerged with a gasp, her body lurching forward like she¡¯d broken the surface of water. Her boots hit solid stone. Her breath came in sharp gulps. Air. Clean air. Cool air. She stumbled forward, blinking against the amber glow surrounding her. The storm, the waves, the noise of the surface¡ªit was all gone. ¡°Pressure adjustment complete,¡± a monotone male voice echoed from overhead in an odd accent she couldn¡¯t place. ¡°Decompression at 94%. Stabilizing.¡± The air tasted like metal and rain mixed with cold stone. It wasn¡¯t fresh air, but it was breathable. She wiped her face and blinked rapidly, eyes adjusting to the strange glow illuminating the vast chamber¡ªshe wasn¡¯t wet anymore, yet felt slightly like she was. The first thing Isla noticed was the ceiling. She tilted her head back, and her breath hitched. Water. Miles and miles of ocean hung above her like a glass-bottomed lake. It was still and perfect, like gravity had been turned upside down. The faint outline of fish swam above, their shapes blurred as they passed in slow, dreamlike drifts. Her heart skipped a beat. It was beautiful. Horrifying. Impossible. ¡°The Ancient Chav¨ªns apparently called it the Endless Sea,¡± Evelyn softly answered, stepping past her. She glanced up briefly, eyes sharp, unfazed. ¡°Whether it is or not¡­ is left for debate. They abandoned this post and sealed it up. Placed that warning signal at the front gate.¡± Isla turned, taking in the chamber. An inverted step pyramid. Stone walls were somehow translucent, lined with glowing glyphs that lit up as she passed. The aurelian light pulsed, tracking her movements. Each step echoed like she was walking through a cathedral. Above, water. Below, stairs lead deeper into the structure. ¡°Warning¡­ I thought it was a beacon.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t it be both?¡± the insufferable woman smirked, moving past her with a bored gaze. ¡°Try to keep up.¡± ¡°The echoes,¡± Isla muttered, her voice hushed. Her eyes flicked to the jaguar-faced carvings set into the walls. Their eyes, vivid and wide, followed her movements. Her breath slowed. ¡°They¡¯re¡­watching.¡± ¡°The AI always does AI things,¡± Evelyn replied. ¡°Ancient AI that I¡¯ve become rather well acquainted with thanks to a little scarab friend of mine. No need to panic. They can¡¯t kick us out because doing so would break the 450-watt rule.¡± ¡°450-watt rule?¡± she repeated, moving after her. ¡°Who are these people?¡± At the base of the platform, three figures stood waiting for them. Isla¡¯s eyes darted to each of them, quickly assessing. She knew these types of people. Expedition teams always had a type. Ever like herself, Evelyn skipped right past her explanation and introduced each, allowing them to greet her. Kael Moore: Field Engineer. Compact. Wiry. Brown buzz cut, oil-stained gloves, and an unlit cigarette tucked behind his ear. He leaned on a crate of equipment with an uneasy grin. ¡°Yo, Captain Reyes, welcome to the end of the world, or that¡¯s what I¡¯m calling it,¡± he said, flashing a cocky smile. His eyes scanned her like he was already measuring her for a job she didn¡¯t know she had. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I brought the good drills we used to unearth this place¡ªthe best shit¡ªElement 16 shit.¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t know what that even means, idiot,¡± growled a tall, broad-shouldered Samoan woman as she slapped his arm. ¡°Dr. Maeva Moreau, your field medic. Director Evelyn told me that you¡¯re the woman to talk to about marine biology.¡± ¡°That¡¯s me, among several other fields I¡¯ve studied in,¡± Isla returned. ¡°Surely you have more skills than just being a ¡®field medic¡¯ on this expedition,¡± she challenged with a narrowed eye. Maeva¡¯s lips curved. ¡°Guilty as charged. My main fields of study are human anatomy and plant biology¡ªtwo PhDs to prove it, one in Comparative Human Biology and the other in Plant Biochemistry and Pharmacognosy. I¡¯m also a licensed medical doctor, which means when someone inevitably gets impaled on a ¡°mysterious spike,¡± I¡¯ll be the one pulling it out. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to sink my teeth into what mysteries await us beyond these walls. Oh, and this is Hollow¡ªwell, his real name is James Holloway, but we just use Hollow¡ªhe¡¯s the theoretical physicist, specializing in unnatural energy fields among a few other things.¡± ¡°Should I ask why?¡± Isla asked with a strained smile, not accustomed to working with larger groups since they rarely kept up with her. ¡°It¡¯s not just because of his last name, right?