There was no denying the fact that something strange was going on. While Guy hadn't gone through tons of roommates the way that some other patients had (Claude and Anise had both cycled through a handful of them, he was pretty sure), he still knew the process. There might be a day or so where the room was left empty, and then someone else was supposed to replace the person who had left.

So why hadn't Locke been replaced yet? Not that Guy necessarily wanted that, but it was a change from the usual pattern and that in itself was noticeable. While he didn't want to snoop, at this point Guy didn't see that he had another choice. He went searching under Locke's bed and found the metal box where their possessions were usually stored. It should have been empty, but instead he found a number of things inside.

It was almost as if there was an expectation that Locke would be back. But if he wasn't here and he wasn't dead or brainwashed, then where was he? Guy had been told over the bulletin that he'd "succumbed to the illness," which could mean a number of different things. But either way, the one who'd responded to him had seemed pretty certain about it.

This was definitely something that required further investigation, but for now Guy had to worry about the coming night. As the intercom came on and the Head Doctor taunted them like usual, Guy changed his clothes and then gathered his sword, sheath, and flashlight. He also made sure to bring the transporting bracelet with him. Since the plan was to head to the caverns tonight, he definitely couldn't forget that.

"All set," Guy murmured to himself, giving the empty room one last look before he walked out and headed down the hall.

[To here.]

[From here.]

As much as Guy tried to ignore what the Head Doctor said, he couldn't do that this time around. Was it true that someone had really found a way to the third floor? If so, Guy certainly hadn't heard of it, and he was curious to learn more about it. But the more bothersome aspect of Landel's announcement was the implication that all of the other patients were simply wasting their time.

It wasn't that he hadn't considered the possibility that the caverns were just a huge waste of time, but this almost seemed to confirm that. Landel could just be trying to unsettle them and steer them astray, of course, but Guy had to admit that he felt shaken by the possibility that they were on some wild goose chase after all.

He could discuss it with Anise and Claude when he met up with them. Speaking of which, he was already at his normal meeting spot with Claude, and it was as Guy leaned up against the wall like he always did that he remembered that Claude was going to bring him some kind of gift tonight.

Even if it was supposedly nothing special, Guy was still eager to find out what it was. Luckily, he wouldn't have to wait for very long to have that particular question answered.

With the St. John's wort officially passed off to Kobayashi, Castiel realized that he could finally move past all of the problems created by that illness. He still needed to heal up, true, but he was at a point where he could work on something more productive without constantly being distracted by the possibility that he or someone he knew might end up turning into some bloodthirsty creature.

The intercom came on as Castiel slipped on his trenchcoat and gathered his items for the night, and while he was expecting to hear the usual taunting, something that was actually of interest came out of the tinny speaker.

The third floor -- had a patient truly found a way to get there? From what Castiel understood, no one had ever made it past the second floor, regardless of any unorthodox ways that they tried to get there. When he'd temporarily been granted the ability to use his wings again, he still hadn't been able to reach it. It was clearly warded off and well-guarded, and Landel seemed to intend on keeping it that way.

But whoever had made it far enough to earn a specific comment on it from the Head Doctor clearly had to be getting somewhere with it. Castiel would need to look into that when he had the chance, but for now he was set to meet up with Soushi.

Working with a demon -- even if it was a very different kind of demon, it still rubbed him the wrong way. But that didn't stop Castiel for setting out with his flashlight and angel sword in hand.

[To here.]

[From here]

Scar cautiously opened the door into the northern section of the hallway, remaining sure to keep Alphonse close. He had been up this way before. Frank's room had been down here.

Perhaps it was out of some misplaced sentiment that he kept an look out for him.

[From here]

Korra snooped through the main women's block hallway, half expecting to wake up in her bed again. She hadn't gotten anywhere, last night. Hopefully that would be different tonight, though. She had done plenty of goofing off and resting up during the day. Nights were serious.

[To here]

[From here]

All these dark hallways were making Korra feel jumpy, uneasy. She remembered vividly what had happened last night. The poor Kurogane guy had been on the receiving end of an air rocket because she'd let herself get carried away. That wouldn't happen tonight.

But she was still on edge. The darkness was almost unnatural, swallowing the beam of her flashlight whole.

[To here]

Rita spent most of the dinner shift preparing herself for the night. Taura had advised her to be ready for a fight, and she couldn't disagree with that. She’d had danger obstructing her at every turn for the past several nights. If she really was on to something, then it was only going to get more dangerous.

That evening’s message from the Head Doctor was one that certainly got her attention. Was he addressing Rita directly? The timing seemed to line up. If it was true, then all those obstacles really weren’t a coincidence, as Skulduggery said before. Landel was watching, and he knew what she was up to. He even went out of his way to tell her what awaited beyond the passage – the coveted third floor.

There was little doubt now that he’d prepared another trap for her, but that wasn’t going to stop Rita. Not while she knew she was close. Weapon in hand, she left her room without a word.

[to here]