Eclipsara pov(first person point of view)
I woke up slowly.
For a second, I forgot where I was.
Soft bed.
Warm blanket.
Quiet.
Then the memory slammed back in.
Underground lab.
Monsters.
Blood.
Everything.
“…ugh.”
I blinked a few times and shifted slightly.
Something felt… off.
I wiped my mouth.
…Drool.
“…Fantastic.”
I slowly looked up.
Mira was on the top bunk, lying on her stomach(Lying-resting body on something. Context: Mira was laying face-down on the bed while reading.) with the journal open in front of her. One leg idly kicked back and forth as she read.(Idly-without thinking or casually. Context: She was relaxed and casually moving her leg while reading.)
“…How long were we out?” I mumbled.
Mira glanced down at me.
“I’m not sure.” she said. “I’ve been awake for about half an hour.”
“…Half an hour?”
“Mm-hm.”
I groaned and rubbed my face.
“Feels like I got hit by a building.”
“That’s probably accurate.”
“…Rude.”
I shifted slightly on the bed, wincing as my back reminded me it was still injured.(Wincing-making a small pain face. Context: Her back hurt, and she made a small pain expression.)
“…So,” I said, looking up at her, “anything useful in that mysterious cozy horror journal?”
Mira lifted it slightly.
“There’s no title. No name on it. If there was, it’s been ripped out.” She tapped the front. “Some pages are missing too.”
“Of course there are.”
“But…” she said, flipping a page. “it’s not a personal journal. It’s more like… a record.”
I blinked.
“…A record?”
She nodded.
“It details the rooms on this floor. Their purposes, what they were used for…things like that.”
I slowly sat up.
“…Wait.”
Mira shifted closer to the edge of the top bunk and lowered one arm down, letting the journal hang just enough for me to see.(Mira was showing her the map from above.)
“There’s also a map.”
I froze.
Then pointed dramatically at her.
“…There’s a map?”
“Yes.”
I shot upright(sitting up very quickly)-immediately regretted it as my back protested-and then pointed again.
“Finally! A map!”
Mira gave me a look.
“Try not to celebrate too hard. You’re still injured.”
“I don’t care,” I said, completely ignoring that. “We have been wandering in circles for hours. There is a MAP.”
She nodded.
“It’s actually detailed too.”
My eyes widened slightly.
“…How detailed?”
“The rooms are labeled. Not with names exactly, but descriptions-what equipment is inside, what each space was used for.”
I stared at the journal in her hand like it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
“…Whoever wrote that,” I said slowly, “I hope they are having an amazing afterlife right now.”
Mira almost smiled.
“They also explain some of the equipment.”
I placed a hand(my only hand) over my heart dramatically.
“Thank. God.”
“Agreed.”
She flipped another page.
“It’s not everything, but it’s enough to understand most of this floor.”
I leaned back slightly against the bed frame, letting out a long breath.
“…We went from blind guessing to actual information.”
“Yes.”
“…That’s illegal. That’s too much progress.”
Mira rolled her eyes lightly.
I looked back up at her.
“So.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“So?”
“…Where are we on the map?”
She glanced down at the page again, then shifted closer and let her hand hang over the edge of the bunk so I could see clearly.(Edge-the side or border. Context: Her hand hung over the side of the bed.)
“Here.”
I squinted.
“…And where is the elevator?”
She flipped a page.
“Marked here.”
I leaned forward slightly.
“…And the other rooms?”
“Also marked.”
I sat there for a moment.
Then slowly grinned.
“…Mira.”
“Yes?”
“We’re about to become the most efficient explorers this facility has ever seen.”
She closed the journal slightly.
“…That is a concerning statement coming from you.”
I pointed at her confidently.
“No more guessing.”
“…You literally used a children’s rhyme earlier.”
“That was before we had a map.”
She stared at me.
“…You are not allowed to make decisions anymore.”
I gasped.
“That is unfair.”
She held the journal close.
“I have the map.”
“…You have too much power.”
“Yes.”
I leaned back again with a sigh.
“…This changes everything.”
Silence settled for a moment.
A much calmer silence this time.
I shifted slightly and pulled the blanket up again.
“…Alright.”
Mira glanced down at me.
“Alright?”
“You have the map.”
“Yes.”
“You have the brain.”
“…I do.”
I pointed lazily upward.
“Wake me up when you have a plan.”
She stared at me.
“…Excuse me?”
“I’m delegating responsibility.”(Delegating-giving someone else the job. Context: She was being lazy and letting Mira decide everything.)
“You’re being lazy.”
“I am resting.”
“You just slept.”
I pulled the pillow over my face dramatically.
“I’m not hearing this.”
Mira folded her arms.
“You are impossible.”
I muffled my voice into the pillow.(Muffled-quiet because blocked. Context: Her voice sounded quiet because her face was in the pillow.)
“Wake me up when we have direction.”
Then, very intentionally-
I started fake snoring.
Loudly.
Very badly.
“…You’re not even trying.” Mira said flatly.
I snored louder.
She sighed.
But I could hear the faint amusement in it.
I woke up again to something lightly nudging my shoulder.(Nudging-gently pushing. Context: Mira gently tapped her to wake her up.)
“Eclipsara.”
I groaned into the pillow.
“…If this is about responsibility again, I refuse.”
“Eclipsara.”
I cracked one eye open.
Mira was leaning over the edge of the top bunk, looking down at me.
“…Did you finally get a plan?” I mumbled.
“Yes.”
I blinked.
“…Oh.”
I slowly pushed myself up, stretching slightly before immediately regretting it as my back twinged.(Twinged-sudden small pain Context: Her back hurt suddenly.)
“…Ow.”
Mira hopped down from the top bunk.
“I found a room on the map.” she said, holding up the journal. “There should be first aid supplies there.”
I squinted at her.
“…First aid?…You’re telling me, that this place-this horrible, cursed, nightmare lab-has a room…finally...with actual first aid supplies or better yet...real medicine?”
“Yes.”
I paused.
And then I waved a hand lazily.
“I’m fine.”
“You are not fine.”
“I’m standing.”
“You’re injured.”
“I’ve been injured before.”
“You’re still injured.”
“…Okay, but I’m standing.”
She crossed her arms.
“That is not the standard we’re using.”
I sighed and swung my legs off the bed.
“Fine, fine. Responsible decisions. Health. Survival. Very important.”
I yawned, dragging a hand through my hair.
“Let me guess.” I added, reaching over and grabbing my axe with my only remaining arm. “You want me to not bleed everywhere again in the future.”
