We examined the markings carefully, searching for any path that might lead us inside the facility—but there was nothing. No entrance. No hidden door. Just ancient stone and silence.
"Move a little," Ali said suddenly.
As he shifted his foot, it struck something solid. A small section of the mountain crumbled beneath him. He lost his balance, slipping toward the edge—but Clara reacted instantly. With sharp reflexes, she grabbed his arm and pulled him back.
At that very moment, the mountain stirred.
The sound of rocks grinding against each other echoed through the air, deep and unsettling. Our attention snapped downward. A section of stone had shifted, revealing a dark opening beneath.
Siya's eyes lit up.
"We found it," she said, a hint of grim satisfaction in her voice. "Well done, Ali. Let's go down."
Andy exhaled slowly. "Who would have thought… that such cruel acts could be committed in a place considered sacred?"
Siya answered without looking back.
"Andy, the brutality of humans was mixed with the violent minds of demons."
Stone steps descended into darkness. We moved carefully, one step at a time.
As soon as we entered, the silence of the facility struck us—sharp and suffocating, as though it pierced straight through the soul. It felt as if the walls themselves were echoing the screams of thousands of innocents.
Clara whispered, "Siya… this silence is wrong. Even breathing feels heavy here."
Siya nodded.
"Many innocent lives took their final breaths here. This heaviness… it's inevitable."
We moved forward.
Then Siya stopped.
The faint sound of chains rattling reached her ears.
For a moment, she stood frozen, as if time itself had halted. Ali shook her gently, pulling her back to the present.
"What happened?" he asked. "Did you feel something?"
Siya swallowed hard.
"Ali… there. That place… it's from my dreams."
Seeing her hesitation, Ali steadied her.
"Boss, we're here with you. What did you see in your dream?"
In a low voice, Siya replied,
"That dark room… those chains… they're here. I feel an unease I can't explain. It's as if someone is there… watching me."
Ali took a deep breath.
"Let's go, Boss. We won't know anything until we see it."
Slowly, we moved toward the room.
With every step closer, the cold intensified, seeping into our bones. Clara placed one hand over her other, her stance shifting—ready for danger.
Ali pushed the door open and stepped inside.
At that instant, a sharp sob echoed directly into Siya's ears. Then came a whisper—so faint that only she could hear it.
"Come… open me."
Siya raised her hand, stopping everyone.
"You all stay here," she said firmly. "I'll go ahead."
Ali grabbed her wrist.
"No. Absolutely not. We're coming with you."
Siya gently removed his hand and reassured him with a calm glance.
"I'm here. Nothing will happen."
She stepped forward.
Chains hung from the walls. Nearby were metal canisters filled with chemicals, each stamped with the name Herbal Industries. Siya followed the sound of the sobs deeper into the darkness.
The shadows seemed to warn her—to pull her back. But she continued.
Then she saw it.
A shadowy figure.
A black silhouette with blood-filled eyes. Its body was covered in dust and dirt, as if it hadn't left this place for thousands of years—bound by chains, imprisoned in time.
A voice followed. Soft. Mocking.
Then laughter.
"Siya… hahahaha… where is he? You didn't bring him with you?"
Siya stepped closer. His face was still hidden by darkness.
"Who are you?" she demanded.
The figure chuckled.
"Don't you recognize me, Siya? Look carefully."
She moved closer, about to see his face—
Suddenly, he grabbed her hand.
With a loud, twisted laugh, he pulled her toward him.
"Get me out, Siya! Look at me—I'm here! Open these chains! Free me!"
Siya tore her hand away violently. Grabbing his hair, she forced his face into the light.
The moment she saw him, she staggered back two steps.
"No…" she whispered in disbelief.
"Who are you? You impostor! Why have you taken his form?"
Her scream echoed through the chamber.
Ali, Andy, and Clara rushed in.
By the time they reached her, Siya was attacking the man mercilessly, rage consuming her. Ali grabbed her from behind, pulling her away.
They all stared at the man's face.
Ali's voice trembled.
"Siya… this… this is impossible. He was—"
Siya cut him off.
"He's an impostor. He isn't showing his real face."
The man laughed again—louder this time.
"I'm not the impostor," he said.
"The one who walked beside you… he was the impostor."
His laughter shook the room.
The chains rattled violently. The darkness seemed to awaken, crawling along the walls, feeding on fear.
And in that moment, they realized—
The truth they were chasing was far more dangerous than they had imagined.
Because sometimes…
the enemy doesn't come from outside.
Sometimes…
it walks beside you.