When he heard the crash above, the boy froze. He held a “halogen otoscope” — used by doctors to examine the ear drum. It provided just enough light for him to see about three feet down the hall. He stole it during his escape from the room with the chair. He took the otoscope, some slippers, and a labcoat.
He turned off the light and listened. He stood in a long corridor with a black-and-white tile floor, white walls, and no lights. He could hear his own heartbeat and breathing, but no more noises from above. Too afraid to move, he pulled the coat tight and tried not to shiver.
He stood there frozen for several minutes, until he remembered the chair. The thought of being tied down again got his feet moving. He shuffled down the hall and turned the otoscope back on.
He found a giant door blocking his path. The handle looked twice as big as any door handle he had ever seen. Set into the lower right-hand corner of the giant door was a very small door.
The boy scanned the walls and floor, but found nothing. He reached out and grabbed the large handle. He had to put the otoscope into his mouth and turn with both hands. A loud click sounded when he got the handle around and the door began to swing inward.
He heard a loud, electronic beep from above and looked up to see a red light above the doorway. He could just make out a camera mounted above the frame.