“What’s that sound?” Harmony asked.

“What sound?” asked Lex.

“That deep, slow ticking with a hum to it.”

“I dunno.”

“Can’t you hear it?”

Lex didn’t answer.

Harmony moved from the window, listening carefully for the sound. She stopped at a door, putting her ear to it for a minute. She opened the door to reveal a dark, descending staircase. She flipped a light switch, but nothing happened.

Looking around, she found a large metal flashlight in a nearby closet. She turned it on and pointed it down the stairs. It lit the area decently enough, but only revealed a wall at the bottom where the staircase turned out of sight.

Harmony stood observant for a moment. She turned back to Lex. Lex was still playing his game, seemingly unaware she had moved at all.

Harmony, without hesitation, descended the staircase.