Ground Zero
ONE
The world was ones oyster to explore and experience; to push limits and barriers, to try new things, to rebel. Bethany was encouraged by her older brothers to go on an adventure. She was too scared to, but after they were reported MIA she decided to listen. That’s how she found herself where she was.
"Daxel I don't like this." Bethany leaned into her boyfriend. She tugged on his arm to slow him down. She didn't want the others to hear her. "Look at this place." The building looked decrepit, but every few feet there were high-tech cameras. The windows and doors were barred and sealed. Bethany glanced around like an alarm would go off at any second just by being near the building. "What could they be keeping here?"
"Beth baby, you can do this." He slowed to a stop. "I want you to be a part of what I do. Imagine what we could do together." He pulled her closer and looked into her eyes. "I want you here with me."
Bethany couldn't help but melt a little. "I want to be here with you." Her eyes scanned the surroundings. "But isn't this a little much for my first time?" She didn't want to seem scared, but she was. The place was twisting her stomach up into knots.
"Once you’re in, you’re in. I put in a good word for you, so…” Daxel flailed his arms about not sure what to say. “But I agree this is a little much for your first time. I didn’t think they would say yes, but they must see the potential in you that I see." Bethany smiled with adoration in her eyes. Daxel slowly lead herto the others.
Bethany only knew the others by Daxel’s stories. Roseann and Agacia were the only girls of the group and they both had major attitude. Their constant glaring and nonstop scoffing was a slight indicator that they weren't thrilled that Bethany was there. Brendon and Mickey were the nice ones; they were more neutral and level headed with their decision making. A wave, a welcome, a small smile but after that they pretty much ignored her to focus on the task at hand. Josh was openly friendly and was the only one that didn't seem bothered by Bethany; he actually seemed excited to have another member.
"Hey Daxel, Bethany hurry along our guide will be here soon." Evan beckoned them towards the back doors. Evan was the self-appointed leader of the group. They all followed him blindly. Bethany couldn't help but think of lambs to the slaughter. Cruel but true.
They waited with the rest, Bethany staying quiet while everyone else talked about future plans. Daxel held her tight eagerly nodding to something that was to happen sometime in fall.
Bethany wanted to be the best girlfriend possible. It was her chance to shine, but she wasn’t sure if she wanted to be a part that. Maybe it was the fact that her first outing was in some creepy deserted facility or that she wasn’t into causing trouble, but she wanted to leave. They weren't even inside and all Bethany wanted to do was walk away and never look back.
After sometime the door opened and a beam of light fell on them. Behind it was an older looking man in a suit with Security written on it. His eyes were blocked by his glasses. His mouth was held in a firm line.
"This is the first door. From here you've got thirty minutes before the authorities are notified and 10 before they arrive." The man held the door and beckoned them in. As Evan passed by he was handed two small duffel bags. "Everything you need are in these. Don’t worry about making a lot of noise; I’m the only guard tonight." The door slammed behind Bethany, making her jump. "You have three more doors to the main chamber then one more door to the A Room. Good luck."
"Back at you, Mason." Mason gave a creepy smile and a curt nod and was out the doors. Bethany watched as he disappeared into the evening darkness. Just beyond the perimeter of the building, lights from Copper Knob illuminated the sky.
The tacky tan walls and scuffed up floors at the entrance quickly turned to stark white walls with polished floors. The air turned more chemically sterile and the lighting became more luminescent. The security clearance quickly changed. Instead of a card swipe and a five digit code it became a finger print scan and an eye scan. Whatever the Mason had given Evan in the bags, got them through every point without a hitch.
Bethany wasn't sure if the others noticed or if they hadn't but every once in a while she would see some bio hazard symbols. Some had maps next them, while others had safety equipment underneath it with In Case of Emergency Pull Lever written on the wall next to it.
She gripped Daxel tighter, her nails digging slightly into his arm. Bethany wanted to be more involved, but it was a little much. Going to jail for trespassing was one thing, but getting horribly sick was another thing.
"Beth baby,” Daxel grunted moving his arm slightly. He leaned his head against hers, trying to sooth her. "Just relax. Nothing bad will happen." She relaxed her grip and smiled sheepishly and let go. Daxel kissed her cheek. “Thanks, baby.”
