The guard barely glanced at my badge before waving me through the final gate.

Good luck!

I nodded and stepped into the tunnel.

I'm sure what I'd see on the other side.

I'd already been through five checkpoints, but nobody told me what to expect.

My questions were met with blank stairs, or worse, looks of pity.

The boss's instructions were clear. Find the machine, ensure it was working, and fix any minor issues.

What do I do if it's not working? I asked.

His eyes darkened, and he looked away.

Make sure it is. My footsteps echoed on the cold limestone as I walked towards the light in the distance.

The tunnel widened, and I stepped into an endless wheat field. The stalks stretched far and wide

over rolling hills, only interrupted by the

derelict house about 50 meters from the tunnel entrance. Even though I entered the tunnel at noon,

the sun was low in the sky, almost sinking beneath the earth. It lit the wheat with an orange

glow like a sea of fire. I paused for a moment to take it in.

The air was clean and fresh, and the only sound was the gentle sway of the stalks.

It was beautiful, but there was something off about the stillness.

There were no birds in the sky, no insects buzzing around, and the house loomed ahead like a big black spot.

It sat there as if waiting for something with bated breath, as if waiting for me.

Curtains covered every window of the two-story farmhouse, hiding whatever was inside.

The porch steps creaked under my weight as I knocked on the door.

I wasn't really expecting a response,

...