Everything seemed old. It looked like this place predated not only the ladder but everything above it. She wondered if this basement was meant for something else once. Storage or perhaps a Wild West prison. Hiding people maybe. Or hiding something.
It didn’t matter, she reminded herself. Trying not to breathe, Kenna took the remaining steps gingerly and set her boots down on dry dirt. She inhaled the dusty air. It smelled metallic, with a hint of petroleum. She looked up at Yuuki and motioned for her to follow. As she climbed down, Ken heard more rustling of chains and something like a large animal exhaling.26
Yuuki wasted no time on the ladder and was soon at Ken’s side. “What now?” she whispered as quietly as possible.