Deep underground, bioengineers were busy with running their test results in various watch glasses and laboratory flasks, mixing liquids unknown to humanity outside Abstergo's walls. What was done down there was highly restricted and those who let a single word slip could be punished. Naturally, almost no one knew what happened to those individuals, since those people never came back to tell the case. The man behind this all had spread an echo around the world, carrying his name in thousands of articles within computer science and bioengineering. Abstergo Inc. had hired him for their own needs and ever since, he spent his time in a lonely underground office on floor -3 drinking expensive mixes of OH, also called alcohol. It could go on for days in a row unless someone interrupted his depressive peace. In fact, this was one of those times when a man entered his office.

"Sir, there seems to be a problem in the incubator tube. The brain activity has fallen drastically and we aren't sure what to do. Electric stimulation does not affect it in any way..", the man spoke hesitantly. His labcoat was slightly stained with light blue spots, mostly on his sleeves. "Find another way", the man waved his hand at the young assistant, as if shooing a dog away from the dinner table and took yet another sip of his scotch. Hope was drained from the assistant's face while he observed the slightly bald man before him. "As I said earlier, we have tried everything. We might lose him if we don't do anything immediately-". At that moment, the man stood up from his seat and nearly knocked the table off its feet. "I said, find another way!", he shouted and slammed his glass so it spilled all over the surface. Backing away, the assistant nodded quickly and escaped his office within seconds.

Without any trace of what had happened earlier, the man kept on drinking in silence. Mrs Walker slowly stepped away from his door, having heard the argument through it, and left to avoid any kind of commotion in case he decided to leave his office. That though was very unlikely, which was favorable for her.

"Vlog #4, May 21st. I am still trapped here and they have threatened to abduct me. Joking- that never happened. Anyhow, things are going way too easy.. Still managing the deadlines, yay(!). Clay and I are getting along, no death forecasts so far. This thing-," he paused and yawned, "is stupid."

Clay smiled and typed on his keyboard. "Don't say that, it really helps, especially if you don't go out that often. Besides, you'll be able to look back at the time you started and see how you've improved yourself." Shaun turned off the camera on his computer and leaned back, tired from sitting in one position. "I know myself enough to feel certain I won't change, but thanks." Few people passed their office and rarely anyone looked inside to see them. Most had a monotone daily task to take care of, as did Shaun and Clay, except that their task was slightly different. Shaun was constantly caught by curiosity of what certain groups did. If asked, workers often laughed it off of dismissed the question.

"Hey, have you ever seen anyone from the far back get up at any point? I haven't met them anywhere whatsoever, elevators, rooms.. even the cafeteria and halls. Don't you find it strange?" Shaun looked at the flickering light with his hands on the back of his head. "Well.. I do not know anything myself but my former co-worker was transferred there. Ever since, he hasn't spoken to me. None of them seem to do that," Clay said with a sad tone. "Is that so?", Shaun frowned, a wrinkle popping up between his eyebrows. In his opinion, the whole situation was out of line.

Human nature was constructed in a way that people could adapt to anything. Anything except loneliness. Those who fell out of that category simply were too abnormal for Shaun's taste. He himself disliked company, at least he claimed it was the case, but every now and then he couldn't stand the lack of human contact. When he was captured and isolated, it truly was distressing and if given the choice, he wouldn't want that to be repeated. "Can you give me some coins? I have none and I need coffee," Shaun said and left his seat, reaching out his hand. "Again? Your heart will explode if you continue consuming that much. By the way, what happened to the five dollars I gave you last time?" Clay crossed his arms and observed his co-worker in amusement who struggled to find an answer that would make sense. "How rude. I don't ask you where your brain goes every hour when I have to help, so don't ask me." With Clay rolling his eyes, Shaun left the office and walked down the hall to a big coffee machine and fished up what was left of the five dollars.

A cup dropped from the big hole and hot liquid followed right after when he had made his order. His true intention was in fact not to get more caffeine that already had him hooked, but an excuse to get a closer look at those who worked in the back of the hall. Nothing seemed out of ordinary, they were sitting by their desks, minding their own business with keyboard keys giving away that they were typing rapidly. He passed them slowly, taking his time to check their faces in case if he recognized anyone. Despite the number of people who worked there, every single one of them shared the same emotionless expression to the point where it started to concern Shaun. "This isn't normal," he thought and backed away which to his surprise quickly stopped by a body being in his way. Turning around, he found a man staring at him blankly as though he was transparent to him. "My bad.. I'm leaving now. Couldn't find my cabinet," Shaun attempted some kind of a smile and walked around him. In a manner of a statue, he remained in a standing position where Shaun had bumped into him.

"Oh, you're back. I assume you did have some cash left after I gave you my money," Clay grinned and spun in his seat to look at Shaun who had quickly slammed the door. He seemed startled and slightly disturbed. "You okay?" He shook his head and took a seat. "I just met one of the guys working there. At least I think it was. There's something really worrisome about that place. If your friend got sent there, then he must have been a lost case already." Clay frowned and peeked from the side of his monitor. "Don't talk like that about him. He was a very decent person."

"The keyword is 'was', Clay."

