Just stay calm, Nick told himself repeatedly, his thoughts reeling in his mind like a broken record as he continued to look around the room, taking in every last detail with ease. Again and again, and again but it was never a different result. The same scenes that never changed, making him feel like he was trapped in some cage with these people. He made mental images and they stayed in his mind because somehow he knew that he was not supposed to forget them. Call it instinct, but he knew very well he was not safe. They, the other people in the room, strangers to him, seemed to think the same. Nick was nervous as hell on the inside, despite his awkwardly calm expression that showed on his countenance as he kept looking around absently. He felt like he was about to panic but knew he had to remain calm-- oh fuck it.<br/><br/>How the hell could he remain calm?<br/><br/>He was going crazy just standing here; everyonesâ€™ voices seemed to just mold together right now. It didnâ€™t help him clear his headâ€¦ that was all he needed right now but it was impossible. Not here, not now. Someone asked about remembering but he still couldnâ€™t remember a damn thing. He couldnâ€™t remember sleeping, couldnâ€™t remember working, and couldnâ€™t even tell you what he ate for dinner last night. Even his childhood memories, which have always been rather blurry, were completely black as if someone had physically gone into his memory and erased them by hand.<br/><br/>â€œIntriguing situationâ€¦â€ he managed to say finally, voice still void of emotion, gazing at the Latin words above and the long hallway. Nick didnâ€™t know any Latin other than â€˜acta est fabulaâ€™, but even then he couldnâ€™t remember what that meant. He was also a rather sensitive person at times and the atmosphere was sinking its teething into him fairly easy. There was no doubt that he had potential to be a weaker link if this was some sort of sick test of sanity. Though from the sounds of things he wasnâ€™t the only one whose sanity was being testedâ€¦ At least that was what he guessed, anyway. He knew this place was doing a damn good job poking at all of what makes him cringe to say the least. â€œI donâ€™t know even half of my family and Iâ€¦ well, Iâ€™m not sure about friends. Honestly, I canâ€™t remember a fucking thing right now in general, doesnâ€™t matter what. God, my head hurts.â€<br/><br/>And then he said: â€œSorry, I donâ€™t drink. Not anymoreâ€¦ Iâ€™ve got nothing. But Iâ€™ll agree with him-â€ he poked a thumb at the man- â€œin saying that this is just a house, creepiness aside.â€ Just a house? That almost amused him. Somehow he wasnâ€™t that convincedâ€¦<br/><br/>And then there was a shit somewhere like the very house itself had moved as it to break down any sense of security that has been attempted to build amongst the group. He had not contributed much, but he would still made his presence known. There was also another sound that captured his attention â€“of an opening door, somewhere in thehe could hear it. But where? He placed a hand on his forehead and closed his eyes. Staring down that hallway made him nauseous. Identical doors. Definitely not cool, made him wonder if this really was like one of those horror movies. Maybe this was some horror movie set or some sick joke. Either way it was becoming more and more difficult to keep his composure.<br/><br/>A door has opened. â€˜The door has been openedâ€™.<br/><br/>â€œWe all fall down,â€ he said, repeating what had been said moments earlier, for that was what that experience had felt like, falling. Nick muttered the old nursery rhyme under his breath afterward. He then pinched himself in the back of his hand in an attempt to snap out of whatever daze he was in. The man giving out cigarettes was right in saying everyone needed to calm down. But would everything be fine? That was what he doubtedâ€¦ â€œDamn itâ€¦â€ Nick needed a place to sit down but there was no way in hell he was going to sit on that disgusting, old, moldy couch. It was already occupied anyway. Perhaps one of the chairs would do, but even then he was reluctant to do so. His only other option was the floor but he really didnâ€™t want to do that either. Eventually he did sit on one of the chairs feeling that it would be the better of the three options he had to choose from. He buried his face in his hands and sighed quietly, shaking his head at the mention of that clock.<br/><br/>Maybe the clock was mocking them, he thought. â€œDonâ€™t get worked up over it. Just a clock, man.â€ He said with a slight bit of encouragement, hopefully more to convince himself that it wasnâ€™t mocking them rather than be reassuring however.