All the applicants could not sleep tonight due to nerves clouding their mind regarding tomorrow's test results.
Since they could not sleep, they started chatting with one another on their beds. Taking out video games and cards, the dorm area quickly became lively.
Rarely getting insomnia, and with every room being so loud, Chase decided to take a walk.
Rejecting Rip who offered to go with him, Chase wore a cotton jacket that was neither thick nor thin and put on his shoes.
"I'm going out!" Chase hollered behind him.
The corridors were empty of people as everyone was currently resting in their dorms. Shuffling across the hallway, Chase went downstairs. As he walked, his mind uncontrollably drifted back to what happened today during the test.
Chase had a sneaking suspicion that what happened to the wires was not an accident but an intentional sabotage. However, no logical reason came to mind on the other party's possible motive. Unless they wanted Blake to fail in the test and thus not get hired.
In that light, why would they not want Blake to get hired by the Everett Mansion? It's most likely not because of competition because there was no limit to the number of applicants hired in one round. Whoever passes gets hired, there was no cap.
Is it possible that… someone really just accidentally spilled water over the cut?
As Chase pondered over this matter in his mind, refusing to stop until he figured out this puzzle, he unknowingly walked to a part of the training building he had never been to. No classes or lessons were ever held in this part of the building.
Realizing that he had wandered off too far and into an unfamiliar area, afraid that he'll get lost here, Chase was about to turn back.
A shadow flashed by in a corner.
Thump!
His heart suddenly jumped.
Chase suddenly had a bad premonition. He paused in his movement to leave.
Trusting in his intuition, Chase quietly stalked the shadow. His footsteps made no sound as he hurried after the figure, not wanting to lose it.
Coming around another corner, Chase was a bit distracted by the amazement he felt at how big and complicated the building was structured. There were countless halls, corners, and bends and even after some time, the person in front of them didn't stop and they were heading deeper and deeper into the building into parts Chase had never known existed.
Some time later, Chase was starting to get tired of following them and was feeling drained from the excessive use of energy to remain in stealth. His mind was also fatigued from the constant concentration. Just then, the figure in front stopped.
That's when Chase finally got a good look at the suspicious person he was following.
As mentioned before, this building has been around for a long time. It was old and ancient, however, thanks to the occasional maintenance, all the facilities can still function. In spite of that, many unused parts of the building were yellowing and peeling paint.
Dust and dirt build up from months of accumulation, covering the surface of the furniture and objects everywhere.
Previously when the figure passed by under a hanging light, the light flickered like flashing lights a few times before dimming even further from a lack of power.
From the start till now, Chase hadn't been able to get a glimpse of the face of the figure.
The lights in these corridors were considerately dim from the lack of usage and lack of regular replacements. Additionally, the other party had been too fast and swift, each time, Chase only caught sight of their shadow before they disappeared. The swiftness of their movements evidenced the training they had gone through and their suspicious familiarity with the special training building.
Was it an instructor?
Chase couldn't help but question. But what would an instructor be doing here at this late hour?
He had a strong feeling that this person before him was not an instructor. Nor were they meant to be here.
Stepping forward and leaning his head out a little to see more clearly, Chase observed their appearance.
The other party had a slender and curvy figure along with short, neck-length hair. They wore a body fitting outfit to facilitate easy movement.
Stopping where they were, they looked around themselves a few times before turning to a closed and locked door. She—yes, Chase saw her face and body figure and realized that it was a woman—took a bobby-pin out of her hair and knelt down to pick the door lock.
Unaware of the presence of Chase, the sneaky woman continued to concentrate on picking the lock.
Today, when the talent showcase had been taking place, she had received an order from above to bring to them an item that was hidden away within the special training building. Apparently, it has been there for decades and all the Everetts had completely forgotten about its existence.
When her superiors found out about this item, they urgently commanded her to retrieve the item as soon as possible and hand it over to them—even if it meant revealing her identity as a spy.
Although confused and unable to understand the importance of the item that could overshadow her secret identity, as a spy trained by her organization, she had no right to question her boss's orders and quickly went about her mission.
Despite her superiors permitting her to reveal her secret identity in order to get that item, she still decided not to take that risk yet as that wouldn't be good for her and it'll be impossible to get out of the Everett Estate once they find out that there was a spy inside. The security would no doubt tighten to the point that not even a mosquito can fly in.
So while the performances were ongoing, she snuck away without anyone noticing and went to the area backstage where all the lighting was controlled. Grabbing the main line, she sliced the wire and poured water into the gap.
As she poured the water into the wiring without touching the wire to prevent getting electrocuted, sparks flew and the lights installed everywhere within the auditorium started blinking before they all went out.
