Val Pov(first person point of view)
I don’t know how long I was out.
Not long.
Couldn’t have been.
When I opened my eyes again, the room was the same-quiet and still. The faint hum of the vents filled the air like nothing had ever happened.
For a second, I didn’t move.
Just… listened.
Breathing-steady.
Two of them.
I glanced up.
Eclipsara was still out on the couch, the blanket half slipping off her shoulder. Her arm-her actual arm-was there again. Fully formed. Like it had never been gone.
“…Yeah,” I muttered quietly. “I gotta get used to that.”
Mira was the same-bandaged, resting, breathing evenly.
Alive.
That part mattered.
I exhaled slowly and leaned my head back against the couch.
“…Good.”
Silence settled again.
Too quiet.
And that was the problem.
Because quiet in this place didn’t feel safe.
It felt… temporary.
My eyes shifted toward the door.
The hallway.
“…Yeah,” I murmured under my breath. “I’m not sitting here doing nothing.”
Not when I had no idea what was out there.
Not when something laughing was still somewhere in this place.
I pushed myself up slowly, careful not to make unnecessary noise. My body protested a little-residual exhaustion(remaining tiredness)-but nothing serious.
I stepped lightly (soft footsteps)across the room, grabbing my bag and adjusting the strap over my shoulder.
Before opening the door, I paused.
Listened.
Nothing.
No footsteps.
No movement.
No-
“…heheh…”
I froze.
Silence.
I waited.
A few seconds.
Then longer.
Nothing followed.
“…Yeah, no.” I whispered. “Not falling for that.”
After a very long moment(like 20 minutes), I reached for the handle and slowly, carefully opened the door.
The hallway beyond was empty.
White-gray walls.
Same as before.
Same sterile, endless look.
I stepped out.
Quietly.
Then gently pulled the door shut behind me.
Click.
Locked.
I tested it once.
Solid.
“…Good.”
I took a second to memorize the exact position.
The angle of the hallway.
The slight mark near the corner.
Anything that could help me find it again.
“…Alright,” I murmured. “Don’t lose this.”
Then I started walking.
Slow.
Careful.
Every step controlled.
The hum of the vents followed me as I moved deeper into the corridor.
Left turn.
Then straight.
Then another turn.
I kept track.
Mentally mapping it out.
Not perfect-but enough.
“…This place really doesn’t want people finding their way around.” I muttered.
Everything looked the same.
Every hallway identical.
Every turn leading to more turns.
No signs.
No markings.
Just repetition.(same thing again and again)
“…Room’s that way.”
I repeated it in my head.
Over and over.
Just in case.
I slowed slightly as I approached another intersection.
Paused.
Listened.
Nothing.
Good.
I moved again.
Then-
I stopped.
“…Huh.”
Something lay on the ground.
A shape.
Dark.
I stepped closer, lowering slightly.
An axe.
Big.
Heavy.
Way bigger than anything I’d normally carry.
Its blade was darkened-not just from the material, but from something layered over it.
Blood.
Red-
And black.
Thick.
Sticky.
Not dried.
Fresh.
“…That’s not good.”
I crouched slightly, examining it.
The handle was worn, but solid.
Grip marked.
Used.
A lot.
“…This isn’t random,” I murmured.
Someone had been using this.
Recently.
My eyes shifted forward.
And that’s when I saw it.
A trail.
Black and red.
Mixed together.
Dragged along the floor.
Not splattered.
Not scattered.
Dragged.
Like something heavy had been pulled-
Or had pulled itself.
“…Yeah… no.”
I stood slowly.
My grip tightened slightly on my bag strap.(Grip-how tightly you hold something.Context: Val became tense, so his hand tightened.)
The trail led down one of the hallways.
Fresh.
Too fresh.
I followed it with my eyes.
Step by step.
It stretched forward-
Then suddenly-
Stopped.
Just…
Stopped.
No fade.
No smear.
No continuation.
Just a clean cutoff.
Like whatever it was-
Had simply ceased to exist.
I stared at it.
“…What?”
I stepped forward slightly, crouching again near the end of the trail.
Nothing.
No footprints.
No marks.
No sign of where it went.
Just empty floor.
Clean. Untouched.
My gaze slowly lifted.
Scanning the walls.
The ceiling.
The corners.
“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”
My eyes narrowed slightly.
“…It didn’t turn… or bleed out.”
A pause.
“…It just disappeared.”
The thought sat there.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
“…Invisible?”
I looked back at the trail.
“…And the blood too?”
That didn’t make sense.
Unless-
“…It can hide completely.”
Not just itself.
Everything.
Even its own trail.
I exhaled slowly.
“…That’s worse.”
Way worse.
I glanced back the way I came.
“…And I’m out here alone without waiting for the girls to wake up and tell me anything.”
A small pause.
“…Great decision, Val. Really.”
I looked back at the axe.
Still lying there.
Covered in that same black-red mix.
“…This might be useful.”
Weapon.
Tool.
Something.
Better than nothing.
Slowly-
Carefully-
I reached down and grabbed the axe.
It was heavy.
Heavier than I expected.
But balanced.
Well-made.
“…Whoever was using this.” I muttered, adjusting my grip. “you had good taste.”
I lifted it slightly.
Tested the weight.
“…And a lot of problems, I bet.”
I glanced once more at the cut-off trail.
Then at the empty hallway ahead.
Silence.
Still nothing.
“…Alright.”
I exhaled slowly.
“…I need to be smarter about this.”
Because whatever made that trail-
Wasn’t normal.
And it wasn’t gone.
Not really.
I tightened my grip on the axe slightly.
“…If you’re out here…”
I muttered under my breath.
“…stay invisible.”
No response.
Thankfully.
My eyes flicked back(Flicked-moved quickly) toward the direction of the room.
Where they were resting.
“…Don’t take too long.” I whispered to myself.
Then I started walking back.
Quieter now.
Much quieter.
Retracing my steps.(Retracing-going back the same way you came)
Now even more alert than before.
Left.
Right.
Straight.
Repeating it in my head.
Until-
Finally-
The door.
The metal one.
“…There you are.”
I stepped up to it.
Listened.
Nothing.
Good.
I opened it carefully and slipped inside.
Then shut it behind me.
Locked.
Safe.
For now.
I leaned the axe gently against the wall near the couches.
“…Found something.”
I muttered quietly.
Neither of them moved.
Still resting.
Still breathing.
I glanced at the axe again.
“…No idea whose it is.”
A small pause.
“…But it’s definitely been used. Honestly… I think this might belong to one of you.”
I exhaled and slid down the wall again, sitting back in my previous spot.