¡± Lanky, pale, and wearing glasses, he glanced up from his notepad, raising one brow like he¡¯d been watching them the whole time. ¡°What? No, of course, it¡¯s because it¡¯s my last name. Not like the hole in my stomach means anything. And you¡¯re late! Ugh. Guess I owe Kael twenty bucks.¡± Isla raised an unimpressed brow while staring at his covered belly, not sure if he was stating a fact or trying to haze the new girl. ¡°If I¡¯d known there was a pool, I¡¯d have placed my own bet.¡± Kael snorted, tossing her a grin. ¡°Too late, Doc. She¡¯s alright.¡± Chapter Four The soft clink of Isla¡¯s boot against the smooth stone step echoed through the chamber, each sound swallowed by the vastness of the Endless Sea¡¯s core. Her fingers brushed against the wall as they ascended, the lilac-glowing veins of stone pulsing faintly beneath her fingertips. The glow flickered, responding to her presence like a cat¡¯s half-lidded gaze¡ªaware but uninterested¡­lethargic. Too quiet. Her eyes darted up the spiral ascent ahead, her gaze catching on the backs of Evelyn, Kael, Maeva, and Hollow as they moved up the narrow stairwell. The sound of boots, the Site Administrator¡¯s heels scuffing on stone, and faint, steady breaths were the only signs of life. No ambient hum of generators. No quiet conversations from other personnel. No distant rattle of machinery. Her footfalls slowed for a moment. She twisted, glancing back down the long drop to the abyss below. The central pillar rose like an obsidian spear, unnervingly smooth and vanishing into the dark, bottomless void. No seabed. No other landmass. Just blackness. The perfect abyss, with a singular, unyielding spike of rock piercing the still, endless sea to support them. Her throat tightened. If that breaks¡­this whole facility will fall into the abyss. Have they even tested how far it goes? Probably not¡­which is why we¡¯re here. How is it so smooth and clean if they only just unearthed it after thousands of years? It has to end, though. Everything has an ending¡­or should have an ending. ¡°Don¡¯t fall behind,¡± Evelyn called over her shoulder, her words sharp but without bite. She hadn¡¯t even looked back, of course. Just knew she was lagging. She always knows everything. Damn witch¡­ Maybe she is with everything she¡¯s shown me. Isla¡¯s gaze lingered on the black void below for one more second before she resumed the climb. Her hands flexed at her sides, a habit of calming her nerves. She knew better than to let her imagination linger in places like this. She¡¯d learned that lesson on deep-sea expeditions¡ªwhen the pressure of the ocean wasn¡¯t the only thing pressing on your mind. There were other pressures. Older ones. Quieter ones that refused to stay in the darkness. Her eyes flicked to Evelyn¡¯s back, the clean, immaculate lines of her long coat swaying as she ascended. You feel it, too. I know you do¡­ You¡¯re nervous. You¡¯re just better at faking it. ¡°Sure is¡­empty,¡± Hollow muttered from somewhere near the middle of the group. He sounded distant, as if his voice had to push through molasses to reach her. His fingers drummed nervously on the smooth stone rail, or at least it felt like stone. ¡°This whole place feels wrong. Like we¡¯re sneaking in after hours.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t remind me,¡± Kael replied, his voice light with forced humor. ¡°Half-expecting to see some poor bastard janitor show up with a mop and scream ¡®What are you doing here?¡¯ like it¡¯s a horror flick and he¡¯s the last guardian.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Maeva snorted, her heavy footfalls thudding with solid authority. ¡°Except in horror flicks, the janitor¡¯s the first to die.¡± ¡°See, that right there is why you never stay late at work,¡± Kael shot back, tapping the back of Hollow¡¯s vest. ¡°First rule of survival, buddy. Don¡¯t be the last one on-site after hours. Ain¡¯t nobody making it out of a locked secret facility of monsters at 3 a.m.¡±The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Tell me about it,¡± Hollow grunted. ¡°Bet it¡¯s why we got no one here now. Whole team got scared and bailed. Packed their bags and left. Can¡¯t blame ¡®em.¡± ¡°Or,¡± Isla muttered, her voice low, ¡°they didn¡¯t leave willingly.¡± The group fell silent at that. Their footsteps echoed louder than before, each thud feeling like a countdown. Her words only got a sly, half-turned smirk from the organizer of this horror-inducing expedition party. Hollow cleared his throat, a little too loud. ¡°Budget cuts. Right, boss? Yeah. It¡¯s gotta be budget cuts.