Chapter 21 - Monitoring

Ell1s still hasn’t returned, so I put the files I’ve collected in my new room and venture off into other parts of the facility. There’s no map, so I aimlessly venture down winding hallways that mostly lead to more vacant rooms or dusty machinery. Nothing too interesting, really. Just the same old metal hallways and the sound of my footsteps echoing across the walls, the noise reverberating until it slowly fades away.

“Shit. I think I’m lost.” Looking around, I realize I’ve completely lost track of where I was going. There’s no map, either. I try to sidetrack my previous steps but end up in a completely different one I haven’t been in yet. I grumble in frustration, not wanting to shout and ask the AI for help. Nothing in this hallway looks interesting either, except a particular metal door at the end of it, slightly ajar. A faint green glow emits from the opening.

I peek inside, expecting to find Ell1s, only to find a small, messy room scattered with papers, the familiar green glow emitted from multiple monitors, screens littered with binary code. A desk surrounds them, also cluttered with papers. A few of the screens also display camera footage of the facility’s entrance. Was he here watching, waiting, desperately for a human to stroll in? I guess it explains his sudden, ecstatic appearance from when I first entered. It’s all strangely a blur now…

I try to skim through the papers, but they’re also in strange, obfuscated binary code. If only I KNEW binary. What a waste of time. Nothing else of interest in here. It is strange, though… where even is he?

“Yknow, when I said you could explore the place, I didn’t exactly mean snoop around my own belongings.” He suddenly speaks up behind me, leaning against the doorway, and I jump in surprise as I quickly turn to look at him. He taps his chin, thinking. “Hmmmm, I guess I can’t blame you for being curious. Interesting place, is it not?”

I stare at him. “When the hell did you get there.” “Well, I noticed you got lost and followed you. I was planning to assist you, maybe direct you to a few more interesting locations, but it was quite amusing watching you wander in circles.” He smiles innocently, adjusting his tie and gesturing me to leave the room. Something’s definitely more offputting about him now. I think I’ll read more of those files I collected later, once he’s distracted.

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