Night 28: Intercom, Early Night
It had been a long, long time since rough static had echoed through the halls of the Institute and given way to a familiar voice. The Head Doctor hadn't kept his word of joining the patients on their trip, it seemed, perhaps because of his ego or perhaps because of time constraints. After all, it must have been difficult to think of new ways to keep people chained down, new ways to brainwash and erase memories and generally keep the population under control. He seemed to have some free time now, however, or at least he had realized that the power he wielded through the disembodied voice on the intercom was a powerful one.
"Well, well, well..." He began, and a smacking sound came over the speakers that gave the listener the image of Martin Landel licking his lips. "A day of controlled freedom and now a chance to see loved ones and have your way around sections of the Institute? I'd say you'd be spoiled to claim you have a dire need to get out of here!"
He paused, perhaps waiting for the patients to pay attention to a mainstay of Landel's that had been sorely lacking during the day and this nighttime. Once he'd taken long enough, he laughed.
"But of course, you say this isn't real freedom! Why the monsters, why the walls, you ask? Well, are you forced to leave your rooms at night? Are you forced to do anything especially unpleasant during the day?
"The answer is no, and you'd all do well to remember that, especially with the coming influx of more new patients over the coming days. Ah, yes, what familiar faces will you meet this time? Who will remember and who will have forgotten? Who, exactly, will you be glad to see just before guilt gives way over your selfish thoughts?
"The answers will reveal themselves soon, answers more tangible and definite than anything the Radio Man can give you. I took a day of absence for my own well-being, but I'll be sure to keep an even better eye on all of you than before.
"Now, if you'll excuse me..."
The intercom faded back into static, then silence.
"Well, well, well..." He began, and a smacking sound came over the speakers that gave the listener the image of Martin Landel licking his lips. "A day of controlled freedom and now a chance to see loved ones and have your way around sections of the Institute? I'd say you'd be spoiled to claim you have a dire need to get out of here!"
He paused, perhaps waiting for the patients to pay attention to a mainstay of Landel's that had been sorely lacking during the day and this nighttime. Once he'd taken long enough, he laughed.
"But of course, you say this isn't real freedom! Why the monsters, why the walls, you ask? Well, are you forced to leave your rooms at night? Are you forced to do anything especially unpleasant during the day?
"The answer is no, and you'd all do well to remember that, especially with the coming influx of more new patients over the coming days. Ah, yes, what familiar faces will you meet this time? Who will remember and who will have forgotten? Who, exactly, will you be glad to see just before guilt gives way over your selfish thoughts?
"The answers will reveal themselves soon, answers more tangible and definite than anything the Radio Man can give you. I took a day of absence for my own well-being, but I'll be sure to keep an even better eye on all of you than before.
"Now, if you'll excuse me..."
The intercom faded back into static, then silence.