“…And I’m pretty sure something invisible is trying to kill us.”
I rested my head back for a second.
Then sighed.
“…Yeah. Something feels off.”
I paused.
Thinking.
I already went through a specific path.
Memorized it.
Tracked it.
“…Which means there’s more.”
I pushed myself back up again.
My hand moved to my gear.
Gun-checked.
Short sword-secured.
I adjusted both, making sure they were ready.
“…I’ll be right back, I promise.” I muttered quietly, glancing at them. “…Just a quick look around. Nothing dangerous. Probably.”
A small pause.
“…Famous last words, right?”
I rubbed the back of my neck.
“…Yeah, this is definitely a terrible idea.”
Another pause.
“…I’m still doing it.”
I gave one last look at the axe resting by the wall-
Then turned back toward the door.
Ready to go deeper.
“…Just a little more,” I muttered under my breath.
Yeah.
Terrible idea.
I knew it.
Still did it anyway.
I took a different path this time.
Not the one with the axe.
Not the one with the trail.
Another direction entirely.
Right.
Then another right.
Then straight.
Then another turn I wasn’t completely sure about.
“…Okay,” I whispered quietly. “Definitely getting lost now.”
I kept track as best as I could.
Landmarks.
Tiny differences.
A faint scuff on the wall.(Scuff-small scratch or mark. Context: Val was looking for tiny marks to help him remember the path.)
A slightly louder vent.
Anything.
But the deeper I went-
The more everything blended together.
Time passed.
I don’t even know how long.
Long enough for the silence to feel heavier.
Long enough for my guard to stay high the entire time.
Every step controlled.
Every breath quiet.
Nothing jumped out.
Nothing attacked.
No laughter.
No movement.
Just…
emptiness.
“…I don’t like this,” I murmured.
Then-
A sound.
Soft.
Barely there.
A faint… shift.
Like something moving just out of sync with the air itself.
I froze instantly.
Didn’t think.
Didn’t hesitate.
I moved.
Fast-
But silent.
Slipping into the nearest corner, pressing myself against the wall just out of sight of the hallway ahead.
I held my breath.
Listened.
There-
Again.
Something was there.
I slowly leaned just enough to peek.
And saw it.
“…what…”
A single eye.
Floating.
Small.
No body.
No form.
Just-
An eye.
Red.
Bright.
Unblinking.
It hovered in the air like it didn’t care about gravity.
Like it didn’t follow any rules at all.
It drifted slowly down the hallway.
Not twitching.
Not searching wildly.
Just…
gliding.
Watching.
“…You’ve got to be kidding me.” I whispered.
My grip tightened slightly.
Don’t move.
Don’t breathe louder.
Don’t exist more than necessary.
The eye paused for a second.
Mid-air.
And for one very uncomfortable moment-
It felt like it was looking right at me.
Not past me.
Not around me.
At me.
Don’t react. Don't move.
Then-
It moved again.
Drifting past.
Calm.
Unhurried.
Like it had all the time in the world.
Then-
It turned slightly.
And slipped into another pathway.
Gone.
Just like that.
I stayed completely still.
For a few seconds.
Then longer.
Making sure.
Making absolutely sure it wasn’t coming back.
“…Okay.” I exhaled very quietly.
My heart was still beating a little faster than I liked.
“…That’s new.”
I leaned back slightly against the wall, thinking.
That wasn’t random.
That wasn’t just some wandering thing.
It felt…
deliberate.
Controlled.
My eyes narrowed slightly.
“…What if that wasn’t the creature…”
A pause.
What if that wasn’t the main body?
The thought clicked.
Uncomfortable.
But it fit.
What if that thing is just…a piece?
I glanced toward the hallway it disappeared into.
An extension.
A scout.
Something being used.
“…And something bigger is watching through it.”
Yeah.
That made way too much sense.
Too much for comfort.
“…So it’s not just hiding…”
I muttered internally.
“…it’s observing.”
Learning.
Tracking.
Waiting.
“…That’s worse,” I whispered under my breath.
Way worse.
Because that meant-
Even if I didn’t see anything-
Something might still be seeing me.
I exhaled slowly.
“…Alright. That’s important.”
Very important.
The kind of information I shouldn’t sit on.
The kind I needed to bring back.
Immediately.
My body shifted slightly, preparing to move.
“…I should head back.”
Yeah.
That was the plan.
That should have been the plan from the start.
I took a small step back-
Then paused.
My eyes flicked down another hallway.
Unexplored.
Untouched.
“…One more.”
I closed my eyes briefly.(Briefly-for a very short time)
“…Just one more path.”
I sighed quietly.
“…This is how people die, Val.”
I opened my eyes again.
“…Yeah. I know.”
And yet-
I moved anyway.
Careful.
Quiet.
Slipping into that last unexplored corridor.
“One quick look,” I whispered.
“…Then I’m going back.”
This time for real.
Probably.
I didn’t find anything.
Not a sound. Not a trace. Not even another one of those eyes.
“…Yeah,” I muttered quietly. “That figures.”
I stood there for a moment longer, scanning the empty hallway one last time.
Nothing.
Just the same endless, sterile white stretching in every direction.
“…Alright. I’m going back.”
That was the plan.
Should’ve been the plan from the start.
I turned around, retracing my steps.
Right.
Then straight.
Then-
…I slowed.
“…Wait.”
My eyes flicked between the halls.
Something felt off.
“…No, no, no…”
I turned again.
“…It was this way.”
I walked forward.
A few steps.
Then stopped again.
“…That’s not right.”
The walls all looked the same.
The corners.
The vents.
Everything.
Identical.
My grip tightened slightly.
“…Are you serious right now?”
I turned again.
Left.
No-right.
No-
“…Oh, come on.”
A quiet exhale left me as I ran a hand through my hair.
“…Why did I go this far?”
The thought came sharp. Immediate.
Frustrated.
“…I literally said I wouldn’t.”
Another turn.
Another identical hallway.
Nothing familiar.
Nothing helpful.
“…This is what I get,” I muttered under my breath. “This is exactly what I get.”
A pause.
Then quieter-
“…Great job, Val. Genius move.”
I stepped forward again, slower this time.
Trying to think.
Trying to remember.
But the more I tried, the more it slipped.
The turns blurred together.
The paths overlapped.(Overlapped-mixed together. It became confusing.Context: The hallways looked too similar, so Val couldn’t remember which path was which.)
And that eye-
It threw me off.
It had to have.
The tension.
The focus.
The way I moved to hide-
“…I messed up.”
A quiet breath.
“…I really messed up.”