Later that day, they ended by handing in their work in form of a sealed box and left the coding department to find rest. Clay waved before the elevator doors closed and continued to floor 6. Shaun had grown to like the small room Abstergo had offered him and laid down on the bed the second he had entered. It was the closest thing to a home he had at the moment. Turning the glass opaque, he decided to turn on some music. It was unexpected but they had a huge choice, all kinds of genres and titles installed into the player. One song after another was skipped until one particular song appeared on the list with small font. "They better have soundproof walls," he grinned and turned up the volume. Music started to blast out of the built in speakers and shake the wall slightly. '.. Make it okay, I swear I'll behave..' He sang along and moved his body. 'You wanted control, so we waited, I put on a show..' Someone knocked violently on the wall but without further success, the bass covering up any sounds that came through. "You said I'm a kid, My ego is big, I don't give a shit-!" he sang and grinned while moving his hips from side to side. The stress and tension he had built up inside was slowly disappearing with movements and sweat. '..All the moves like jagger, I've got the moves like jagger.." it continued until he fell back on the bed and panted, staring into the ceiling with wide eyes. "Woah.. that was something." Never had he felt so alive, at least the past few months. He rose and sat up in his bed, gazing into his own eyes in the reflection the wide window provided him with. Small hair stubs were poking out from his chin, so called the three day old shave. Shaun looked older than ever with slightly black circles under his eyes and slim face. "Good god, I look like a caveman..", he rubbed his face and went over to his bathroom. Since Abstergo provided them with all hygienic products, Shaun was convinced he'd find a razor.

Or so he thought at least. He searched through every corner of the narrow bathroom, crawled on his knees but only managed to wipe the floor properly with his pants. Groaning and mumbling, he shoved the card into his pocket and left to take the elevator upstairs. A woman's voice calmly let him know that he was on floor 6. "Thank you, dear," he walked down the corridor. Clay lived just a few doors away from the elevator in room number 38. "Open up, it's me. Dress while you still have the chance cause I'm coming.." The second his fist touched the door, it slid open with a slight creek. ".. in. Clay? Anyone home?" His friend's room seemed abandoned, even the sheets were fixed properly. "Perhaps he's just out somewhere. Where would he go at this hour and why?" Taking what he needed, Shaun left to search for Clay in the empty Abstergo facility that simply gave him the chills. All corridors were blank like papers with rows of doors and numbers. It was as uninviting as a prison. Frankly, that was pretty much it.

The echo of his footsteps spread quickly across the empty hall on the main floor, moonlight stretching Shaun's dark shadow and pinning it to the wall. 'If only this place wasn't as big and confusing. The heck do I find him at?' If anything was shining brightly that night, it's the forged lake in the middle of Abstergo's garden.

The doors were not locked, due to the fact that no one could escape the box shaped building. Rustling of leaves in the tree crowns created a relaxing midnight atmosphere along with various flowers and bushes scent. Harmony was present but it was merely an illusion. "That's what they want us to feel after all. Relaxed and relying on them. To hell with that." Freshly cut grass-smell filled the air around him as he strolled around the garden. Compared to his sight, Shaun's hearing was extraordinary and when he heard something move, he quickly traced the sound to a pair of benched by the lake.

Doubled over with his hands in his hair, Clay sat on top of the table with his feet supporting him, seemingly bothered and frustrated for whatever reason there was. "Am I bothering you? You were missing when I stopped by," he sat down next to Clay and gazed over the lake. His friend didn't respond, keeping his eyes buried on the ground. Few minutes passed until Clay decided to speak up, shakiness following his words. "My friend is no longer a worker here. You know.. he just.. he's just gone." Shaun looked over at him with slight puzzlement in his eyes. "They told you that?" Clay smiled sorrowfully and caught eye contact with Shaun. "I saw how they carried him to the elevator on a stretcher. The body was covered but an arm hung loosely from it… I don't understand how it could have happened. Only 29 years.." The newly obtained information made Shaun feel pity, wrapping his arms around himself. "Happens."

Both of them remained in place until Clay broke down, his body shaking intensively along with dripping tears. The typically manly facade was gone with the wind but there was nothing shameful in it. In an attempt to calm him, Shaun put his palm on the back of Clay's neck. "I can't stand this place, Shaun- I really can't. I constantly wonder when my turn is, when will I make my way down in the elevator to the morgue? This whole place isn't normal and everyone seems to accept it. They're no better than lifeless machines.." His words gave Shaun the chills. For the first time in several weeks, he had seen something human, that for once made sense. "Do your job, do not give them reasons to turn you into that kind of machine. As much as I know, you just have to play by their rules and no one will get hurt, you got it? We're a team, mate, I don't say it often at all.."

Shortly, the sobbing ended and got replaced by chit-chatting and small discussions. If there was one thing Shaun was good at, it's convincing people into thinking what he wanted. The least he could do was to give Clay hope they really couldn't rely on, but chose to out of desperation. "I forgot to mention. I ran out of razors so I kind of broke into your room and took one. You can have it back when I'm done shaving.. everything," Shaun grinned and showed it to his friend. Clay made a face and shook his head. "For the love of God, keep it. Let's call it your Christmas gift."

