**Chapter 19: The Door to Erebus**

As Chris's flashlight beam landed on the door, a shiver ran down his spine. The sign "Project Erebus" seemed to leap out at him, filling him with a sense of foreboding. Dakota and Jed gathered around him, their faces illuminated by the faint light. "What is this?" Dakota whispered, her voice barely audible. Chris's eyes scanned the door, searching for any clues. The metal handle looked old and rusted, but it seemed sturdy enough. He reached out a hand, hesitating for a moment before grasping the handle. "Wait," Jed said, his voice low and cautious. "We don't know what's on the other side of this door." But Chris was already turning the handle. The sound of creaking metal filled the air as the door slowly swung open. A musty smell wafted out, making Chris wrinkle his nose. Beyond the door lay a narrow corridor, stretching out into darkness. The walls were lined with old pipes and ductwork, and the air was thick with dust. Chris stepped forward, his flashlight beam dancing across the walls. "This looks like some kind of abandoned laboratory," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. As they made their way down the corridor, the silence was oppressive. Dakota clung to Chris's arm, her eyes scanning the shadows. Jed brought up the rear, his eyes fixed on the door they had just left. The corridor twisted and turned, leading them deeper into the heart of the facility. They passed by old laboratories, filled with dusty equipment and broken machinery. Chris's curiosity was piqued, but he couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Suddenly, the corridor opened up into a large chamber. The ceiling disappeared into darkness, and the walls were lined with rows of old computer terminals. In the center of the room, a large console stood, surrounded by a halo of flickering lights. "Welcome to Project Erebus," a voice said, echoing off the walls. Chris, Dakota, and Jed spun around, trying to locate the source of the voice. But there was no one in sight. The console in front of them flickered to life, displaying a message on a screen: "Project Erebus: Initiated. Experimentation Phase: Commenced." Chris's eyes locked onto the screen, a sense of unease growing inside him. What kind of experiment was this? And what did it have to do with their situation? As they stood there, frozen in uncertainty, the lights in the room began to flicker. The console beeped, and the screen displayed a new message: "Subject 17: Online." Dakota's grip on Chris's arm tightened. "What does that mean?" she whispered. Chris's eyes scanned the room, searching for any clues. But all he could find was the cold, dark truth: they were not alone in this facility. And something was coming for them.