Wow, i suck i know. For how long it's been, this chapter should be super long and awesome, and it totally isn't ;o;

I actually had the draft for this written a long time ago, and i just wasn't happy with it. I edit'd the crap out of it and to me it still seems to go too fast and not explain what i'd like it to, but..this was the best i ended up with.

Sorry for the huge delay and short chapter D;

He was in the elevator when it happened.

He was simply glaring ahead, waiting to be dropped off at his 'relaxation chamber', his mind working a mile a minute. There was never a moment here when he wasn't thinking, when his shoulders weren't tense and his eyes weren't wide, ready for anything.

And then, in a flash, it came: a loud, siren-like screech in his ears, pulsing through his brain.

The portal gun fell to the floor with a clatter and he gave a grunt of pain as he collapsed to his knees. He gripped his head, his chest; he braced his palms against the wall. He found that he couldn't stop, and his breath came in short bursts. A terror was gripping his mind-suddenly he just needed to be out of this box, this room, this place, free.

The pain seemed endless and the hours seemed to fly by as he crouched there, willing away the pain, trying to fill his lungs and calm his erratic nerves. And very, very slowly, it seemed to work. The nightmare faded away, the ringing in his ears dulled.

Carefully he opened his eyes, feeling the warm trails of tears down his cheeks.

The elevator was open, and he could hear HER voice trailing on, far away and muffled by his now throbbing headache. He caught his breath for the moment, letting his eyes adjust and slowly the silence returned.

He glanced around slowly, a sick feeling uncurling in his stomach as his gaze found scratches on the wall-scratches made by his hands. There was blood there, too, and upon looking at his fingers he found that they were bleeding stumps, the nails worn down and the tips freshly cut.

He tore his eyes away from the sight, sticking a finger in his mouth and sucking them clean as he stood. His brain was still harried; still nervous and jolting, but at least the pain, whatever it had been, was gone for now.

His hands were shaking. He picked up the portal gun from where it had fallen, biting his lip as a twinge of pain shot through his head.

He could feel himself slipping; losing his sense of awareness, falling back into the darkness from before. Into that person who could think of nothing but escape. He shook himself, feeling a shudder crawl up his spine.

I have to get out of here.

It was almost like he could feel the insanity watching over his shoulder, waiting for a slip-up.

He took a deep shuddering breath, using the wall to push him up where he stood. He could see a portal to his relaxation chamber awaiting him, a small walkway circling around and leading to the glass cube. He frowned, stepping out of the elevator.

As soon as his feet left the ground, the elevator doors closed and flew up and away. Cocking an eyebrow, he stepped over, looking up the shaft and then down into the depths below.

Nothing but darkness.

The computer hadn't spoken yet, so maybe it was safe to assume that she-it was attending to other matters, torturing OTHER people. His eyebrows met in the middle of his forehead.

This place is getting to me. One slip, one weakness..and you're gone and dead. I can't...I won't...

He shot a portal down the elevator shaft. The sound of it bouncing off and failing to land met his ears.

"Please proceed into the relaxation chamber."

He was no longer surprised by the sound of her voice and simply turned his head to the ceiling. He could feel a wicked smile crawl across his face.

It's escape or death.

"No."

And taking a breath, he jumped into the elevator shaft.

Cliffhanger! Please give me some constructive criticism on this chapter, if you would. c: