A Heart in the Machine (Serial Designation V x Reader)

Chapter 15: Tension and Tinkering

Doll doesn't slow her pace, her silhouette barely visible against the dim backdrop, but you find yourself edging closer to her, seeking some semblance of comfort in her presence. The silence between you both feels heavier with every step, broken only by your own uneven breathing and the distant, unidentifiable sounds.

"Hey, uh... you sure this is the right way?" you ask nervously, glancing around as the darkness presses closer.

She doesn't respond, her focus fixed ahead, her movements deliberate. Her calm, almost soulless demeanor does nothing to ease your rising anxiety.

You're about to speak again when the two of you reach a dead end—a large, rusted door embedded into the wall. A faint hum of machinery resonates behind it, accompanied by the distant rush of air vents. You reach for the control panel on the side, instinctively moving to press the button to open it.

But before you can, Doll steps forward and places her hands on the edges of the door. You stop mid-reach, staring as she tightens her grip and begins to force the door open manually.

The sound is horrendous—a loud, metallic screech that echoes down the corridor, raising the hair on the back of your neck. The door resists at first, groaning under the pressure, but Doll doesn't relent. Her strength, though alarming, is effective. With one last heave, the door slides open just wide enough for someone to slip through.

She turns to you, the faint light from beyond the door reflecting off her piercing eyes. Without a word, she steps aside and gestures for you to enter, her hand extending toward the dark void beyond the threshold.

You hesitate, swallowing hard as you peer into the room beyond. It's pitch black, save for faint glimmers of light bouncing off unseen machinery deep inside. The air feels colder here, carrying a faint metallic tang that pricks at your senses.

"Uh... after you?" you offer weakly, hoping she'll go first.

Her head tilts slightly, her expression unreadable. "Нет. Ты идёшь первым. (No. You go first.)" Her voice is soft, almost mocking, as if daring you to question her.

The weight of her gaze pins you in place, and you force a weak smile before stepping forward, the sound of your boots crunching against something unseen as you cross the threshold. The darkness swallows you whole as the door looms behind, and for a moment, you wonder if you've just made a terrible mistake.

Your feet freeze to the floor as you peer into the darkness, dread creeping up your spine. The shadows seem alive, waiting for you to take another step into their grasp. You can't move, can't breathe properly, and your hands clench into fists as you shake slightly. Every instinct screams at you to turn back, but Doll's unyielding presence behind you keeps you rooted in place.

"Um... I think I'm good here," you mutter weakly, hoping she'll change her mind and take the lead.

Instead, you feel her brush past you, muttering, "Извини. (Excuse me.)" Before you can react, she places a hand on your shoulder, pushes you aside with surprising ease, and strides into the room.

You flinch as she casually hits a switch on the wall, and the room floods with bright fluorescent light. You blink, momentarily blinded, before your eyes adjust.

And then you see it.

A perfectly normal break room.

The stark contrast to the ominous corridor is almost laughable. There's a pool table to the side, a row of vending machines humming softly along one wall, and a table with mismatched chairs in the center of the room. A faint smell of stale chips and spilled oil lingers in the air, completely erasing any fear you had.