Kirian woke up the next day with something of an emotional hangover.

He had spent the night tossing and turning. His mind bounced between the pleading victims and Sebastian.

He would hear dampened, frantic pounding of fists against glass one moment, then feel the skin under his left eye smolder and crackle the next. It was deeply confusing, but at least he didn’t sleep long enough for his usual nightmares to creep in.

Kirian got out of bed sometime during the late morning, still tired. He hadn’t gotten back into his room until well after 2 AM, and his body was still sore from all of the murdering he had done.

He walked past the mirror and grimaced. His under eyes were exceptionally dark, and his hair looked like a bird nest. He wondered if he should ask for some skincare as the cold, dry air was doing nothing for his complexion.

He walked lazily into the bathroom and got ready for the day. He didn’t know if there would be a mission today but it felt like a good idea to look presentable just in case.

Walking out of the bathroom, he passed by the door to leave the room and tried it out of habit. He had tried just about everything to open that door in the past few days and spent a good amount of time glaring at it out of hatred. But now, the handle gave way and the door opened.

Kirian peeped out of the door hesitantly, half expecting a trap, but the hall was empty.

With a grin, he stepped out of the room and walked around, trying every door he saw. Most of them were locked, but the ones that weren’t felt like a boon.

One was entirely empty. Another was a lounge space with two wide couches and cabinets filled with snacks and a coffee maker. There was even a gym full of equipment.

Kirian explored the rooms with childlike wonder, traveling down the hallways with a new spring in his step. There were two hallways, which followed rectangular paths that both looped back to the elevator.

Sebastian was starting to trust him! Right? The door wouldn’t have been open if Mr. Radashawn himself hadn’t approved it. And the open rooms were too suited for Kirian to be a coincidence. Kirian couldn’t wipe the smile off his face.

Finally, once he was sure there were no other rooms available, he pressed the button on the elevator.

Kirian stood with bated breath, his features shifted into the picture of apprehension. Did this mean he was no longer a captive? Did Sebastian trust him to come and go as he pleased?

It felt too good to be true but Kirian hoped anyways. As minutes ticked by, the elevator doors never opened. Kirian tried the button a few more times, and even heard the elevator car woosh by.

He waited for hours. Every second an agony. Everytime the elevator car passed by his floor, his hope was restored just to be smothered once more when the door stayed shut.

Kirian cried out in anger and, underneath it all, despair. He punched the elevator button hard, his brain not registering the pain. He stormed into the gym room and grabbed a dumbbell before making his way back to the elevator and smashing the button entirely.

He stared at the plastic cracked and falling apart, the wires hidden underneath.

He dropped the dumbbell and screamed, “Fuck you! Do you hear me? Fuck you and your stupid fucking building!”

Chest still heaving, he went back into his room and collapsed on the floor next to the bed. He curled up tight, his knees to his chest, and cried himself to sleep.