As they arrived at the last door Bethany saw Evan shoot Daxel a look. Bethany guessed PDA was frowned upon. Beyond the door was the main chamber. Seven doors each labeled with a letter stood waiting. Right in the center was door A.
"Daxel I don't like this." Bethany leaned into her boyfriend. She tugged on his arm to slow him down. She didn't want the others to hear her. "Look at this place." The building looked decrepit, but every few feet there were high-tech cameras. The windows and doors were barred and sealed. Bethany glanced around like an alarm would go off at any second just by being near the building. "What could they be keeping here?"
"Beth baby, you can do this." He slowed to a stop. "I want you to be a part of what I do. Imagine what we could do together." He pulled her closer and looked into her eyes. "I want you here with me."
Bethany couldn't help but melt a little. "I want to be here with you." Her eyes scanned the surroundings. "But isn't this a little much for my first time?" She didn't want to seem scared, but she was. The place was twisting her stomach up into knots.
"Once you’re in, you’re in. I put in a good word for you, so…” Daxel flailed his arms about not sure what to say. “But I agree this is a little much for your first time. I didn’t think they would say yes, but they must see the potential in you that I see." Bethany smiled with adoration in her eyes. Daxel slowly lead herto the others.
Bethany only knew the others by Daxel’s stories. Roseann and Agacia were the only girls of the group and they both had major attitude. Their constant glaring and nonstop scoffing was a slight indicator that they weren't thrilled that Bethany was there. Brendon and Mickey were the nice ones; they were more neutral and level headed with their decision making. A wave, a welcome, a small smile but after that they pretty much ignored her to focus on the task at hand. Josh was openly friendly and was the only one that didn't seem bothered by Bethany; he actually seemed excited to have another member.
"Hey Daxel, Bethany hurry along our guide will be here soon." Evan beckoned them towards the back doors. Evan was the self-appointed leader of the group. They all followed him blindly. Bethany couldn't help but think of lambs to the slaughter. Cruel but true.
They waited with the rest, Bethany staying quiet while everyone else talked about future plans. Daxel held her tight eagerly nodding to something that was to happen sometime in fall.
Bethany wanted to be the best girlfriend possible. It was her chance to shine, but she wasn’t sure if she wanted to be a part that. Maybe it was the fact that her first outing was in some creepy deserted facility or that she wasn’t into causing trouble, but she wanted to leave. They weren't even inside and all Bethany wanted to do was walk away and never look back.
After sometime the door opened and a beam of light fell on them. Behind it was an older looking man in a suit with Security written on it. His eyes were blocked by his glasses. His mouth was held in a firm line.
"This is the first door. From here you've got thirty minutes before the authorities are notified and 10 before they arrive." The man held the door and beckoned them in. As Evan passed by he was handed two small duffel bags. "Everything you need are in these. Don’t worry about making a lot of noise; I’m the only guard tonight." The door slammed behind Bethany, making her jump. "You have three more doors to the main chamber then one more door to the A Room. Good luck."
"Back at you, Mason." Mason gave a creepy smile and a curt nod and was out the doors. Bethany watched as he disappeared into the evening darkness. Just beyond the perimeter of the building, lights from Copper Knob illuminated the sky.
The tacky tan walls and scuffed up floors at the entrance quickly turned to stark white walls with polished floors. The air turned more chemically sterile and the lighting became more luminescent. The security clearance quickly changed. Instead of a card swipe and a five digit code it became a finger print scan and an eye scan. Whatever the Mason had given Evan in the bags, got them through every point without a hitch.
Bethany wasn't sure if the others noticed or if they hadn't but every once in a while she would see some bio hazard symbols. Some had maps next them, while others had safety equipment underneath it with In Case of Emergency Pull Lever written on the wall next to it.
She gripped Daxel tighter, her nails digging slightly into his arm. Bethany wanted to be more involved, but it was a little much. Going to jail for trespassing was one thing, but getting horribly sick was another thing.
"Beth baby,” Daxel grunted moving his arm slightly. He leaned his head against hers, trying to sooth her. "Just relax. Nothing bad will happen." She relaxed her grip and smiled sheepishly and let go. Daxel kissed her cheek. “Thanks, baby.”
As they arrived at the last door Bethany saw Evan shoot Daxel a look. Bethany guessed PDA was frowned upon. Beyond the door was the main chamber. Seven doors each labeled with a letter stood waiting. Right in the center was door A.