"Come on, get up. Don't we have work tomorrow morning?" Shaun reached out his hand for Clay to grab and pulled him after that. Only their footsteps were heard in the still night. Not even the wind attempted to break through the built mountains. Some light was still on when they entered the main building, illuminating the path towards corridors and left out a few spots for darkness. They strolled across the hall when suddenly an elevator gave away its presence with a quiet 'plong'. "Who on earth..?" Shaun pulled Clay with him into the dark and observed from a corner, careful not to expose himself.

A creature on four limbs crawled out of there, striving to get on its back legs. The fingers were twisted in a horrifying way but when Shaun took a closer look, it showed to be a normal man. Struggling with balance issues, he unsteadily marched towards the doors. Rugs covered his body that was badly bruised and if he wasn't mistaken, an IV tube was still attached to his arm as well. "Do you think he's..?", Clay whispered, his eyes glued to the bizarre scene. Shaun pressed a finger to his mouth and heard how another elevator joined them on the main floor. It seemed that the sound triggered the man as he flipped out and proceeded to crawl and let out loud moans, the closest he could do to screaming. Various staff emerged with weapons and medical equipment in their hands. Some of them held down the man and others gathered around to guard him. What Shaun hadn't expected was that he'd see nurse Walker among them. She bowed over the man and injected a substance into his neck, giving everyone a calm nod. Guards lowered their weapons, standing still while nurses dragged him on the floor towards the elevator. The man's moans were slow and his hands created a wet trail from the IV tube. Without a single word, they disappeared below ground.

Unable to explain what they both had just witnessed, Clay sank down the wall with a numb face expression. "It's not safe, let's go back to our rooms. The least we want to do is stay here after this.." Shaun started walking towards the dorms when Clay stood up and followed his coworker. This night would sure as hell be tough on them.

Mrs Walker's morning routines were always the same, as precise as it could get. Waking up to the alarm at 6am, she got up to spend ten minutes in the bathroom to wash her fatigue away. It was followed up by applying beauty products and getting dressed into same white shirt and tight black skirt that revealed her delicate figure. If anyone was to ask a coworker what they thought of her, they'd describe her as elegant and frankly intimidating. Only an hour was needed for her to be done, unlike other women who were accused by their partners of occupying the bathroom for an eternity. When standing in front of the mirror and looking into her own eyes, she could observe herself from the side without a mask which she wore day in and day out. How much she ever wanted to let go of it, Mrs Walker told herself that it was needed. In a drawer that was locked with a small key laid an object of great importance. It hung loosely when she picked it up and pulled over her head, making sure it was properly fixated on the inside. She had done it so many times that it merely took some seconds. "You're a stranger to me," she said when her bangs were fixed into place and her ponytail brushed carefully. A wig was nothing she fancied because of the itching and honestly, dark brown wasn't her favorite color either. When her true nature had been concealed, she took her lab coat and left the room to attend her duty.

"Did you get any sleep at all?" Shaun asked concerned (although it wasn't visible) when Clay stepped into the elevator, his face comparable to a three day old corpse. Without wasting words, he nodded and leaned against the wall. Shaun understood him better than he wished to, recalling how frightening yesterday's scene was. "Let me buy you a snack. Looking at you makes me feel like I'm at a funeral." Nothing seemed disturbed, Abstergo's employees were busy as always, working like cogwheels in a clock. Sometimes Shaun wondered how they managed to keep check on every single individual, holding a tight grip. It was odd that no one had rioted against the company ever since it had been established. Most impressively, no one from the outer world questioned its existence and success. Both of them got off on floor 0 and passed where only a few hours ago a man got dragged underground with help of security guards and Mrs Walker that Shaun thought he could trust. Nausea took over Clay when he faced the closing doors but he endured it. Everything was alright right now, as much as possible at least.

The monitor flickered to life when one of the employees on floor -1 shook the mouse, sitting down with a bagel and coffee this early morning. It was forbidden to bring any kinds of liquids there and keep it on the table where a single wrong movement could result in disaster. However, that didn't stop him since he had an awfully long day ahead of him. The surveillance department paid double as much for overworked time and many were ready to do so. No one was waiting for them at home either way. "Hey, Mike! Staying as always?", one of the coworkers asked and gave him a pat on the shoulder. "You know it," he smiled and sipped from the paper mug. Mike typed some on his keyboard and opened up the files from last night. It was forbidden to be in the main building after midnight and therefore no one could keep check on the cameras or access any files. "Let's see what we've got here." It could take from some minutes to hours checking that nothing had gone wrong during night, which Mike had learned to expect. This time thought the footages made his skin crawl. The video showed how two men were hiding in the shadow when a subject escaped the laboratory, followed by guards who dragged him back by his limbs. It was as disturbing as it could get, as if taken straight from a horror movie. This sure wasn't the first time someone had escaped the underground but when someone was there to see it happen got the idea that it was possible to run away somehow. "God bless you poor men.. I hope they don't do anything too bad to you.." Mike sighed and wiped sweat off his forehead before taking the USB and leaving to report the incident.