Not good.
Not good at all.
“…If I don’t find that room-”
I turned one more corner-
And froze.
“…Oh.”
Someone was standing there.
Not far ahead.
Backlit slightly by the pale glow of the hallway lights.
Familiar.
Too familiar.
“…No way.”
My breath caught.
Eclipsara.
She stood there, facing me.
Her long black hair fell down her back, the tips shifting into that distinct yellow. Messy now-slightly uneven, like she hadn’t bothered fixing it.
Her jacket-
Still torn.
Badly.
The massive rip across the back still visible, fabric shredded and missing in places.
But beneath it-
No bandages.
No injury.
Her arm-
Her left arm-
Was there.
Fully restored.
Like it had never been gone.
Her posture was relaxed.
Casual(Casual-relaxed, normal, not serious. Context: She sounded calm, even though the situation was intense.)
Almost normal.
But-
Her hand.
She was holding the axe.
The same one I had just picked up.
Still stained.
Red and black.
Fresh.
My grip tightened slightly.
“…Eclipsara?” I said carefully.
She tilted her head slightly.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Then-
She smiled.
“…Heyyy,” she said, her voice light. Familiar.
The same as always.
But-
Something underneath it felt… wrong.
Off.
Sharp.
“…Wow,” she added casually, resting the axe against her shoulder. “You really just went on a solo adventure, huh?”
I blinked.
“…Wait.”
A pause.
“…You’re awake?”
She took a step forward.
Then another.
Slow.
Measured.
“…Mm-hm.”
Her tone stayed casual.
Easy.
But her visible red eye-
The one looking at me-
It didn’t match.
It was hollow.(Empty. No emotion. Context: Her eye looked emotionless and cold. Example: hollow stare = empty feeling)
Dark.(cold, serious, dangerous)
Focused.
Locked onto me in a way that made something in my chest tighten.
“…You left.” she said.
Still light.
Still calm.
Another step closer.
“…Even after I said don’t go.”
I froze slightly.
“…Wait-you were conscious during that?”
She stopped just in front of me.
Close.
Too close.
“…Yeah.”
A small tilt of her head.
Smile still there.
“…I was.”
A beat.
Then-
Her expression didn’t change.
But the air did.
Shifted.
Tightened.
“…So,” she continued softly, almost conversational(mostly normal, but slightly serious. Context: She sounded calm, but there was tension underneath.). “do you wanna explain that?”
My brain stalled(stopped working for a moment) for a second.
“…I-”
I didn’t get to finish.
She moved.
Fast.
Before I could react-
THUD.
I hit the ground hard.
Air knocked out of my lungs as my back slammed against the sterile floor.
“…!”
Before I could even process it-
She was already on top of me.
Sitting on my stomach.
Pinning me down effortlessly.
“…That’s kinda rude, don’t you think? You didn't keep your promise.”
“…Ecl-”
CLANG.
The axe slammed down beside my head.
The blade embedding slightly into the floor.
Close.
Way too close.
I froze.
Her hand rested lightly on the handle.
Her posture relaxed.
Like this was normal.
Like this was casual.
She leaned down slightly.
Close enough that I could see it clearly now-
That eye.
That hollow, intense stare.(Hollow intense stare looks like: Not blinking. Very focused. No emotion. Scary Like someone is watching very carefully)
Locked onto mine.
Unblinking.
Possessive.
“…So,” she said softly.
Still smiling.
Still sounding like herself.
But underneath-
There it was.
Rage.
Sharp.
Heavy.
Barely contained.
“…why did you leave?”
I didn’t move.
Didn’t breathe.
Her weight on my stomach wasn’t heavy-
But it was enough.
Enough to remind me I wasn’t getting up unless she let me.
The axe was still buried in the floor right beside my head.
Close enough that if it had landed even a few inches over-
“…Okay,” I said carefully, keeping my voice steady. “That’s… new.”
Eclipsara hummed lightly.
“…Is it?” she said, tilting her head.
Her hair fell slightly forward with the motion-long black strands with those yellow-tipped ends brushing near my face.
Up close-
I could see everything.
The torn jacket, still hanging unevenly off her shoulders.
The scratches in the fabric.
The faint stains that hadn’t fully come out.
Her arm-fully restored-but the skin still slightly off in tone, like it hadn’t completely settled into being real again.
And that eye.
That one visible eye staring straight into mine.
Too focused.
Too aware.
Too-
Much.
“…You don’t throw weapons at me.” I added.
She smiled.
Bright.
Cheerful.
Wrong.
“Oh, don’t worry,” she said lightly. “I aimed.”
That didn’t help.
At all.
I exhaled slowly.
“…Okay. So. We’re doing this.”
She leaned a little closer.
Still smiling.
Waiting.
Not saying anything.
Just-
Watching.
“…Look,” I started, carefully, “I can explain why I left-”
“You died.”
The words cut clean through mine.
Flat.
Direct.
I blinked.
“…Yeah.”
A pause.
“…Yeah, I did.”
Her expression didn’t change.
Not even slightly.
“…In front of me.”
My chest tightened.
The memory hit immediately-
Sharp.
Unwanted.
“…Yeah.”
Her voice stayed calm.
Too calm.
“You got ripped apart,” she continued, almost casually. “Like-really badly.”
A small gesture with her free hand.
Like she was describing something mildly inconvenient.
“…There was a lot of blood.”
I swallowed slightly.
“…I remember.”
Her head tilted again.( leaned her head sideways)
“…I do too.”
A pause.
Longer this time.
“…You weren’t moving.”
My throat felt dry.(Dry throat = nervous or stressed)
“…I know.”
Another pause.
“…You were very dead.”
“…Yeah.” I said quietly.
Silence stretched between us.
Heavy.(emotionally tense)
Uncomfortable.
Then-
“…So.”
Her smile returned.
Sharp at the edges.(She was smiling, but there was anger underneath.)
“…Explain that.”
I let out a slow breath.
“…I don’t fully get it either.” I admitted. “I just-woke up. Somewhere else. Different place. Different people. They… helped.”
I hesitated slightly.
“…Gave me something. Sent me back.”
Her eye didn’t leave mine.
Not for a second.
“…You’re alive,” she said.
Not a question.
“…Yes.”
“…After I watched you die.”
“…Yes.”
A small pause.
Then-
“…That’s suspicious.”
“…That’s fair.”
She stared at me for another long second.
Then her grip on the axe loosened slightly.
Not letting go-
But not tightening either.
“…You could be fake.” she said casually.
“…I could be.” I admitted.
“…Some weird thing pretending to be you.”
“…Also possible.”
