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

Leo raised an eyebrow.
“What about the third point — in the attic?”

“I’ll seal that one after we’ve secured the basement,” Gregorio replied. “It’s the most critical… and the most exposed.”

Lucía took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves.
“What if Méndez tries to hit one of the points before we’re done?”

Gregorio met her gaze, serious.
“Then do whatever it takes to stall him. We don’t have to win — we just have to keep him out long enough.”

Teodora placed a hand on each of their shoulders, her eyes filled with pride and resolve.
“Remember — we’re in this together. No matter what happens, we protect this place.”

Their first stop was the basement, where Gregorio and Teodora began activating the initial sealing mechanism. The basement walls were damp and coated in dust, ancient symbols etched into the stone faintly glowing as Gregorio touched them.

“These seals are still active… but barely,” he murmured as he worked.

“Can you repair them?” Teodora asked.

Gregorio nodded slowly.
“Yes. But it’ll take time.”

Meanwhile, Leo and Lucía made their way toward the boiler room, guiding their steps with flashlights. The air was hot and heavy, the rhythmic thumping of old pipes echoing throughout the space.

“Where’s the mechanism in here?” Leo asked, glancing at his sister.

Lucía flipped through her notes quickly.
“It should be behind that metal panel.”

Working together, they pried it open, revealing a tangle of ancient gears and levers. Lucía knelt down to inspect it, frowning.

“This looks… really old.”

“Does it still work?” Leo asked nervously.

Lucía carefully turned one of the levers, and a low hum began to vibrate through the boiler room.

“That sounds like a yes.”

As both teams worked at their stations, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed faintly through the halls. Lucía’s head snapped up.

“Did you hear that?”

“Yeah,” Leo replied, already gripping a nearby metal bar. “They’re coming.”

Méndez and two of his men appeared in the entrance of the boiler room, their flashlights landing squarely on the siblings.

“Always getting in the way,” Méndez said, a cold smile on his face. “Don’t you understand? This place doesn’t belong to you.”

Lucía stood quickly, placing herself between Méndez and the sealing mechanism.
“We’re not letting you through.”

Méndez advanced slowly, his men flanking him.
“You have no idea what you’re protecting. This isn’t just an artifact. It’s a key — to the future.”

Leo stepped forward, raising the metal bar, shielding his sister.
“Then you’ll have to find another key.”

The boiler room’s oppressive heat seemed to intensify with each second. The only sounds were the dripping of pipes and the faint hum of the partially activated mechanism, making the tension all the more suffocating.

“Step aside,” Méndez said calmly, but with authority. “There’s no need for you to be involved in this.”

Lucía narrowed her eyes, standing firm in front of the exposed panel.
“We’re already involved.”

Leo raised the bar higher, settling into a defensive stance.  
“And we’re not moving.”

One of Méndez’s men stepped forward, pulling out a heavy tool — a portable power hammer that hummed with electric energy.