¡± Sure, Hollow. Budget cuts. That¡¯s definitely why this whole mythical place feels like a graveyard. Isla¡¯s lips pressed into a hard, thin line. Budget cuts don¡¯t leave chairs half-pushed out from tables. Budget cuts don¡¯t leave empty lockers with personal gear still inside, she noted, glancing into rooms as they entered a hallway. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it, Dr. Reyes,¡± Evelyn called back, her voice smooth as oil on sheets of steel. She didn¡¯t turn around. Her fingers traced one of the glowing veins, her nails softly tapping the stone. ¡°I¡¯m currently hiring replacements. You¡¯ll have more company than you¡¯ll want in a few weeks¡­ If you make it back.¡± ¡° ¡®If¡¯ being the key word there, huh? And hiring,¡± Isla¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°That¡¯s one way to phrase it, I suppose.¡± ¡°An honest way,¡± Evelyn countered, pausing briefly at a junction to let the others catch up. Her eyes flicked over Isla like she was inspecting a product she¡¯d bought off the shelf. ¡°Sometimes, to grow, you must cut away dead branches and examine them to see how they failed before grafting on new¡­more sturdy specimens. Our previous staff were¡­incompatible with the site¡¯s needs, it seems. I¡¯m still puzzling over that tongue twister.¡± AKA, some shit went down, and you don¡¯t want to talk about it. Hollow leaned toward Kael and muttered, ¡°Bet that means dead.¡± Kael snorted. Maeva shot them both a warning look at their snickers. I guess you have to joke to stay sane. ¡°Incompatible, huh?¡± Isla¡¯s eyes lingered on Evelyn¡¯s cold, unreadable face. ¡°That word comes with a lot of sharp edges¡­like ¡®killing¡¯ and ¡®murder,¡¯ wouldn¡¯t you say?¡± Evelyn didn¡¯t deny it, her smile razor-thin. ¡°You¡¯ll find, Doctor, that in places like these, people either rise to the challenge or¡­don¡¯t. Strange things can happen when exploring a new world¡­ Difficult decisions have to be made at times. Can you do that?¡± Her eyes held Isla¡¯s for a moment longer than necessary. Not a stare. Not a glare. Just a silent, cold reminder of something they both knew. There are no heroes here, is that what you¡¯re saying? Can I make the hard call when it¡¯s two impossible choices? What are you getting at, Evelyn? Is this about Jill back in college? It¡¯s hard to read you, but I know one thing¡ªthere¡¯s something bigger here than you¡¯re telling us. If you¡¯re willing to play the devil to keep it buried, then it¡¯s worse than you¡¯re letting on. The challenge sent a familiar prickle of defiance through Isla¡¯s chest. She knew Eve was getting under her skin¡ªand Eve knew it too. But after seeing that immortal fish, there was no backing down now. No chance in hell. ¡°Are you questioning your own decision to put me in charge?¡± Isla returned with a sharp grin, voice cutting like a scalpel. ¡°Didn¡¯t think you were the type to second-guess yourself.¡± Evelyn¡¯s eyes gleamed, gray clouds swirling with answers she wouldn¡¯t give. ¡°Me? Never,¡± she said with a soft, dangerous lilt. ¡°Just making sure you aren¡¯t.¡± I thought so. You¡¯re not going to give us everything. And if you¡¯re hiding the worst of it¡ªwhen you¡¯ve already shown us this much¡ªthen it¡¯s worse than anything we¡¯ve imagined. I¡¯m not about to close my eyes to it. Maybe curiosity does kill the cat¡­ But I know where to push and when to cut my losses. I¡¯ll take that bet, Eve¡­ And win. Which is just what you want. Dammit. Chapter Five The old stone stairwell curved into a polished, steel-plated corridor, the shift so sudden it might as well have been a page turn in a book. They¡¯d reached sea level. A metallic hum buzzed softly in the background now¡ªa subtle, continuous thrum that spoke of wires, machines, and power. Not stone. Not lilac-glowing veins. Man-made. Controlled. The modern facility opened up like the gut of a metal whale, its segmented walls lined with honeycomb-shaped glass panes that filtered soft, amber light into the room. Each pane framed the outside world like a moving diorama. Isla stopped at the edge of the hall, eyes narrowing as she gazed out at the water beyond the glass. Her breath slowed. She stood at the edge of the world. The ocean was endless. A boundless expanse of still, blue-black water. She couldn¡¯t see the sun, but it was bright somehow¡ªenough to give everything that strange underwater glow. From her vantage point, she could see the lower tiers of the site, the sloping, ancient geometry blending into the modern metal outposts AEGIS had bolted onto it like barnacles on a ship. Below it all was the heart of the abyss. No land. No seabed. Just the slow, smooth descent of a single, obsidian-black pillar of stone driving down into the dark. It pulled at her. Like gravity. And after further study of the rock as they circled around it, she realized something critical. It¡¯s not like any pillar or material I¡¯ve seen¡­ Not rock, not metal, but¡­something else. It¡¯s different than the ancient translucent stone, like the Precursors tacked their facility onto it just like we¡¯ve done to theirs. Whatever this is¡­ It¡¯s perfect¡­ Smoother than the most polished glass or the finest silk. Her gut turned cold as she felt the gentle vibes pulsing from it¡ªdrawing, lulling her to remain attached. Suddenly, Evelyn¡¯s voice floated through the void, snapping her back to reality. ¡°You like it?