Episode 18 - Echoes in the Hall

Friday afternoon, Olivia made a decision.

She didn’t announce it. Didn’t bring it up at the desk. Didn’t casually mention to Bernard that she was going to do “a little exploring.” She just tucked her notepad into her bag, brewed a fresh cup of Centering Tea, and waited until the station felt… quiet.

Not empty.

Just watchful.

The others were scattered.

Charles had vanished into the rafters earlier, chasing down a flickering signal. Miss LaDonna was “somewhere downstairs,” which meant the building probably needed soothing. Bernard had sunk into the walls near the Vault and hadn’t emerged since morning.

No one would miss her for ten minutes.

That was all she needed.

She followed the same route the not-her had taken on the monitor.

Past Studio E. Around the Archive. Down the hallway that only sometimes had windows.

The air felt… layered. Like something was walking just a few seconds ahead of her.

She reached the Vault corridor.

The door was closed. But the handle was warm again.

Olivia reached out—slow, steady—and pressed her fingers to the seam.

It thumped.

She jerked her hand back.

Then, very carefully, tried the knob.

It turned.

The door creaked open about two inches.

On the other side, only darkness.

But in the darkness—breathing.

And just before she could lean in—

A voice behind her: “Careful, love.”

She spun.

Bernard hovered just behind her, faintly glowing, eyes unusually serious.

“I didn’t call you,” Olivia said, startled.

“No,” he agreed, “but you were about to need me.”

Behind him, footsteps.

Charles rounded the corner, cane tapping like a metronome.

“Vault door doesn’t open for no reason,” he said.

And then, without sound, Miss LaDonna was beside her, one hand on Olivia’s shoulder.

“You don’t have to do this alone,” she said gently.

“I thought maybe I should,” Olivia whispered. “That I should prove—”

“You already have,” Bernard said, softly.

“You’re one of us now,” Charles added.

“More than that,” LaDonna murmured. “You’re the key.”

The hallway darkened behind the Vault door.

A silhouette stood just beyond the threshold. Familiar. Wrong.

Her tail didn’t move.

Her ears didn’t flick.

She stood perfectly still in the way only a reflection can.

Olivia took one step forward.

The others didn’t stop her.

But they stood behind her. Present. Ready.

“Why are you here?” Olivia asked the shape.

The not-her tilted her head.

Then smiled.

And vanished into the dark.

The Vault door eased shut on its own.

Locked with a soft click.

Olivia didn’t shake.

Didn’t cry.

She just let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

“I was ready to face her alone,” she said.

Miss LaDonna nodded. “And that’s exactly why we showed up.”