“…Something trying to trick me.”
“…Wouldn’t be the weirdest thing we’ve seen today.”
A beat.
Then-
She leaned closer.
Closer than before.
Her face inches from mine now.
“…But you’re not.”
I blinked.
“…You sound pretty sure about that.”
“I am.”
“…How?”
A small pause.
Then-
Her smile softened slightly.
Not kinder.
Just…
Quieter.
“…I have my ways.”
Before I could ask-
Her hand moved.
Fast.
She grabbed my face.
Firm.
Not enough to hurt-
But enough that I couldn’t look away even if I wanted to.
Her fingers pressed lightly against my jaw, tilting my head up toward her.
Forcing eye contact.
“…You’re Val.” she said softly.
Certain.
Absolute.
“…Yeah.”
Her grip tightened slightly.
Just for a second.
Then-
That smile shifted again.
Back to something brighter.
Sharper.
“…Which means you’re an idiot.”
“…Wow.”
Her expression didn’t change.
“…You left.”
“…I-”
“Nope.”
She cut me off immediately.
Didn’t even let me try.
“…Don’t.”
I blinked.
“…Don’t what?”
“Don’t explain.” she said, almost cheerfully. “I already know.”
A pause.
Her thumb tapped lightly against my cheek.
Slow.
Rhythmic.
“…You went out there because you didn’t want to sit still.”
Another tap.
“…Because you didn’t want to be useless.”
Another.
“…Because you thought if you learned the place-figured it out-mapped it-”
Her head tilted slightly.
“…you’d be helpful.”
My mouth opened slightly.
Then closed.
She watched me.
Satisfied.
“…See?” she said lightly. “Easy.”
A small pause.
Then, softer-
“…You always do that.”
Her grip didn’t loosen.
If anything-
It felt a little more… anchored.(firm, steady, not letting go)
“…Throw yourself into things.” she continued, her tone still casual, still very her-but with something heavier underneath. “Try to fix problems before they even exist.”
Her eye narrowed slightly.
“…Get yourself into unnecessary danger.”
Another pause.
Then-
“…Leave.”
That word landed differently.
Heavier.
Quieter.
Her smile stayed.
But it didn’t reach her eye.
“…Why do you do that?” she asked softly.
Not playful this time.
Not teasing.
Just-
Sharp.
I opened my mouth-
Nothing came out.
Because the answer-
Yeah.
She already said it.
Her fingers were still on my face.
Then-
She shifted slightly.
Her thumb pressed into my cheek, squishing it just a little.
Not hard.
Not gentle either.
Just-
There.
“…You know what your problem is?” she said, smiling.
“…I have several guesses,” I muttered, my words slightly muffled from her grip.
Her expression didn’t change.
But her other hand moved-fast.
Two fingers pressed lightly against my lips.
“Shh.”
Soft.
Quiet.
Wrong.
“This is the part where you stop talking.”
For a split second-
Her smile disappeared.
Completely.
Her eye widened-
Not in surprise.
In something sharp.
Something angry.
Raw.
Then-
Just as quickly-
The smile snapped back into place.
Bright.
Cheerful.
Like nothing happened.
Her fingers slid from my lips, but not before brushing across them-lingering just slightly longer than necessary(Her fingers stayed a little longer than normal). Then, almost absently, her thumb traced along the edge of my mustache, grazing(Grazing-touching lightly. She lightly ran her thumb across his mustache and beard.) the beard along my jaw.(slowly moved her thumb along his jaw)
“…You know.” she said lightly, her smile widening just a bit. “you have this really annoying habit.”
Her tone was cheerful.
Almost playful.
Like we were having a normal conversation.
Like she wasn’t pinning me to the floor with an axe next to my head.
Her thumb tapped my cheek once.
“…Every time I look away-”
Tap.
“…every time I’m not directly watching you-”
Tap.
“…you’re gone.”
A small pause.
Her eye didn’t leave mine.
“…Just gone.”
I swallowed slightly.
“…Eclipsara-”
“Nope,” she cut in immediately, still smiling. “I’m talking.”
Another light tap to my cheek.
“…It’s actually kind of impressive.”
“…Impressive?”
Her head tilted.
Her long hair shifted with the motion, black strands sliding forward over her shoulder, the yellow-tipped ends brushing lightly against my jacket-and briefly against my neck.(Strands-pieces of hair. Sliding forward-moving forward slowly. Context: Her hair moved forward when she tilted her head.)
“…Like, I blink-”
Tap.
“…and suddenly you’re in a completely different location doing something you absolutely should not be doing.”
Her smile stretched just a little wider.
“…It’s like a magic trick.”
A pause.
Then softer-
“…A really bad one.”
I let out a small breath.
“…I don’t-”
“Oh!” she perked up suddenly, like she just remembered something fun. “Remember that one time?”
My stomach tightened slightly.
“…Which one?”
She leaned in a little closer, her hair falling forward again, partially framing her face-close enough now that a few strands brushed across my cheek.(Framing her face-hair falling around her face. Partially-only some of it)(Strands-small pieces of hair. Brushed across-lightly touched. Context: Some of her hair lightly touched Val’s cheek as she leaned close.)
“…Sylvarius’s estate.”
Ah.
Yeah.
That one.
Her grin turned almost excited.
“…Girls’ night.” she said, like it was the best memory ever. “Me and Mira. Very important bonding experience. Very exclusive.”
“…Yeah, I remember that. And I was in my room, right?”
“And you were fine.” she said immediately. “You were safe. You were supposed to stay put in your room.”
I tried to talk.
“Um… I can sense where this is going, and I just want to say-”
“Shut up.”
The words weren’t loud.
But they hit hard.
Sharp.(sudden, harsh, emotionally strong)
Cold.
Her fingers suddenly clamped over my mouth-firm this time.(Clamped-grabbed tightly and suddenly. Context: She firmly covered his mouth so he couldn't speak.)
Not playful.
Not light.
Her nails pressed slightly into my skin as she held my jaw in place.(Her nails pressed into: his cheeks, jaw area, around his mouth . Since she's holding his mouth/jaw.)
Her eye widened again for just a second-
That same flash of visible rage-
Before her expression smoothed back into something bright and pleasant.
“…Anyway,” she continued cheerfully, as if nothing had happened, “we leave you alone for one night.”
Her grip loosened slightly, but her hand stayed there-thumb brushing once along my cheek, then dragging lightly down toward my jaw, grazing my beard again before settling under my chin.(Lightly touched his cheek. Slowly moved her thumb downward. Lightly touched his beard. Moved her hand under his chin)
“…One.”