¡± Her hand pressed against it next to hers, the others doing the same. Yet, Evelyn¡¯s gray eyes were solely directed at her. ¡°They say you never forget your first view of the Endless Sea. At least, the ancient poets in China spoke of such a place they saw in dreams¡­ Coincidence? Hmm. Who can say?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Isla replied, eyes locked on the black spike as she felt her whole body vibrating with it. ¡°First view of what? No. This¡ªwhat is this thing?¡± ¡°The Foundation.¡± Evelyn¡¯s eyes flicked to it, her fingers spreading out. ¡°Like a spine sending pulses of life deep into the void, it stands as a testament against whatever darkness lurks below¡­or, it is a nicely honeyed trap to lure in unsuspecting insects,¡± she mused, causing shivers to run down all of their spines.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Isla had played her creepy word games long before her introduction to this organization, though. ¡°Spines support things, Evelyn,¡± Isla muttered, her eyes tracing its descent into darkness from the glass platform that surrounded it, providing a clear view to the top as it climbed at least a hundred meters above the current base design. ¡°What¡¯s it holding up?¡± ¡°Us,¡± Evelyn gently replied, stepping past her. ¡°Now isn¡¯t that poetic? Come along, Doctor Reyes. The others are getting antsy.¡± Isla¡¯s gaze lingered on the abyss a moment longer. Then she turned. Her boots clicked softly against the metal floor as she entered the hallway, eyes scanning the modern lab¡¯s layout. Her brow furrowed as she scanned the empty corridors. The reinforced walls bore a modular design¡ªhexagonal paneling, recessed lighting, and reinforced bulkheads. Each section had a clearly visible identifier stenciled in blocky white letters. R&D-WING 3. BIO-RESEARCH HALL-8. Overhead lights dimmed with low power, connected to a solar grid and batteries that seemed to be connected individually rather than in groups. Curious, solar devices, but no sun? I guess if this place is new, they¡¯re still working out the details. Her sharp eyes darted to the carefully bundled wires. The wattage was clearly being rationed and segregated from each other, no system louder than a whisper. She caught sight of a boat beyond the glass walls to the outside upon entering the outer circle. It was moored to a small, metallic dock suspended on the water¡¯s surface¡ªa sleek, semi-enclosed vessel with black alloy plates and an array of solar panels along its roof. Compact. Fast. No doubt equipped with submersible capacity with everything she¡¯d seen so far from AEGIS¡¯ funding. Beautiful thing. Expensive too. ¡°Like it?¡± Evelyn smiled faintly, following her gaze. ¡°We call it Dark Chaser. Custom-built for stealth entry. Can submerge if needed, but fast enough to outrun most things, I¡¯m told.¡± ¡°Most things¡ªwhat things? All you¡¯ve shown me is an Immortal Fish.¡± Isla raised a brow. ¡°Tsk-tsk,¡± Evelyn sighed, vision shifting to the others as curiosity spiked in their gaze. She shifted her focus to the distant waterline, her face turning just a fraction colder. ¡°Try not to spoil or divulge any secrets we discuss in private, Isla. Just know that it is best to be vigilant and watchful when beyond these mostly safe walls.¡± She turned to the team, her smile sliding back into place. ¡°The rest of you¡ªboat duty. Get it running while I talk with my dear old friend. You leave in thirty.¡± Kael gave a lazy salute. ¡°Well, sea monsters sound interesting to me. Aye, aye, Captain Hart.¡± Evelyn arched a brow, gray eyes narrowing. ¡°Do you see a captain¡¯s hat on my head, Mr. Moore?¡± ¡°Not yet, Director.¡± He winked and walked off. ¡°Catch you soon, Captain Isla. We¡¯ll get the ship ready. I hear you¡¯re a Marine Biologist of some kind. Can¡¯t wait to hear what you have to say about whatever we find out there.¡± Evelyn exhaled, rolling her eyes but Isla gave him a silent stare, watching the others go. Is he saying he expects me to die soon and Evelyn will need to take my spot? Things are getting weirder by the minute.