Knox returned to Daniil's stronger and better. He didn't know what to expect diving into the enemy's territory, but for the time being he was going to focus solely on his first mission – get close to Daniil. How possible that was going to be remained a question.
Walking through the dead silence within those walls full of people wasn't as perturbing the second time. Blending in, he was being led by some random guy, a reenactment of what happened the first day he came here.
"You're here!" a familiar voice echoed through the wide expanse the moment he emerged on the second floor. Knox veered to his right to see Jason.
"Good morning," He greeted courteously with a slight bow. Then his eyes drifted a bit to the slender lady standing beside him. Unlike the other ladies he'd seen until now, she was corporately dressed with an ID hanging around her neck. 'Is this a residential building or a commercial one?' he thought to himself.
Without as much as a friendly gesture, the strange lady walked past, taking the stairs leading up to a third floor, perhaps. With his eyes following her diligently, Knox wondered if access to some parts of the house was restricted. And why she wasn't in a maidservant outfit like the ones he'd been coming across.
"Anthony?" Jason called.
"Ah…ye…yes. Yes!" he stammered, finally unlinking his eyes from her path when she coincidentally left eyeshot.
"Are you ready to work?!" he asked giddily, patting his shoulder.
"Sure." His reply was stiff.
"This way then." Holding out his hand, Jason paved the way to the large area in the other direction. Jason lagged behind a little, thinking he was about to go the same way he did when he first came to the house. But instead, Jason led him through the large hall facing the staircase directly. The hall would be basically empty except for a few sofas and side tables that filled its void to an extent.
Trailing cautiously behind, he was led through a double-leaf paneled door.
*Laughter*
*Sighing*
*Screams*
*Joyous wails*
'What the heck is going on here?' The crinkles that immediately appeared between his brows the moment they stepped foot in here sold out the confusion that was swirling aggressively in him. What surprised him the most was how this much noise was suppressed until he was inside.
He tilted his head back to the door as they descended the last step from it. "They're soundproof," Jason explained as if he read through his thoughts.
'Woah!' Never in a million years did Knox conceive there was this much life somewhere in the dead mansion. The guys – about ten in all – looked like they were having real fun and there was nothing to worry about. They gave off a vibe different from the robots manning the gate. They were either on their phones, playing video games, watching those who played, chatting within themselves, or simply hanging around, and watching TV. A dining hall situated to the left; camelback sofas leading out the dining hall standing U-shaped with their backs against the dining, before the TV set; single sofas arranged orderly at certain points; video game consoles situated linearly by the wall across the entrance; bending the scene to scrutiny, it was no different from a regular house. A house in another house? That's crazy!
"Is this a hotel or what?" he murmured.
"What are you guys up to?" Jason diverted just before another door, to the guys playing video games. Instinctively, Knox paused in the wait for him, still battling with the unrelenting turmoil in his head.
A few seconds later, Jason gave the guy in a blue shirt a shoulder rub chattering something inaudible before leaving them again.
"C'mon," he beckoned Knox, going straight to the door.
"Sure," he whispered, following suit. He was still lost in all of these.
"Woo…woah…" Knox shuddered in response to the sudden creak he heard just when he was on the other side of the door. In the sound's direction was a guy with long blue-black hair and a towel resting below his torso. His hair was dripping water, Knox assumed he just had a bath. He extended his gaze a little further and confirmed his guess. In the background was a tiled wall with wash basins hanging linearly by one side.
"Who the fuck is this? Andrei's new recruit?" asked the guy, breaking the brief hush. He stepped out fully and shut the door behind him.
"As if," he muttered. "Say hi to my new friend." Jason crossed his arm over his shoulders and got Knox flinching slightly. He didn't expect that. The guy on the other hand just looked him up and down before swaying his demeaning eyes to Jason again. 'Unfriendly much.'
Well, there were so many thoughts keeping Knox preoccupied to even worry about the cold reception; so many things were off about this house and it certainly didn't help matters seeing what appeared to be a public lavatory in a private apartment! 'Is this a hotel or a private apartment?'
"Any news on Andrei yet?"
"Who cares about the stuck-up douchebag? I haven't seen him around lately." While they were conversing, Knox gawked around as usual.
"I pray he stays hidden forever. I need to page the managerial department." Knox heard last from him before he walked out the door.
They resumed their steps. The duo walked through down a hallway with doors – having number plaques beside them – on each side. How much more was needed to make this into a hotel? Jason soon stopped before one of the lot and walked right in. Knox confirmed the number on it before joining in.
"This will be your bedroom," he announced. Knox nodded, scanning the area around them.
There were two beds. And beside each of them was a wardrobe, a wooden dress table with drawers, a side table with a lampstand, and a telephone sitting on it.
"Come on in." Jason's gesture was what reminded him that he still stood at bay with a hand on the door's handle, keeping it open.
"Oh yeah…" he stuttered and took a few steps forward before closing the door.
"This is gonna be your bed. And this…is your wardrobe." Jason explained, going over to one of the beds. He opened the wardrobe and showed him there were tons of clothes in it already.
"Is this why I was asked not to bring any luggage?"
"Bingo!"
Knox nodded.
"As I explained in the virtual meeting, there are five departments of which you'll serve in the security department," he continued.
"Ummm… I said I wanted to be his driver," Knox voiced with caution. He needed to get as close to him as possible.
The hints of friendliness in Jason's eyes vanished into thin air. 'Did I say something wrong?' He tried to speak with as much caution as he could muster but it looked like he just picked a nerve. Jason was now peering into him seriously.
"I am his driver."