CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE — SOUTH HATCH
The corridor narrowed as they moved, the air growing warmer and dustier.
Every footstep echoed like they were walking deeper into a throat.
Yoshi checked the map again, tapping the laminated corner.
“South Surface Hatch should be… ten meters ahead. Unless the map is a lying piece of—”
Corpse.Bride shushed him violently.
“Do NOT jinx this. Not now.”
The group kept walking.
The speaker-cat suddenly made a tiny “brrrp” sound and trotted ahead confidently, tail up like it owned the entire bunker.
Mewo whispered, “This cat’s got more bravery than all of us combined.”
Cornball shrugged.
“Well yeah. It’s got a speaker that yells demonic warnings. I’d feel unstoppable too.”
The Hatch Door
They turned the final corner.
And there it was.
A thick metal hatch door labeled in faded red paint:
SURFACE ACCESS — SOUTH
A wheel-lock was built into the center. Dust coated everything.
Toady approached first.
“No claw marks. No dents. No… anything weird.”
Norther exhaled in relief.
“So it’s safe?”
“Nothing down here has been safe,” Curator muttered. “But this looks better than anything we’ve had so far.”
Yoshi cracked his knuckles dramatically.
“Alright. Group strength check—who’s helping me spin this wheel?”
Toady joined him.
Cornball did too.
Randomiser hesitated, then sighed and grabbed hold.
Everyone braced.
“On three,” Yoshi said.
“One… two… THREE!”
The metal groaned…
…shuddered…
…and then—
KRNNNK—CHHK…
It moved.
Slowly, stubbornly, but it turned.
Dust fell in sheets.
Rust crackled.
The wheel finally spun halfway.
“Again!” Toady shouted.
Another push—
Another horrible grinding sound—
Then a loud metallic CLUNK as the mechanism unlocked.
Yoshi stepped back, panting.
“I love democracy,” he said for no reason.
Everyone stared.
Corpse.Bride whispered, “…Canadian moment.”
