Having waited while constantly shifting into more comfortable positions, Noah’s patience is finally exhausted.

He gets up to move his legs after sitting down for such a long time and begins to walk around the limited space available in the room.

Having seen Noah get up, the Janitor, who has remained silent ever since first sitting down, finally speaks up still with his depressed tone. “There's no point lad. It's better to wait here than to wander the halls.”

Noah stops pacing and turns to look down at the Janitor who continues saying. “I know you’re wanting to do something, I am as well. But it's really too risky to venture out there..”

But he stops his words and springs to his feet, suddenly having become full of energy. Only after observing the Janitor jump up and stare at the door does Noah understand that someone is about to enter.

The door handle slowly twists and with a barely audible clack, the door swings open. Standing there in silence is a person Noah does not recognize.

A female, that Noah assumes is a Lifeless, takes small steps to enter the room. Immediately turning around, she quietly closes the door behind herself. His impression of her is that she is meek and reserved.

Before the woman could fully turn back to face the two men in the room, the Janitor has already jumped forward and grabbed her arm. Speaking to her with fervor.

“You have it, don’t you Lass! Tell me you have the service key!” The Janitor says while shaking her arm, expectation evident in his crazed expression.

Looking around with visible unease, the girl responds quietly. “I do have a key. I don’t know if it's the one you want. But if you are the janitor, I will give it to you.”

Her hand subtly slips into the pocket of her baggy sweater. She is unwilling to fully remove the hand which grips the key she spoke of.

That is until she confirms the crazy man in front of her is the Janitor, to whom she is supposed to deliver the object.

Rapidly nodding his head a few times, the Janitor responds in earnest. “Aye, I am the Janitor, in charge of cleaning up the messes all you troublemakers create.”

Then remembering his current situation, the Janitor enters a dreary state momentarily. “Or at least I was...”

Then perking back up just as suddenly, the Janitor asks for the key. “Now, quickly, hand me the key lass! So me and this lad here,” He points towards Noah behind him, “Can finally fix the busted generator.”

The woman, taking a quick glance at Noah who has remained silent this whole time, pulls out her hand and drops the small key into the cupped palms of the Janitor.

As soon as his eyes notice the silver outline of the key, the Janitor lets out a joyful cry. “Ah, how splendid!”

Closing his fingers around it, the Janitor continues in his joy. “How much trouble this little key has caused. But now, I can finally get back to it!”

Taking his eyes off his closed hands and looking back at the quiet woman in front of him, The Janitor says. “Thank you Lass, you have done me a great service!”

She responds with a half hearted “You're welcome,” as her mind is preoccupied with the contents of her new trial that is being given to her.

Turning around to face Noah, The Janitor calls out to him. “Now then Lad, our salvation is finally here. It is time for us to get back to work!”

He walks past Noah to stand in front of the locked door at the rear of the closet, key in hand.

As he puts the key into the lock without turning, he looks back towards Noah. “Ah, but first we must prepare. You never know…what lies beyond this door.” He says with seriousness.

Quickly flicking his head left and right, as if searching for something in particular, he stops and stares at a certain object leaning in the corner of the room.

Bringing his arm over to the object, The Janitor snatches it up while letting out a resolute “That's It!” He turns back to face Noah, a dirty mop in hand.

Holding out the mop to Noah, the Janitor speaks gravely. “Listen lad, if things get hectic, I trust you to resolve them. Take it.”

Seeing Noah’s lack of response, the Janitor brings the mop handle to Noah’s hand and pries open his fingers, setting the mop into his grasp.

Clamping his own fingers on top of Noah’s, the Janitor stares him straight in the eyes and says. “Don’t ever let go of it. It is my most potent weapon.”

Once again turning around to face the locked service door, the Janitor takes a deep breath as if he is preparing for the most serious and strenuous task of his life.

Behind the Janitor, Noah stands fidgeting slightly, unsure of how to react to the given situation. Seeing the Janitor’s seriousness, he cannot help but to also put on a serious front.

While the Janitor turns the key and pushes open the door to the service room, Noah takes a brief glance behind himself at the quiet woman who has observed the whole exchange.

Noah still has the same impression of her, as she still acts meek and reserved. Her neutral expression and bland features make her easily forgettable.

But he feels one more thing from her, something he did not notice during his first glance. She has a hidden depth to her, a concealed danger. She is not the harmless and meek person she seems to be.

This lasting impression of danger could be on an instinctual level, or it could very well be Noah sensing the hidden danger of her boon.

Noah is not concerned with the hidden depths of the meek girl. He turns back to look at the Janitor’s back, as he takes his first peak beyond the service door.

Peering in through a finger length gap, the Janitor hesitantly looks in, seeing nothing but an empty and long corridor.

It is dark and gloomy, filled with an ominous aura. The Janitor makes an audible gulp as he is suppressed by the intimidating darkness that lies within.

But suddenly, a firm hand comes down onto his shoulder making him jump in fright.

Twisting his head around to look at what it is, the Janitor lets out his held breath. As it is only the hand of the lad that is here to help him with his troubles.

