The path out wasn’t obvious. Narrow passages. Low ceilings. Turns that all looked the same. But they moved through it without hesitation. Murat followed closely, watching every step, every turn, trying to remember—but quickly realizing he couldn’t. Not like they could. After a while, the air began to change. Less stale. Cooler. Then light. Faint at first. Then clearer.
As they walked, the quieter one spoke, glancing back at Murat. “This place… it’s not just tunnels,” he said. “It goes on for a long way.” Murat looked at him. “You’ve explored it?” “Some of it,” the man replied. “Rooms, passages… we’ve found things down there. Old pots. Tools. Stuff we could still use.”
The third man let out a short breath. “Whoever built it… they didn’t build small.” Murat glanced toward the older man. “How long have you been down here?” The man didn’t slow his pace. “A while,” he said. “The others only came a couple days ago.” A brief pause. That sat with Murat. Then the older man added quietly— “Before that… it was just me.” Murat glanced back once.
The darkness stretched behind them. Endless. Then they stepped through a narrow opening and out into the open air.