Samuel became increasingly absorbed in conversation with the scientist, who now introduced himself as Ronald. The two men, separated by reinforced glass and years of experience, exchanged theories and findings in low, urgent voices. Samuel shared his observations about the loop's patterns, the subtle shifts in time and memory he'd tracked since their arrival. Ronald, in turn, revealed technical details about the anomaly's behavior,how the amplifier's surges corresponded to spikes in human confusion, and how the neurotoxin-laced devices were calibrated to maximize psychological disorientation.
Their dialogue was a rare spark of intellectual energy in the oppressive gloom of the underground facility. Samuel scribbled notes on scraps of paper, passing them through the food slot when the guards weren't looking. Ronald's eyes lit up as he read Samuel's calculations, sometimes nodding in approval, sometimes correcting a detail with a soft, "No, it's not exponential,it's recursive. See here?"
Meanwhile, Jake and Lila were less patient. Every day, they tested the strength of their cell doors, searched for hidden weaknesses, and watched the guards for any sign of routine or distraction. But the security was tight....too tight. The guards had grown even more vigilant since Jeremiah's collapse and the incident with Carter. Escape seemed impossible, yet Jake's resolve only hardened with each failed attempt.
There was still no word about Jeremiah. The machines kept him alive somewhere in the medical wing, but the guards refused to answer any questions. And Miya,her name was a ghost on everyone's lips. They knew now she was somewhere in the facility, but no one had seen her, and no one knew what state she was in.
Days blurred together in the artificial light. Then, everything changed.
A special visitor arrived: a tall, imposing figure in an immaculate suit, flanked by two heavily armed guards. The air in the cell block grew tense as the visitor moved down the corridor, pausing in front of each cell, his gaze cold and appraising. Finally, he stopped in front of Ronald's cell.
"Dr. Ronald Williams," the man said, his voice echoing through the block. "It's been a long time."
For the first time, Jake and Lila saw Ronald step fully into the light. He was an older Black man, his hair silvered at the temples, his posture proud despite the years of captivity. There was a flicker of recognition...and old defiance....in his eyes as he met the visitor's gaze.
"Yes," Ronald replied quietly, "it has."
The chapter ended there, the cell block silent except for the steady hum of the anomaly deep below, and the sense that the true power struggle within LOOP was about to come to the surface