As per usual in Hometown, it was awfully quiet at night. Aside from Kris and Dess, not a soul was out and about. A perfect night for a couple of kids to poke their noses where they don't belong.

Kris, grabbing tightly onto Dess' hand, eagerly guided her through the cemetery.

"You know, you still haven't told me anything about what you're showing me."

"it's a surprise :)"

Dess wasn't so sure about this. She knew Kris would never willingly put her in danger, but it wasn't uncommon for them to get a little carried away with these kinds of things.

Regardless, the two continued walking, past the cemetery and into the forest. Kris got more and more excited, and that excitement gradually started to rub off on Dess. It was rare to see Kris so genuinely eager about something.

Soon enough, the two finally arrived at their destination... a pair of red metal doors.

"It's... just a bunker," Dess said, confused.

"not just a bunker." Kris responded, as they leaned on one of the doors. Dess was puzzled.

"I don't get it, what's so special about some bunker."

"come here."

Dess leaned on the other door.

"listen."

Dess focused and listened to her surroundings. Emanating from the other side of the door was a slow, distorted set of discordant notes. The sound seemed to put Kris at peace, while Dess was confused as to what exactly she was hearing.

"Sounds like garbage noise," Dess commented.

"sounds nice." Kris replied. Something about this "garbage noise" really resonated with Kris. Dess rolled her eyes. Kris had a habit of having the strangest interests, and this was no different.

"Ooooookay. I'm gonna head home now before Mom realizes I was gone."

"okay. i'll stay here."

Dess got up and turned around as she started to head home. Meanwhile, Kris continued to lean on the door and listen to the mysterious noise, until all of a sudden, the doors suddenly whipped open. Kris, shocked, fell to the ground.

"Kris?"

Dess walked back to the bunker, where she was met with a strange sight. Darkness seemed to be emanating from inside. She had no idea how to process what she was looking at. She may not be the best at science, but she knows enough about how darkness works to know that it shouldn't be emanating.

"Kris, what's going on?"

Kris stared into the abyss before walking into it.

"Hey, what are you doing? You have no idea where that leads."

Kris kept walking in, eventually passing through the mysterious dark veil. Dess had a bad feeling about this. She took a deep breath and followed Kris.

The inside of the bunker was completely black. If it weren't for the dim night light of the outside world, the two kids would not be able to see anything, not even their own hands.

Kris continued to walk before Dess stopped them.

"Hey, watch your step."

She could've easily directed them out. A big part of her wanted to. Kris may have been able to defend themselves with that makeshift crowbar of theirs, but the closest thing she had to a weapon was an old, leadless mechanical pencil that she always keeps in her back pocket for some reason.
But she was undeniably curious. Nothing interesting ever happened around town, so the idea that some anamalous dark room was just sitting here this whole time was intoxicating to her. She just had to learn more, and Kris was all too eager.

The two slowly walked into the darkness. The dim light of the outside grew further and further away, and the distorted garbage noise grew louder and louder. Despite the exterior making it seem like the doors would lead into a downward staircase, the path was straight. It was physically impossible, but alas, it was there.

Then, within a moment, the garbage noise was gone. The sudden silence startled Dess and unnerved Kris. The oddly alluring noise was what prompted them to enter in the first place. Now that it was gone, the reality that they were a child surrounded by darkness set in for them.

Shortly after, a new noise came in. But rather than slow and soft, it was sharp, loud and chaotic. The sudden loud shift was viciously overstimulating to Kris. Their body began to shake feverishly.
Despite the fact that Dess could barely see them, she could tell from their uneasy breathing that something was wrong.

"K-kris, are you okay?"

Before they had time to think about what to do next, the bunker doors began to creak, as the outside light began to slowly shrink. Before Dess could blink, Kris, who she had only ever heard speak in a soft whisper, let out in a yelp of pure fear,

"RUN!"

And they bolted out. Dess, similarly overcome with terror as she realized their exit was disappearing, followed suit.
Kris sprinted like never before. Their brain could not process the fact that Dess, or anything else, was there. All they could think about was how much they do NOT want to be stuck here. That if they don't escape right now, they may never see their family again.

The light grew thinner and thinner.
Their chances of escape grew slimmer.
But alas, in the nick of time, Kris jumped through the light, just barely making it to the outside as the doors slammed shut behind them.

Kris took a moment to catch their breath. The adrenaline that saved them quickly wore off, causing a sharp pain to surge through their muscles.

It was in this moment of recovery that Kris made a horrific discovery:
Dess was not there with them.

And just like that,
"K-Kris!? What's going on!?"
Her muffled voice echoed from the other side.
"DESS!"
"Kris, the doors are stuck, I can't get out!"
Even though it hurt just to move, Kris sprung upwards and banged on the door, hoping that whatever was on the other side would open it.
"It's so dark, I can't see anything!"
Kris pulled on the door handles, exerting their full force, but to no avail.
"S-something's happening. I think the floor's shaking!? Kris, call for help!"
In one last ditch effort, they pulled out their crowbar and made an attempt to pry the door open. This had to work.
"Mom, dad, someone, please, HELP ME!"
Kris pulled and pulled with all their might, putting in every ounce of strength they had left. And then...

SNAP!

The crowbar split in two as Kris fell to the ground. They were so drained of energy that they could no longer move. Dess' voice had gone silent.

There was nothing but garbage noise.