We agreed to meet that same evening, after the last shift ended and most of the workers had returned to their apartments. The lower level would be even more deserted and quiet, offering us a greater sense of security, although we both knew that no conversation in this city could be considered completely private.
"Stay near the maintenance section," I whispered to Anya before we parted ways to return to our posts on the assembly line. "There are fewer functional cameras around there. Wait near the main ventilation shaft. You'll recognize it; it's the largest and loudest."
The rest of the shift felt like an eternity. Every drone's buzz, every impersonal order from the electronic supervisor, echoed in my mind with a new intensity. I knew what really lay behind that facade of efficiency and order, and the thought filled me with a mixture of repulsion and urgency. I watched Anya work on the next line, her face expressionless as ever, but now I saw a different gleam in her eyes, a spark of curiosity and determination I hadn't noticed before.
Finally, the siren signaling the end of the shift resounded throughout the factory. Most of the workers quickly headed for the exits, eager to return to the controlled monotony of their homes. Anya and I waited a few minutes, letting the crowd disperse, before discreetly heading down to the lower level.
The maintenance section was even darker and quieter than I remembered. The air was heavy and smelled of dust and rust. The only light came from my holodevice, whose dim screen dimly illuminated the path. I found Anya waiting near the imposing ventilation shaft, a metal cylinder that vibrated with a constant, low rumble.
"Did you bring the unit?" he asked in a whisper as he saw me approaching.
I nodded, taking it out of my pocket again. "Here it is. But we can't stay here too long. Someone might notice we're missing."
"What are we going to do?" he asked, his eyes fixed on the small unit in my hand.
"We need to find a safe place to see what's inside," I replied. "I know someone who can help us with that."
"The person you told me about before?"
I nodded again. "Elara. She lives in Sector 7. It's not safe, but it's the best place I can think of where we can analyze this information without being detected."
Anya hesitated for a moment, her gaze scanning the gloomy surroundings of the lower level. Sector 7 had a dangerous reputation, even among the factory workers.
"Are you sure we can trust her?" he finally asked.
"I've known her for a long time," I said. "And I know she's also wary of the System. She's the only person I trust enough to show this to."
"Okay," Anya said, taking a deep breath. "Let's go. But we have to be quick and discreet."
We cautiously left the lower level, using less-traveled routes and avoiding the few security cameras that still seemed to be operational. The tension in the air was palpable, and every shadow seemed to hide a potential threat.
Upon reaching the border of Sector 7, the atmosphere immediately changed. The uniform artificial light was replaced by a denser darkness, interrupted only by the irregular flickering of makeshift lights and the ghostly glow of broken screens on abandoned buildings. The constant noise of the controlled city faded, giving way to a more chaotic and less predictable murmur.
I followed the coordinates Elara had sent me the night before, guiding Anya through the maze of dark alleys and narrow passages. Fear was a constant companion, but the determination to uncover the truth drove us forward.
Finally, we reached the rusty metal door of Elara's workshop. I knocked with the usual three short knocks, and after a few moments of tense waiting, the peephole opened. Elara's dark eye scanned us before the door opened with a familiar creak.
"You brought company," Elara commented, looking at Anya with a questioning look.
"She's with me," I replied. "Anya needs to see what we found, too."
Elara nodded slowly and led us into the chaotic workshop. The flickering light from the screens illuminated Anya's and my faces, reflecting the mix of uncertainty and hope we both felt as we took this first step into the darkness, toward an unknown future.
How does Anya react to seeing Elara's workshop? What kinds of questions does she ask? How does Kang Gun feel about having Anya there, sharing this dangerous secret?
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