Her eye narrowed just a fraction.
“…And what do you do?”
I hesitated.
“…I-”
“You disappear.”
Flat.
Simple.
She didn’t even let me finish.
“…Gone.”
A small pause.
“…Just poof.”
She lifted her free hand slightly, wiggling her fingers in a mock “magic” gesture.
“…Vanished into the night.”
Her smile didn’t drop.
Not even a little.
“…We wake up in the morning,” she continued, voice still light, still casual, “and guess what?”
Tap.
“No Val.”
Tap.
“No clue where you went.”
Tap.
“No note, no warning, no ‘hey, I’m going to explore a giant unfamiliar estate in the middle of the night like an idiot.’”
I winced slightly.(reacted to embarrassment or discomfort)
“…Okay, when you say it like that-”
“That’s exactly how it happened.”
Her tone didn’t change.
Still cheerful.
Still her.
“…We looked everywhere.”
A pause.
“…Everywhere.”
That word landed heavier.(More emotional. More serious. Context: "Everywhere" meant: They were worried. They searched a lot. She cared)
Just slightly.
Her fingers curled a little tighter against my jaw.(Her fingers: bent slightly grabbed his jaw more firmly. Her hand tightens slightly around his face.)
“…Mira checked the rooms. I checked the halls.”
A beat.
“…Nothing.”
Another.
“…Do you know who found you?”
I already knew the answer.
“…Sylvarius.”
“Mm-hm!”
She nodded brightly-
Then gave a small, quiet clap.
Once.
Soft.
Like she was congratulating me.
“…In some random room you were absolutely not supposed to be in.”
Her head tilted again.
Smile still there.
“…In her own estate.”
A small pause.
Then, softer-
“…Do you know how long that took?”
“…Wasn’t it an hour?”
For the first time-
She blinked.
Actually blinked.
Her expression flickered-confusion slipping through.
“…What?”
A small pause.
Then realization.
Slow.
Sharp.
“…Oh.”
Her smile didn’t disappear.
But it changed.
“…She told you that?”
Her thumb brushed slowly along my jaw again.
“…That wasn’t an hour.”
A beat.
Her eye locked onto mine.
Unblinking.
“…It was over two hours.”
A slight tilt of her head.
“…Two hours and twenty-three minutes, exactly.”
Silence.
Just for a second.
Then-
Her smile brightened again.
Like nothing had happened.
“…But it’s fine!” she said lightly.
A beat.
“…You were fine.”
Another.
“…Eventually.”
Her thumb brushed lightly against my cheek now.
Slower.
Not tapping anymore.
Just…
There.
“…See the pattern?” she murmured.
She tilted her head slightly, long black hair slipping forward, those yellow-tipped strands grazing my collar. One eye stayed hidden beneath her bangs as always-but the other-
That lone red eye-
Locked onto mine.
Hollow.
Sharp.
Burning with something she wasn’t even trying to hide anymore.
Waiting.
But not really waiting.
Because she already knew.
“…I look away,” she said softly, “and you go somewhere you shouldn’t.”
A pause.
Her voice dipped-just slightly.
Still calm.
Still her.
“…And then I have to find you.”
Her fingers tightened again.
Not enough to hurt.
But enough to remind me-
She wasn’t letting go.
“…And this time,” she added quietly, “you didn’t just disappear.”
A beat.
That red eye sharpened further, the hollow look deepening into something darker.
“…You left.”
I exhaled slowly.
“…I was coming back.”
“Mmm,” she hummed, like she was actually considering that.
Then her smile brightened again.
Too bright.
“Oh, I know.”
Her thumb pressed into my cheek again, squishing it just enough to be annoying.
“…You always plan to come back.”
A pause.
Her head tilted.
“…Eventually.”
I blinked.
“…Wait, I really was going to-”
“Na-ah~,” she cut in cheerfully. “Let’s talk.”
Her tone was light.
Playful.
Wrong.
“…I have evidence.”
Of course she did.
Before I could say anything to dissuade her-
“Soooo....Lets talk about the evidence!” she perked up suddenly once again.(Suddenly became more excited or energetic. Context: Eclipsara suddenly became excited like she remembered something fun.)
My stomach dropped.(means feeling nervous or worried. Context: You feel tension in your stomach Usually when you know something bad is coming)
“…Oh no.”
Her grin widened.
“…You remember the ‘don’t panic tomorrow’ situation?”
I closed my eyes for half a second.
“…Eclipsara-”
“Nope,” she said instantly. “We’re revisiting it.”
Of course we were.
Her voice stayed light. Casual. Like she wasn’t about to dismantle me piece by piece with my own decisions.
“…Girls’ night,” she continued, counting on her fingers. “Me, Mira, and Sylvarius this time.”
A small pause.
“…Which already should have told you to rest like a normal person.”
I sighed.
“…Yeah.”
She ignored that completely.
“…But nooo,” she dragged out the word, her smile widening, “Val decides-”
Suddenly-
Her other hand came up.
Both hands now gripping my face.
Firm.((Firm-strong but not hurting She’s holding his face so he can't move))
My cheeks squished between her fingers as she leaned closer, her hair falling around us like a curtain.(Her hair fell forward around both of them, like: Like they’re inside a small space made of her hair)
“…‘I’m going to stay up all night and make something.’”
A beat.
Her visible eye widened-
Just for a split second.
Not in surprise.
In rage.
Sharp.
Unfiltered.(not hidden)
Then-
It snapped right back into that bright, cheerful look.
“…Still don’t know what it was, by the way.” she added lightly.
Her thumb brushed along my jaw, dragging slowly across my mustache and beard, almost thoughtful-like she was tracing something familiar.
I hesitated.
“…It was-”
“Nope.”
Immediate.
Shut down.
“…Not the point.”
Fair.
“…You stayed up all night,” she continued, smiling. “After we spent the entire previous day out.”
A pause.
“…Exploring Daemina.”
Another.
“…Running around.”
Another.
“…Eating.”
Another.
“…Not resting.”
Her thumb slid slightly lower now, brushing along the edge of my jaw, then briefly against my neck-light, absent, but deliberate.
“…Then instead of sleeping like a normal human being-”
She leaned closer.
Close enough that her breath brushed faintly against my face.
“…you kept going.”
I swallowed.
“…I thought-”
“You didn’t think,” she corrected lightly.
Ouch.
“…You just did it.”
A beat.
“…For us.”
That came quieter.
Softer.
But only for a second.
Then-
Back to that eerie brightness.
“…Then morning comes,” she continued. “And guess what?”
I didn’t answer.
Didn’t need to.
“…Breakfast.”
