After eating breakfast, my aunt mentioned that she would be out all day so I would have to entertain myself. I didn't mind as I still wanted to investigate this outpost. You'd imagine that its a stupid decision, that its like touching the wall after being told the paint was wet. But if you're playing a game, you are inside a cabin with another man, you hear some noises outside but the man tells you to stay put as he checks it out. You hear a roar and the man screams, would you really stay inside for hours? No. Because nothing would happen and the game wouldn't progress.

In my case it wasn't so much of a game but real life, but this was the first hint I had seen of anything out of the ordinary. However I just planned to look, not do anything extreme and jump into exciting situations.

As I left the building early in the morning, I noticed there was heavy traffic as people rushed towards work. It was a little difficult navigating through the crowds, but eventually I made it to a small street behind the black building. Across the road was another guard sitting outside a cafe who was facing the building as he sipped on his drink. I entered the cafe, attracting a small glance from the guard before he turned back to watching street. Approaching the counter, I waited in queue before ordering a hot chocolate and moving towards a seat down at the back of the cafe. Sitting down, I took out my book and eyed the place, from my spot I had a good view and could see everyone outside.

I spent my next hour there reading my book, occasionally glancing at the guard. After roughly 40 minutes, another guard sat down at a table and the first guard soon left. Likely to avoid attracting attention from sticking around. Having received the information I wanted, I finished reading the rest of my chapter and drank the rest of my hot chocolate before getting up. After that, I spent the rest of my morning walking the streets looking for the guards. I didn't have trouble hunting them down, the boxes over their heads made them easy to spot, though the ones who made patrols were harder as they didn't stick around in one place.

I then returned to the apartment and lay down on top of my bed. Gazing upwards at the ceiling, I tried to form a plan. I concluded that the guards had the place completely surrounded and I was completely unable to think of any spots I could exploit. I could tell I wasn't going to be entering through a window or a sidedoor, I would definitely be spotted, and it also sounded far too much like breaking and entering to me. Taking out my laptop, I used the password my aunt gave me to connect to the internet. I realised then that I could have looked up the building earlier, saved myself time trying to figure out what's inside the building. But after searching around on the internet, I had to conclude that there was just no information out there to be found.

Looking at the time, it was now 1pm. I went to the kitchen and made something to eat before returning to think on how best to approach this. Eventually I decided to try the direct approach. Namely, by entering straight through the main entrance. Sure, I was going to be kicked out. But I should find some useful information before that happened. Somewhat satisfied with my plan, I changed my clothes and placed my laptop back inside my inventory. Locking the door, I swiftly descended the stairs and exited the building. My heart was pounding with excitement as I walked to the black building.

As I approached, Talok noticed me and grinned. "James!" but I ignored him. I really didn't want to stop and have to talk to him. Stepping past, I approached the thick wooden doors and pushed against them. Much to my relief, they opened. I had a mild fear that the doors were locked as I had not yet seen anyone enter. As the doors closed behind me, my first impression was of a reception room. The room was long and narrow, featuring no decorations or furniture but of a reception desk at the far end, the walls were painted a creamy white and the carpet was dyed a lush blue. Along the walls were unmarked doors with not even a sign on them. At the end of the room, a empty chair sat behind a receptionist desk facing a computer monitor that was turned away. Slightly reassured at the empty room, I quickly stepped towards the desk. I didn't have much time.

Looking at the desk, it was bare. No documents, pamphlets or any information I could see, just a keyboard and mouse for the computer. I looked around the room, but the doors were discreet and gave no hints as to what lay behind. I grew nervous and started to approach the exit. I could sense that it was time to leave. At that moment however, one of the doors opened and a woman stepped out. She was dressed professionally with a short skirt. I stole a look at her box.

Yonin Quin lv.15 Receptionist

So she's the receptionist. As I read her box, she curtly asked "Do you have a appointment?", I shook my head and asked "No, I'm wondering what this place is?". Unwelcoming, she pressed her lips together and spoke "This place is by appointment only. I'm going to have to ask that you leave". I started approaching the exit slowly, turning back, I asked her "Can I have the name of this building at least?". But she said a simple "No" tone of finality. I could feel her watching her as I stepped outside. I felt the ever familar tingle on my neck and noticed that Talok was looking at me. Seeing that I noticed him, he beckoned me over and I reluctantly approached. "So boy, you walked inside?". I looked at him, then decided to try pump him for information, surely as someone who 'hangs around' he may know a few things about the place that a 'homeless man' is willing to tell me.

