It's now been minutes since Aiden left, minutes I've spent watching camera monitors for anything unusual. The occasional sip of my coffee improves my motivation by a scratch, a scratch which I would need if I wanted to survive these last hours. Trapped within these walls of this security Office, we now call the watcher den, I run my fingers through a newspaper, boredom getting its grasp on me, faint footsteps echo in the halls of this floor. "Hello, somebody there." Silence. out of my peripheral vision, the door seems to open, as my gaze snaps towards the door, the realization of it being shut hits me. It's getting late, I'm seeing things, that's normal, right? I'm useless, now even delusional.

 The time drags itself, When I was a kid, I used to love the scent of my mother's cooking. I would always watch her, she loved it. Sometimes I'd look at the clock, begging for time to go by faster. So I could taste the spices on the chicken and the rice's loftiness. I miss her, she would always drum her fingers on kitchen counters or tables, waiting for something to cook. However, no matter how much I wanted it, the past remains unchangeable. No matter how many times I'd look at their graves, no matter how much I hate myself, nothing can change that. Why did I survive? Should I have died together with them, or most importantly, why is it that I am a survivor? I never got answers to those questions, restless nights, my thoughts gnawing at me, and pills for Insomnia I'd use each night. Tears trickle down my cheeks, then the door opens. In quick motion, my arms wipe off the tears. "Everything's in order, wow." he turns me around, as the chair spins, containing my tears now manageable, smiling at Ethan.

 "Hey, everything alright?" My cheeks rise, and my eyes gently close as I struggle to contain my smiling expression. "Yeah, I'm fine, thanks for asking." his lips curve into a smile, and he almost turns into a happy puppy. "Dude, have you seen Cate? That girl's just  amazing." I've seen Cate a few times now. She looks good, but that doesn't change our written past; she can never change. no matter how much she tries to deceive me. "Yeah, so what?" My words come out sharper than intended. Aiden notices my resentfulness towards Catelyn, "I'm sorry I shouldn't ha-" I cut him off, "It's fine, go on, talk to her. Just don't come to me once you realize, she's just a parasite." he sips on his cold coffee. combing his hair with his fingers.

 "People can change." my gaze meets his, my finger touches his shoulder. "she won't, she lies all the time," I crumble an old note of mine, throwing it into the bin. "fucking bitch ruined my life, go on talk to her. Don't let me shy you away." We talk, and moments later, before we know it, the clock beeps, signaling the next patrol to start. We stand up, grab our equipment, and leave the office. "Alright, I'll take the right side, you take the left. And we meet right here, at the entrance." I nod as we depart. The rooms invite me into their alluring charm. Something feels off, the darkness is overwhelming and piercingly cold.

 A cold breeze brushes against my skin, as my jacket repels some of the cold. Armed with my flashlight, I turn around. The entrance is wide open, now shut by my hands. I stride towards the halls, each breath I take louder, each heartbeat more intense as the dreadful silence grows, I remain still. Once I enter the room, the ordinary chambers stare back at me. No printer throwing paper up, past each chamber I walk. Through the darkness I wander, like a lost lamb led astray by the wrong shepherd. their closing in, the walls. My breathing grows shallow as my heart rate increases.  The light's weakening beam begins to fade. panic ensues. eyes flickering, the click sound of the flashlight's button keeps me sane, I need to keep pressing. Surrounded by the void, I stand still. One step at a time, they won't budge. My legs, I don't wanna move them. lost, my fingers tremble, struggling to find the walkie-talkie.

 "Aiden?, My flashlight died, and now I'm surrounded by darkness, lost. Seconds pass as I contemplate what to ask next. "Can you find the room in which I am?" I hope that, if I stick around long enough, his light will shine through the darkness. Nothing, after minutes of waiting, no idea of where my steps would eventually take me, I travel across the floors of this dark chamber. With my arms stretched out, I walk, bumping into the all-too-familiar walls of the room. A sudden light envelops the room, from behind it shines, my gaze sways over to the source. darkness everywhere, no trace of light.

 This room's clear, now I can leave. Desperation grasps me as I walk in the direction of the vanished light. Still holding my arms out, I walk into a door, its handle hard to find. The door opens, and Aiden walks right into me. "There you are, what have you been doing in there for so long?" worry etched onto his face, he fixes his hair. " I checked all the other rooms already. "Let's go home." On our way back, the gentle taps of mine against the flashlight hit my palm. Suddenly, it springs back to life, odd. "Sorry, Aiden, my flashlight died, and the walkie-talkie. didn't go through." he waves his hand above his head. "Don't mention it, I would've been lost as well." 

Lost I am, in the darkest of rooms, stripped of any power. I feel like I'm drowning. Each path and decision I carve drives me further into despair. How many more months, how many years? Everyone's lying, there is no hope. no healing, only pain and suffering. The only friend I ever had. But is that true? The morning sky, bland, looks back at me. Then I park outside, ready to envelop my bed. No empty halls, I need some rest. Only a shift left before I could enjoy the weekend. Cate stands before the door, waiting for me, "Ethan, I wante-" striding past her, I shut the door. No more sudden conflicts, not now.