After waking up from a relaxing sleep 'Zade', wakes up in a cold cell first thing he realizes is the walls are white, Second a window.... an observation window, third, a giant metal door without a handle.
An intercom turns on and speaks "subject 'Zade' has shown no irregularities but remains unmoving further observation is required"
"This again?" 'Zade' calls out.
The observation window flickers as the intercom crackles again but this time a different voice more cold, clinical, cuts through.
"Day 47. Subject 058 ('Zade') exhibits sarcasm and continuity of consciousness no degradation detected."
A chuckle cracks from behind the glass faint, almost sympathetic.
One of the people mouths off:
"you really don't remember last Tuesday, do you?"
The silence stretches.
The lights flicker once soft, than sharp.
A new message crackles over the intercom, slightly distorted, as if they're playing recording backward by mistake.
"Day 189. Subject 058 demonstrates pause response. Indicates cognitive evasion or...memory looping. Administering Test Protocol TreA"
Behind the glass, one of the researchers slowly raises and laminated sign:
"YOU WOKE UP YESTERDAY TOO."
Another taps their pen like a countdown.
'Zade's' head throbs—just for a second— and the air smells like burnt cinnamon.
'Zade' almost remembers something.
A door that had no handle but..... wasn't meant to be opened from the inside
"I'm going back to sleep."
The intercom crackles once again "Subject's noncompliance is noted and logged. Continue monitoring."
"It" lays down on the bare floor and tries to get comfortable.
The, soft tapping noise at the cell door interrupts the silence.
"what do you want Jake?" 'Zade' mutters
The intercom stays silent.
The observation window fogs up—just for a second
Then, in shaky condensation, letters form on the glass:
"WHO'S JAKE"
One of the researchers turns sharply to the others. Their lips move fast —quarantine? unauthorized protocol?— but no sound comes through.
Another taps frantically at a console
The lights dim again.....and that half second of darkness, 'Zade' hears it:
A whisper from the vent above you — "his' name, spoken with a familiar tone.
And then—
Click.
The speaker resets.