Part 32
We approached the heavy iron gates on foot, the cold wind from the ocean carrying the sharp scent of salt and rot.
Derek carried the heavy bag of tools we had brought from the garden, using a bolt cutter to snap the rusted chain.
The heavy metal links hit the concrete with a loud clang that seemed to echo across the empty harbor.
We pushed the heavy gates open just enough to slip inside, entering the dark courtyard of the warehouse.
The main entrance was a massive wooden door with a brass lock plate that had survived decades of weather.
I pulled the intricate brass key from my pocket, my heart racing as I lined it up with the keyhole.
If this key didn't fit, we were completely trapped with nowhere left to go.
I slid the key in, and it fit perfectly, the internal pins clicking into place with a satisfying, heavy sound.
I turned it clockwise, and with a loud, mechanical thud, the ancient deadbolt finally retracted.
Derek pushed the door open, revealing a vast, cavernous interior filled with the shapes of covered furniture.
The air inside was thick with dust and the smell of old wood, frozen in time for over fifteen years.
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We stepped inside, and Derek closed the door behind us, locking it from the inside to secure our position.
We were inside the vault of the legacy, but the real mystery was still waiting to be uncovered in the dark.
