The suited man left him and went back into the room with the woman. Mark listened, worried that he might do something to her, but heard nothing. Meanwhile, a second suited man appeared in the hallway.

"You are ready to return to the surface. We have already injected you with henodextonin while you slept. However, be aware that injections do not contain much of the substance, and your body cannot store injected henodextonin. You will need to return to us within the next couple of days."

Mark held back the anger he felt towards the man knowing that nothing he could do at this point would help him. However, this one was different, it was as if he actually had an ounce of compassion. Mark could feel it, or at least, he thought he could. It was not enough to quell his suspicion however.

"I am going to blindfold you so that we may take you up to the city."

The man took out a black mask devoid of any openings and held it up in front of Mark's face. Neither moved.

"I must do this, I was ordered to."

He lowered the mask, putting it at his side. His hands went down to his pocket. Mark knew well what this meant and his heart began to race. Should he give in? Or could he beat the man before he pressed it? The man's hand went lower and lower as Mark thought about what to do, but then Mark was presently surprised. The man wasn't going for the pocket at all, he simply lowered his hands to his sides.

"If you don't comply, I will have to place you back to sleep. Please, cooperate."

Mark stepped forward.

"You aren't like the other ones."

The man tilted his head slightly.

"Do not judge us. Not everyone here is here by will. Some of us..."

The man stopped for a second, as he scrunched the mask in his fist, opening and closing his hand.

"We know what your are going through. At the hands of that man."

Although he couldn't be sure that this empathy was genuine, Mark was moved. He reached out his arm, asking for the mask. The man, after hesitating, passed it to him. After Mark slipped it on his head, they began walking. As they set off, the man whispered something to himself.

"Maybe it won't be much longer."