As the footsteps and voices came closer, more joined them. The next were fainter, farther away, and desperate; someone was calling for help, and another answering. Relief that she was not alone and fear of who the others could be toyed with the stability of her emotions. The noises increased; the sound of doors being forced open and conversations igniting. Connie kept her back pressed against the wall beside her holding cell, a small area of the corridor around her illuminated by the light of her screen.

Orbs of light from screens up and down the corridor offered brief respite from the darkness, but between them she could see nothing. Footsteps gradually increased, echoing through the corridors, and still no one came. The longer she waited, the more indecisive she became. She feared growing too comfortable in the solace of darkness, for what might be born of it. Connie shook her head and rubbed her eyes. No, that was silly. [i]You're succumbing to childish fear and fairytale beliefs[/i], she told herself. [i]You're a scientist. You have a logical mind. So think.[/i]

The proverbial cogs began to turn once again, the mechanical whir sending fear to the back of her mind. She took a step into the darkness of the corridor, towards the pair of voices she heard moments ago. [i]If I'm an experiment, then there are scientists are involved.[/i] Another step. The light of her screen and the comfort that came with it disappeared behind her. 

Each logical step towards unravelling the mystery was rewarded with a physical step closer to sanctuary of other people. What was it they said in those cliché films? [i]To understand the scientist, you must become the scientist.[/i] That was easy. She was one step ahead already. She rewarded herself with a faster pace, walking on her tip-toes to remain silent, lips quirked prematurely in a triumphant smile. 

Connie watched the ground, unable to see her feet, stepping ever closer to the pair of voices up ahead, until she bumped into something positively not wall-like and one-hundred percent human-like. She jolted back and reached for the wall as if it could protect her, staring at the bright hair of the person she'd unwittingly collided with.