Eira hesitated at the threshold, her flashlight trembling.
"It goes on forever. I can't even see Missio anymore. Did he get consumed by the darkness?"
"Don't be a silly goose – nothing's eating him" Mary said.
Eira backed away and sat down with Mary. She turned her flashlight off, placing it on the table.
"Do you really have to stay with me? I feel uncomfortable being in a robe with two ladies in my abode." Dick calmly sat down on the couch.
"Don't get any ideas old man." Eira hissed. "I already have a fiancé."
"Well, hats off to you."
"Other than that, why didn't you inform us that there was such a place in you home?" Mary asked.
"I didn't have a reason to. Rather, I didn't think you would find it." Dick leaned back on the couch.
"…So, what do have at the bottom of that basement?"
"Nothing special. Just some old stuff."
"Okay, then. Let's see."
***
Missio's feet finally touched ground. He signaled the unit to slow down. He looked around – the room covered in darkness. He took a deep breath and took two steps forward. The first unit swarmed in, their flashlights illuminating the basement.
'Ugh, it smells disgusting here.'
Missio pinched his nose, gagging. The disgusting smell was like a mix of chocolate, rotten flesh and grass. He strode forward behind the light. His footsteps echoed across the room, then he froze. He rotated his head and began walking in another direction.
'The smell is even stronger here…oh heavens, I'm about to puke.'
He held his breath and eventually, he stretched out his hand. One of the Enforcers handed him a gas mask. He latched it on and continued walking. A few seconds later, he crashed into a wooden crate. He held his forehead in pain as his team surrounded the box.
"Search it. Find a way to open it – a latch or anything."
The enforcers instantly began searching for an opening. Missio stepped back, almost tripping onto his back.
'I've got to find the lights…'
He separated himself from the unit and began searching for the lights. He crashed into another box which irritated him. He continued walking with his hand stretched out. He finally found the power panel and began flicking switches. After a second, the lights turned on illuminating the basement. The enforcers deactivated their lights, looking up in confusion. Missio's eyes widened.
The entire basement was filled with wooden crates all releasing a disgusting odor. He gritted his teeth and waved his hand.
"Search all of them."
His voice echoed, the enforcers flinched and began separating. They checked each box, touching its surface, trying to find a lock or anything. After a while, an enforcer noticed something.
"Sir…the top seems to be open."
Missio lifted his head – hands in pockets. He squinted; the tops were indeed open. He thought for a moment then nodded and turned around. After a while, he brought back a ladder. He placed it on one of the crates and ascended it. When he reached the top, he peered inside, eyes widening.
***
Meanwhile in the living room, Eira and Mary were sitting on the couch. Their heartbeats synced to the old clock's tick. Eira tapped his finger against the armrest while Mary curled the sides of her hair. Eira took a glance at Dick who had a stoic face. Then, she turned back, cold sweat rolling down her face.
'If this silence lasts any longer, I'm throwing myself into that creepy basement'
She shifted in her chair uncomfortably. She leaned over to Mary, whispering into her ear.
"Hey, when is Missio going to come back?"
"It takes time, sweetie. Be patient." Mary replied.
Eira gulped and returned to tap on the armrest. After a while, she heard footsteps coming from the staircase. She immediately jumped out of her chair and excitedly waited. A few moments later, Missio crawled out of the basement stairs.
'Eh? Why is he wearing a gas mask?"
Before she could talk further, Missio took off the gas mask. The first unit enforcers came crawling out of the basement as well.
'Good god, what did they see in their?'
Missio hung on the doorframe, his face a mix of purple and green. While catching his breath, he ordered in a stern yet ragged tone.
"Arrest him. Immediately."
"Wait, what?" Eira responded instinctively.
Confusion took over even more as the enforcers began cuffing Dick. They lead him out of the house within minutes, leaving Eira, Mary and an out-of-breath Missio behind. The strangest part of it was that Dick's expression didn't change at all. His stoic face remained even after arrest. Strangely, Eira thought she saw his lips curve slightly as if he was delighted by the situation.
Missio dialed HQ. After two rings, they picked up.
"Greetings, Lieutenant General. What do you need?"
"I need the drug squad, paramedics and additional officers, quickly."
"Great, we'll be sending them right you way."
Missio cut the call, pressing his arm against the wall. His body was steaming, sweating all over. After a few moments, he fell onto the couch covering his face. Then, Eira poked at him.
"Hey."
"What?" He groaned.
"What was that about?" Eira placed her hands on her hips.
"…"
"Respond, why are you stalling? I'm dreading to know."
"I would like to tell you to go down and check it yourselves but…"
"But what? Come on."
"…Drugs – drugs, okay."
Eira remained silent for a moment. "Are you that exhausted because of…drugs?"
Missio seriously locked eyes with Eira. He stared back at the basement staircase, gagging. He shook his head.
"There's like ten tons of just drugs down there! And that smell…ugh, I can't even think of it."
Eira's jaw dropped, Mary's face paled.
"T-Ten tons?!" They shouted.
Missio fell back onto the couch. "That's what I'm thinking. Anyways, the drug squad should tell you the rest."
"S-Should I tell Krishna and Henry?" Mary asked, grabbing her phone.
"…Go ahead."
She dialed Krishna's number, placing the phone to her ear.
'Things just keep getting uglier.'