She actually nodded, like she was impressed.
“…Full breakfast.”
A small pause.
“…Very impressive, by the way.”
Then-
Her smile sharpened.
“…Completely unnecessary.”
“…But you guys had a big day-”
“And so did you,” she cut in instantly.
Her grip tightened again.
Just a little.
“…But you decided to ignore that.”
Silence.
Then-
“…And you smiled,” she added lightly. “Like everything was fine.”
I looked away slightly.
“…I thought I was.”
She didn’t even react to that.
“…You were not fine.”
Flat.
Certain.
Her eye didn’t blink.
“…You were sitting weird.”
A pause.
Her smile widened again.
“…You were delirious. Talking like your brain was lagging,” she said cheerfully. “It was actually kind of fascinating.”
I winced slightly.
“…That’s-yeah, that sounds about right.”
“…Also,” she added, almost casually, her fingers pressing lightly into my cheeks again, “you had that really wide smile.”
A small tilt of her head.
“…You know the one.”
Another beat.
“…The ‘I’m definitely about to collapse but I won’t admit it’ smile. Also, crazy smile too. ”
I exhaled.
“…Okay, that’s-”
“And then you still refused to rest.”
That one landed heavier.
Her tone didn’t change.
But something underneath it did.
“…Do you remember that part?” she asked softly.
I hesitated.
“…Yeah.”
Her eye locked onto mine again.
“…We had to drag you.”
A pause.
“…Me and Sylvarius.”
I exhaled slowly.
“…Yeah.”
“…You kept saying you were fine.”
“…I thought I was.”
“You weren’t.”
Simple.
Final.
Her thumb stopped moving now.
Just resting against my cheek.
“…You wouldn’t stop.”
Her voice dropped slightly.
“…So I yelled at you.”
I didn’t respond.
“…A lot,” she added.
A pause.
“…Like, aggressively.”
Her smile flickered-(Flickered-briefly changed. Her smile: disappeared for a moment then came back)
Just a little.
“…Very aggressively.”
I let out a quiet breath.
“…Yeah.”
“And you didn’t even listen.”
Softer.
Sharper.
“…Not really,” I admitted.
A beat.
“…You had a fever,” she continued.
My chest tightened.
“…Yeah.”
“…You were burning up.”
Another pause.
“…And you still kept saying you were fine.”
Silence settled.
Heavy.
Then-
Her smile came back.
Bright.
Sharp.
Wrong.
“…And then,” she said lightly, “you passed out.”
A beat.
“…Finally.”
I huffed slightly.(small breath of annoyance or tiredness)
“…That’s one way to put it.”
She ignored me.
“…And when you woke up?”
Her head tilted again.
Hair shifting, that red eye never leaving mine.
“…You didn’t remember any of it.”
I nodded slowly.
“…Nope.”
“But you do remember.” she continued, her tone soft-almost playful-“…what I said when you woke up?”
I didn’t answer immediately.
Because I did.
Clear as anything.
Her fingers shifted slightly, one thumb brushing absentmindedly(doing something without thinking, automatically) along my jaw again, the other still holding my face in place.
Waiting.
Watching.
“…Yeah.” I said quietly. “I remember.”
A small pause.
Then-
“…You threatened me.”
Her eye flickered.
Just once.
Then-
That smile returned.
Bright.
Cheerful.
Unsettling.
“Mm-hm,” she hummed. “I did.”
No hesitation.
No denial.
Just-
Agreement.
“…Told you not to do that again.” she added lightly.
Her grip tightened-just a fraction.
“…Because I meant it.”
Silence.
Her red eye stayed locked onto mine.
Unblinking.
Unmoving.
The air between us felt heavier now.
Tighter.
Like something was building-
And hadn’t quite snapped yet.
Then-
Her expression shifted again.
Not softer.
Not calmer.
Just…
Brighter.
Too bright.
“Oh! I nearly forgot.” she said suddenly, like she’d just remembered something fun.
“…Oh no…”
Her smile widened.
“…There’s more,” she said brightly. “The best one.”
Of course there was.
“…You remember the time you died?”
I blinked.
“…We literally just talked about that.”
“Shhh,” she said instantly, pressing her thumb lightly against my cheek. “I’m speaking.”
“…Okay.”
“Good.”
Then-
Casual.
Cheerful.
Like she was telling a funny story.
“…So,” she began, “Mira takes me and Sylvarius to another room-”
A small pause.
“…Very important meeting.”
She nodded to herself.
“…Top secret.”
Another nod.
“…Girls only.”
I sighed quietly.
“…Of course.”
She ignored me.
“…We’re planning things,” she continued, her tone light. “Fun things. Harmless things. Absolutely nothing that would result in anyone dying.”
A beat.
Her visible red eye didn’t leave mine.
“…Obviously.”
I swallowed slightly.
“…Obviously.”
“And we leave you,” she added, tapping my cheek again, “…with Mira’s mom.”
A small pause.
Then, softer-almost thoughtful.
“…Because, you know,” she continued, her tone light and almost playful, “I really thought-just for a moment-just a tiny, hopeful little moment-”
Her fingers tightened slightly on my face.
“-that if I left you alone, you wouldn’t get into trouble.”
I blinked.
“…That sounds like a risky assumption.”
“Right?!” she said immediately, smiling wider. “Super risky. Honestly, that one’s on me.”
She gave a small, exaggerated nod.
Then-
A pause.
“…Vemmora.”
My chest tightened.
“…Yeah.”
Her smile didn’t change.
“…At the time,” she continued casually, “we didn’t know she was going to kill you.”
A beat.
“…Minor detail.”
“…Very minor,” I muttered.
She nodded.
“Exactly.”
Then-
Her tone softened.
Just a little.
“…So we go, we plan, we talk…”
A pause.
“…And I come back.”
Silence.
Just for a second.
Her eye flickered-something darker passing through it.
“…Just in time,” she said quietly, “to see it.”
My throat tightened.
“…Eclipsara-”
“Nope.”
Cut off again.
“…Still talking.”
Her hand shifted slightly, steadying my face(keeping something still), her thumb brushing faintly along the edge of my beard as if absentminded.
“…You died.”
Flat.
Simple.
A beat.
“…From Vemmora’s hand.”
She said the name clearly.
Deliberately.
“…Very graphically, by the way.”
I winced.
“…We just talked about that-”
“I know,” she said sweetly.
Then her smile widened.
“…I’m emphasizing it.”
“…Right.”
Her thumb tapped my cheek again.
Slow.
Measured.
“…Because here’s the thing.”
A pause.
Her head tilted.
