Blacked Out
Chapter 5: Fired
At the end of the long, dim hallway — inside Room Seven, the so-called Room of Mysteries — Robert and Sarah sat surrounded by glowing screens and scattered papers. Both were searching for something, though neither knew exactly what.
"Hey, Robert," said Sarah, sitting down beside him.
"What?" replied Robert, eyes fixed on his laptop as he scrolled through a cluttered web archive.
"Do you really think you'll find something like that on a secure network?" she asked, tilting her head.
"I don't know," he muttered, clicking another link, "but anything would do right now."
Sarah leaned over, peering at the screen. "Where are you even searching?"
"A news site," said Robert, raising his voice slightly, "but not just any news site."
Sarah blinked. "Not any news site?"
"Yeah. This one focuses on old records — the kind that were reposted when the web was first made public again. That means I can trace everything from the beginning… maybe find something others missed."
"I see," said Sarah thoughtfully, pressing a finger to her chin.
They continued searching in silence, the clicking of keys echoing through the room. Time passed. Nothing useful appeared — until something strange happened.
"Hey… Robert…" Sarah's voice trembled. "I think… you should… leave."
"What?" He looked up immediately.
Her face had gone pale. "Oh no," Robert muttered, shutting his laptop. "I've got to go." He sprinted out of the room, leaving Sarah alone — her breathing heavy, her hands trembling.
---
Twenty Minutes Later
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Click.
"Hello?"
"Robert!"
"Oh, hey Dr. Wilfer — should I come now?" he asked.
"I don't know…" Sarah's voice sounded weak on the other end.
"What?" Robert's tone shifted to concern.
"You know that… strange phenomenon that happens after my stomach starts hurting?"
"Yeah?"
"Well… it didn't happen this time."
"What!" Robert's shout echoed through the hospital halls. People turned to stare, but he didn't care. He dropped the phone and bolted toward Room 7.
The hallway seemed endless. No matter how fast he ran, the door felt farther away. It was as if time itself had slowed down.
"What's happening!" he shouted, panic in his voice. Still, he pushed forward — he needed to see Sarah before things changed again.
Then, suddenly…
Knock. Knock.
He froze.
Knock. Knock.
The sound came from behind the door of Room 7.
Inside, Sarah turned toward the noise. "What took you so long?" she said, opening the door.
But it wasn't Robert.
Her eyes widened. "Doctor Wilfer?"
No — the man standing there wasn't him. His face was familiar, but older, sterner.
"Wait… Dr. Sanchel?" she whispered.
"You're fired," said Dr. Sanchel coldly. "Pack your things and leave."
Sarah's breath caught. "What… why?"
He turned slightly. "It's been a week, and I haven't received a single result from you."
"But that isn't fair!" Sarah's voice cracked. "You know this isn't supposed to be my responsibility!"
Dr. Sanchel smirked. "Heh. That's not the only reason." He stepped closer. "Let's just say there's another reason — but you're not ready to know it yet."
He left without another word.
Sarah collapsed to her knees, tears falling as the weight of his words sank in. The job she'd worked so hard for — gone. What was she supposed to do now?
Moments later, Robert burst into the hallway, gasping for air.
"Dr. Wilfer! Are you okay?"
Sarah didn't answer. She took off her hat, threw it to the ground, and slammed the door shut behind her, leaving Robert standing there in stunned silence.
He turned away, walking slowly back toward the reception desk. His face was blank, but his eyes told a different story — guilt, confusion, worry.
---
Meanwhile — In an Unknown Room
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Click.
"Hello, Milady."
"Patient Seventeen — report," said a calm but commanding female voice.
"She has just been fired. Should we move now?"
"No. Give her time," the woman replied. "She needs to realize it herself. After all… she was blessed — just like our hero. The one we're still waiting for."
"Understood, Milady. I'll stand by."
"Good. Dismissed."
"Bye."
The call ended. Silence filled the dark room.
The woman, Patient Fifteen, leaned back in her chair, staring at the glowing screen before her.
"Almost time," she whispered.