“That would be ideal.”
I lifted the axe and rested it against my shoulder with a small sigh.
“…Alright. Lead the way, doctor.”
“I am not a doctor.”
“Close enough. You sure are acting like one.”
She ignored that.
“It’s not far.” she said. “A short distance from here.”
I paused mid-step.
“…Short distance?”
“Yes.”
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
“…Define short.”
She flipped the journal open briefly.
“Within this section. A few turns.”
“…That’s not reassuring.”
“It’s closer than anything else we’ve been to.”
“…Fine. I’ll accept that. Lead the way before something else tries to eat me. Also, if I have to walk across the entire facility again, I’m filing a complaint with whoever built this place.”
I adjusted my grip on the axe and rolled my shoulder slightly.
Then something clicked in my head.
“…Wait.”
Mira looked at me.
“What?”
I pointed vaguely back toward the hallway.
“What about that other door?”
She tilted her head slightly.
“The one from earlier.” I clarified. “Left, straight, right. We picked two. There’s still one left.”
Mira’s expression shifted slightly.
“I tried to find it in the journal.”
“And?”
She shook her head.
“…There’s nothing.”
I blinked.
“…Nothing?”
“No description. No label. It’s not marked like the others.”
I stared at her.
“…That’s not suspicious or ominous at all.”
“Exactly.”
I sighed.
“…So we’re ignoring the mysterious unmarked door.”
“For now.” she said firmly. “We can come back to it later.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Later, as in when we’re stronger, better equipped, and less likely to immediately die?”
“Yes.”
“That is the smartest decision we have made all day.”
“That’s because I made it.”
“Wow,” I said flatly. “Rude.”
“Right now, your condition takes priority. We get supplies first.”
I looked down at the faint blood stains on my clothes, then at the tear in my jacket.
“…Yeah,” I muttered. “Probably a good idea.”
I adjusted the axe again and gestured forward.
“Alright. Lead the way.”
Mira turned toward the door.
I then started muttering under my breath.
“…Unmarked door… definitely haunted… probably full of something terrible…”
I paused briefly, glancing back once more.
“…We are absolutely coming back to that later. Please don't be something scary.”
I followed behind Mira finally, adjusting my grip on the axe(She changed how she held the axe.) as we prepared to step back out into the halls again.
This time-
With a plan.
And hopefully-
With less screaming.
We stepped out into the hallway.
And immediately-
I turned around.
“…Wait.”
Mira did the same.
For a second, neither of us said anything.
Because the door we had just come through-
Didn’t look like a door anymore.
The wall behind us was seamless.(Seamless-smooth with no lines. Context: The wall looked like one solid piece.) Smooth. White-gray like the rest of the facility. The edges of the entrance had blended perfectly into the structure, the outline nearly impossible to see unless you knew exactly where to look.(The door blended into the wall. You could not see where the door ended). The door disappeared into the wall. The wall looked perfectly smooth. It was hidden very well)
I leaned closer.
“…That is extremely well hidden.”
Mira nodded slowly. “It’s camouflaged. Designed not to be found easily.”
“…Great.” I muttered. “So if we lose it, we lose it forever.”
I tapped the wall lightly with the back of my fingers.
Solid.
No visible handle.
No panel.
Nothing.
“…Yeah, no. We are not losing this.”
Mira looked around, thinking.
“We need a way to mark it. Something subtle.”(Subtle-not obvious.)
I glanced at my axe.
“…I mean-”
“No,” she said immediately. “Not here. If you scratch the wall directly, it might be noticeable.”
“…We are literally vandalizing vents,” I pointed out.
“That’s different,” she replied calmly.
“…Of course it is.”
She looked up.
At the fan just above and slightly to the side of the hidden door.
“…There.”
I followed her gaze.
“…Oh.”
I stepped closer and, very carefully, raised my axe.
Screeech-
A small, controlled scratch along the metal casing.(Casing-outer metal cover. Context: She scratched the metal around the vent.)
Barely visible unless you were looking for it.
I added a second, slightly angled line beneath it.
A mark we’d recognize.
No one else would think twice about.
“There,” I whispered.
Mira nodded once. “That works.”
I stepped back, glancing at the wall again.
“…Hidden safe room. Marked. Not losing that.”
“Good.”
We turned and started walking.
Quietly.
Very quietly.
I leaned in slightly toward her as we moved.
“…So,” I whispered, “do I keep marking the vents?”
She nodded, flipping open the journal as she walked.
“Yes. But only when it’s safe. If we hear anything, stop immediately.”
“Got it,” I murmured.
We reached the first turn.
I paused.
Listened.
Nothing.
Slowly-
Screech.
A soft, controlled scratch.
Barely a sound.
“…Okay,” I whispered. “I feel like a very illegal artist right now.”
Mira ignored that, eyes scanning the journal.
“Left here.”
We turned.
I marked again.
Scratch.
We continued moving, footsteps light against the sterile floor(very clean).
The hum of the fans filled the silence.
No laughter.
Not yet.
Good.
I leaned slightly closer to Mira again.
“…So,” I whispered. “what do you think we’re going to find in this room with first aid supplies?”
“Apparently, it’s labeled in the journal as a recovery and observation room.” she explained quietly as we walked. “Used for stabilizing subjects after procedures.”
I frowned slightly.
“…Just Subjects specifically?”
“Yes.”
“…That’s a concerning sentence.”
“It also mentions storage for first aid and medical supplies.” she added. “And documentation.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“…Documentation?”
“Yes. Notes. Observations. Possibly more records.”
I nodded slowly.
“…So not just bandages.”
“No.”
“…Answers.”
“Possibly.”
I tightened my grip on the axe slightly.
“…Alright,” I whispered. “Now I’m interested.”
We turned another corner.
Scratch.
Mira kept walking, focused.
“It could also tell us more about what they were doing here,” she added. “How the procedures worked. Why they failed.”
“…And maybe how to not end up like that,” I muttered.
She didn’t respond to that.
We kept moving.
Quiet.
Careful.
Every step measured.(careful)
Every sound controlled.
The deeper we went-
The heavier the silence felt again.
And somewhere in the back of my mind-
I couldn’t stop thinking about that unmarked door.
And the laughter.
And the things in this place that definitely weren’t supposed to exist.
I exhaled slowly.
Another turn.
I checked.
Listened.
Nothing.
Scratch.
I tilted my head slightly.
“You know…” I continued quietly, “plot twist-it’s not a recovery and observation room at all. Not even a medical room.”
Mira didn’t look up. “It is.”