Hair sliding forward, that one red eye gleaming through the strands.
“…I really thought…”
Her tone stayed light.
Almost thoughtful.
“…that if I left you alone for a little bit…”
Tap.
“…you’d be fine.”
Tap.
“…That you wouldn’t get into trouble.”
Tap.
“…That I could trust you.”
That word lingered.
Hung in the air.
I didn’t say anything.
Her eye stayed locked on mine.
Unblinking.
“…I trusted you,” she repeated softly.
A beat.
“…That was my first mistake.”
“…Wow.”
Her smile didn’t drop.
But something underneath it twisted.
“…And then you died.”
Cheerful.
Almost amused.
Completely wrong.
I exhaled slowly.
“…Not exactly something I planned.”
“Mmm,” she hummed. “Not sure you could plan for that kind of situation.”
A small pause.
“…That’s kind of the problem.”
Silence settled.
Then-
Her expression shifted again.
Not away from the smile-
Never that.
But the energy behind it changed.
Sharpened.
“…In my defense-”
“No,” she said cheerfully. “No defense.”
“…I didn’t even get to say it.”
“I know what you’re going to say.”
“…That’s concerning.”
“It should be.” she replied lightly.
A pause.
Then-
“…You know,” she said, almost casually. “I really should’ve been more… proactive.”
My eyes narrowed slightly.
“…What does that mean?”
“Oh, you know,” she said. “More thoughtful.”
A beat.
“…More aggressive.”
Another.
“…About making sure you stayed where you were supposed to be.”
My stomach dropped.
“…Eclipsara-”
“I mean, really,” she continued, like she was just thinking out loud, “why was I so easygoing?”
A soft, breathy laugh slipped out of her.
“…That was a mistake.”
Her fingers tightened again around my face, both hands firm now, keeping me exactly where she wanted me.
“…Letting you wander.”
A pause.
“…Letting you be alone.”
Another.
Her eye darkened slightly.
“…Letting things like this happen.”
A beat.
Then-
She tilted her head.
Smile still there.
Bright.
Wrong.
“…Not once.”
Her thumb pressed into my cheek.
“…Not twice.”
Another press.
Slightly firmer.
“…But three times.”
A quiet inhale.
Then-
“…Three.”
She laughed softly.
But there was nothing light about it.
“…Wow, Val.”
A small shake of her head, her hair shifting with the motion, brushing faintly against my neck.
“…That’s actually impressive.”
Her voice stayed cheerful.
Playful.(teasing. joking tone)
But the edge underneath-
Was fully there now.
Unhidden.
“…You’re really consistent,” she added.
A pause.
She leaned closer.
Close enough that I could feel her breath.
Close enough that that hollow red eye filled my vision.
“…At almost getting yourself killed.”
Another soft laugh.
Then-
Her voice dropped.
Quieter.
Softer.
Far more dangerous.
“…I don’t like that.”
Her voice lingered in the air for a second.
Quiet.
Cold.
Then-
Her nose twitched slightly.
Just once.
Her eye narrowed.
“…Hold on.”
Her grip on my face tightened.
Both hands now.
Firm.
Unmoving.
She leaned in closer-
Way closer.
Her hair fell around us again, those dark strands with yellow tips brushing against my neck and collar as she tilted her head slightly.
Then-
She inhaled.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Right against me.
My brain stalled.
“…What are you-”
“Shhh.”
Soft.
Immediate.
Her thumb pressed lightly against my cheek again, silencing me as she leaned in even closer-her nose brushing faintly along my hoodie, then up toward my neck.
Another inhale.
Longer this time.
Her eye-
That hollow red eye-
Shifted.
Something in it deepened.
Darkened.
“…You smell different.”
A pause.
Another slow inhale.
Her fingers dug slightly into my cheeks.
“…There’s also blood.”
Her gaze flicked downward briefly, scanning my hoodie.
“…Everywhere.”
Her expression didn’t change.
Still smiling.
Still bright.
But her eye-
Focused.
Sharp.
“…You got hurt.”
Not a question.
A statement.
“…Out there.”
Her head tilted slightly.
“…By those pale things, I’m guessing.”
I swallowed.
“…Yeah.”
Her grip tightened.
Just a little more.
“…What kind?”
Her voice dropped.
Still cheerful.
But wrong.
“…Describe them.”
“…Pale.” I said carefully. “Thin. Not… fully right. They move weird.”
A beat.
“Also…Fast.”
Her eye flickered.
Recognition.
“…Ah.”
She smiled wider.
“…Them.”
I blinked.
“…You’ve dealt with them too?”
She nodded once.
Casual.
“…Mm-hm.”
A small pause.
Then, almost absentmindedly-
“…That’s how one of them took a bite out of my hand.”
My chest tightened immediately.
“…Wait-what?”
“…Originally.” she added lightly, like she was correcting a minor detail.
Her left arm shifted slightly in my peripheral vision( what you see from the corner of your eyes)-whole, restored, intact.
Like nothing had ever happened.
“…Doesn’t matter now.”
I look at her with a worried epression.
“…It must have hurt alot. I am sorry you went through that.”
That made her pause.
Just for a second.
Then-
She smiled.
Softer.
But still… off.
“…It did.”
A beat.
Her thumb brushed lightly across my cheek again.
“…But the medicine you gave me fixed it.”
She lifted her left arm slightly, almost casually showing it off.
“…Completely.”
A small tilt of her head.
“…So that part’s fine.”
Before I could respond-
Her grip suddenly tightened again.
Much firmer this time.
Both hands pressing into my cheeks, pulling my face closer-
Closer-
Until we were inches apart.
“…But you-”
Her voice dropped.
Lower.
“…are not.”
She leaned in again.
Another inhale.
Right along my neck this time.
Slower.
More deliberate.
Her eye widened slightly-
That hollow look deepening into something sharper.
Something worse.
“…You smell like someone else.”
My brain froze.
“…What?”
Another inhale.
Her nose brushed faintly along my jawline, over my beard.
“…Not just blood.”
A pause.
Longer.
Her fingers tightened.
“…Different.”
Another inhale.
“…Multiple.”
Her eye snapped back to mine.
Wide.
Hollow.
Sharp.
“…What the fuck is that?”
Her voice cracked-just slightly.
Still smiling.
But now-
There was something jagged underneath it.
“…It’s been what-” she muttered, almost to herself. “A day? Two? Maybe 3?”
A small, frustrated exhale.
“…No clocks, no windows, no sense of time-who the fuck knows.”
Her gaze locked back onto mine instantly.
“…But that’s not the point.”
Her grip tightened again.
