7. Failed To Start Doorway To Another World

The six people stood around the massive circular structure, their breaths visible in the crisp morning air. The sky above was a muted gray, with thick clouds hanging low, casting a dim light over the surrounding forest. The area around the underground facility was far from barren; it was dominated by towering trees, their thick trunks covered in dark, rough bark. The canopy above was dense, with only small gaps allowing slivers of light to penetrate the forest floor, which was carpeted with fallen leaves, moss, and small patches of wildflowers.

The group, consisting of four boys and two girls, all around the same age, were dressed in thick jackets bearing the emblem of the underground facility. Their expressions ranged from curiosity to apprehension as they discussed their next steps.

One of the girls, a petite figure with sharp features and short, raven-black hair, broke the silence. "What should we do now?" she asked, her voice tinged with a mix of excitement and nervousness. Her eyes darted between her companions and the enormous structure before them, partially obscured by the surrounding trees.

Jarad, a tall boy with broad shoulders and a confident demeanor, didn't turn around as he continued to inspect the circular structure. "We have to check everything within a 1 km radius of the underground facility," he said, his tone matter-of-fact. "If everything is okay, then we'll try to start this thing, whatever it's called."

He paused for a moment, running his hand along the cold, metallic surface of the structure. The trees around them seemed to whisper as the wind rustled through their leaves, creating an almost haunting ambiance. "And if what the Omega System said is true, then this thing will be very important for us to become stronger." His words hung in the air, the gravity of the situation sinking in.

The group exchanged glances, each one nodding in agreement. But Isaac, a lanky boy with a mop of curly brown hair and a perpetually worried expression, voiced the concern that had been gnawing at him. "Is it okay? Without asking for council permission?" His voice was quiet, almost hesitant, as if he feared the answer.

The others turned to Isaac, their serious expressions melting into laughter. The tension that had built up seemed to dissipate, replaced by a lighthearted camaraderie. Max, who had been silently observing the exchange, stepped forward and clapped Isaac on the back. "Don't worry," he said with a reassuring smile. "They won't say anything. And if everything goes well, then it's possible to get some rewards as well."

Isaac smiled weakly, feeling a bit more at ease, though the worry still lingered at the back of his mind.

With the plan set, the group divided into pairs, each pair assigned to explore a different section of the 1 km perimeter around the facility. The forest was alive with the sounds of nature—birds chirping, leaves rustling in the wind, and the occasional distant call of an unknown creature. The towering trees loomed overhead, their thick branches interwoven to form a natural roof that blocked out much of the sky. The air was fresh but carried a faint, earthy scent of damp soil and decaying leaves.

Max and Isaac took the northern section, where the trees grew especially thick and close together. As they moved through the underbrush, the forest floor crunched beneath their boots, the sound muted by the layer of fallen leaves. They kept their eyes peeled for anything out of the ordinary, their senses heightened by the knowledge that they were far from the safety of the underground facility.

"See anything unusual?" Max asked, his voice low as he scanned the area ahead. The light filtering through the canopy created dappled patterns on the ground, making it difficult to see clearly in some places.

Isaac shook his head. "Just trees and more trees," he replied, though there was a note of relief in his voice. He wasn't eager to encounter anything dangerous.

Suddenly, a rustling sound caught their attention. Both boys froze, their eyes snapping to the source of the noise. Max motioned for Isaac to stay back as he cautiously approached the sound. Peering through a gap in the trees, he let out a small sigh of relief when he saw a small animal, about the size of a rabbit, scurrying through the underbrush. It had a sleek, dark coat and large, curious eyes that seemed to reflect the dim light.

"Just a normal animal," Max called back to Isaac, who relaxed visibly.

But their relief was short-lived when, a few meters away, they spotted another creature that was unlike anything they had seen before. It was slightly larger than the first animal, with a body covered in thick, iridescent scales that shimmered in the weak sunlight filtering through the trees. Its eyes were a deep, unnatural red, and it moved with a strange, almost serpentine grace, its long tail leaving a faint trail in the fallen leaves.

Isaac took a step back, his heart racing. "What is that thing?" he whispered, his voice trembling.

Max didn't answer immediately. He was just as perplexed as Isaac. The creature didn't seem aggressive; it merely observed them with a strange intelligence in its eyes before turning and disappearing into the shadows of the trees.

"We'll report it when we get back," Max said finally, his voice steady but cautious. "But for now, let's keep moving."

The rest of their perimeter check was uneventful, with only a few more sightings of normal forest animals. Each pair reported similar findings—some small, harmless creatures, and the occasional sighting of the strange, unknown animal. Overall, the area seemed safe, or at least as safe as it could be in their unpredictable world.

After regrouping, the six of them returned to the circular structure, feeling a mix of relief and anticipation. With the perimeter secured, it was time to attempt to activate the massive doorway.

Jarad, who had taken charge from the beginning, stood at the structure's control panel, his fingers hovering over the ancient, weathered buttons. The panel was covered in strange symbols and runes, their meanings lost to time. He exchanged a glance with the others, his confidence unwavering.

"Here goes nothing," he muttered before pressing what he hoped was the activation button.

The structure hummed to life, a deep, resonant sound that reverberated through the ground beneath their feet. The runes on the control panel began to glow faintly, and for a moment, it seemed as though the doorway might actually activate. The forest around them seemed to hold its breath, the usual sounds of nature momentarily silenced. But then, just as quickly as it had started, the hum died down, and the lights on the panel flickered out.

The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the rustle of leaves in the breeze.

"Did it work?" one of the girls asked, her voice tinged with disappointment.

Jarad frowned, pressing a few more buttons, but the structure remained inert. "No," he said, frustration creeping into his voice. "It didn't work. Something's missing. Or maybe we're doing something wrong."

The group exchanged looks, their earlier excitement dampened by the failure. Isaac, who had been quiet for most of the time, spoke up again, his worry returning. "Maybe we should go back and consult the council," he suggested. "They might know more about how to activate it."

Max considered his friend's words, then nodded. "He's right. We don't know enough about this thing to get it working on our own. Let's report back and see what they say."

Reluctantly, the group agreed. As they turned to head back to the underground facility, the forest seemed to close in around them, the trees towering above like silent sentinels. A sense of unfinished business hung in the air, the mysterious doorway remaining a tantalizing enigma, one that would undoubtedly require further exploration and knowledge to unlock its secrets.