ring, ring [Exemplary]

[Albert Wesker]

Practically limping down the hallway as he was, Wesker was glad for one thing at the least. He was alone here, and there was no one to bear witness to this absolutely embarrassing display he was putting on. Barely able to keep himself together enough to remain standing and moving. The onslaught of brass dotting and covering the floor didn't make things any easier. Slipping and sliding in his unsteady gait, he very nearly lost his footing more than once. Thankfully, and against all odds, he managed to remain upright even through his rushed, agonized stumble. The intersection which would lead him to the emergency exit loomed ahead. The metallic case he'd picked up from below weighed heavily in one hand hand, as the other grasped at the corner of the intersection. Bracing himself for just a second to catch his breath, he swiftly pushed off again, hurrying down toward the console and the massive door it controlled.

Forty-seven...forty-six...forty-five...

The screen of the console still displayed the usual. The emergency status, as well as the countdown in progress. As well as the same AUTHORIZATION REQUIRED message it had before. The card reader attached to it blinked with a red glow, waiting to be used. Wasting no time, Wesker picked the keycard out of the pocket he'd stored it in, and swiped it through the reader.

Thirty-nine...thirty-eight...

The light on the card reader flashed blue. Once, then twice, then thrice...and then it blinked green. The screen of the console went dark, before bringing up a keypad, with a simple message: Keycard accepted. Input authorization code for full access. Recalling the code he had memorized, Wesker quickly keyed in the six-digit combination.

Thirty-one...thirty...twenty-nine...

The screen went dark again, until after a moment another message flashed onto the screen. ACCEPTED. Opening emergency exit...

Turning away from the console, Wesker settled his eyes on the great metal door. The locking mechanism could be heard as it disengaged, with both an audible ka-chunk and a magnetic humming. With an effort, he managed to turn the handle, and pull the door open. Beyond it, there was...nothing he had been expecting. Just a small room, completely white and illuminated clearly from no discernible source. Empty and barren of anything, save for a single table, on which rested a phone.

A phone that was ringing.

"What...is this?" His composure completely crumbled, replaced by confusion. "Just...a phone? No exit?" He stumbled over to the table, staring at the phone with an expression locked somewhere between enraged and utterly baffled. It took him a moment to process and try to register what this was all about, before finally, he just...gave up. Reaching for the phone, he picked it up, bringing it to his ear to answer. "...hello?" And as he uttered that word, everything went white, as his vision failed him completely. He felt...like he was falling, as he heard words echoing in his mind.

"Are you done playing around, now? It's time to wake up."