The metal door slowly closed behind them, shutting out the gray, bleak world outside.
Leon walked in the lead, followed by Dr.
Jenner and his wife, and the few Old Professors.
Seven survivors were left on the first floor—Leon didn’t intend to let them know about this secret just yet.
The corridor was long with soft lighting; it didn’t feel like a basement, but rather like a passageway in a high-end office building.
On both sides were metal walls, and every few meters there was a tightly closed door, with no markings on them.
“What exactly is this place?” Dr.
Jenner couldn’t help but ask.
His voice echoed in the corridor, carrying a hint of tremor.
Leon was just about to answer— “Warning.” A voice suddenly rang out.
Cold and mechanical, belonging to a young girl.
Everyone stopped in their tracks.
“Unauthorized personnel detected entering the Hive.” The voice continued, as calm as a weather report: “Total of thirteen, please leave immediately.
Repeat, please leave immediately.
The defense system will be activated in ten seconds.” On the ceiling, red lights began to flash.
Dr.
Jenner’s face turned pale: “Defense system?
What defense system?” Leon raised his hand and shouted toward a corner of the ceiling: “Red Queen, I am Leon, an S-level executive of Umbrella Corporation.
I request to grant temporary visitor access to these thirteen researchers.” There was a three-second silence.
Then the voice sounded again: “Identity verification in progress…
Verification successful.
S-level executive Leon, authorization confirmed.
Granting temporary visitor access…
Access granted.
Welcome to the Hive, visitors.” The red light went out.
The corridor returned to calm.
Dr.
Jenner let out a long breath: “Red Queen?” “An AI, artificial intelligence.” Leon continued walking forward: “The management system for the entire Hive.
Don’t mess with her; she doesn’t have a very good temper.” Everyone looked at each other, but no one asked any more questions and quickly followed.
At the end of the corridor, the space suddenly opened up.
It was a circular hall with a diameter of at least fifty meters.
The dome was very high, embedded with soft light panels that illuminated the entire space.
In the center of the hall was a massive cylindrical structure—that was the elevator shaft.
Transparent glass curtain walls surrounded the elevator shaft, and through the glass, one could see the elevator car slowly ascending.
But what truly left everyone dumbfounded were the walls.
All four walls, from floor to ceiling, were massive LED screens.
What was playing on the screens?
Atlanta.
Not the post-apocalyptic Atlanta, but the one from before the end—bustling Peachtree Street, with heavy traffic and crowds of pedestrians.
The glass curtain walls of the skyscrapers reflected the sunlight, taxis wove through traffic honking their horns, and in the distance, one could see the Ferris wheel at Centennial Olympic Park.
And there was sound.
Car horns.
Sirens.
The clamor of the crowd.
You could even hear a street performer playing the guitar.
“My God…” Candice covered her mouth, her eyes suddenly turning red.
She recognized that street.
It was a place they often went on weekends.
Dr.
Jenner stood there blankly, staring at the screen for a full ten seconds, then slowly reached out and touched the wall.
His fingers touched the cold surface of the screen.
The image rippled—touch sensitivity.
“This, this is just too realistic…” He muttered: “If I didn’t remember that I was on the third basement level, I would have thought I had lost my mind and wandered outside without realizing it.” An Old Professor took off his glasses, wiped them, and put them back on: “Resolution at least 8K, refresh rate over 240Hz, this technology…” “Developed by the entertainment department of Umbrella Corporation.” Leon casually bluffed: “Used to help employees de-stress.
Want to experience working in the city center?
No problem.
Want to experience eating lunch on the beach?
That’s also possible.
It can even simulate rain, snow, sunrise, and sunset.” “It’s insane.”