“Or,” I insisted, “it’s secretly another nightmare room. But with bandages.”
“It’s not.”
“Or,” I went on. “the bandages are alive.”
She stopped walking.
Slowly looked at me.
“…Alive.”
“Yes,” I whispered. “They wrap around you emotionally and physically.”
She stared at me for a long second.
“…You need actual medical attention.”
“Correct. Which is why we are going to the definitely-not-haunted supposed medical room.”
She went back to the journal.
“Or a doctor ghost that-”
“Eclipsara.”
“…Okay, okay, I’ll stop.”
She exhaled slowly.
“Thank you.”
I grinned slightly to myself as I made another faint scratch along a vent.
“…Alright.” I whispered. “Observation room first.”
Then, quieter-
“…Then we question our life choices later.”
We finally reached the door.
Heavy.
Reinforced.(The door was stronger and harder to break than normal doors.)
Different from the others.
Definitely not one of those open, welcoming “walk right in and regret your life choices” entrances.
Mira stopped in front of it, glancing down at the journal one last time before nodding slightly.
“This is it.”
“…Alright.” I whispered. “Moment of truth.”
She placed her hand against the panel.
The door slid open with a deep, mechanical hiss.(Hiss-soft air sound like "ssss". Context: The door opened with an air pressure sound.)
We both stepped inside-
And stopped.
“…Oh.”
The room was huge.
Wider than most we’d seen so far.
Clean.
Organized.
Not destroyed.
That alone felt wrong.
Large glass partitions((Partitions-walls that divide space. Context: Glass walls separating different areas of the room.) lined sections of the room, separating areas like observation spaces. Behind them-(Lined-placed along. Context: Glass walls were placed across parts of the room, dividing areas.)
Beds. Multiple Actual beds.
Each one fitted with equipment you’d expect in a hospital. Monitors. Stands.(Stands-metal poles holding equipment. Context: Like hospital poles that hold IV bags or machines.)Tubing systems.(Tubing systems-medical tubes. Context: Tubes used for medicine, oxygen, or fluids.) Everything arranged neatly, like it had been ready for use at any moment.
No blood.
No bodies.
Just… waiting.
“…Okay,” I muttered. “That’s… surprisingly normal. This is good. This is very good.”
Mira stepped further in, scanning everything carefully.
“Recovery and observation.” she said quietly. “Just like the journal described.”
I walked a little deeper into the room, eyes flicking between the beds and the equipment.
“…Still creepy.” I added.
“Everything here is creepy.” she replied.
“…Fair.”
I glanced toward the desks.
Desks sat off to the side, papers stacked neatly-actual intact documents, not shredded, not scattered like everything else we’d seen.
I pointed.
“…Hey. Papers that aren’t violently ruined.”
Mira looked.
“I see them.”
I started toward them.
“Finally, something we can actually read without figuring out what to-”
“No.”
I stopped mid-step.
“…No?”
She was already moving toward a set of cabinets along the wall.
“Not yet.”
I blinked.
“…But the papers-”
“Later” she said firmly.
I stared at her.
“…Mira.”
“No.”
“…Mira.”
She opened a cabinet and started scanning through its contents.
“We get supplies first.”
I sighed dramatically.
“…You are no fun.”
“You are injured.”
“I am curious.”
“You are bleeding.”
“I was bleeding.”
She pulled out a small kit and set it on a nearby surface.
“You could get an infection.”
“…That sounds like a future problem.”
“That is a current problem.”
I groaned and leaned against one of the beds.
“…At least skim one page.”
“No.”
“…Half a page.”
“No.”
“…A sentence?”
“No.”
I slumped slightly.(Slumped = dropped posture. Context: She looked tired and disappointed.)
“…This is oppression.”
Mira ignored me completely.
She checked another cabinet-
Then-
“Got it.”
I straightened abit.
“…Please tell me that’s bandages.”
“And antiseptic(Antiseptic-liquid that kills germs. Purpose: Cleans wounds. Stops infection). And wraps. And-” she checked again. “-this should help with infection.”
“Good.”
She gathered what she could carry and set it aside neatly.
Then she moved back to the desk, quickly flipping through the small stack of intact notes.
“Hey-!” I started.
“I said later.” she repeated.
“…You’re literally reading them.”
“I’m collecting them.”
She folded the few available sheets carefully and tucked them into her clothing.
“…That’s cheating.”
“It’s efficient.”
She closed the cabinet and turned back to me.
“We’ll read them when we’re safe.”
I crossed my arms.
“We are safe.”
She gave me a look.
“In a lab filled with monsters?”
“…Temporarily safe.”
“Exactly.”
I sighed.
“…Fine.”
She picked up the supplies and walked over to me.
“Sit.”
“I am sitting.”
“Properly.”
I shifted reluctantly onto the edge of the bed.
“…You’ve gotten bossy.”
“You’ve gotten reckless. With those nasty looking wounds on you.”
“…They’re stylish wounds.”
“They are infectable wounds.”
While she organized the supplies, I glanced around the room again.
Slowly walking a short circle.
Checking corners.
Behind equipment.
Nothing.
No hidden horrors.
No movement.
Just silence.
“…Weird.” I muttered.
“What?” Mira asked without looking up.
“There’s nothing else here.”
She nodded slightly.
“That’s good.”
“…It feels wrong.”
She didn’t respond to that.
I leaned lightly against the wall, watching her.
“…You’re really worried about infection, huh.”
She paused for just a second.
“…Yes.”
I looked down at my leg.
Then at the tear across my back.
“…It’s not that bad.”
She gave me a look.
“You were bleeding through your jacket.”
“…It’s a strong jacket.”
“That’s not the point.”
I sighed.
“…Alright, alright. Patch me up, doctor.”
She shook her head slightly-
But I could see it.
She was focused.
Careful.
And just a little worried.
Well...it looks like it will take a while.
As Mira set the supplies down, she looked at me.
“Sit.”
I looked at the bed.
Then at her.
Then back at the bed.
“…I don’t like the tone of that.”
“Sit.”
“…That sounded worse the second time.”
She pointed.
I sighed dramatically and lowered myself onto one of the medical beds, carefully adjusting so I didn’t put too much pressure on my back.
“…If I die from this.” I muttered. “I want it known that I was brave.”
“You’re not dying.” Mira said flatly.
She stepped behind me.
“And you’re not brave. You’re dramatic.”
I gasped.
“How dare you-”
The moment the antiseptic touched my back-
“AH-”
I jerked forward.
“WHAT IS THAT?!”
