Darkness engulfs my truck as the gravel beneath it scrunches. Trees stand tall, as the moon's shining is obscured by their leaves. When the sun's arrival is apparent, then I will enjoy the diner's breakfast menu. The engine turns off as I turn the key in a circular motion, grabbing the backpack on the way out. The doors lock, Aiden's car is next to mine, and its color is blue. With my hands against the door handles, I push. As usual, the elevator halts at floor 3, where I get out and walk towards the office. Aiden sits on the office chair, a freshly brewed cup of coffee in his hand. The wheels of the chair roll back, as Aiden's eyes now look back at me. "Last day, got any plans for the weekend?" The coffee machine lights up once I brew a coffee for myself.

 "not yet, maybe just chilling." five minutes have passed and yet nothing has changed. Time fades like a breeze, as Aiden gets up, the fourth floor is where he's headed. Time passes, Aiden is now long gone, the cams cut out, and the walkie-talkie malfunctions. Helpless, I remain still, the cold walls of the chamber staring back at me. my fingers drum on the table, waiting for something to occur. But like a dog waiting for its owner to return home, nothing happens. The clock malfunctions, running hours too late, with no choice left, I head for the couch. Waiting for Aiden to walk into the room, an eternity passes once Aiden enters the room, "What happened, Aiden?" his head turns slightly, confusion painting his face.

 Bitterness floods my mouth as the taste of coffee lingers on the inside. perplexion drives Aidens face into his hands, as I explain everything to him. Neither I nor him, have a reasonable explanation of what could've happened. With no choice but to continue, time passes by as we're watching the now-working cameras. no matter, how hard I try to evade it. I can't outrun it. All I gave her is gone, flowing from a broken ship. No remedy until the confrontation. The alarm rings its tune as the time strikes 1 am, time to take the elevator down to floor 3. Armed with my equipment, I venture into the dark hallways of this complex. from room to room I stride as always, the routine experience now more evident. Each door I open only fuels my pretending facade of courage. then the door swings open, baffled by the sight of a teen sitting there against the wall.

 cautious, I decided to approach him. "Hey, you can't be here, you're trespassing." The boy's gaze lifts from his book, now looking at me. "I'm sorry sir, I just didn't know where to go." his hands rest on his book, drumming on the cover of it. "You're lost?" he nods, apparently he went out with some friends in a town over from Seraphia. Then he lost sight of his friend group, and his phone died. "Hey kiddo look, I could drive you home." a look of appreciation paints his face. "But we would have to wait till 6 AM. I have to finish this shift." The look of disappointment fades into one of understanding.

the hallways remain gray less intimidating, as the boy walks beside me. In the exception of the boy, nothing would find itself lost within this floor. small talk occurs occasionally once we return to the office. the boy's body sinks into the couch exhausted from the trip. "Ethan? is that your brother? What's he doing here?" rather fast, I explain the situation to him, and a concerned facade paints his face. his once steamy coffee now resembles cold winter snow. the beeping begins to fade, once Aidens finger frantically presses its button. like weapons drawn the silence now feels peaceful. the chair spins in circles once Aiden pushes himself upwards. per usual, I take his seat. 

with utmost care and attention to detail hidden amongst the darkness, my gaze remains anchored to the screens. However, the doubt of finding something begins to fade each time the bland rooms are encountered. My eyes drift off, the time showing one of complete inaccuracy. 15 minutes have passed since Aiden first ventured off into the abyss of darkness, scattered around the hallways. the monitors showed a different part of the story, as the time on them shows 2:45 am

With no choice, eventually, I return to watching scandalously boring rooms. time fades and any trace of Aiden on the cams remains hidden. with luck leaving my side, the walkie-talkie doesn't connect, once again. 

"Are you hungry?" the boy's gaze shifts from the walls to mine, his tongue grazes over his lips. without pondering, I'm already pouring him a glass of water. "I'm kinda hungry, why?"I'm scouring my backpack, without thinking, I hand over one of the three apples. "You want another one?" despite his denial of wanting another apple, out of kindness I still give him my apple. The door opens and in walks Aiden. "Geez Aiden, where were you?"

Aiden rasps his voice as he drinks some water, now squinting his eyes.

"On patrol?" The silence carries burdens as the boy's gaze shifts between us two.

"I didn't see you on the cameras." his eyebrows scrunge as my fingers flow across the keyboard. the footage rewinds itself, and a sense of perplexity and dread overcomes me as Aiden's flashlight now cuts through the darkness, determination written on his face. "I'm right there Ethan, you're just tired or something."

my eyes match the walls, but no tiredness of any kind could deceive me. but how could I ever be certain of anything. after all, my eyes deceived me once. the boy comes along, we couldn't leave him in the office. Like a magnet's partner, the boy remains close to me until Aiden splits off. 

an embrace of darkness surrounds us, as our feet quiver from the unknown path ahead of us. the door opens, and chambers stare back at us. no time to waste, past vacant chambers we walk, family portraits facing down. nothing, yet again. 

"EVAEL."

each part of me freezes, the beam of light begins to fade.

"EVAEL."

the last bits of hope exit, once the room grows dark.

"EVAEL."

An unimaginable sense of dread forms within me, one so grand that lost cities wouldn't compare to the overwhelming pressure of this room. We leave, leaving whatever happened behind us. sooner or later, luck will run out. "You have my respect, I couldn't do this."

  the verge of trembling over words becomes visible in him. Minutes pass like choppers flying over seas, and like usual, the unfazed state of each room stares back at us. ripped out of my sense of temporary security, a tune of birds chirping breaks the now evaporating silence.

"Let's go home."

None of us left any belongings in the watcher's den. "Sounds good, Ethan."