Chapter 26 Save Point
Save Point
The room Jasper found was a small storage closet tucked away behind what looked like a false wall on the third floor. Unlike the rest of the sanitarium, it felt forgotten—no automated humming in the walls, no shifting architecture, just four concrete walls and blessed silence.
Finally. Levi’s shoulders sagged with relief as the oppressive weight of the structure’s attention seemed to lift.
It was stocked with basic supplies at some point: cases of bottled water, energy bars, and basic first aid materials. A single bare bulb provided steady light, fed by wiring that seemed separate from the main electrical system.
This feels real, Levi thought, touching one of the water cases. Not like another trap.
“This is it,” Jasper said, sealing the hidden door behind them. “We haven’t heard a single automated sound since I found it.”
“How long have you been separated from the group?” Levi asked.
“Since the place sealed itself,” Maddie said, settling onto a crate with obvious relief. “It feels like forever, but probably only a few hours.”
How is she so calm? Levi wondered, studying her face for signs of the terror he felt constantly gnawing at his chest. Does she not understand what’s happening, or is she just better at handling it than I am?
“Water first,” she said, tossing bottles to Asher and Levi. “Then we figure out what the hell is happening here.”
Asher accepted the water while remaining near the door, his posture alert despite the apparent safety. Blood had dried on his face from Levi’s punch, giving him a feral appearance.
He still looks pleased with himself, Levi noted, watching Asher’s subtle expression. Like getting punched was a fucking reward.
Levi drank gratefully, the cool water washing away the taste of fear and adrenaline.
“What happened to you two?” he asked. “After the place sealed itself?”
“We got separated from Zoe almost immediately,” Jasper explained, pulling out what looked like energy bars from his pocket. “The walls started moving, passages rearranging themselves. Zoe went down one way, we went down another, and when we tried to follow her...”
“The passage is gone,” Maddie finished. “Like it had never existed.”
“We’ve been mapping the changes,” Jasper continued, settling cross-legged on the floor. “This place is moving around us. Nothing stays the same for long.”
“How did you end up in our area?” Levi asked.
“Following the screaming,” Maddie said matter-of-factly. “We heard someone in distress.”
“We found Zoe first,” Jasper’s voice grew quieter. “Or what was left of her. She triggered some kind of trap—metal spikes from the ceiling.”
Levi’s chest tightened. Another death, another failure to protect someone. I should have insisted we stay together. Should have known the structure would try to separate us.
“I’m sorry,” he said, the words feeling inadequate.
“Not your fault, man,” Jasper said gently. “This place is designed to kill people. We’re just trying not to be next.”
Isn’t it my fault, though? Levi thought bitterly. I’m the one who knows what’s happening. I’m the one who could have warned them.
“What about Tyler and Owen?” Levi asked. “Have you seen them?”
Maddie and Jasper exchanged a look. “No visual contact,” Jasper said. “But I heard Tyler screaming earlier. Somewhere deeper in the structure.”
“Screaming how?” Asher asked.
“Like he was being hurt,” Jasper replied. “Not just scared—hurt. It went on for a while, then stopped.”
Tyler’s probably dead, too. That left only the five of them, assuming Owen was even still alive.
We’re dropping like flies. At this rate, it’ll just be me and Asher left. Which is exactly what he wants.
“We need to find a way out,” Levi said, trying to focus on actionable goals rather than mounting casualties.
“Agreed,” Maddie said. “First, let’s figure out what we’re dealing with.”
Jasper scooted closer to Levi, pulling out a piece of debris that could serve as makeshift chalk. “You want to map what we’ve seen? Compare it to the original layout?”
“Good idea.” Levi moved to sit beside him on the concrete floor. “I have something that might help.”
He pulled Dr. Faine’s journal from his jacket pocket, the leather binding worn smooth from repeated handling. The pages fell open to the schematics and research notes.
Jasper reached for the journal. “Can I take a look? I might be able to correlate his designs with what we’ve actually seen.”
Asher moved closer. “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
“Hey, no worries, man,” Jasper said, hands raised. “I’m not trying to step on anyone’s toes here.” He glanced between Asher and Levi, taking in the way Asher positioned himself near Levi, the obvious signs of recent conflict between them.
“Look,” Jasper began, “I can see there’s some tension here. Maybe you two have been through some intense shit together, maybe there’s something developing. I’m not here to break up whatever dynamic you’ve got going.”
Oh God. Levi felt heat flood his face. Jasper thought they were... involved. If only you knew. If only any of you knew what he’s really like.
“I’m super duper straight,” Jasper added with his characteristic easy smile. “And if I was going to stress-fuck anyone in this nightmare scenario, it’d probably be Maddie.”
“I mean, I wouldn’t say no,” Maddie replied with a shrug. “Apocalypse rules and all that.”
The casual acceptance of their supposed relationship made Levi’s stomach churn.
They think we’re a couple. They think what we have is normal. Romantic.
“Thank you for understanding,” Asher said with deceptive mildness, looking pleased with Jasper’s interpretation. “Levi and I have been through a lot together.”
He’s rewriting history, making it sound like we’re partners instead of predator and prey.
“I totally get it,” Jasper said. “Survival situations can intensify feelings, but we should still pool our knowledge if we want to get out of here alive.”
He gestured to the journal in Levi’s hands. “Those schematics could be the key to understanding how this place works.”
Levi looked at Asher, who was still wearing that pleased expression. The possessive contentment in his eyes was clear—he liked being seen as Levi’s... what? Partner? Boyfriend? The very idea made Levi sick.
But I need their help, he reminded himself. I can’t blow everything up right now, no matter how fucked up this is.
“Here,” Levi said, opening the journal to the plans. “These are the original schematics, plus Dr. Faine’s modifications.”
Jasper leaned closer, studying the diagrams and began sketching on the concrete floor, mapping out the areas they explored and comparing them to Faine’s designs. “The passages we went through don’t match the original blueprints at all. They match these modified plans.”
Maddie moved closer to look at their work. “So this doctor guy redesigned the whole place?”
“Not redesigned,” Levi said, studying Faine’s notes. “Enhanced. He turned it into a giant containment system.”
“Containment for what?” she asked.
Levi met her eyes, seeing his own growing horror reflected there. “For people like us.”
We’re lab rats. All of us. Just lab rats in Dr. Faine’s maze.
“Well,” Maddie said after a moment, “that’s fucking terrifying.”
“Now we know what we’re dealing with,” Jasper added, still sketching. “And knowledge is power, right?”
Asher moved to stand behind Levi, observing his and Jasper’s work together.
He’s enjoying this. The way Jasper interpreted our relationship, the way everyone just accepted it. He likes having that cover.
For now, they had work to do. The journal held secrets about the structure’s true nature, and maybe—just maybe—clues about how to escape Dr. Faine’s automated nightmare.