“It’s antiseptic.”
“IT FEELS LIKE FIRE-”
“It’s cleaning the wound.”
“IT’S CLEAN ENOUGH-”
“No, it’s not.”
“IT WAS FINE FIVE SECONDS AGO-”
“You were literally bleeding on the floor.”
“That was decorative!”
“It was not decorative!”
I groaned, gripping the edge of the bed with my one hand as she continued treating the wound.
“Why does healing hurt more than the injury?!”
“Because you keep moving.”
“I am reacting!”
“Stop reacting.”
“I CAN’T STOP REACTING-”
She pressed a little harder.
“AH-MIRA-”
“Stay still.”
“I AM STILL-THIS IS MY STILL-”
She sighed.
“You have one arm now. You have to be more careful.”
I paused.
“…Wow.”
“What?”
“That sounded like responsibility.”
“It is responsibility.”
I turned my head slightly.
“I don’t like it.”
“You don’t have a choice.”
“…Rude.”
She finished with my back and moved to my leg.
I pointed weakly.
“I would like to file a complaint.”
“Denied.”
“You didn’t even hear it.”
“I don’t need to.”
“That’s unfair.”
She started cleaning the cut on my leg.
I immediately tensed.
“Wait-wait-”
Too late.
“-AH-”
“You knew that was coming.”
“I still hoped it wouldn’t!”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“I am suffering!”
“You’re healing.”
“Same thing!”
She wrapped the bandage tightly.
I hissed.
“Okay-maybe a little less tight-”
“No.”
“I need circulation-”
“You have circulation.”(Circulation-blood flow. Context: Mira wrapped bandage tight, but blood still flowing normally.)
“I had circulation-”
“You’re fine.”
“…I’m not fine.”
She finished tying the bandage and stepped back, inspecting her work.
“There.”
I slowly relaxed.
“…Am I alive?”
“Unfortunately.”
I looked up at her.
“…Wow.”
She crossed her arms, but there was the faintest hint of a smile.
“You’ll live.”
I leaned back carefully against the bed.
“…That was traumatic.”
“You fought a monster.”
“And the medicine was worse.”
She shook her head.
I exhaled slowly.
“…Alright.”
She started packing the remaining supplies into her bag, along with the folded notes.
“…Now,” I said, stretching slightly-very carefully this time-“we go back to the bunker, right?”
“Yes.”
“Where I will sleep.”
“Yes.”
“Properly.”
“Yes.”
“And not be attacked, chased, scratched, burned, or emotionally damaged.”
“…We’ll try.”
“I’m holding you to that.”
She picked up her sniper rifle.
I reached over and grabbed my axe with my one hand, lifting it onto my shoulder with a small grunt.
“…Alright.”
I slid off the bed and tested my footing.
A little sore.
A little stiff.
But manageable.
“See?” I said. “Good as new.”
“You’re limping.”
“I am walking with personality.”
“You’re limping.”
“…I am limping with personality.”
She sighed.
“Let’s go.”
We moved toward the door.
I paused for a second, glancing back at the room.
The beds.
The glass partitions.
The quiet.
“…At least this place wasn’t trying to kill us.”
Mira glanced back too.
“…For once.”
I nodded.
“…For once.”
We stepped back into the hallway.
Quiet.
Still.
For once, nothing felt immediately wrong.
“…Alright,” I muttered, adjusting the grip on my axe. “Back to the bunker. We read. We rest. We make good life choices for once-”
I stopped walking.
Right in the middle of the hallway.
“…Hang on.”
I stretched slightly in place, rolling my shoulder, carefully testing my back.
“…Okay, that still hurts.”
Mira didn’t respond.
I glanced at her.
She had gone completely still.
“…Mira?”
No answer.
She was staring.
Not at me.
Past me.
No-
Not even past me.
To the right.
Down the hallway.
Something in my chest tightened.
Slowly-
I turned my head.
And saw it.
At the far end of the hallway-
Something enormous.
It nearly touched the ceiling.
Its body wasn’t solid.
Not entirely.
It looked like a mass of writhing(Writhing-twisting and moving. Context: The monster’s body kept moving and shifting.) black flesh-if it could even be called flesh-stretching, shifting, like it didn’t fully belong in one shape.(The creature's body: Constantly moving. Changing shape. Not solid. Context: The monster looked unnatural and unstable)
Faces.
Everywhere.
Dozens-no-
Hundreds of skull-like faces embedded(Embedded-stuck inside)into its body, layered over each other(.(Layered-stacked Context: Faces were stacked on top of each other.), half-formed(Half-formed-not fully made. Context: Some faces looked unfinished or incomplete.), hollow-eyed(Hollow-eyed = empty eye holes.What it looks like: Like skulls with no eyes.), their jaws stretched open in silent screams.
Some of them moved.
Slowly.
Turning.
Watching.
All of them-
Looking at us.
Its eyes-
Not just two.
Everywhere.
Small, glowing red eyes blinked open across its entire form.
Across its torso.
Across its limbs.
Across the writhing mass that made up its body.
They all locked onto us.
At the same time.
Its limbs-
If they were limbs-
Were long, pitch-black tendrils(Tendrils-long thin tentacle-like arms. Context: The monster had long tentacle-like limbs.) that dragged along the ground and ceiling alike, bending at impossible angles.
Each one lined with more faces.
More eyes.
Some of the mouths on those tendrils twitched.
Smiling.
Grinning too wide.
And then-
It laughed.
“Heheheh…”
Not loud.
Not sharp.
But stretched.
Echoing.
Wrong.
Like the sound didn’t come from one place-but from every face at once.
My entire body went cold.
“…Oh.”
Mira’s mouth was slightly open.
Silent.
Frozen.
I couldn’t move.
For a second-
We both couldn’t.
Then every single eye on that thing focused tighter.
Sharpened.
Hungry.
And that was enough.
“RUN.”
We moved at the same time.
Mira and I bolted.
Footsteps slammed against the floor as we sprinted down the opposite direction.
Behind us-
“Hehehehehe-”
The sound stretched, louder now.
Closer.
Too fast.
“OH YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME-” I shouted.
My legs burned as I ran, pain shooting through my side and back.
Didn’t matter.
Didn’t matter.
Didn’t matter-
“I SPOKE TOO SOON-” I yelled. “I REALLY JEOPARDIZED MYSELF WITH THAT ONE, HUH?!”
Mira ran beside me, breathing sharp.
“THIS IS NOT THE TIME-”
“I KNOW-BUT I’M ACKNOWLEDGING IT-”
The hallway seemed longer now.
