The jolt of metal on metal penetrated the eerily quiet atmosphere like a hot knife through butter. Frozen butter, at that.

Liam and Nat slowly stood up, hesitantly calling Fred’s name once more but reluctant to leave the warmth and light of the fire.

After three minutes of silence, Liam started to put one foot in front of the other, cautiously looking down the dark hallway that led to the vaults. It was dead silent; even Natalie’s scared breathing had stopped.

As Liam proceeded slowly down the hall with an electric torch in hand, Nat looked around at the enclosing darkness and quickly followed after him. The hallway’s air was frosty and sharp in their throats.

At the end, they came to the wall of bars that opened to the vaults. Liam swung his torch around the long line of vault doors – all were open. Except one.

Natalie gave a muffled shriek as the closed door made a soft beating sound.

“Fred. Fred!” Liam cried, running for the door, looking for a way to unlock it.

But there was none.