APPROVED

"Hey, we're just calling to let you know that you've been approved for the program."

Dean listened with wonder. He was quite stunned - after all, it hadn't even been a week since the assessment.

It seemed as if things were moving in a blur - from deciding on their course of action, to undergoing the clinical interviews, to now receiving confirmation, he was filled with anticipation about the truth behind the research.

The voice was familiar, though he wasn't quite sure where he had heard it. If he had to guess, he'd assume it was the same plain-looking woman who had overseen his interrogation. Her tone of voice was neutral as she proceeded to explained the specifics, wasting no time on pleasantries.

She provided a date, a time, and a location.

Listening intently, Dean replied with affirmations, jotting down the information, before she abruptly cut the line.

No sooner had the call ended, then he had dialed Viktor to confirm his approval.

The line only rung once before he heard the click on the other end.

"Are you in?"

They asked in unison, before laughing.

After a brief conversation, Dean was relieved to hear that Viktor had likewise been approved for the program. In addition, he was told to meet at the same time at the same place.

After making quick plans to meet up beforehand, Dean hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair, staring aimlessly at the wall.

He attempted to piece together the little information he had surrounding the program. It seemed as if a wide-net was cast, and a lot of participants were brought in for testing, although he wasn't sure exactly how many were approved. Considering the significant financial incentive, he was sure that the testing likely wouldn't be pleasant, although it couldn't be that bad considering it had been approved by the governmental board.

Going about his day, however, unease sat in his chest. He couldn't shake the feeling.

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On the appointed day, the men arrived at the marked location. Looking around wildly, they exchanged uncertain glances.

This was the place?

They stood at the edge of a long, empty, unmarked road far removed from the bustling city. In their surroundings were nothing but overgrown fields of grass and distant hills in every direction.

The one exception?

A lone observatory in a state of disrepair farther down the beaten path, its tragic silhouette looming against the overcast sky.

Mossy walls, cloudy windows with rusted metal domes and cracked stonework. It looked as if it hadn't been used for decades.

"Well - Maps is telling me this is the place, even though there's no signage or anything to speak of," Viktor remarked, glancing between his phone and the observatory.

"Dude - that place is definitely haunted. Why don't you go in and then come back and tell me what it's like?"

"Yeah right - if I'm gonna die you're coming with me."

Attempting to diffuse the tension, they bantered as they trudged uneasily towards the distant observatory, unable to refuse the call of adventure.

Gravel crunched underneath their feet as they approached the entrance, the sliding doors hissing open with a mechanical groan.

They were greeted by a brightly lit interior with the faint smell of dust and metal. Inside, th air was cooler, the faint humming of an old generator audible beneath their footsteps. Panoramic windows on the near side made for a litany of natural light, giving off a unique ambience.

Before they could take in any more details, a voice boomed out from some unseen corner.

"Welcome, welcome!"

Even from a distance, manic energy washed over them palpably. A man strode in large uneven steps towards them, quickly eroding the distance.

He looked to be in his late twenties, though there was a spark of wild enthusiasm that made him seem somehow younger.

His straight blonde hair was an untamed mess, sticking out in every direction, and his clothing was a patchwork of bright colors, patterns and textures. Around his neck hung a tattered scarf with a vintage feel, and his jacket looked like something from Indiana Jones.

He seemed to lack any sense of coordination.

"Congratulations on being approved for the program! It was very selective so you should consider yourselves top of the line."

He nodded with what Dean took to be mock seriousness before breaking out in a smile.

"You're going to love it here. Come with me, I'll bring you to the others."

He spun and motioned them to follow.

Walking along the first floor of the two-story building, their footsteps echoed faintly on the cracked tile floor. Above them, the second-floor railing loomed. The air felt heavy, as if the building itself was holding its breath, waiting.

The atmosphere would be quite tense, if it wasn't for the fact that Al was chattering animatedly.

"You guys are the last to arrive - the rest of them are waiting for you,"

Discussing all manner of things that were largely unimportant, Kamen quickly determined that he was the type to speak forever without getting bored

"Yeah, to be honest, I chose this observatory just because I liked the ambience!"

Through his incessant speaking, Dean was able to determine that he was the primary backer of the project, and, besides him, there were only a couple of other researchers on board.

Interrupting Al's diatribe, he asked the most pressing question -

"So, what exactly is this research about? And what kind of tests are we going to be part of?"

"Don't worry about that, I'll explain everything once we're all together. Trust me, you're going to find it fascinating,"

Without pausing, or even slowing down, he ignored the question decisively and leaped directly back into his monologue.

Glancing at Viktor, he saw that the man seemed to be engrossed in conversation with Al.

Well, he did always like talking.

Finally turning away from the winding exterior, Al strode towards a door along the interior wall that was already open.

Light spilled from it, and discussion spilled out from inside.

The moment the group stepped within, there was silence.

It was a room that looked somewhat like a classroom, with tables and chairs for sitting and a whiteboard in the front.

Dean and Viktor peered from behind Al, taking a look at the eight seedy individuals gathered within.

"Take a seat anywhere - Let's get started."