Too long.
Behind us-
Something slammed against the walls.
A wet, dragging, stretching sound as those tendrils pulled it forward.(Wet sound-slimy, squishy sound. Context: The monster sounded gross and fleshy.)
Fast.
Way too fast.
“Hehehehehe-”
It echoed closer.
Closer.
I didn’t look back.
I did not look back.
“WHERE-WHERE-WHERE-” I panted.
“The turn-LEFT-” Mira shouted.
We reached it-
Turned sharply-
Nearly slipping-
Kept running.
My grip tightened on the axe.
Useless.
Completely useless against something like that.
“WHY IS IT SO BIG?!” I yelled.
“I DON’T KNOW-”
“WHY DOES IT HAVE SO MANY FACES-”
“I DON’T KNOW-”
“WHY IS IT LAUGHING-”
“I DON’T KNOW-”
“WHY IS IT ALWAYS US-”
“I DON’T KNOW-”
Behind us-
A loud SCRAPE echoed as something massive dragged across the corridor walls.(Scrape-dragging sound. Context: Monster dragged against walls.)
Too close.
Way too close.
I risked a glance-
Big mistake.
One of its tendrils slammed into the corner behind us-
A face on it turned-
Grinning.
Eyes locked onto me.
“Heheheh-”
“NOPE-” I snapped, turning back immediately. “NOT LOOKING AGAIN-”
We ran harder.
Faster.
Adrenaline overriding everything in my body just to run.
Just to survive.
Just get as far as we can from this thing.
We kept running.
Left.
Right.
Another turn.
Another corridor.
No doors.
No markers.
No idea where we were anymore.
Just running.
Just trying to get away.
My lungs burned.
My legs screamed.
Every step sent pain shooting up my back and through my leg, but I didn’t slow down.
Couldn’t.
Wouldn’t.
Beside me, Mira’s breathing was getting worse.
Uneven.
Shaky.
“…Mira-” I panted.
“I’m-fine-” she tried.
She wasn’t.
Not even close.
Behind us-
“Hehehehehe-”
Closer.
Still coming.
Still hunting.
“WHY WON’T IT STOP-” I gasped.
“I DON’T KNOW-”
We turned another corner-
And then-
THUNK.
Something slammed into my side.
Hard.
A sharp, crushing impact.
“-AH!”
I stumbled, nearly losing my footing.
At the same time-
THWACK.
Mira let out a choked cry.
Black-
Something black-
A hardened, jagged mass had struck us.
Like solidified liquid.
Like something thrown-
No-
Shot.
It hit the wall beside us and shattered slightly, dripping thick black residue.
And mixed in-
Red.
Blood.
Mine.
Mira’s.
“…What-was-” I choked.
Another one came.
Fast.
CRACK.
It slammed into the floor just behind us, spraying fragments.
Mira staggered.
Her leg buckled.(Buckled-legs gave out. Context: She collapsed because she was too weak.)
“-Ah-!”
She nearly collapsed.
“MIRA-”
I grabbed her before she hit the ground.
She was shaking.
Bad.
Her body felt heavier suddenly-like she couldn’t keep herself upright.
“I-can’t-” she whispered, breath trembling.
“No-no-no-” I muttered quickly. “No, you’re not doing this right now-”
Another impact-
THUNK.
The wall beside us dented inward.
Whatever that thing was-
It was attacking from range now.
“SHIT-”
I looked back-
Huge mistake.
One of its tendrils had stretched unnaturally far down the corridor-
Faces along it twisted-
Mouths opening-
And from one of them-
Another black mass formed-
Ready to fire.
“NOPE-”
I didn’t think.
Didn’t hesitate.
I threw my axe.
With one arm-
With everything I had-
“TAKE THIS-!”
The axe spun through the air-
THUNK.
It buried itself into the tendril.
The creature jerked-
A distorted chorus of laughter twisting for a second-(many voices together. Context: All faces laughed at the same time)
“Heh-heh-hEH-”
Not pain.
But disruption.
Enough.
Just enough.
I didn’t wait.
I grabbed Mira tighter.
“MOVE-” I growled.
I dragged her forward.
She stumbled, barely able to keep up.
Her body shook with every step.
“I’m-slowing-you-down-” she whispered.
“NO YOU’RE NOT-” I snapped.
Another turn.
Another corner.
I pulled her with everything I had left.
One arm.
One chance.
“COME ON-COME ON-COME ON-”
My boots slammed against the floor as I forced us forward.
Faster.
Faster-
We turned sharply again-
Then again-
Then another-
Trying to break line of sight.
Trying to disappear.
Trying to not die.
“SHIT-SHIT-SHIT-” I hissed under my breath, over and over.
Behind us-
The laughter warped.
Distant.
Closer.
Then distant again.
Like it was searching.
Like it was-
Listening.
I didn’t stop.
Didn’t slow down.
I dragged Mira with everything left in me, pulling her around another tight corner-
Then another-
Then shoved us both against the wall, out of direct view of the corridor we came from.
My chest heaved.
My heart pounded so hard it hurt.
I clamped a hand over Mira’s shoulder, pulling her close.(Clamped-held tightly. Context: She grabbed Mira tightly.)
“Don’t-move-” I whispered harshly.
Her breathing was uneven.
Shaking.
I could feel it.
“…I’m-sorry-” she whispered.
“Don’t-” I snapped quietly. “Don’t say that.”
Silence.
For a second-
Two-
Then-
“Heheheheh…”
Distant.
Moving.
Not right in front of us anymore.
But not gone.
Not even close.
I pressed my back against the wall, breathing through clenched teeth.
No axe.
Injured.
One arm.
Dragging Mira.
Being hunted by that thing.
“…Fantastic.” I whispered bitterly.
But my grip on her didn’t loosen.
Not even for a second.
I kept running.
I don’t even remember how many turns.
How many corridors.
How many times my legs almost gave out.
Just-
Run.
Drag.
Breathe.
Repeat.
Mira was barely holding on now.
Her steps were uneven, her weight heavier against me with every second.
My arm burned.
My back screamed.
My vision-
Was starting to blur.
“…Mira…” I rasped.(Rasped-speaking in a rough, weak voice. Context: She was very tired and struggling to breathe, so her voice sounded rough.)
She didn’t answer right away.
Her breathing was shaky.
Too shaky.
“I’m… here…” she whispered faintly.
My grip tightened.
“Stay with me…”
Another step.
Another.
My foot slipped slightly-
I caught myself.
