Mike was getting used to the tests. Every time was the same, someone would come in, giving him a physical examination. Almost every time someone was recording the whole thing and he was always referred to as "Subject D", only called "Subject Nesmith" once. He didn't know what to feel about it. He was mostly just tired all the time, barely able to keep his eyes open for too long before drifting off. But Mike didn't worry, he was always told that it was normal whenever he had doubts about these things. He didn't know what all the tests were trying to do and why they needed him to be the one going through it, but everyone there kept telling him that everything was going well and there was nothing to worry about.

The days were beginning to blend in with one another, made even worse with no concept of day or night in the small room. It was almost comforting, in a strange way.

The more time he was there, the more natural it seemed. He had no idea how long it had been, but it was becoming harder to remember a life where he wasn't strapped down on the folding table in heavy metal braces. Since he got there, there hadn't been a time he was even allowed off the table other than for an exam. He had remembered playing music and running on the beach with three faceless figures, but it had all seemed so distant and out of reach. Delusions and vivid hallucinations were just side effects, he was told, so he began to believe they were just delusions.

Mike could barely remember anything from his life that didn't involve him being experimented on like this. It had all become so routine and natural that it was hard to imagine a world without the tests. There wasn't one.

He'd get a sedative in his neck every time right before. Even with it, Mike could still feel the pain but he had been constantly told that the pain would be much worse had it not been for the sedative. He could remember the tests, starting with shots in his elbow, transitioning eventually to his side.

"Your friends are doing well," he could hear someone say. It was the first time he had ever heard anyone mention his "friends".

"Jones and Tork are both done with their tests," the voice said, followed by the sound of a click. Mike had expected for the braces to be removed when he heard it but they were only adjusted tighter. Mike let out a slight groan, feeling it push down harder on his chest, then his legs and finally his neck.

"There you go," the voice said. "Nice and snug now, aren't you?"

Mike hummed, finding it difficult to make any other noise.

"Dolenz, however…"

Mike blinked and squinted, trying to see the other person in the room. But even still, it was still too blurry to make anything out.

"Dolenz has fallen behind," the person said cryptically. "He objected and tried to resist which has caused him to fall behind and caused a few complications. But other than that, things have still been going according to plan for him."

Mike hummed, trying to keep his eyes open but it became harder to as he felt the needle be pushed into the side of his neck. He whimpered slightly, it seemed more painful now than it had all the times before.

"Relax," the voice said. "You need to stay calm or else it won't work."

Mike sighed, taking deep breaths to try and calm himself down.

"That's good, like that," the voice, sticking another needle in by his neck. "Just stay calm."

He nodded as much as he could as the brace was put over his neck again, slowly beginning to drift off as the final needle was placed in his side.

Not long after, Mike woke up to the sensation of being picked up and carried. His whole body was numb and even though he was now free from the braces, it was as if he could still feel them holding him down. He was thrown into a dark room, the door locking behind him. He watched as the door closed, the last final sliver of light disappearing when it did. Mike frowned, confused at what was happening. He tried to make it standing but tripped over his own feet and fell back to the ground. He tried to let out a cry, but his voice didn't seem to work quite right. It was hoarse and raspy, he didn't even recognize the sound that came out of him as he tried to get back to his feet again.

He crashed onto the cold hard concrete floor again, exhausted and too weak to try again. Instead, he just laid down and breathed. It was complete darkness he was in and without any idea how large the room itself was, Mike was becoming claustrophobic in there. He whimpered, trying to find…anything at all.

"Hello?" Mike called out. "Is anyone there?"

There was something wrong with his voice that really started to show here. He had noticed he had sounded different but it wasn't by much. He thought he was speaking normally but his question came out more as:

"K-k-kaaaggghhk?"

There was no answer except for the sound of another door being slammed and locked right beside him. Mike frowned and stumbled his way toward the wall, collapsing but leaning himself against it.

"H…h-h-hello…?" He asked through the wall, hoping whoever was on the other side might be able to hear him. But he was all alone.

Mike whimpered, feeling the realization and dread slowly sinking in. He tried to lean himself up against the wall but wasn't very successful with it, so instead he just laid back down on the concrete floor, closing his eyes.

He couldn't remember a time where he wasn't here, but allowed himself to try and imagine what might've been out there. He closed his eyes and suddenly, he was back in his delusion of playing music. And this time, he didn't mind it that much. In fact, he kind of liked it. It took his mind off the fact that even in the dark, the walls were closing in on him more.