Night 45: M41-M50 Hallway

[cmdr_exposition]

Hayes paused in the middle of assembling the few useful items he had- the flashlight and TK's map, of course, and maybe one of the pens in case he wanted to note some kind of landmarks- to scowl up at the intercom. He talks like a schoolteacher and laughs like a damned Ilwrath, he thought, with a very slight shudder. A laugh like that was never

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[hes_deadjim]

"Very funny, Commander," McCoy replied. He fished out the ancient flashlight and turned it on. The beam landed on his boots for a moment.

The doctor stepped out after Hayes, stopping a little behind him. He was right. They came out into a hallway that seemed much more narrow in the darkness. He could make out a few more patients wandering around. Even if he wasn't going to complain about his freedom, a nagging part of him was appalled at the idea of the few patients who did need the help roaming around unchecked. They could hurt themselves like this, he winced.

There wasn't, of course, any sign of the mentioned monsters. It looked dark, that was all. Darkness and fear of the unknown had a profound effect on the human subconscious. Night triggered a need for the mind to fill in the blanks; it wasn't unreasonable to see this as a contributing factor to that rumor.

McCoy had never been unnerved at all in an empty sickbay, morgue, or planetside facilities during night shifts or after hours in some. Now he couldn't deny the disquiet that settled in his stomach.

"I'm starting to have doubts that this is a real hospital," he said unnecessarily.

[cmdr_exposition]

There were so many sarcastic comments that could have been made in response to that astute observation that they got in each other's way, forcing Hayes to make do with a grim chuckle as he started down the hall. It would have been frightening under other circumstances- in fact it was- but having a goal in mind made that fear much easier to disregard.

Speaking of which... "I was planning on meeting with TK-622- the one who told me about this place," he said, head half-turned to face McCoy. "It might be a good idea to stay together, since neither of us knows what's out there."

[Probably to here next]