Don't jump too far

Just a test

"Aaaaand done! Not a scratch" Nigel smiled softly at the test subject, brushing them off. "Not gonna say thanks? Ohhh yeah you can't talk. Sorry I forgot." He ran his fingers through his hair and walked over to a door. A cold breeze ran through the chamber making him shiver slightly.

They stepped out and Nigel took them to a computer nearby. "Alrighty then," he sat on a chair and cracked his knuckles "user... N...I...g...e...l. Um password... right let's jog my memory here." The test subject giggled at his attempts.

It took around seven tries for him to get the password correct. "Ha ha! Finished and conquered! Okay so what's your name." He looked at the test subject. "... this isn't gonna work huh. Well, let's call youuuu... eighteen. Nothing too extreme I suppose." As he input the subject's name, a ringtone sounded from his pocket. Gently he took it out and looked at it. "Hm. They really want me fired. Oh well."

Nigel clapped his hands together and looked at 18 "So! What were you planning? It's a little tough trying to leave here so we could always just play cards or something." He has that odd yet mildly cute teenage charm in his expressions.

Around half an hour passed and no one did anything. 18 swung their feet while sat on a ledge, nodding to sleep. Nigel rocked on his feet, whistling and tapping his hands on his legs. "This is driving me insane just say something for crying out loud!"desperately he gripped 18's shoulders, subtle panic in his eyes and shook them slightly. They simply just stared at him blankly. He let go and paced the room, looking phased and stressed.

The next day wasn't any better. Nigel was acting more frantic and abnormal. He seemed almost desperate. Soon enough he composed himself. "Alright... alright I'm okay. I'm fine."
18 put their hand gently on his shoulder and gives him a subtle nod.
"Thank you 18." Nigel smiled softly and ran his fingers through his hair.

Testing
"You can do it! I believe in you." eagerly he stood on his chair, leaning into the screen to watch 18. His eyes sparkled as 18 flew and bounced around swiftly, collecting cubes, guiding lasers and "hold up that's a turret. Wait stop a minute and get behind that wall it's gonna see you!" ... turrets. 18 rolled their eyes and kicked over the turret without hesitation. Surprisingly (not really), it didn't fire. The metal case crumbled off, leaving the rusty frame.
"A dud. Ah... heh"

18 was growing closer to Nigel's charm and personality just by looking at him. Every test they completed, he'd compliment them. Every thumbs up they give him, he'd smile and give one back.

"Monster chamber up next. Hold on I'll try get down there with you." He stood up and the screen switched to static and the sound of things falling could be heard. "Oops I forgot to unplug my headphones." 18 shook their head and smiled at his clumsiness. The camera was back up not long after and he gave a thumbs up "All good?"
18 gave a thumbs up in reply.

Slowly, they walked to the chamber and peered into the doorway. Suddenly, they jolted back, whipping their head back around the corner as bullets flew towards their direction.

Nervously, they looked at the screen as it flickered on. "Right. Best thing not to do is poke your little head in there straight away. Sure you can run in spraying gel everywhere screaming like a maniac but that's guaranteed to get you killed!" He said in his typical enthusiastic tone.

18 ran around to another corner, activating the gel. Slowly, they poked their head out and sprayed the turret, sending it bouncing around. "Dance my pretty." Nigel said in a playfully evil voice, rubbing his hands together. "... nothing? Wow. Tough crowd." He muttered.

18 continued to walk through the chamber and almost takes a step too far to falling down. They jumped back, clutching their chest. Shaking it off, they walked to a corridor and places propulsion gel down it, making a path to run on. After, they put a small bit of repulsion gel on the end of the path to launch them onto another platform which is quite a distance away.

Nigel kept on the end of his seat, his heart pounding against his chest. He whispered to himself "Please make this jump. I'm praying you won't fall off and... die." He cleared his throat and looked at 18 who was looking at him nervously.

Nigel paused "... proceed. With caution. Of course." He sat back and watched. 18 walked to the start of the gel and put their foot on it. They took a deep breath.

They started to run. Faster, and faster, closer and closer to the repulsion gel. Nigel's pupils became smaller and smaller every step 18 took closer. Air swung at them, hitting them in the face every inch they moved.

One foot on the blue paint. Then both. 18 closed their eyes. Nigel gripped his chair, literally on the edge of it and cried
"DON'T JUMP TOO FAR!"