Mystery of the Red Light at the Karsten Factory
The rain drummed against the roofs of the blocks of flats and trickled down the grey pavements of the city. There was silence all around, as if all the inhabitants of Szczecin had disappeared without a trace. Dominik, Lena, Michal and Basia gathered under the arbor, clutching torches and phones with barely charged batteries in their hands.
- Are you sure we won't be seen by security guards? - Basia asked, adjusting her hood.
- 'There's not a living soul there at this hour,' assured Dominik. - Besides, who guards the ruins?
Karsten's old factory had been a place spoken of in whispers for years. It was where, according to urban legends, people disappeared years ago, and where incomprehensible echoes reverberated through the vast halls at night. This evening, the group hoped for excitement - and photos that would conquer Instagram.
They jumped through a hole in the fence, avoiding the protruding bars. Darkness devoured their silhouettes, and the only light was the faint glow of the moon. The outstretched shapes of the halls and rusty gantries seemed to watch their every move.
- Can you feel it? - whispered Lena suddenly. - As if the air was heavier here.
Michal shrugged his shoulders, but his heart was beating faster. The deeper they went in, the factory seemed less and less deserted. Cobwebs dangled from the ceiling and a broken glass window crackled under their shoes. They traversed the narrow corridor leading to the old director's office. On the way they passed broken windows and a smashed clock, but something else caught everyone's attention: a red light glowed in the corner of the corridor, as if from a triggered alarm.
- That's impossible," whispered Basia. - There's no electricity here, after all.
Dominik looked at her meaningfully and cautiously moved towards the light. As he got closer, the light suddenly went out, leaving them in total darkness. In the silence, only their quickened breaths could be heard. Then Lena, searching in her pocket for her phone, nudged something with her foot. A metallic sound rang out and a small, old key - the kind used in safes in the past - appeared under her foot.
- Where did it come from? - Michael asked, looking at the key, which was glowing with a strange light.
Before anyone had time to answer, there was a quiet, long murmur from behind the old office door, as if someone was moving a heavy object across the floor. The door slowly began to open, and in its light appeared a silhouette whose outlines could barely be discerned....
Author of this ending:
English
polski
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