Barely.
“…I don’t-” I swallowed hard(Swallowed hard-swallowing because you're nervous, scared, or tired. Context: She was scared and struggling, so she swallowed nervously.). “I don’t think I can keep-”
My vision dipped.(Vision dipped-eyesight suddenly got darker or weaker. She was about to pass out, and her vision started fading.)
The hallway tilted.(Tilted-looked like it was leaning. Context: She felt dizzy, so the hallway looked like it was moving.)
The walls stretched.
Everything felt too far away.
Too slow.
Too heavy.
“…shit…”
My eyes felt heavy.
Half-lidded.(Half-lidded-eyes half closed. Context: She was about to pass out.)
My body wasn’t responding right anymore.
“Mira…” I whispered, voice weaker now. “I’m… sorry…”
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
“I think we’re… kinda screwed…”
A weak, breathless laugh left me.
“…This is a really bad way to go…”
My knees buckled.
Everything gave out at once.
I collapsed forward-
But-
I didn’t hit the ground.
Something-
Someone-
An arm.
Strong.
Firm.
Wrapped around my stomach.
Holding me up.
My eyes barely focused.
Then-
Another arm.
Around Mira.
Lifting her too.
Both of us.
Off the ground.
My head lolled (Lolled-head moved loosely. Context: She was too weak to hold her head up.)slightly as everything spun.
“…what…” I whispered faintly.
The grip tightened.
Strained.
Like whoever it was-
Was pushing themselves.
Hard.
We weren’t light.
Mira, her gear, the rifle-
Me-
All of it together-
Heavy.
Too heavy for one person.
And yet-
They carried us anyway.
I could feel it.
The effort.
The tension.
The way their body strained just to keep us up-
And still-
They moved.
Fast.
Running.
Carrying both of us like it didn’t matter.
Like we didn’t matter compared to something else.
Or maybe-
Like we mattered too much.
The world tilted.
Shifted.
Blurred past in streaks of white and gray.(The world tilted. Shifted. Blurred past in streaks of white and gray. Meaning: Everything moved fast. The hallway passed quickly. She couldn't see clearly. Context: The person was running fast while carrying them, and she was losing consciousness.)
I tried to look.
Tried to turn my head.
To see who-
Who was-
But my vision wouldn’t focus.
Just a shape.
A presence.
Close.
Warm.
Familiar.
…safe.
My chest tightened slightly.
That feeling-
Why did it feel like that?
Why did it feel-
Comforting?
Even now.
Even here.
Even like this.
My eyelids drooped further.
Heavy.
“…who…” I tried to say.
No answer.
Just movement.
Fast.
Desperate.
Protective.
The arm around me tightened just slightly-
Not hurting.
Just enough to keep me steady.
To keep me from slipping.
From falling.
From being left behind.
And for some reason-
Something deep inside me stirred.
A strange, quiet thought-
Possessive.
Soft.
Dangerous.
Mine.
I didn’t understand it.
Couldn’t.
Not like this.
Not right now.
But the feeling stayed.
Warm.
Close.
Unfamiliar-
Yet not.
“…don’t… go…” I mumbled weakly, not even sure who I was speaking to anymore.
My vision faded further.
Darkness creeping in.
The last thing I felt-
Was that grip.
Strong.
Unyielding.
Holding me like letting go wasn’t an option.
Like it never would be.
And then-
Everything went black.
Val Pov (first person point of view)
I’d been walking for a while now.
Long enough for the place to start blending together.
“…Yeah.”
White hallways.
Everywhere.
Open, rectangular entryways instead of doors-just gaps in the walls that led into more corridors.
Left.
Right.
Then more lefts.
More rights.
Every path splitting into another.
And another.
And another.
No signs.
No markings.
Nothing to tell one direction from the other.
“…Endless.”
My footsteps echoed faintly as I moved.
The sound mixed with the constant hum above me.
Fans.
So many of them.
Lining the ceilings.
Mounted(attached or fixed to something) along the upper sections of the walls on both sides.
All running.
All humming.
Like the place was still alive.
Still working.
Thin metal pipes stretched along the walls too-neatly arranged, running in straight lines before disappearing into corners(Corners-where two walls meet. Context: The pipes went into wall edges where walls connect.) and intersections.
They went everywhere.
No clear source.
No clear destination.
“…Who even built this?”
I muttered under my breath.
The place didn’t feel abandoned.
But it didn’t feel occupied either.
Just…
Empty.
I turned another corner.
Then another.
Then-
I stopped.
“…Oh.”
A door.
Finally.
A Metal solid door.
Not just another open hallway.
“…About time.”
I stepped forward and grabbed the handle, pushing it open.
The hinges gave a soft creak as it swung inward.
I stepped inside.
A room. A simple looking room.
Two couches facing each other.
A neat-looking table between them.
Clean. Organized. Untouched.
“…Oh, good.”
I exhaled quietly.
“A place to rest.”
For the first time since entering this place-
Something normal.
Something not immediately unsettling.
I took a step further inside.
Then-
“…heheh…”
I froze.
The sound echoed faintly through the hallway behind me.
Distant.
But clear.
A laugh.
Light.
Wrong.
“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”
I turned my head slightly toward the door, closing my eyes for a second.
“…I already dealt with things that look terrifying…”
A small pause.
Then a quiet, incredulous(Incredulous-surprised and not believing something) breath as I opened my eyes again.
“…Now I’ve got one that laughs too?”
I shook my head slowly.
“…Doesn’t matter where I go in this place, huh.”
The laugh lingered in the distance.
“…Heheh…”
I exhaled quietly.
“…Yeah. No.”
I wasn’t dealing with that.
Not right now.
My attention shifted back to the room.
To the door.
I stepped inside fully and reached for it, testing the handle.
It clicked.
Locked.
Solid.
“…Good.”
I started to pull it shut-
Then stopped.
A distant sount that was faint. Voices.
I froze.
Another voice.
Louder this time.
Shouting.
Panicked.
“…What-”
I turned slightly toward the doorway, listening.
More noise.
Footsteps.
Fast.
Unsteady.
And voices-
Real voices.
“…There are people here?”
The thought came immediately.
Sharp.
But just as quickly-
Doubt followed.
“…Or it’s bait.”
A trap.
Something pretending.
Something luring.
I stayed still, listening.
Then-
“…heheh…”
The laugh again.
Closer this time.
And underneath it-
More shouting.
More footsteps.
Rapid.
Desperate.
They were running.
Actually running.
A short pause.
Then-
“…Yeah.”
