8 8 Forbidden Section

"Welcome to my humble place." Dimitri steps aside and I enter his room.

Medium grey walls with an abstract greyscale painting on the right wall. Geometric retro rug of brown, white, and black, covering the entire flooring. And the white ceiling adorned with a small chandelier. A low platform bed with mix and match plaid bedding is in the center. A black leather sofa with kiwi green mushy pillows is placed east of the door. On the left side are two doors made of wood.

"Cozy. Smells good too." I say, looking around.

"Thanks! I sleep in here most days whenever I need to do some stuff here and there. Treat this like yours, this is where you will stay for the weekend." He put down our bags on the sofa and points at the two doors. "The first door is the comfort room, the second, a small walk-in closet. Do you want to take some rest first before we go around?"

I gesture my hands no, "I'm fine. Let's make a tour first, I'd like to see more of this place."

"Great." He enters the second door and after a minute, emerges with two lab coats on his hands. He gives one to me.

It is a white lab coat in a long hanger, on it too is a pair of gloves. I put it on, but I struggle to tie it behind because it is too large for my size. I tried to hold it together but it falls every time I loosen my hold.

Dimitri chuckles as he made his way towards me. Red coats my cheeks, I can’t help but feel embarrassed as Dimitri reaches for my back, my face hitting his chest. He skillfully ties my coat in a bow and all the while he did not utter a word.

"Ah, thanks!" I say awkwardly and step back, creating a small distance between us.

He clears his throat. "Let's go."

HOURS LATER, we have finished visiting many rooms, with him explaining who they are and what are they doing. Some were nice, waving at me and welcoming me with curiosity and interest. But some did not even glance at us and focused on whatever they were doing.

I learned in the past hours that Force Rises against Dark Creatures is a secret organization established in the 1500s and is all over the world. They are the ones responsible for maintaining the gap between vampires and humans. Protecting humans from bloodthirsty creatures is their main job.

Throughout the years they have captured vampires and retained them for further studies. Scientists were able to identify the difference between human DNA and Vampire DNA. They conduct several tests to know the weaknesses of these creatures. Thus, they have developed powerful weapons used to kill a vampire.

Now they successfully created a powerful weapon of destruction that could mark the end of every living vampire in the world.

"I thought we will be seeing your aunt?" I ask, yawning.

It was tiring. We had been touring for a couple of hours. Looking at my phone, it is 12:30 in the morning.

"Maybe tomorrow. She is busy at the moment." He looks at his wristwatch. "Time flies so fast, isn't it? Let's get you to sleep."

"Okay." I let out another yawn.

He leads the way back to his room and I follow closely behind with sleepy eyes. On the way, his wristwatch beeps and a man's voice speaks.

'Dimitri, we need help in section 34, go over.'

'Boss calling' He mouths to me. After the call finish, he reaches for his pocket and hands me a tablet.

"I need to go in section 34." He clicks some codes and what-knots on the tablet and a green and white map appears on the screen and a red button.

"So, this is us, the red button. And that green is my room, follow these dotted lines, it will lead you back."

"You are leaving me alone here?" I ask, exasperatedly, crossing my arms in my chest.

"Sorry, duty calls." He apologizes. "You will not get lost. Just follow this tablet and you will be fine."

"Fine." I purse my lips, muttering under my breath to which he laughs.

"That's my girl." He pats my head and pushes me lightly, pointing at the hallway in front of me. He nods encouragingly, as I walk away from him. Before I round a corner, I look back and he is still there, shooing me with his hands.

"I'll see you later sweetcakes." His smile is infectious as I feel my annoyance subsiding. There is something in his smile.

And now, here I am in an empty hallway full of doors.

"Where do I start," I mutter to myself, scanning the tablet in my hand. “Ah... there you are."

I walk again and the red button on the screen moves closer to the direction of his room. I continue to follow the dotted lines.

Almost halfway through when suddenly, there is a voice, calling my name. My name travels through walls, echoing throughout corridors. I can't be wrong! It is a voice of a man whispering my name, blending with the air.

'Amber...' It calls.

"Who's there?" I ask, my voice trembling... I sure as hell hear it, but no one is around.

'Amber...'

"Where are you?" I turn around, eager to find the owner of the voice.

'Nearer than you think my sunshine...'

Goosebumps crawl on my skin as his words keeps replaying in my head.

He laughs and I found myself liking it. His laughter is deep, manly, and enticing.

"Who are you? Show yourself!"

'Follow my voice.' He whispers. "Turn left sunshine."

My mind is haywire, having its internal battle. Should I go? Dimitri's room is on the right.

Curiosity wins over me and I follow the voice as I turn to different corners and corridors. I am very sure this is way too far from Dimitri's room. He would be mad, nonetheless. Where is this place? Dimitri hasn't shown me this part yet.

'Go on... I can feel you almost near.'

I gulp as I continue walking half-heartedly until I reach a flat round thick steel door. The door is heavily guarded with large guns attached to the wall. Each gun moves, copying my action with red small lights pointing through my shirt.

Those might shoot me if I enter the wrong code which apparently, I have no knowledge of. I hesitate, I can't risk my life just to follow that voice. I sigh and decide to go back, but before I turn away, the door opens revealing a dim light alley of glasses.

My curiosity once again wins over all the rational thoughts I have as I found myself moving one foot inside, then the other. The voice in my mind grows louder. I walk forward until I reach a giant wall made of glass in the center.

There stood a man with different cords and wires attached to his body. He seems peacefully sleeping yet I have a feeling he is the voice calling out to me.

'You found me...you made me proud sunshine.' The voice says, there is a hint of playfulness in his tone.