"Yeah, I was wondering what the place was" I told him. Talok chuckled dryly and asked "What's it like in there? I've never been in there myself". Right. I shrugged in response. "Didn't get a good view, just a empty room with a receptionist and doors". Talok sighed and leaned back against the wall, "Yeah, I've been hanging out at this spot and I don't really see people go inside". Almost slyly, I asked "You know what they do there?" he glanced at me and chuckled. "Nope! Not a clue. Did you ask the receptionist?" I made a face "Yes, but she didn't want to talk". Conversation petered out from there, and as I eventually took my leave. I could feel my neck tingling as he watched me.

Returning home, I really needed to rethink my approach of this. I was still as curious about the place as ever, and had gained zero information from my efforts. After taking a shower, I lay back on the couch in the lounge. Eyes closed, I thought about approaches I could take. Most of them approached on extreme, insane and immoral. I didn't think any of those could work. Eventually, I decided to approach one of their guards, and see if I could get him to spill information while I talked to him. At least get the name of whatever cover they work under.

With a couple of hours left before my aunt returned home, I pulled my shoes on and went outside again. Walking to the cafe I looked around for the guard posted there. Spotting him, I ordered myself a cup of hot chocolate and sat across from him. He took a look at me then ignored me. Not one to take a hint, I asked him a question loudly over the roaring traffic "Hi there!". He looked at me again, then turned away, attempting to ignore me.

Gin Reed lv.17 Outpost Guard

"So, you work at that building? What do you guys do over there?" He looked at me sharply, suspicion lined over his face. Opps. I'm bad at this.. Warily he asked "What do you mean?". Trying to cover up my blunder, I hurriedly said "Oh like, I'm curious about what that building is, and I saw you leaving from one of the sidedoors". His face was even more suspicious as ever.. I forgot the sidedoors were not really visible from the streets.. I definitely was not handling this well. Realising that I should probably go, I stood up. "Well Gin, nice talking to you. See ya!"

As I turned away away, I realised what I said.

Ohhhh shit.

I was about to run when his arm snapped out and grabbed my wrist. Instantly I could feel that he was strong, stronger than a human. But not as strong as me. I ripped my arm away from his grasp and started to run, I heard him whisper something, but I was already running and pushing my way through the people with my heart pounding in fear.

I had really screwed up. I screwed up so bad. Behind me, I couldn't hear Gin following, hoping beyond hope that he wasn't following, I pushed my way through the people. But when I pushed my way into a empty section of the footpath and wildly looked around, my neck tingled and I saw Talok. He stood across the road, looking directly at me and strangely he did not seem happy to see me.

I turned away and started running, I wildly shoved myself through the smallest of gaps, pushing through the people on the footpath, desperate only to get away. But I could hear other feet pounding behind me, catching up. I knew it was Talok.

Slowing to a halt, I stood there, knowing I was caught and unwilling to turn around and meet his eyes. Then I heard his voice ask me as if things were normal "Shall we talk somewhere else?" I turned around reluctantly and nodded.

Walking behind him, we made quite the sight. A homeless man walking smoothly through the crowd, while I followed with a miserable face.

He led the way back to the black building and moved into the alley running down the side. Reaching a metal door, he took out a key and unlocked it. Opening the door, he stepped aside and gestured "Go in". As I stepped in, I noticed that it was the entrance to a corridor with the only defining feature being the concrete floor. "Start walking" he commanded.

We made our way through a maze of corridors and stairs and after the 9th turn, I no longer knew where we were. Finally, he opened a door and we entered a room with just a wooden table and chairs and in the corner, a potted plant. Gesturing to the left chair, he offered "Please sit down". I sat reluctantly, my palms slick with sweat while he sat in the other chair. "So.." he smiled at me. "Do you want to start?". I shook my head and asked hopefully "Can I just leave?". Laughing, he said "A bit too late don't you think?"