I let go of the door.
“…I’m not ignoring that.”
Decision made.
I stepped back into the hallway, the sterile floor catching the faint sound of my footsteps.
I moved carefully at first.
Quiet.
Listening.
The screams and shouts shifted again-
Further down. Turning corners. Moving fast.
The laughter echoed from another direction entirely.
Opposite. Trailing. Hunting.
“…Yeah.”
I exhaled quietly.
“…Definitely not a trap.”
Too chaotic.
Too unstructured.
My pace picked up.
Not running-
But faster.
More deliberate.
Following the sound.
Closing the distance.
“…Alright.”
I moved quicker now.
Toward the voices.
The sound came first.
Fast footsteps.
Uneven.
Dragging.
Then-
They came into view.
Two figures.
Just ahead of me.
Their backs were turned, but-
My breath caught.
“…No way.”
I froze for half a second.
Then I saw them properly.
The one in front-
Long black hair flowing down her back, straight and smooth, reaching her waist. The very tips of it shifted into a distinct yellow, stark against the dark strands.(Very tips-the ends of her hair. Context: Only the ends of her hair were yellow.)
Her jacket-
Black, sleek, familiar. White short sleeves. Golden zipper.
But now-
It was torn.
Badly.
A massive scratch mark ripped across the back, the fabric shredded open(Shredded open-torn badly into pieces. Context: Her jacket was torn badly by claws or attack.). Parts of it were just missing entirely. The lower back area was completely torn out, leaving exposed bandages wrapped tightly around her body underneath.
And her arm-
Her left arm-
Wasn’t there.
Not missing.
Not injured.
Just… gone.
A clean absence, replaced with a tightly wrapped bandaged stump.(Stump-what's left after an arm is cut off. Context: Her arm was gone, only the short remaining part was left.)
Her right arm was wrapped tightly around the second girl, barely holding her up.
Mira.
I recognized her instantly.
Her fluffy pink hair was tied into a loose side ponytail, now messy and disheveled. Small horns curled gently from her head, and her thin tail with its heart-shaped tip hung limp behind her.
A sniper rifle was strapped across her back.
Both of them were covered in blood.
Red and black.
Too much of it.
“…Eclipsara… Mira…?”
No response.
Eclipsara staggered forward another step.
Her breathing was ragged.(Ragged-rough and uneven breathing. Context: She was very tired and injured.)
Heavy.
Her head dipped slightly.
Her grip loosened.
She was about to collapse.
That was enough.
I moved.
Fast.
I rushed forward and caught both of them from behind, my arms wrapping around their stomachs (midsections) to keep them from hitting the floor.
They were heavier than I expected.
Neither of them reacted.
“…!”
No time.
I adjusted and stabalized my grip as best as I could, even with my backpack weighing me down, and turned immediately-
Back the way I came.
The laughter echoed again.
Closer now.
“Heheh-”
“…Nope.”
I didn’t say it out loud.
Didn’t waste breath.
I just ran.
Fast as I could.
Each step hit hard against the sterile floor as I pushed forward, dragging both of them with me, keeping them upright as best as possible.
Their heads lolled slightly.
Still unconscious.
Still not responding.
“…Hold on.”
I didn’t know if they could hear me.
Didn’t matter.
The hallway stretched on-
Left.
Right.
Endless.
But I remembered the path.
I had to.
The laughter echoed again.
Louder.
Closer.
Echoing through the halls behind me.
“…Of course it is.”
I pushed harder.
My grip tightened.
My breathing picked up, but I didn’t slow down.
Not now.
Not when I’d just found them.
Finally after what felt like running for so long, I finally found it.
The door.
The metal one.
I rushed toward it, shifting my weight and pushing it open with my shoulder.
The hinges groaned-
Then I stumbled inside with both of them.
The room with the couches.
Safe-
For now.
I turned quickly, kicking the door shut behind me.
And reached for the lock.
After that, I didn’t waste a second.
I lowered them onto the couches as carefully as I could-one on each.
Mira first.
Then Eclipsara.
Both completely out.
“…Okay. Okay.”
Move.
My hands were already pulling my backpack off before I even finished the thought.
I dropped it to the floor, unzipped it quickly, and started digging through it.
Medicine.
Bandages.
Cloth-
“…Come on…”
There.
I grabbed what I needed, then quickly looked around the room.
A table.
Clean enough.
Some spare cloth-
“…Good.”
I snatched it and got to work.
Fast.
But careful.
I started with Mira.
Wiping away the blood first-slow but efficient. Red and black smeared(spread messily) into the cloth as I cleaned her arms, her face, checking for anything serious.
“…You’re still breathing…”
Good.
That was good.
I worked quickly, wrapping bandages around the worst of it. Tight enough to hold. Not enough to cut circulation.
“…You’ve been through it.”
I muttered under my breath.
No response.
Of course not.
Then-
Eclipsara.
I turned to her.
And paused-
Just for a second.
Her condition was worse.
Way worse.
“…Yeah… of course it is.”
I exhaled quietly.
Then got to work.
I started cleaning her wounds the same way.
Careful.
Precise.
Wiping away the blood from her face, her neck, her shoulders-
The torn jacket didn’t help.
“…I’m going to have to buy her another jacket too.”
I worked quickly, wrapping bandages where needed, making sure nothing was left untreated.
Then-
Her eyes flickered.
“…?”
I leaned in slightly.
“Hey.”
Her breathing shifted.
Uneven.
Her visible eye slowly opened-barely.
Unfocused.
Then-
It landed on me.
“…Val…”
Her voice was weak.
Barely there.
Like she wasn’t even sure she was speaking.
I blinked.
“…Yeah.”
I gave a small nod, keeping my voice calm.
“It’s me.”
Her eye didn’t leave me.
“…don’t… go…”
It was quiet.
Slurred.
Like she was drifting in and out.
“…Stay…”
For a second-
I didn’t say anything.
Then I smiled.
“…Yeah, yeah.”
I reached up and gently patted her head.
“I’m not going anywhere. I did literally just got back from being dead after all. I'll tell you the whole story later, but for now I think I earned at least five minutes of staying.”
A small pause.
Then, deliberately-
I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice just enough to sound serious-
“Even if something tries to drag me away, I’ll just politely decline.”
A beat.
“…Or run in the opposite direction. Very strategic.”
Another small pause.
“…Mostly running.”
I gave a small shrug.
“Very fast.”
I watched her face for a reaction. But she kept staring at me. Not laughing or saying something back like she usually does.
I then leaned back slightly, scratching the side of my head.
