This is part of an original serialized fiction project written and edited by the author. All story elements and characters are fictional.

“Interesting…” Méndez murmured, stepping forward with calm precision.

One of his men pointed at the stacked boxes near the tunnel.

“Looks like they tried to cover something up.”

Méndez gave a faint smile.
“Of course. The important things are always hidden.”

Leo stepped forward, placing himself between Méndez and the supposed entrance.

“You have no business here.”

Méndez looked at him with a mix of irritation and amusement.
“Ah, the brave children. Always interfering where they shouldn’t.”

“And you’re always taking what isn’t yours,” Lucía shot back, her voice rising.

Méndez stepped closer, but Teodora moved in front of them, her gaze unwavering.

“I won’t let you destroy this place. You’ve done enough damage already.”

He studied her for a long second before smiling again.
“You still don’t understand, Teodora. I’m not here to destroy anything. I’m here to release what this place is hiding — something even you don’t fully comprehend.”

“Release it for who?” Gregorio said, stepping out of the shadows. “For yourself and your ambition?”

Méndez’s surprise was brief but clear.
“Gregorio… I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“That’s because you never truly understood what it means to protect something,” Gregorio replied, his voice full of disdain.

One of Méndez’s men began moving the boxes near the tunnel.

“Sir, I think there’s something back here.”

Méndez raised a hand to stop him.

“Not so fast. They want us to believe this is the spot.”

Lucía felt her chest tighten.
“What do you mean?” she asked, trying to sound casual.

Méndez looked at her, his grin widening.

“I know the Custodians’ methods. They always build layers of protection. Whatever they’re hiding — it’s not here. It’s deeper.”

Teodora stepped forward again, eyes burning with resolve.

“If you know so much, then you know what you’re after will never obey you.”

Méndez turned to her, his expression hardening.

“I don’t need it to obey me. I only need to control it.”

Before he could take another step, Gregorio shouted:
“Now!”

In one swift motion, Teodora and the siblings turned a rusted valve on the wall. A cloud of steam burst out, flooding the basement with a thick, blinding mist.

“Go! Now!” Teodora yelled, grabbing Lucía’s hand and guiding them toward the exit.

Behind them, Méndez and his men coughed and stumbled, slowed by the dense fog that made it nearly impossible to see.

Back in the lobby, the trio stopped, gasping for air. Gregorio emerged moments later, his face grim.

“This will only buy us time,” he said, glancing toward the basement stairs.

Teodora nodded, her brow furrowed.
“Time to reinforce the defenses — and decide our next move.”

Leo clenched his fists.
“We can’t keep running. We need to face him — before he finds it.”

Lucía, still holding the flashlight, looked at her brother with steady eyes.
“If we’re going to face him, we’ll need more than just words.”

Gregorio gave a slow nod.
“Fortunately, I still have access to some of the Custodians’ resources. It might be time to use them.”

Teodora looked at each of them — a mix of pride and worry in her expression.

“Then we prepare. But remember this — as long as we stand together, Méndez doesn’t win.”

At that moment, the lobby lights flickered — a silent warning, as if the building itself was speaking.