Night had fallen, the once dreadful time had returned to one of forlorn peace. Dwight stood at the window, looking past his warmly lit reflection to idly study the city lights below. Few words had been spoken since he entered the room, leaving only the clock's ticking in rhythm with Benedict's writing. Faint vapours of shadow danced from his papers, a sight which held no cause for alarm.

"I saw her," He stated simply, no hesitance to his voice.

"Her?" Despite the question, the man's tone suggested he was well aware.

"I don't know her name," he sighed, taking in one last moment of scenery before returning to his usual seat, eyes downcast in thought.

"Was she real?"

"Yes, and no." He leaned forward, demeanour one of someone cheekily holding a secret. "Kind of like you."

He shifted his sight to the soulless chair, watching the empty space waltz with nearly invisible vapours. He strained his eyes to see them, squinting slightly before deeming the action unnecessary. The remnants were of no importance, what truly held his thoughts were simply laid across the desk. Various documents collected over time, sensitive information that resembled the mumblings of a madman.

With a simple lean forward he pushed the notes into a disorganized pile, pulling them into his lap. Following a quick straightening of the papers, he shuffled through them. Some held recorded notes of his sessions, details of his past that he foolishly thought he could let go. Nothing ever stays buried.

One paper caught his attention, lingering in the middle of his collection. He pulled it to the front, scanning the names written. They were familiar in the beginning; Meg, Jake, Claudette, Nea… Some were names he had heard in passing, the survivors he hadn't quite interacted with; Feng Min, David, Laurie, Kate… they were all varying degrees of recognizable to the man's memories. Several other names dawned the paper alongside them, many he had never heard.

"kʌm"

A commanding whisper caught his attention, it's source seemingly the opened door. A winter's breeze slide through the entrance, a severe contrast to the usual warmth of the office. it's homely orange light subduing into a de-saturated version of itself. Despite the lack of knowledge for the unfamiliar tongue, he rose with full understanding, either from instinct or something else. With spiteful care he returned the papers to the wooden desk, glaring down upon the names of his former comrades.

The wind encouraged the goosebumps along his skin, a light shiver gracing his body as he entered the corridor. The dull, sickening yellow of the lights illuminated his path, the same middle light flickered as it had prior. a strange, disturbing rhythmic beating sounded above him. The unseen creature's banging and scratching unable to insight any terror, his stoic expression unchanging.

"ðɪs weɪ"

The whisper beckoned him, shifting it's source further down the decaying hallway. His steps were calm as he walked, paying no mind to the deteriorating walls around him. The scent of death rose from the floorboards, moans accompanying each crack underneath his feet. Wallpaper cracked and torn, wood paling and splintering. A ding resounded through the air, elevator doors opening to a welcomingly empty space.

His movements never ceased, entering as if he had been expecting it to arrive at that moment. He stilled himself as he sighed, removing his glasses to rub against the edge of his shirt casually. No directional panel existed, Instead the lift rocked, moving steadily downwards without instruction. The medically bright light stayed consistently present, unhindered by the movement. It's presence useful as he checked the condition of his lens. A low hum left his lips as he inspected the various blood stains, dirt covering half of them. The elevator's floor indicator could be seen in his peripheral, idly watching the steadily changing led numbers.

4,

3,

2,

1,

1111111,

0,

He returned the spectacles to their original place, observing the walls collapsing around him. Watching them age in a moment, peeling away as if they had been left to rot over several decades. The rusted materials underneath showed their face, holes widening to reveal the Entity's glow. It's unseen eyes trained on his movements, or lack there off. His disinterested gaze stared back until another rumble shook the container. The same ding ringing out once more.