Author's notes: Wow, I don't think I've gotten this much views since posting any of my previous chapters. Thank you for coming along for the ride. Before I proceed, I would like to add my reactions to the subsequent reviews I've received from Leodragon678, be sure to check him out if you want Tails stories.

Ch1: Whatever research he was conducting became his obsession, I believe, and that's what lead to his disappearance. As for how he is doing right now, we will have to find out soon, but I am certainly going to deviate from the story I'm basing the fanfic on.

Ch2: Maybe, maybe not. We'll see.

Ch3: He certainly won't like it, but the real question is how is it going to mold him.

Ch4: That might just be the tip of the iceberg. One thing is being in a scary situation, another thing is observing someone being in the same situation and acting differently from what you expected.

Ch5: Thank you very much. If you are interested in seeing where it goes from here, as I said, I'm heavily basing it of another game. If you want a survival horror with puzzle elements, be sure to take a look at Penumbra. Not as scary as Amnesia: The Dark Descent, but I've never felt so alone playing games.

Another thing I should mention. I am going to be busy for the next two weeks, so I might not be able to update my story as frequently. With that out of the way, here is the next chapter.

Chapter 6: Signs Of Life

I am unsure what spurred me to go even deeper into the mine despite the unfolding brutality tainting this mine with dark red. Perhaps I felt invincible, spitting in the face of a gruesome death. My yearning for answers outweighed my will for self-preservation. Without a doubt, that is ingrained within the essence of my soul, and I have yet to see what path it paved for me.

Jumping out from the newly made tunnel, the newfound scenery contrasted my former whereabouts. Whereas the hallways that preceded me were narrow, rugged and supported by decaying wooden beams, the ones I came upon were vast and the floor and walls were paved with cement. Large shipping containers were scattered all around in the lingering darkness, devoid of any cargo, and circumstantially, purpose. For the time being, the only sounds I heard were the ones coming from my fatigued body.

My flashlight has by that point finished its meal, and for the first time in here I could not appease its hunger. I would have to replenish its source of energy later, as soon as I obtain more batteries. Now relying on the eerily tinted light of my backup source, the glowstick, I wandered forward. I would soon stop in my tracks as the deafening rumbles came from the rocky walls. Whether it was reverb or something else, the sounds of crumbling rocks sounded organic, I could swear it sounded like screaming. I felt chills going down my spine, like I was struck by someone's line of sight, but there was no one in the vicinity.

Brushing off my fears, the door on my left had "Generator Room" written on the sign above it. I went into the room, and discerned a big machine in the far end of the room. It stood behind a frame made out of thick, protective glass, and on my right, in front of the glass, a mainframe laid covered in dust, presumably the controls to the generator. It looked elaborate, however the most basic of functions were labeled with symbols and operated with valve wheels. On the opposite side of the controls stood a metal shelf, on which laid another artefact, a filed document, and some batteries for my flashlight. Of course, I laid my finger on the artefact, experienced the same sensations as before, and came out feeling less of a stranger to these mines. Hopefully these bring me closer to the answers I seek, without any heart attacks coming my way.

The document described the make of the generator, and instructed its initiation procedure. Hoping that this would at least shower the area with light, I followed the instructions as best I could, matching the meanings of the symbols on the mainframe with the names of the steps in the instructions. I did my best deciphering the symbols, making sure I turn the wheels in the right order. Once the last wheel has been turned, and no status lights were left unlit, I walked up to the lever standing next to the generator, and pulled it. I was left in awe at the notion that such a generator even sparked, but however promising that was, it still remained dormant. I rushed back to the mainframe, convinced I must have messed up the order of my instructions, but the problem turned out to be something else.

A fuse popped out as a result of a power surge. I should have expected things not to go smoothly for me. Still, since that appeared to be the only problem, I sighed in relief as I ventured back out in search of a replacement fuse.

Exploring my surroundings further, I could notice some scaffolding clinging to the cement walls, its platforms positioned at least half my height from the top of my head. The rattling of the chain fence on my left startled me, and shifting my gaze, another one of these ferals stared at me, eyes glowing with anticipation. Still, between me and it stood a large, metal gate. Upon closer inspection, it was a gate that lifts up after you input a code on a number pad in front of it. Not only did I not know the code, the pad was powered by electricity that originates from the currently nonfunctional generator. The gate was most likely put there to prevent people from freely leaving or entering after work hours, so venturing behind the gate would certainly mean progress. Yet another reason for me to restore power to the area.

