The sky was clear as the sun finally began to dip behind the horizon. As if on cue, the intercom jingle sounded, and the Head Doctor's voice filtered into every room.

"Hello, again! I hope everyone enjoyed their meal." There was some clanking of silverware, as if the Head Doctor had just finished his own dinner. "That chicken is simply to die for, wouldn't you agree?" There was laugh that tapered off into a nervous chuckle before he cleared his throat.

"Anyway! Our new patients have probably needed some help adjusting to their new surroundings, but I'm sure plenty of you have been up for the task, hm? Our nurses and I really do appreciate it." After shuffling some papers around, the Head Doctor continued.

"At any rate, we'll now be preparing for lights out. Pleasant dreams!"

The intercom clicked off.

But the silence didn't last long. The intercom turned back on after a few moments, and the Head Doctor let out a long, low breath.

"Five."

His voice had a considerably more twisted quality behind it. The odd static that seemed to swell every few seconds didn't help matters.

"At least that many of you will turn tonight." Some people may have interpreted it as a warning, but the Head Doctor delivered the piece of information with a detached, clinical tone. "What makes a human, exactly? The shape of his body? His so-called conscience? Or the baser instincts that make a human as much of an animal as the creatures prowling these hallways? I certainly look forward to the result of this little experiment."

The static grew louder until an automated female voice suddenly sounded over the intercom. "Key word: EXPERIMENT. Authorization Code: 1458 HARRINGTON Initiating message. Innnnitiatinngggg messaaaaaage......

Message: I WASN'T LYING WHEN I SAID THERE IS A WAY TO CURE YOU. WE HAVE AN IDEA OF SOMETHING THAT COULD HELP, SO WE LEFT ANOTHER CLUE IN THE X-RAY ROOM. THE SOONER WE PIECE THIS TOGETHER, THE SOONER WE CAN HELP EVERYONE TOGETHER. GOOD LUCK. GOOD LUCK. GOOOOODDDD LLLUCKKK--"

The automated voice died in a garbled mess, as though Landel had abruptly shut it off for the second night in a row.

[Like last Nightshift, be sure to message us before posting any of your characters to the X-Ray room, and we'll put up the top post for you! Let us know if you have any questions. Thanks!]

Loki had turned his attention to the books as he finished dissecting his dinner. He listened to the intercom announcements with a growing sense of annoyance. He would like to have seen that clue for himself - and it would have presented the perfect opportunity to sow a bit of violence and confusion. Unfortunately, he had appointments that needed to be kept.

But the continued insistence of the oh-so-helpful resistance to have the worst timing possible (as far as Loki was concerned) grated.

When the lights went out he set up his flashlight and continued to read through the pharmacopoeia. He made notes for Soma on a sheet of paper torn from his notebook. Once that was done, he'd need to review the anatomy; all his studying needed to be done before Lust came to his room. He wished to give her his full attention.

[In M73, waiting for his ladyfriends.]

[In M39.]

Honestly, Castiel hadn't expected there to be another clue offered. It made him wonder for a moment if he should call everything off to see what else they might be able to learn, but at this point he realized there was no turning back. He'd already asked the help of multiple people, and he wasn't going to waste their time by no going through with it. Besides, Landel had revealed that five patients would be changing tonight, which made it clear that they were even shorter on time than he'd imagined.

Kobayashi left quickly, and Castiel was glad that he didn't have to bring up that he might be undergoing surgery in their room. It wasn't as if he planned on involving his roommate's side of the small space in the first place, and there was also a chance that it would be taking place in Rapunzel's room instead.

For the moment, all Castiel could do was sit and wait. He didn't like the inactivity, but seeing how his stomach was still giving him grief, it wasn't the worst fate at the moment. No, at this point he was relieved that the night had already started and all that felt odd were the same symptoms he'd been suffering from all day.

It seemed possible he'd lucked out tonight, then, but he doubted that would last much longer. That was why he needed to take care of this now.

The first person who was set to show up here was the one who'd claimed to be Gabriel, and Castiel had to admit that he was uncertain about the entire encounter. He went through his possessions box and dug out his replica angel blade, wanting to have it on hand unless this all really did turn out to be a trap. He was hardly in the position to get in a fight with anyone now, but that wasn't going to stop him from being prepared.

