Chapter 2: The Calling

"Hello? Hello, are you there?" A voice called from the distance. Chell blinked and looked around, the voice completely waking her up. Seeing her room was empty, she laid her head back on the pillow, figuring it was a dream. The voice called again, this time much too familiar, "Hello? Come on, you've got to be there! I need you!" She sat up instantly and looked up for the source of the voice. "Come on! I can't see anything! Where are you," he called again, full of desperation.

Chell looked to the closet, where the cube sat alone in the dark. She immediately got up and wet to the closet, sliding the door open. "Oh! There you are!" He said, his British accent rich with relief and joy. She only stared at the box, thoroughly confused that it was talking, let alone that it was Wheatley. She wasn't sure to be shocked that the box was talking, confused that it was talking, angry that it was Wheatley, or happy that it was Wheatley. He didn't wait a second before explaining, having noticed the look on her face.

"I know this is a little weird…but it's perfectly explainable! See, I was just sitting in space, like I have been for five months, because of the incident with the…facility…I'm very sorry about that, by the way. Very sorry. It was stupid-"

"Wheatley…" Chell muttered, gaining his attention.

"Sorry! Sorry- wait, did you just talk? Wow, I guess I was wrong about the whole brain damage thing. Sorry again-" He trailed off, she rolled her eyes,

"Wheatley! The story," She reminded him and he hopped right back into his speech.

"Anyway," He said, "so I was sitting there, thinking I was stuck like this forever, until BAM! I blacked out and suddenly woke up back in the facility! I know! Weird, right? So there I was, stuck to the floor- because I was transferred to a new core, but this one looks the same, just not broken- so I was stuck to the floor, when I saw her! But she was out. Completely out, deactivated or something. And I know what you're thinking; you're thinking, 'Well, Wheatley, what does this have to do with me? Shouldn't you be happy?' Well, I Am, or...I was until she came back online. But, it wasn't her. It was a male! He sounded mad at first, but then he calmed down a tad. When he saw me he sent me out, telling me to get some test subjects, or else I'd be deactivated for good. And, as you should remember, none of the subjects were…well…alive…So I thought you'd come back, test for a bit, and then maybe...we could…find a way out…again…" he trailed off, realizing how stupid that idea was. Chell stared at him in disbelief at what he was asking. How dare he have the guts to come to her and apologize for trying to kill her, and then ask her to come back and test again? She crossed her arms and glared at the box, not quite sure where the camera was.

Wheatley sighed, "Look, I know that was stupid to ask, but this guy; he's horrible. I mean, he's worse than GLaDOS. That's pretty hard; to be as bad as her, let alone worse. He's horrible, Chell. He's completely changing this place, making it more dangerous or something-" He stopped, figuring that wasn't helping him. After a short pause, he started over, "I hear he's planning on making tests outside of the facility. I'm not sure, but I heard from Rick that he was going to raise the testing facility above ground, making larger, more dangerous tests."

Chell waited a minute, and then sighed, "Who is he?"

"I don't know. He just suddenly appeared and started creating traps and new obstacles and stuff."

Another long pause before she spoke, "Fine…I'll help, " her voice cut off at the end as she stopped to think over her choice a second time. But before she could regret anything, Wheatly spoke again, "Really? Oh that's wonderful! Fantastic! Um…just one tiny problem…do you know your way back here?"

Chell rolled her eyes and dug her Long Fall boots out of the back of her closet, slipping her feet into the high heels. They felt weird for a little, having not worn anything besides sneakers for half a year, but she quickly adapted. She looked back to the cube, debating whether or not to bring it. Deciding to leave it at home, she answered Wheatley's question, "It'll take at least a week."

"Um…I really don't think we have a week, luv," Wheatley chuckled nervously. He paused for a moment, "There's absolutely no other way here?" She shook her head and he sighed, "It'll have to do, then. But hurry as quick as you can. Run if you have to; just be here soon."

Chell nodded and changed to more flexible clothing, put her hair into a ponytail, and went to her front door. She hesitated; she finally gets out of that place, after years upon years of trying to escape, and now she's heading back for the sheer purpose of testing and breaking out again. She sighed, thinking of the life she had outside of Aperture. Obviously she wouldn't go unnoticed. Her friends, coworkers, neighbors; they would be looking for her in a matter of days. Another sigh, just leave it all behind you. Your life is meant to be at Aperture, she thought. And that was true. No matter how hard she would try to get away, Aperture would be right behind her, following her every step. Chell gritted her teeth at the thought. There's no point in trying, then. She tightened her fist, straightened her back, and opened the door. So much for freedom.