Each step creaked under her weight, but held. At the bottom, her boots landed on packed earth. The walls were lined with rough concrete and wood paneling, patched in places with old tin sheets. The space stretched farther than she’d expected—wider than the barn itself, and colder.
She swept the flashlight slowly across the room. It was cluttered. A worn-out recliner leaned against one wall, missing a leg. A metal filing cabinet stood open, its drawers empty and rusting. Shelves held boxes of loose papers, yellowing newspapers, cracked photo frames.