[Waiting for Gabriel and Kratos.]

Murphy hadn't been interested in talking at dinner, which could be due to any number of reasons, and Harvey didn't really want to find out why. Being too curious would just get him involved in someone else's problems. Maybe Murphy was sick, or someone he knew was sick, but it wasn't Harvey's job to care. He was perfectly content to focus on his own goals and let those who were ill figure out their own issues.

Granted, it might become his issue if five patients were really going to turn into something else tonight -- things that would be out for blood. On the other hand, he had that bracelet that their skeleton friend had given them, which meant that he, Scott, and Sangamon wouldn't be in the hallways for too long.

That meant that they needed to meet up fast, though, and while Harvey wasn't eager to be the first one there, he also wasn't about to lag behind. He grabbed for his gun after reloading some of its ammo, picked up his lead pipe and shoved the bone bracelet into his pants pocket. With all of that taken care of, it was time to hit the hallways.

[To here.]

As soon as the intercom was through, Link was off at a sprint. He carried the pillow case,his flashlight, and the knife from the previous evening.

There were now two tasks to be accomplished: Supplies for Sora, and another clue in the X-Ray Room. Two birds with one stone in the medical wing. There wasn't a moment to lose.

Sora could already be gone by the time he returned.

[To here]

[From here]

Link rounded the corner without slowing down to even look over his shoulder. He wanted to get to the medical wing first and get out of there before there was any potential chaos. It was a good thing Sora had shown him the way last night.

The Hylian rounded the corner into the larger hallways.

[To here]

[From here]

No time was wasted in this short stretch of hallway. Link had run across all of Hyrule Field. This hospital was quite small in comparison.

Praying that he wouldn't come across anything to slow him down, Link turned into the main hallways.

[To here]

[From here.]

It wasn't uncommon for Guy to be the first one out here, but this time around he was more nervous about that. Five were supposed to change tonight, and it was very possible that Anise or Claude were among that number. If that was the case, then it might not be his friend, but something else coming down that hallway.

If that happened, what was he supposed to do? He honestly had no idea. He had a sword and he knew how to use it, but this was Claude, the friend who had reassured just earlier in the day that everything would work itself out.

He would wait for a minute or so, and if Claude didn't show himself by then, he'd have to look into things himself. For now, Guy stood awkwardly against the wall and kept his eyes on Claude's hallway, with a sharper glance than usual. He would be lying if he said he wasn't on edge.

[For Claude.]

[From here]

The main hallways. Good. And the coast seemed to be clear, so far. Link briefly wondered if the new clue would help the situation, or only make it more grim. He would know soon enough.

[To here]

[From here]

It was eerie, how empty the halls were. They seemed somehow larger at night, the darkness swallowing his magic torch's beam within little distance. Link was very attentive, knowing full well that something could pop up at any moment.

He refused to slow down, though.

[To here]

[From here]

Clearing the last stretch of hallway, Link arrived at the door to the medical wing. Taking a steadying breath for whatever might be waiting for him, the Hylian gave the lock a good bashing with his light before pushing it open.

[To here]

[From here]

Link moved cautiously but quickly through the medical wing, which had somehow been cleared of last night's stench of blood. It was like the building had reset itself. There must have been powerful magic at work, here.

Although the tension in the air was thick, Link came across nothing as he moved through the narrow hallways, following the path to the X-Ray Room. It seemed like much longer than a day since he had been here, but he wasn't going to let that tire him out. The task at hand was too important to complain about being tired.

As expected, the room in question was once again locked. Breaking through the door, Link pushed his way into the X-Ray room for the second night in a row.

[To here]

[In M63]

Despite the nurses efforts to 'wake him up' he still felt as sluggish as before. The little bite of food he'd ventured during dinner just made his stomach twist more unpleasantly but he willed himself to keep it down. He couldn't just go a day without eating, that would only make things worse.

He knew he had to get up. He had to meet Tolten and get back to the X-Ray room maybe, this time, the clue they found wouldn't result in them arguing the night away. Besides, the sooner he got moving the sooner they could get there and the sooner they might be able to find a cure to make this feeling go away.

