Being an Extra Actor in an Escape Game

Meanwhile, A-Two continues his explanation, our investigation on this Nightmare is, at best, preliminary. We did some thorough examination of the Nightmare owner, though and the Tower resident is insane, in the literal sense.

The literal sense? He Shujn cant help but ask, not because of the madness in the Apocalypse?

A-Two explains, no. In fact, we believe he is already insane before what you call the madness spread through human society.

He is mentally ill. According to a Missiontaker who was a psychologist in the past, the Tower resident may be suffering from schizophrenia.

This, reflected in his Nightmare, causes it to also be full of chaotic and unreasonable elements. Nightmares weve seen in the past are largely grounded in reality and stories based on the real world, but his Nightmare, truly does feel like a dream.

The Missiontakers understand now.

But Fei and Wu Jian look at each other, and dissent at the same time, that cant be right!

The other Missiontakers look surprised.

Fei tells A-Two, just now, in the scene we were just in, the Nightmares owner is also a literal insane person. The scene was even the mental institute hes in.

But we did not see the insanity reflected in the Nightmare at all. It still developed logically and realistically. This means that it is unlikely for Tower residents own mental states to influence Nightmares like that.

A-Two, while shocked, then nods a few times and says, I think youre right.

Then Wu Jian adds, and another question is this mental illness of the Tower resident, actually coming from the script theyre assigned to, instead of the underlying Tower resident?

The others dont seem to understand the question well.

Ye Lan knits her brows and asks, you mean the Actors own mental state, is what affects the Nightmare?

Then they go quiet for a moment, and end up all turning towards X Beijin.

Since clearly X Beijin would know best if they need to learn about Actors.

Though X Beijin tells them honestly, I dont know exactly, but

Recalling Dai Wus peculiar situation, he says, in my experience, the qualities we have as ourselves, physically, mentally alike, are carried over to us, the Tower residents.

The Missiontakers quickly nod.

Mu Jiashi says, then its clear now. We havent encountered such a rare case before, but this Actor must have been clinically insane, to cause such a strange influence on the assigned Nightmare.

The others then agree.

A-Two then continues explaining the Nightmare, the only thing we know for sure in this Nightmare, is that its a large, labyrinthine structure. Inside is full of intersections and junctions. To this day, our organisation still hasnt figured out a way out of this labyrinth, no matter what we tried. Its truly, epically gargantuan, and its literally painful to the eyes to look.

The Missiontakers look at each other, and then at the building not far away.

Its true.

The labyrinth A-Two is talking about, isnt a simple brick and mortar construction, or some fancy fencing decorated with vines and bushes.

Instead, it is formed by the combination of countless rectangles that continuously switches between different, random sharp colours, like the ones you see in video games.

They do not know if these coloured blocks are part of the original construction of this labyrinth, or if it is simply the mental state of the underlying Actor that made this look like the literal manifestation of light pollution.

Feis eyes are souring mere moments after staring at it.

She looks away, and sees A-Two shrug at her. Then she asks, so why are the Golddiggers studying this Nightmare?

This certainly doesnt look like a Nightmare suitable for carrying the Golddiggers customers up floors.

What kind of customer would prefer to travel in this kind of Nightmare than literally any other Nightmare?

A-Two forces a smile and explains, it cant be helped Most of the easy Nightmares of the floor are well-documented already; there was an influx of Missiontakers from the bottom floor, and one of them stumbled upon this previously undiscovered Nightmare. It sounded interesting, so we decided to check it out.

We had no idea itd turn out like this.

Then A-Two covers his eyes with his hands.

Even days after leaving that Nightmare does A-Two still feel like he can see colours flashing about his eyelids whenever he close his eyes. It makes him question his sanity.

He even has to fall asleep staring at changing coloured blocks. Immersing himself in a sea of blocks of changing sharp colours, counting them like sheep; even in his dreams, he cannot escape from the coloured blocks.

How hopeless those few days were.

A-One, meanwhile, after entering the Nightmare, has never cast his eyes once in the direction of the giant labyrinth. Its like a source of trauma for him already.

Really, before they entered the Nightmare, they focused on the labyrinth part of the information on the Nightmare, and were expecting some deductive puzzle downtime.

But the Nightmare is actually an action adventure! With light pollution baked in!

Oh, he swears hed go blind if he stayed in it any longer.

Mu Jiashi also appears a little lost. Then he looks at X Beijin, and the rest of the Missiontakers, and says, that said, it would seem, we can only figure out the truth of this Nightmare by entering the labyrinth.

Wait. I still have a question.

Shen Ynj looks at the labyrinth, whose flickering, discordant lights are dancing, casting shades on his expression, making him look almost mystical in turn. His tone is quite depressed, in contrast.

Mu Jiashi pauses, and asks, whats wrong?

Shen Ynjs tone grows less and less confident. He seems to be doubtful, too, asking, do you think this labyrinth, existed on Earth at one time?

Hearing that, both the Missiontakers and A-One, A-Two appear astonished.

I no, of course not, can it? Mu Jiashi answers by reflex, but suddenly, he thinks he realises the meaning hidden between Shen Ynjs words, and asks, you cant mean, you actually recall this scene?

Shen Ynjs pupils reflect the dancing colours, making his expression hard to read. He murmurs, Im not sure, but It just feels familiar. Its like Ive seen this before.

Mu Jiashi knits his brows.

After some more time pondering, Shen Ynj declares, yes! Im sure I must have seen this labyrinth somewhere!