Chapter 104

The basement was dimly lit, with shelves lining the walls, cluttered with jars, bottles, and unmarked boxes. The air was thick with the scent of chemicals and herbs, making me grateful for the gas mask.

I moved quickly, scanning labels and opening drawers, searching for anything that could help me extract the truth from Keith.

In the back of the room, I found a small, locked cabinet. It looked different from the rest of the storage. It was more secure, suggesting it held something important.

My heart pounded as I looked around for something to force it open. After a few moments of frantic searching, I found a small crowbar tucked behind a stack of crates.

With a deep breath, I wedged the crowbar into the cabinet door's seam and pushed with all my strength. The lock resisted for a moment before giving way with a sharp crack. Inside, I found several vials filled with various coloured liquids, each labelled with cryptic symbols and notes. One vial, in particular, caught my eye. A deep,