Seeing the darkness before her, she was sure no one would ever notice that she was gone during this period of time. Even if someone claims that she was missing, they had no concrete evidence of photos or video recordings, others might think that they remembered wrongly especially in that dark and confusing situation where one can't even see their hands let alone other people's faces.
Confident, she made her way out slowly according to the route in her memory. The sounds of panic and fear brushed past her ears. Satisfied with her cleverness, the spy walked out from backstage.
But in the midst of the road to her destination, the sound of someone singing electrified her. Numbing both her mind and body.
A nameless pleasure ran through her body from the sensation that voice brought to her soul.
She suspected for a moment that the wires had touched her and this was a delayed electrocution reaction.
But in the next moment, cold sweat broke out all over her body. Not even that sudden, inexplicable heavenly voice that seemed like an illusion, could calm the dread in her heart.
Turning around, she ran back to the backstage area and was horrified to see the bad feeling in her heart coming true—all the lights were back on and one of the applicants was on stage.
Ignoring the applicant, the woman looked around hurriedly, but was careful not to attract anyone's attention with her actions. Her eyes quickly found and identified the main line that she had cut and ruined just earlier. She was shocked to find that section brand new and spotless.
She knew that she had not mistaken another line for that main line. Before she came here to be a spy, she had been trained to recognize and remember both human faces and objects, and only when she was proficient at it was she allowed to be sent out into the field.
Since the lights were back on and others could easily spot her disappearance, she decided to halt the plan and wait until later tonight before acting.
But who knew, Chase again discovered her plans.
Click.
A soft sound of the lock opening sounded in her ears.
The woman with the short hair stuck the bobby-pin back into her hair and reached out her hand to turn the doorknob.
The door opened with a creaking sound. The door hinges were not well oiled and were old and rusty which made it unable to keep silent when making any movement, but since no one else was anywhere near here, the spy didn't care about the sounds the door made.
She quickly entered the room.
The sounds of rummaging could be audibly heard outside the room.
Outside, Chase did not follow her in. There was only one doorway, so if he goes in, she'll be able to easily spot him.
If he was careless, he might get discovered by the other party and silenced!
In truth, Chase was not afraid of the other party's foreseeable strength as he himself had his days on the streets. Nonetheless, he did not feel the need to take on unnecessary troubles when there was no personal benefit.
Even if the other party really had malicious intentions and was a thief or a villain, it had nothing to do with Chase. He had enough on his hands worrying about his little brother's hospital bills to meddle into other people's business when it had no effect on him.
Still… the one being possibly stolen from was his future employer with big bucks… should he tell them?
Hum… it's whatevers. Chase shrugged.
Before Chase had time to think some more and solidify his decision, the spy came out of the room holding something in her hands.
Chase didn't know what it was because whatever the thing was, it was tucked away inside a box. However the item must not be big because the box was really small. Small enough to be held in the woman's hand and hidden away in her pocket.
Typically, a box of that size and those decorations holds jewelry.
Such as rings, necklaces, bracelets, or earrings…
Seeing the spy walking his way, Chase glanced backwards and saw an open room. He quickly ducked in there and only when the sound of light footsteps faded away completely and after waiting for a few minutes, did Chase come out of the dusty room.
Now covered in layers of black dust, Chase lightly wiped away the particles on his face and patted away the thick dust sticking to his jacket and pants.
Calmly walking back, as if nothing major had happened, to his dorm room where Rip and Blake were still awake, and the voices of their neighbors could still be heard, Chase did not mention anything about this incident.
In the end, Chase did not feel the need to tell anyone about what he had just witnessed. He felt no obligation or a sense of duty to report this.
After all, he has yet to go under the Everett family, so their affairs are none of his business.
Chase thought coldly and rationally.
Suddenly, a bright and cheerful atmosphere approached him.
"So, how did your walk go? Do you think you can fall asleep now?"
"Haha!" Chase genuinely laughed at those silly questions, his bright and sunny aura instantly returned and the coldness disappeared from his surface. "In this noise, do you think you'll be able to sleep?"
"Well, I mean, it's different for everyone. I can totally go out like a light right now, I'm only up to accompany you guys!"
"Ha ha ha… Funny."
Chase rolled his eyes.
Taking out his clothes from the drawer until his bed, Chase went to take another shower after getting himself and his previous outfit dirty. Thankfully, he had wiped away the majority of the visible dust on him so Rip and Blake didn't notice.
The shower head came on.
The water roamed over his body and quickly washed away all the filth sticking onto Chase's skin.
As the drops dripped down onto his face, they accumulated and became weighty. At last, they became too heavy of a burden to carry and fell from Chase's face.
They splattered onto the floor and pooled underneath the feet, flowing towards the drain, much like the other water drops before them and as will those after them.
They touch, but they never stay.