Chapter 2: Together
The first room was the same as Chell's first, she instructed Mohs on what she needed to do. Which was quite simply move the block from its resting place on the ground, to the pressure plate. It was quite tedious, watching the poor girl struggle with the simplicity of the puzzle.
" Is that all?" Mohs asked skeptically.
" Set it down on the Button and you'll see." Chell said with pretended patience.
As Mohs set the cube down, Chell was surprised to see confetti and ribbons rain down on the small figure at her success. There was no music, but it was more than Chell had gotten the first time she'd gotten placed in the maze of puzzle rooms. I was right, they don't treat us all the same. But it doesn't make sense. There's no pattern to follow.
They proceeded to the next room, which was another water puzzle. The puzzle looked like it was in another level of difficulty altogether. There were two pressure plates, and a trapdoor box release housed in the ceiling. But how to get at it?
" I guess it's hopeless. No boxes and two buttons. We could stand on the buttons, but how would we get through the doors then?" Mohs said despondently.
" I wonder how many of the boxes will drop... Mohs, go over and catch the box that drops, and place it on the far button. You okay for hopping over?" Chell asked her.
" I know how to swim, but I'm not too good at jumping." Mohs said quietly, her hair falling in front of her face.
" If you want you can stand on this button when I get over there and I'll catch the box." Chell offered.
" That sounds like a good idea." Mohs agreed with a weak cheerful smile.
Chell hopped across the platforms which were spaced closer together. Maybe they meant it for her? But two buttons? She waved at Mohs, indicating that she was ready for the door to open. Mohs stepped on the button, it caught a little before completely depressing and releasing the trapdoor. As they fell, Chell caught one of the boxes and deflected the second that fell on the button nearest to her. The door at the far end of the room opened briefly, closing once Mohs stepped off her platform towards it. Ignoring the path provided by the platforms, she swam through the murky water to the door.
" It won't open back up until I place this box on the button you just left!" Chell shouted, hoping she wasn't too focused on just moving on.
" I know, but you're always first through the door, it's my turn this time!" Mohs shouted back, her wet hair dripping, the only sound in the room save the water disturbed by her passing through it.
The computer told me that we needed to stick together, did she hear different instructions? Chell thought to herself. When they'd gone through the passage before this room, they'd been instructed to go down different passages, guaranteed that they would be reunited in the next room. Chell's path had been winding and long, but she hadn't bothered to ask Mohs if hers was the same. Until now, she assumed that they'd both had similar paths, which lead to similar locations in this room.
Once the box was on the button the door opened again, and Mohs dove through, regardless of Chell's calls for them to stay together.
Chell ran after her. Not knowing what this increasingly unusual 'Bring your daughter to work' day would have in store for them. I don't want to be alone again. The thought occurred to her as the little girl disappeared from her line of sight. She heard a scream which was abruptly cut off. The flat computer voice began as she passed through the doorway, the lights coming on, and the door shutting behind her.
" You will not look for that girl." It said.
It's never talked to me before. What's going on? Thoughts raced through Chell's mind. Each one more terrifying than the rest, before she settled on opposing the voice.
" NO." She said.
" It does not really matter what you decide. She is gone, that is all. It was a mistake letting you two meet." The voice said, as flat as it seemed, whatever was talking to her was not the voice of the computer that droned on about testing and cake. It was a human talking through the computer.
" NO." She repeated stubbornly.
" You will continue testing, the next chamber is ready for you when you're done throwing your tantrum." They said.
This isn't over.
Reader's Note: Sorry for the HUGE delay, this isn't exactly high on my priorities list, Sadly. While I am trying to expand my story repertoire (spell check me?) I can't put out more than about 1500-1750 words per week with my current non-writing workload.