He just hoped his friend was doing better than he was, if they were both in this state, they might not be getting anywhere tonight. As it was, Locke had only gotten so far as thinking that he should get up. Hell, sitting up would be an improvement, but all he'd managed was to dig the heels of his palms into his eyes as if that might relieve his pounding head.

It wasn't doing a very good job.

Another clue in the X-Ray Room. That was surprising and, if Soma was perfectly honest with herself, a little frustrating. She'd already mostly convinced herself the surgery was necessary. But if there was still more information out there...

The operating room in the medical wing would have most of the supplies Lingormr would need tonight, she decided. It was probably too much to hope the power would be on, but they'd have to make do with what they could find. If she was quick about it, she'd be able to run across the hall and find the next clue, too.

She packed hurriedly: flashlight, radio, handgun. The katana would likely only get in the way tonight. The faster she moved, the better. Her symptoms didn't seem to be any worse right now, but she wasn't leaving anything up to chance.

She stripped the pillowcase from her bed and tucked it into the waistband of her pants. Then, with an attempt at a smile, she nodded at Leanne and was out the door.

[to here]

[from here]

Her head spun alarmingly as she exited the women's rooms and headed for the main hallway, but Soma didn't stop. In a situation like this, the best course of action was probably to keep moving.

[to here]

[from here]

Almost there. Soma kept moving. If she stopped now, she'd start thinking about how much worse she felt now than she did this morning, and that would be a terrible mistake to make.

[to here]

Five people would turn tonight, said Landel. Five...was a lot. Byrne couldn't help wondering if he might be one of the unlucky five - though that was assuming the tyrant was being honest and not just a manipulative asshole like usual. Regardless, it would not be the only thing going on tonight. Just as Byrne expected, there was another 'mystery message' (or was it not a mystery anymore? That bit at the start -- experiment -- Harrington? The military?!) claiming that there was another clue to be found in the X-Ray room tonight, plus a promise that there was, indeed, a cure for this infection.

Was it worth it to check it out this time around? Byrne had protection - the handgun he'd found in his box after dinner, the one that proved his partner was no longer in the Institute - but having a weapon didn't mean he wouldn't run into trouble. There'd been a mad rush the previous night because of the first clue, and there'd also been trouble, from what he'd read on the board. No doubt it would happen again.

But what else was he supposed to do?

He couldn't just sit here, and it was too risky (and perhaps impossible) to try to escape this place on his own. Besides, seeing the clue with his own eyes would be ten times more helpful than just hearing about it. Right?

It was risky and he was nervous, but...but he'd do it. Even if it meant...well. Let's not think about that.

After putting on his scarf and making sure the handgun was loaded (because running into danger only to find he had no bullets would be very.......not good), Byrne quickly made his way out into the hallway.

[To here.]

To die for...

Was that idle chitchat? A red herring? The nausea making a convincing case for the chicken's immediate release and acquittal on all charges? Her stomach did a little flip as the gavel came down, pronouncing it not guilty. But wouldn't that mean it wasn't poisoned? Objection, your honor. This case makes no sense. She fell back onto her pillow for a second, head spinning. She was lightheaded, and giddy, and in no shape to be gathering her things in the dark -- she'd landed on the flashlight -- and heading out into it.

Nevertheless, she eased the flashlight out from under the small of her back and switched it on. A circle of light flickered into life on the ceiling, as the Head Doctor's voice came back on the intercom.

Five. How many were sick? She held the gun up into the light, probably thoroughly freaking out Ilia, even as she kept it pointed only at the near wall. What made a human? Guilt. Or innocence. A lawyer's answer, to pick both, but it was true. Animals didn't know what they did. Humans did. Temporary insanity, turned into a monster. It was a defense on legal grounds, but not on ethical ones. She wouldn't let it come to that.

Harrington's little interjection cut into the path her thoughts had wandered down. Another clue. This time, she was going to see it for herself. As long as she was still herself to do so. A good reason to hurry.

[to here]

[from here]

Lana had pried herself back out of bed before exhaustion could overtake her -- now, she moved through the hallway with purpose. Anyone who knew her might be able to spot that she was moving at perhaps half the speed she usually did, but the hall was empty.

[to here]