Sitting back in his chair, the image of comfort and security, he started with "So, why don't you start with why you were hanging around?". I decided to spin a web of lies, hoping to make it out of here unscathed. "Well," I began. "I noticed the black building because it stood out. But when I tried asking people and looking it up on the internet, I couldn't find out what this place was. You already know of how I tried to ask the receptionist, but she wouldn't tell me. And then I saw that man come out of the side entrance so I tried asking him" Talok looked at me, a slight grin on his face. "That sounds very plausible. So, how did you know his name?". Uh. My eyes flickered to the door and Talok noticed. Sitting back in his chair, he gestured with a hand "You are welcome to try"

I sighed and slumped in the chair. I knew when I was beat. "He introduced himself" Talok grunted and shook his head "Nope. Try again". I didn't have another plausible excuse, so I decided to try a half truth. "I have this weird ability, when I look at people I can get a good guess of their names" Talok looked at me with a disbelieving look then asked "Well then, what's my name?". Not seeing a way out of it, I reluctantly muttered "Talcon". He noticed the way my eyes flickered away from him and knew I lied, but he didn't care enough to try press further. After a long pause, he finally asked "Well then, who are you". Looking at him directly in the eyes, I told him "James Freeborn, born in a small town far from here and I'm living in the city for now because of issues between my parents"

He sat back in his chair and looked at me for a minute until reaching a decision. "Well, most of what you said is a lie. So while we look into you, you can stick around here". I could tell he meant as a prisoner. I saw no better time to ask, so before he could say anything further. "Uh, so, what do you do here?" He looked at me and paused before laughing. "Really kid? You are still trying for that?". He stood up and said "Stand up". Moving me to the center of the room, he frisked me from top to toe, however to his surprise he found nothing but the clothing I wore. Namely shoes, jeans, shirt and jacket. I didn't have even a wallet on me.

After that, he pushed me out the room and led me around a few corners until we descended down a flight of stairs. Unlike upstairs, the walls and ceilings were concrete instead of plaster. Unlocking a solid wooden door, he gestured inside. "Step in". Looking around, the room was small, square and made of bare concrete, not a single thing inside. I looked back to him just as he shoved me forwards, slammed the door and locked it. Leaving me in darkness.

Fumbling, I felt around until I reached the wall, where I sat down, leaned against it and sighed. The room was cold, and the concrete felt like ice. But that wasn't the real problem, my aunt was going to notice I was gone, and I didn't know how I was going to get out of this. I sat for what seemed like a eternity, my ears not catching a single sound in this tomb silence. Finally, I heard footsteps outside the door shortly before it opened as Talok peered inside with the light streaming over his shoulders. My eyes watered from the sudden light as I turned my head towards him. He no longer smelt like a open sewer and was dressed in trousers and a white shirt, he threw a bottle of water and a wrapped sandwich towards me. Catching them, I opened the bottle of water and drank. Watching me as I drank, Talok spoke. "So, care to tell me what you were really doing?" I looked at him and pleaded "I swear, I was just trying to find out what this place is". But he shook his head at me "Uh huh, yet you are stronger than the others"

Not having a proper answer, I unwrapped the sandwiches and ate in silence. The sandwiches tasted of egg.

With a big sigh, Talok spoke "We can continue this in the morning". Stepping outside, he closed the door and locked it, leaving me in the darkness.

But I didn't have plans to wait around that long.

While he had left me here, much to my relief I found that the gaming windows glowed slightly when I pulled them up, rendering them readable even though they didn't cast any illumination on my surroundings. I tried connecting to the internet with my laptop, but there was no connection down here. Putting it back away, I thought of a rough plan, and I planned to initiate it in the dead of night.

I took my laptop back out and checked the time. 10pm. I needed to wait until 2am.

I leaned back and tried to take a snooze, despite the cold hard concrete and the freezing air, with my endurance, it was tolerable. Eventually, my closed eyes led me into a restless slumber.

After what seemed like a hour, I stirred and checked my laptop. 1:36am. It was almost time. Sitting up, I yawned. Placing my laptop back inside my inventory, slowly I stood up. Using the walls to keep my balance, I stood up and started stretching. I felt a little silly, but I wanted to give myself every advantage I could. Finally I felt it was roughly 2am. I took out my club from my inventory and gave it a few practice swings, getting the feel for it. I then felt along the walls and found the door. Feeling like I was ready, I took a stance and took a deep breath. Then with all my might, I swung the club at the wooden door.