The room went silent. All eyes were on Darryl. He looked around nervously, but his stance didn't change. Toby was the first to look away, moving to lean against one of the walls. His blonde friend joined him, and they had a quiet conversation. Clay guessed Tommy was probably checking on him, judging by the worry in his eyes.
Clay instinctively glanced at George, who had been talking to Darryl just moments before. He was frozen in shock. The blonde approached him hesitantly, not wanting to scare him. Carefully, he put his hand on George's shoulder. The Brit turned quickly to meet his eyes, though his expression hardly changed.
The taller of the two inwardly hit himself. He'd been in this place for a little longer than George, and he knew from experience that touching someone helped focus your senses. So, while part of Clay knew he was doing this to help calm George, he also needed it to ground himself. Darryl watched them, his eyes calculating.
" I kind've figured we'd have to explore them eventually," Fundy said suddenly, the first to address the group since Darryl's announcement. " They're the most obvious thing we've got to work off here."
Toby and Tommy rejoined them. Clay took note of how Toby gripped his friend's upper arm like his life depended on it, and he guessed that he wasn't entirely on board with the idea yet. Darryl nodded to Fundy. " We'll have to discuss it more in the morning. For now, I think we should probably get some rest."
George frowned, turning to face Clay. The blonde was just as confused, having only arrived a short while before George. Fundy noticed them, and explained quickly, " We've figured out a base way to tell how time is passing in the real world."
" Basically, those lights up in the ceiling start to flicker out one by one until it's almost entirely dark in here," he said. " After awhile, they come back on. It's not perfect at all, but it's the best we have."
Clay whistled, " How long did it take you to figure that out?"
" One light cycle," Fundy answered. " Time seems to pass faster here. Your friend Nick arrived a bit after the lights came back on, and you came around noonish. George, you got here at dusk."
" I'd say it's fascinating," George muttered. " But it's not something I really want to stick around and study."
Clay snorted and the other two gave him a strange look. " Sorry," he said. " That was kinda funny."
" Whatever you say, buddy," Fundy dismissed. " Just find a spot on the floor and try to get some rest. I'm still convinced I'm dreaming, so I won't tell you to try and sleep."
Clay nodded and the dutch man walked off, joining Callahan by the third door on the right. George turned to him, and Nick stepped over as well. Most of the other wall spaces had been taken towards one end of the hallway. Nick pointed to the far wall, by the furthest doors. There was one spot, empty and devoid of anything, that no one had occupied yet. The three thought it only logical to settle here.
The other five watched them. Clay didn't noticed Callahan waving at him until they'd already sat down. The mute looked worried. He held up nine fingers, and then put one down, and made a square with his hands. The blonde frowned, looking behind him.
Nine fingers, one down. Oh, Clay realized, that was where the ninth door had been. Where the ninth man had gone in, and never come out. Unconsciously, he glanced over to Toby, who was staring at the ground. Tommy chatted to him with a huge smile on his face. George grabbed Clay's sleeve. " Are you sure we should sit here," he whispered.
" Not like we have much choice, there's no space anywhere else," Clay responded. Nick glanced over at them, nodding his agreement. They sat there in silence, none of them trying to rest. George seemed especially uncomfortable, as he was shifting around quite a bit.
" Can I talk to you two about something," he said finally. Nick and Clay gave him their attention. He spoke in a hushed tone, though they were out of earshot to any who might've listened in, " So, I didn't mention this earlier, but before I came in here, I woke up a few times after I initially passed out."
" Woah, did you see anything," Nick gaped.
" I remember people in white coats, and at one point, I got to see the room we were in. Clay was there, but he was sleeping," George muttered. " But that's not the important part. The room we were in looked like a hospital, but it was a classroom."
He paused, and Clay let that information sink in. " A school that's also a hospital," he repeated. " No way."
" What am I missing," Nick said, looking between the two.
" Dude, we were in the College," Clay told him. Nick froze, thinking it over.
" But the SDC's occupying the school," Nick said. " We would only be able to get in if..."
He went silent, contemplating. Clay turned back to George. " There's only one logical answer," he confirmed. " As much as I hate it."
" That's right," Clay nodded. Nick grimaced.
" We must have the Sleeping Death."
~~~~
Soon, the lights went out completely, and Clay could barely see. The doors seemed to give off a faint glow, and that only served to unsettle him more. The others calmed down, sprawling out on the floor or against the walls. Clay couldn't sleep, not with the news that had just been dropped on him. They'd have to tell the group, likely tomorrow.
Nick managed to get comfortable, using his arm as a pillow. Clay stayed propped against the wall, vigilant and unmoving. He wanted to see everything, he didn't want to miss a single detail. George sat up with him, though he looked exhausted.
Clay wracked his memory, trying to think of the symptoms of the Sleeping Death, but he knew little to nothing. He wished he'd cared more. All he could remember were the three scientists in charge of the SDC, but they were all over the media, practically celebrities by now. It was hard not to know them.
He knew the oldest of them was married, and that the youngest of them didn't like to appear in magazines or interviews very much. The third was the main media presence, rightfully so. He was charming, and Clay knew more about him than either of the others. But none of that knowledge would help him here.
" Clay?"
Clay hummed, acknowledging George while still being lost in thought. " Do you feel alright, you've been staring at nothing for the past half hour."
" I'm fine," Clay responded softly. Clearly, he wasn't, but George didn't need to know that. He glanced over to where the other male was sitting. In the dim lighting, it was hard to make out the details of his face. George met his eyes, and Clay was tempted to turn away, as he had before in class every time he was caught staring.
Memories of their class together months before made his heart squeeze in his chest. Sitting there, several rows apart, but feeling so much further. He yearned for the days when his biggest worry was trying to talk to George. Clay hadn't lied before when he said he'd been too shy to speak to the Brit, or when he said it was easier to talk to other people with his friends around. Those statements were both true to an extent, but there was a better answer that he hadn't said.
But the truth was a tricky thing, and Clay wasn't sure if he'd even figured it out for himself yet. The reason his stomach fluttered when he met George's eyes, or the reason he got so embarrassed while teasing him, even though that never happened around other people. Even now, in that dark, crowded hallway, George's eyes bore into his soul, and he wanted to learn so much about him.
" Hey, Clay," George started, his voice lower, likely tired. " Would you mind if I used you as a pillow?"
" What?" Clay blinked, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks. He fought down the fuzzy feeling in his head, unsure as to why it was acting up over something so small. " I mean, sure. Go ahead."
Gingerly, George scooted closer, and Clay could feel how warm he was. The Brit leaned his head against Clay's shoulder. The touch acted as an anchor for both of them. Without even realizing it, Clay's mind had moved off of the dangers of their situation, and he now struggled to control his heart. George drifted off quickly, and Clay could hear his short breaths coming slower now.
Clay closed his eyes, letting himself imagine, if only briefly, that they weren't trapped in this place. He dreamt that they were sitting on his couch, with a movie playing in the background. They weren't in the SDC, they weren't in mortal danger. And for a brief second, he felt at peace.
But nothing lasted forever.