Besides the generator room, I discovered two more doors, both of which had objects of utmost relevance. The first room I paid a visit was some sort of a small communications rooms, judging by the many speakers and radios, both in use and defunct. The ones that appeared to be in use were on the left and in front of me. The one in front of me just emitted static noise, so I assumed it wasn't working properly and turned the knob until the noise vanished from my ears. In front of this speaker laid a narrow band communications radio. That thing looked like a cheap toy more than anything else. I have once tried making one of these radios at home, and despite only having theoretical knowledge, I probably did a better job on it. Nevertheless, this heap of electronics might be my chance to get in touch with someone who is able to talk.

My few seconds of studying the radio device were interrupted by loud, high pitched beeping coming from the speakers on the left. A rush of hope and anticipation came flowing through my veins. Someone was there somewhere, alive, trying to reach out. I didn't know it at the time, but suspense enveloped me, and the prospect of someone who would answer the burning questions in my mind relinquished me of any insecurities. But what did the beeping mean, I wondered as I picked up a note from the table. To my surprise, it was dated at the time when my father was alive, the approximate period he reminisced about in his stories.

Alright boys, I know lack of sunlight can be stressful and all, and the conditions aren't all dandy, but this is no time for some humorous malice. You know our technician at the generator has deep seated issues with his height, and he was very adamant about how hurtful these remarks about his height are to him. But did you really just sabotage the generator and take every spare fuse from the box, save for one which you threw on the very top of the shelf?! You can't even reach that standing on one of the crates, imagine how he feels about this. His job is important as much as ours, I don't care about some giggles you're going to get. Don't underestimate why we are here. Apologize to him and return absolutely all of the fuses back to him. You better pray that you grow another tail and fly up like a helicopter to that one fuse, or else I'm going to give you all a mighty boost with my fists.

Howard, Mine Foreman.

The read was worth a chuckle, but most importantly, it disclosed the location of the fuses. Since none of the previously visited rooms had any ridiculously high shelves, it could only be that one room I had yet to explore. As expected, I was right. There were two metal shelves reaching as high as the ceiling. The box with the spares was empty, but skeptical about whether they did return the fuses to him, I looked up and squinted. It camouflaged itself with the wall, but there was a fuse up there on the very top. The foreman did say that even an average person on a box couldn't reach that high, but I was a tinge taller than most. Besides, it was never mentioned I couldn't reach it standing on two boxes, which conveniently, stood in the corner, stacked on top of each other. I still had to stand on the tip of my toes to grab it, but in any case, I still got the fuse.

Besides the fuse, there was a note on the other shelf, luckily placed much lower. These were emergency procedures regarding cave-ins. I skimmed through most of the words, however the last part rang a bell. It instructed the victims of a cave-in to tap on the walls, and provided them with a Morse code alphabet. My mind immediately switched the attention back to the radio room, and I couldn't help but notice the carefully times intervals and the different lengths of each beep. I rushed back into the room and listened to the pattern a few times. Fortunately, there was a long pause after the pattern ended, so I knew the order in which the message was relayed.

It was a set of four digits. 5738. I knew it must be that gate code, so I immediately set off to pump some juice into the generator. This time, there were no power spikes, and the generator ran smoothly. I felt great pleasure hearing the mechanism move, almost as if I revived a dead person.

I stepped out of the room, ready to press some numbers on the pad, when my attention got caught elsewhere.

The com radio actually received a transmission! I swiftly pulled the radio out of my pocket, almost dropping it. A second later, a grating, slightly high-pitched voice spoke from it:

"Good day? Good day, can you hear me?" he asked.

I tried to respond, but, as I have stated before, the crudely built radio didn't function properly, and the button that would let me answer back hanged loosely.

"I hope your ears compensate to your lack of tongue, as the combined letters emerging from my throat will be more enlightening than yours." he reacted to my silence, though I doubt he wanted to make this remark condescending.

"Listen well, for you have indeed illuminated the ends and the middle of the tunnel, but alas, your journey is far greater than just one, and what follows is gloom beyond the one you banished at this moment." he continued.

"I hope my Morse hasn't rusted away like the foregone epoch's iron. Listen mindfully, there is no time for explanations. Well, time is actually the only thing in abundance this purgatory provides, but your curiosity must wait until exposure is no more. Go right from the metaphorical jaw you will unhinge, and beware that the diabolical jaws of reality don't clasp you. I will know when you do, and soon I will shatter the enigma encapsulating you"

As he uttered his last sentence, I was left dumbfounded. Whoever this was seemed to have gotten his share of insanity. Yet, his ramblings were right, as once I open the gate, the feral behind it will step out into the newly formed light.

It is going to prove difficult, but I am not going to sacrifice my life defying the words of my only tour guide.