And so John went ahead to find Woodfield. Was Woodfield about to tell him of Urien’s actions? Only time could tell...

  They met up, and John, full of excitement, started talking:

  “Woodfield, you won’t believe this. Urien managed to decipher almost all of the letters and text... All it took was a little push on my side and I managed to decipher it fully. It says here that (and here, take it in your own hands, read it) there is a knife inside of one of the bathroom stalls here. And look at the drawing underneath, it symbolizes this building right here, TEST#202. So, it must be inside of this building... And the persons name, it is a woman: somebody named Dorothy. Read it, please read it.”

  Woodfield got the paper underneath his fingers, and he held it, reading everything very closely. Everything that John said was true, it was all on the paper, right there in front of him. He couldn’t believe it.

  “You know, I just saw him going to the toilet for some reason.”

  “On the cameras?”

  “Yes. On the cameras... Perhaps he knew what the full cipher was?”

  “That couldn’t be it. He was dumb-founded, and at a complete stop. It was probably after him eating that he went to wash his hands and possibly take some time in the toilet to let it all out of him; after all he hasn’t went to the toilet in two days...”

  “That makes sense, but still, I have some doubts... We should check the spot immediately: what if he took it, and now he is waiting for the perfect moment to attack us both while we are not on guard?”

  “I guess you’re right.”

  John and Woodfield went ahead and checked all the toilets for a hidden space. It was after a couple of minutes that they saw a loose tile in one of the toilets. This had to be it, they thought to themselves.

  Sure enough, after removing the loose tile completely they saw it: a soda can folded in such a way it could be used as a sharp object (knife). Cutting someone with it was sure to be possible, and it was more than enough to take someone’s eyesight completely.

  “So, he didn’t take it?” – Woodfield asked.

  “I’m telling you, he doesn’t even know what the full cipher is. I had to complete it for him. I trust him. After all, do you really think he would risk it all for a fake knife? He knows he is on the weaker side of things, and that we overpower him completely. If he genuinely thought he could take us on, perhaps then we wouldn’t have found this knife here.”

  “If anything, at least he helped us...”

  “I think we can use him to our advantage. Make him help us and give him the most basic thing in return. In his captivity, being freed from one TEST is like a blessing from above; and what does it cost us? Nothing...”

  “So, you say that we should use him as a pawn in finding this... Dorothy... person?”

  “Exactly that. And as long as PROJECT: M. O. is concerned; we’ll just make up a random TEST result. Doing it every once in a while... it’s bound to stay under the radar, right?” – John asked Woodfield. For their own personal gain, he saw it fit to break the rules of his own job. For above them, he stood, talking to them only from the shadows, rarely to show his self... He, who overlooked them.

  “I can’t say that it’s a smart idea, John... I don’t agree with it fully. From now on, we must use him, Urien, carefully. We don’t want the news of a strange person walking around the FACILITY getting to him... He would find us unfit for our own job.”

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “So, Woodfield, we’ll keep this “under the wraps”, huh?”

  “Only because it helps us. But if word reaches him, I can bet you that we are bound to be under lockdown until Dorothy is found.”

  The talk of such a mysterious man sent shivers down both of their spines. That man, who still hasn’t shown himself, is somewhere nearby. And sure enough, they were taking commands from him and no one else. Working on something other than that which he commanded, could prove to be a dangerous move.

  The day went by in a moment, and as Urien finally returned to sleep in his room, John knocked on the door and entered a moment later, awaiting no answer from Urien himself, and entering upon his own wish.

  “Todays code is “3340”. Make sure to take your mask off, so you can have a goodnight’s rest. Tomorrow awaits, and with it, your final TEST in this building. Goodnight, Urien.”

  He closed the door, and when Urien was sure that he was left alone, he went to the window of his room and using it as a mirror he managed to take his mask off. This was the first time he had saw his face in a week. The mask was starting to get uncomfortable, too, so finally taking it off and having a goodnight’s rest with nothing on his head (literally) was a great feeling. “I am changing. I am... slowly getting to a point, to a point where I can fight this situation.”

  He went to his bed, and he fell asleep rather quickly. When he woke up the next day he felt at rest, though, it wasn’t his body’s clock that woke him up; it was John knocking again.

  “Urien, I’m coming in with the hourglass sand clock and to put a new code on your mask. Put in on so I can lock it securely, I’ll give you a moment. Your final TEST awaits...”

  Urien realized that he hadn’t taken a proper shower, brushed his teeth or regularly washed his face and arms since he woke up here. This irritated him, so he made sure to ask John for help:

  “I am afraid that I will start to reek, John. Would you mind telling me where I could do some proper hygiene, to stay, you know... taken care of?”

  John chuckled and answered in a weirdly positive way: “Of course, of course! I never explained it to you in this LOOP, my bad, friend... There is another room on this floor, meant for that sort of stuff, along with some of the rooms only Woodfield and I use as well. Come out, but hold your mask on, I’ll show you the way.”

  Urien listened to him as his main priority was getting clean. In one hand he was holding his mask over his face, and following John, made small talk...

  “You know, the toilets downstairs are only meant to be used so you can quickly go to the toilet while you’re using the gym equipment, and I guess I forgot to show you the actual washroom on this floor.”

  After coming to the stairway in which you went downstairs with, John showed Urien another door, which was off to the side, leading to another hallway. “Follow me...”

  And sure enough, in the newly discovered hallway there were many more rooms, along with a washroom, with showers and everything else included.

  “Protocol only allows one person in the washroom at once, because in it you are free to walk around without a mask. Every Tester is given 20 minutes to finish their daily hygiene. After you finish, either me or Woodfield put your code on.”

  Urien went inside and John closed the door behind him. There was a special place in which you could place your mask, and it was here where Urien let his mask to rest.

  After finishing his hygienic needs, he called to John, who told him to “look for clean clothes”.

  Sure enough, there was a part of the washroom in which there stood clean underwear, tank tops, t-shirts and many more things of the sort. After changing, Urien felt better about himself, and right next to this great amount of clean clothes there stood a basket labelled “DIRTY CLOTHES”.

  After putting his dirty clothes in, Urien went outside of the washroom, and while he was holding his mask, John put on a new code from behind.

  “Go to your room, and read the instructions for your next TEST. I have already put the timer in place, too. Goodluck.”

  Urien went back to his room, and sure enough, it was there. But before he got into his room, he heard the noises of other Testers being in their own respective rooms as well. They weren’t talking, but he heard their movements... “Seems as if I’m not alone on this one.”

  Inside of his own room though, stood the same old paper, with the same old hourglass ticking its time using sand to portray the moments slipping away...

  The paper read as follows:

  “TEST#004 – “The Chase”

  After your time has run out, please head to the cafeteria to meet with the other Testers. Until then, stay in your room while we complete the necessary setup process.”

  After thinking it over and over about what this TEST could be, the time passed, and it was time to head to the cafeteria. Urien was ready.