Pulling the Janitor out of the way with his left hand, Noah pushes the door wide open with his foot as he holds the mop in his right hand out in front of himself.

Walking forward into the long and dark corridor with slow steps, Noah cautiously looks around, having been influenced by the Janitor’s own hesitation.

But after a few uneventful seconds, he relaxes his tense shoulders and looks behind him while saying, “There's nothing.”

Peering around Noah's shoulders, the Janitor asks with a slight tremble in his voice. “Are you sure lad? Is there truly nothing?”

Looking back at the dark corridor in front, Noah nods. “Nothing.” He says while continuing to walk further inside, leaving the Janitor behind.

Upon seeing his brave helper venture into the unknown dangers of the corridor, the Janitor takes a deep breath and also walks in.

But as soon as he fully passes through the doorway, the door slams shut behind him with unexpected force.

Whipping around the Janitor shouts in excessive panic. “It closed on its own! We're trapped in here!”

Noah turns around when he hears the loud slam of the door. He is not that concerned even when listening to the Janitor’s panicked shouts. He does not realize the door is not only closed, but also locked.

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If he knew this, then maybe he would show some worry. But at this moment, he is more focused on why the Janitor is making such an odd face, all twisted up in horror. But before he can ask, he feels something brush against his ankle.

“Lad, quick! There are bugs crawling about you!” The Janitor yells out in hysteria.

Hearing the Janitor’s words, Noah looks all around. He is unable to notice anything in the corridor, which is only illuminated by a handful of very dim incandescent light bulbs that cast an orange glow on the surroundings.

Feeling something flit around next to his ear, Noah swings his free left hand up and makes contact with something. Feeling a sort of goo-like substance on his hand, Noah looks at it, where he notices some yellow residue.

With barely a flicker of emotion on his face, Noah wipes off his hand on his shorts and looks to the Janitor as he is currently flailing around, trying to fight off whatever it is that's assailing him.

Seeing a vague outline on the wall near the Janitor, Noah suddenly remembers the mop that he is holding. Grabbing it with both hands, he swings the mop out, aiming for the dark silhouette on the wall.

With a loud slap, the damp cloth of the mop strikes the wall. Pulling back, Noah knows he had missed the assailing creature as there is nothing but a wet mark on the wall from the damp mop.

Not deterred by this initial failure, Noah continues to swing the mop around, aiming for every shadow and dark spot that could possibly be the bugs the Janitor mentioned.

If anything catches his eye, he immediately swings the mop in that direction.

A majority of his swings fly unobstructed, hitting nothing but air. As Noah is not fast enough to take the creatures out mid flight.

Whenever Noah suspects the creatures to be landing on a wall, he delivers a resounding strike in that area.

If one of those strikes did hit, it could potentially render the creature immobile. But none of them do.

After a dozen swings against suspected creatures on the walls and dozens of other missed swings through the air, Noah finally strikes true.

Delivering a powerful swing from his right hip up to his left shoulder, Noah hits the wall and feels something squish beneath the end of the mop.

This is a feeling vastly different from the countless other empty splats onto the walls and floor.

With this strike connecting with the unknown insect, a plume of nearly invisible mist was released. A dense concentration of the dreams of darkness that plague the school was released.

No longer flailing about, the Janitor quickly scrambles over to where Noah had struck the creature and takes a closer look.

Waving for Noah to come over the Janitor calls out. “You got’em lad! A solid strike with that mop and down it went!”

Changing from his hysterical state moments earlier to a joyfully cheering one, Noah notices how fast the Janitor changes expressions and tones.

Staring for a few moments, the Janitor tries to decipher what the insect-like creature is. “By the dreams, what is this..?!” He yells out in a choking cry.

Crouching down, Noah too looks at the fist sized creature lying on the ground. He initially believes it to be some sort of cockroach, as it has three sets of legs and a carapace-like body.

Curious as to why the Janitor is reacting so violently to the insect, Noah reaches his hand towards the critter to flip it over.

As soon as his fingers make contact with its splayed wing, the insect comes to life again and jumps up. But instead of letting go like what most people would do, Noah tightens his grip on the insect's wing and holds it down.

The insect, unable to jump or fly away, thrashes around trying to free itself. Its wing crumbles under the stress of Noah’s grip and finally snaps after a few moments.

But before the insect can jump away, Noah’s right hand drops the mop and slams down onto the creature’s body, seeming to squish it flat onto the concrete floor.

Lifting up his goo covered hand, Noah takes a good look at the now squashed insect. Besides the human-like face on its underside, Noah notices nothing else unusual.

The human face that is formed out of the carapace of the insect is twisted into a pained and weeping face, like it is under immense strain.

Noah stares at it for a few moments but seems undisturbed with it. The thought of why an insect would have such a creepy face on the underside of its body never crosses his mind.

Even if Noah did have such a thought, he would not have dwelt on it long as the Janitor’s current situation finally comes to his attention.

During the few seconds Noah had spent focused on the insect, the Janitor had become afflicted with some sort of ailment.

His face is scrunched up in a strained expression and tears are rolling from his eyes. An expression that is similar to the one Noah sees on the insect’s carapace.

