The wall didn’t break cleanly. Not at first. The impact sent a sharp crack through the garage, dust shaking loose from the surface. Murat stepped back slightly—then swung again. Harder. This time, the sound was different. Not solid. Hollow. Murat froze. That shouldn’t have sounded like that. He stepped closer, brushing dust aside with his hand. Then swung again.
The concrete gave way. A section near the bottom cracked inward, breaking apart as fragments fell through. A gap. Small. But enough. Murat lowered the sledgehammer slowly, crouching as he leaned closer. Cold air rushed out from the opening. Sharp. Unnatural. He raised his flashlight and aimed it inside. The beam slipped through the gap—
And kept going. Not blocked. Not shallow. Deep. Far deeper than it should have been. Murat’s breath slowed. “What even?” he whispered. The voices came again. Clearer now. Echoing from somewhere below. Murat shifted closer, widening the opening just enough to see more.
And that’s when he noticed it. Steps. Leading down.