“…Huh.”
I muttered to myself.
“…This is a bad time for jokes, isn't it?”
I glanced at both of them.
Bandaged.
Unconscious.
Covered in blood.
“…Yeah, probably.”
A small exhale.
“…ahhh...I’ll work on that. Sorry, Eclipsara.”
Then-
Something clicked in my mind.
“…Wait.”
I reached back into my backpack again, digging a little deeper this time.
My fingers brushed against it.
The vial.
I pulled it out.
The label was still there.
Clear.
Unmistakable.
Extreme caution advised. Excessive medical compound intake(Intake = taking something into your body (like drinking or eating) Simple Meaning: Taking too much medicine can be dangerous. Context: The label warns: "Don't drink too much of this medicine.") may result in toxic overload. Use only when absolutely necessary. Evaluate your injuries carefully before administration.
I stared at it for a second.
Then at Eclipsara.
Then at where her arm should have been.
“…Yeah.”
My grip tightened slightly.
“No way around that.”
I exhaled slowly.
“…One.”
I muttered.
“Just one.”
No stacking. No risks.
I leaned closer to her again.
“Hey.”
Her eye was still barely open.
Drifting.
I held the vial up slightly so she could see it.
“This is going to help.”
A small pause.
“…Might hurt though.”
Another pause.
“…Actually-probably will hurt.”
I gave a small, apologetic smile.
“But it’ll fix things.”
I gently helped her sit up just enough.
“Take it.”
She didn’t argue.
Didn’t hesitate.
Her focus never left me.
Like she was afraid I’d disappear if she looked away.
Slowly-
She took it.
Swallowed.
Then-
Almost immediately-
Her body relaxed.
Her eye fluttered.
“…stay…”
I nodded.
“…I said I would.”
A small pause.
“…So stop worrying about it.”
Her grip loosened slowly.
Her body relaxed.
The tension faded.
And just like that-
She slipped back into unconsciousness.
“…Yeah.”
I carefully lowered her back against the couch. Then I pulled the blanket slightly over her, making sure she was covered.
Made sure she was stable.
Then slowly pulled my hand away.
“…Rest.”
Quiet.
Simple.
Then I leaned back slightly.
Exhaled.
“…One down.”
My eyes shifted toward Mira.
“…One to go.”
I turned toward Mira-
Then paused.
“…Huh.”
I blinked.
Eclipsara’s arm-
It was… growing back.
Not slowly.
Not subtly.
I could see it.
Bone forming first, faint and pale beneath the skin-
Then muscle.
Then skin stretching over it, reshaping, rebuilding like it was being rewound into existence.
“…Wow.”
I stared for a second.
“…It actually works.”
There was no hiding the surprise in my voice.
My eyes flicked down to the vial still in my hand.
“…What kind of super medicine did Zalveriah and the others even give me…?”
A small pause.
Then, internally-
Yeah, okay. Thanks for that. Seriously.
I almost laughed.
Almost.
“…Noted. Don’t question it too much.”
I shook my head slightly and moved on.
Mira.
I leaned over her, gently tapping her shoulder.
“…Hey.”
No response.
I tried again, a little firmer.
“…Mira.”
Her eyes fluttered.
Barely.
Unfocused.
“…Mm…”
Yeah.
She wasn’t really there.
I asked a quick question anyway, just to check-
“…Can you hear me?”
No real reaction.
Just a faint, delayed movement.
Her gaze didn’t even settle on me.
“…Right.”
She didn’t recognize me.
Not like this.
Too out of it.
“…That’s fine.”
I didn’t waste time.
I reached into my bag again and pulled out what I could-
Blood loss meds.(Medicine that helps when someone loses too much blood. What they do: Help body handle blood loss , Prevent fainting. Help recovery. Support blood pressure)
Hemostatic tablets.(Hemostatic-stops bleeding. Hemostatic tablets-medicine that helps stop bleeding. What they do: Help blood clot faster. Reduce bleeding. Prevent more blood loss)
Painkillers.
“…This is probably overkill…”
A small pause.
“…Or not enough.”
I exhaled quietly.
“…We’re going with it.”
I helped her take them carefully. I still tried to speak slowly on what medicine I am giving her before I helped her take them. Even if it may have been pointless since I don't know if she's really listening or not.
Slow.
Making sure she swallowed.
Then I got to work again.
Cleaning.
Wiping away blood.
Bandaging properly this time-more controlled, more deliberate now that the panic had settled just a bit.
“…You’re gonna be okay.”
I didn’t know if that was true.
But I said it anyway.
Once everything was secured-
She was already slipping again.
Barely conscious.
Then-
Out.
“…Yeah.”
I leaned back slightly.
“…Figures.”
Silence settled into the room.
Both of them-
Unconscious.
Breathing steady.
Alive.
That was enough.
For now.
I stood there for a second longer-
Then slowly walked back and lowered myself to the floor, leaning against the side of Eclipsara’s couch.
“…Thank to whoever is listening.”
The words slipped out under my breath.
I dragged a hand down my face, both hands covering it for a moment as I exhaled deeply.
The tension finally caught up.
“…That was…”
I didn’t even finish the sentence.
I just sat there.
Breathing.
Then-
My thoughts started creeping in.
“…I don’t actually know what I’m doing.”
Quiet.
Honest.
My hands dropped slightly, resting against my lap.
“I’m just… guessing. Going with what I know.”
A faint frown pulled at my expression.
“…If it was just me…”
I let out a small breath.
“…I’d take the risk. Whatever happens, happens.”
That was easy.
That was simple.
But this-
My gaze shifted slightly.
Toward them.
“…This isn’t just me.”
A pause.
“…What if I gave the wrong combination?”
“What if that reacts badly?”
“What if I missed something?”
My jaw tightened slightly.
“…I should’ve remembered more.”
Cooler.
Back in the snowy settlement.
All those times.
Watching.
Helping.
“…I should’ve paid more attention.”
The frustration sat there.
Heavy.
Quiet.
I then exhaled through my nose and leaned my head back against the couch.
“…Too late for that now.”
A pause.
Then-
“…They’re breathing.”
Steady.
“…That’s something.”
I closed my eyes briefly.
“…Don’t overthink it.”
Even if I wanted to.
Even if my brain kept pushing it.
“…Just… let them rest.”
And for once-
I listened to that.
I stayed there on the floor.
Leaning against the couch.
Ok I seriously need the reunion chapter
Oh its gonna be alot of stuff for that one.
@CrustedMuffin02 muwahahahahaha