Noah watches as the Janitor slowly brings up his hands to grip his own throat tightly, choking himself. He falls backwards and rolls onto his back, letting out guttural noises.

Even to Noah, it is obvious he is not breathing and in a bad condition.

Finally deciding to act, Noah gets up and walks over to stand above the spasming Janitor. He reaches down with both hands and grabs the Janitor’s own forearms.

Not really sure what he is doing, Noah does the one thing he can think of, attempt to pry the Janitor’s hands from his own throat.

Pulling with all his strength, Noah struggles for several seconds against the Janitor’s grasp before finally getting the man’s hands away from his own jugular.

But even with his hands removed from his throat and nothing seemingly choking him. The Janitor still refuses to breathe. His bulging veins and purple face remain still, evidence to his lack of breathing.

Staring into the Janitor’s eyes which are becoming glossy, Noah can tell something is severely afflicting the man, but isn't sure what it is.

At a loss on what to do, Noah takes only a second to decide his next course of action. He will resort to brute force once again.

Still gripping the Janitor’s forearms, Noah pulls the scrawny man to his feet. He brings his clenched hands up to the Janitor’s chest and pushes him backwards while holding him upright.

With a burst of force, Noah slams the Janitor’s back into the concrete wall of the corridor, hoping to get some sort of reaction out of the man.

Not getting much besides a small gasp from the Janitor’s throat, Noah pulls him back a short distance and then slams him into the wall again.

Then immediately pulling him back a second time, Noah slams him into the wall a third time. Each slam gets a small gasp or choking noise from the Janitor.

Slamming him for a fourth time, the Janitor not only gasps and chokes, he also starts coughing repeatedly, bringing up a globule of a dark gooey substance.

Taking in a ragged half-breath, the Janitor lets out a cry in fear, as if he has just woken up from a nightmare, or a disturbing dream.

Feeling a warm numbing pain trickling from the back of his head, the Janitor looks in confusion at Noah who is standing before him. “Wh-what's goin on?” He slurs out.

When the Janitor began choking up the black substance, Noah immediately let go of the Janitor and backed away.

Now between them, the black substance is floating in mid air, transforming itself into something. Going through a sort of transitory state.

The very same glob that had exited the Janitor’s mouth is contorting itself into another insect with a human face. This one being an exact copy of the Janitor’s face from moments earlier when he was choking.

Noah backs farther away and quickly reaches for the mop he had set on the floor nearby, raising it in a ready stance.

Looking at the contorting bug that is hovering in the air in front of the Janitor’s face, Noah swings his mop with full force towards it.

Hitting the static target with ease, the insect smashes into the wall with a splattering noise, leaving a spray of odd goo in a streak around itself.

Despite having a mop pass directly in front of his face, the Janitor is still staring ahead with wide open eyes in fear. Completely unmoving, as he is in a state of shock from what has happened to him.

Combined with the trauma from having his head violently slammed into a solid wall four times, he would not be doing well, if every was real.

Noah however, is oblivious to the Janitor’s situation. He is currently inspecting the splatter of goo that remains from the new creature he had hit.

Unlike the first insect, this one seems to have completely exploded after being hit by the mop for a reason Noah is unaware of.

Feeling satisfaction at having splattered the odd insect, Noah stands up and looks further down the dim hall. Anticipating more of them to appear ahead, for some odd reason.

He takes a brief glance behind him and realizes he is only a short distance from the door they had first entered from.

Looking at the Janitor currently slumped against the wall, Noah calls out to him asking a seemingly redundant question. “What are we supposed to fix?”

Slowly bringing his head up to look in the vague direction he heard Noah speak from, the Janitor gives a disoriented reply. “Uh, th-the generator… its broken?” But even he seems unsure of his own reply.

Noah waits a few seconds, trying to process what the Janitor said. His mind is feeling oddly foggy and unclear, like he has entered a near dream-like trance. Noah then asks another, more logical question. “Where is the generator?”

Confused for reasons of his own, the Janitor replies. “Dow-wn there,” He vaguely points his finger across the shimmering landscape in front of himself.

Noah blinks a few times, trying to understand what the Janitor is pointing at. But he eventually reaches the feeling he is better off walking further himself, just to see what is there.

Noah turns away and begins to walk, holding his mop upright in a battle ready stance. Something he is only vaguely aware of doing.

He walks slowly and cautiously down the infinitely long corridor. On the lookout for any flitting shadows that may be his enemies.

Passing one light bulb, then two and then three. He proceeds at a steady pace one foot in front of the other. Passing through brighter areas from the dim lights to darker and shadowy spaces.

It feels like an eternally repeating pattern. The lights passing overhead, from dim light to dark shadows then to dim light yet again.

He continues walking, seeing nothing that stands out. Just the same barren gray hills that seem to extend indefinitely.

Every breath Noah takes brings in more of the dense dreams of darkness that spreads through the air. Slowly the perception of all those that remain in the darkness is distorted, skewed from what is actually true.

Noah continues to walk into it, deeper and deeper. Breathing in larger quantities unknowingly.

Very soon, he will not be able to distinguish the dream from reality.