“…You smell like different women.”
Silence.
“…Plural.”
I blinked.
“…Okay, that sounds worse than it-”
“Shhh.”
Immediate.
Her thumb pressed harder this time.
Not painful.
But firm.
“…Let me think.”
Her eye narrowed slightly, unfocused for a moment as she processed.
“…First one…”
A pause.
“…That’s easy.”
Her smile sharpened.
“…Vemmora.”
My stomach dropped.
“…Yeah, that tracks.”
“…You died to her,” she said simply.
A beat.
“…So that smell makes sense.”
Another inhale.
Closer this time.
“…Second…”
She paused.
Longer.
Her eye flickered slightly.
“…Different.”
A tilt of her head.
“…Cleaner.”
Another inhale.
“…Stronger.”
Her grip tightened again.
“…That’s the one who helped you.”
Not a question.
A statement.
I hesitated.
“…Yeah.”
Her eye locked onto mine again.
Unblinking.
“…And then there’s more.”
A pause.
Longer.
Her expression didn’t change.
But the air did.
“…Faint.”
Another inhale.
“…But still there.”
Her fingers pressed harder into my cheeks now.
“…Who else touched you? Or...whose hand did you touch more specifically?”
“…No one like that-”
“Don’t.”
Soft.
Sharp.
Immediate.
“…Don’t lie.”
Silence.
Her stare didn’t waver.
Not even slightly.
Then-
She exhaled slowly.
Her grip didn’t loosen.
If anything-
It steadied.
“…I really don’t like that.”
A pause.
Then-
Quieter.
So quiet I almost didn’t catch it.
“…I should just put you somewhere.”
Her thumb brushed faintly along my cheek again.
Slow.
Absent.
“…A cage, maybe.”
A small tilt of her head.
“…Or chains.”
Another pause.
“…Something where you can’t wander off.”
Her voice stayed light.
Almost thoughtful.
Like she was genuinely considering it.
“…That way I’d always know where you are.”
A beat.
“…And nothing could take you away again.”
Silence.
My brain stalled for a second.
Then-
…Did I just hear that?
I blinked.
“…I’m sorry, what?”
Eclipsara didn’t even blink.
Her long black hair shifted as she tilted her head, those yellow-tipped strands sliding over her shoulder and brushing against my chest.
That lone visible red eye-
Still locked onto mine.
Still hollow.
Still smiling.
“Oh,” she said brightly, like I hadn’t heard her the first time. “I said I should just put you in a cage.”
A small pause.
Her smile widened.
“…Or chains.”
She nodded once, satisfied.
“…Something where you can’t wander off.”
I stared at her.
“…Wait.”
A beat.
“…Am I-grounded?”
She blinked once.
Then smiled wider.
“Mm-hm!”
“…Like-actually grounded?” I added, a little incredulous. “That feels like a bit much.”
Silence.
For one second.
Two.
Her eye-
Changed.
That hollow red somehow deepened.
Like something inside it dropped.
Hard.
Then-
She snapped.
Her hands clamped down on my cheeks-hard this time.
Painfully tight.
“A bit much?” she repeated.
Still smiling.
Still cheerful-
But her voice cracked through the edges of it.(Her voice sounded cheerful, but real emotion broke through)
Sharp.
Unstable.
She yanked me closer-our faces inches apart, her hair falling around us wildly now.
“A bit much?” she said again, louder.
Her eye was wide now.
Too wide.
Hollow.
Burning.
“You disappear-” she snapped, her grip tightening further. “you wander off, you leave, you get hurt, you come back covered in blood-not even all of it yours-”
Her voice shook.
Not weak.
Just-
Overflowing.
“-you smell like other people, like other women, like things have been touching you while I wasn’t there-”
Her fingers dug in harder.(pressed in harder)
“-and then you die!”
That word cracked out of her.
Loud.
Sharp.
Echoing.
“You died, Val!” she shouted.
Her forehead nearly pressed against mine now, her breath uneven, that red eye locked onto me like it was trying to burn straight through.
“I watched you get killed!” she continued, her voice rising, breaking through that eerie cheerfulness into something raw. “Right in front of me-ripped apart-and I couldn’t do anything!”
Her grip trembled.
But didn’t loosen.
“Do you have any idea-” she hissed, voice dropping suddenly, dangerously, “how fucking guilty that feels?”
Silence slammed between us.
Heavy.
Her eye didn’t move.
Didn’t blink.
“…Because I left,” she continued, quieter now-but worse. “Because I thought you’d be fine. Because I trusted you to stay where you were supposed to be.”
Her fingers tightened again.
“…And you didn’t.”
A sharp inhale.
Then-
Her voice rose again.
Fractured.
“Something always happens to you!” she snapped. “Every time I’m not looking-every time I turn away-every time I leave you alone-there’s something!”
Her grip shifted-one hand sliding to the back of my head, fingers tangling slightly in my hair, forcing me even closer.
“Something bad, something wrong, something that shouldn’t happen-but it does!”
Her breath hitched.
Anger.
Fear.
All tangled together.
“And then the final one-” she choked out, her voice cracking again,.“-you fucking die!”
Her forehead pressed against mine now.
Hard.
“So tell me.” she demanded, voice low and shaking, “how are you going to reassure me that this won’t happen again?”
Her nails pressed slightly into the back of my head.
Not enough to injure-
But enough to keep me there.
Pinned.
“Because from where I’m standing,” she continued, her voice rising again. “you don’t listen, you don’t stop, you don’t think, you just go-and then I have to deal with the aftermath of whatever the hell happens to you!”
Her breathing was uneven now.
Sharp.
“…So what is it going to take?” she snapped. “What do I have to do to make you listen?”
A beat.
Then-
Her smile came back.
Too wide.
Too sharp.
Too wrong.
“…Because I’m really starting to think I should just fucking chain you to me.”
Her grip tightened again.
Both hands now-one at my cheek, one at the back of my head-holding me exactly where she wanted me.
“Forever.” she added softly.
The word didn’t sound like a joke.
At all.
Her eye bored into mine.
“…So nothing like that ever happens again.”
A pause.
Then-
Quieter.
More dangerous.
“…Why do you make this so difficult?”
Her head tilted slightly.
Hair brushing against my face.
“…Why?”
A beat.
Then again-
“…Why?”
Closer.
“…Why?”
Faster now.
No pause.
“…whywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhy-”
Her voice didn’t rise.
Didn’t break.
Just-
Kept going.
Relentless.
Eerie.
That hollow red eye wide and unblinking as she stared straight into mine-
“…whywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhywhy-”
My mouth opened. Finally.
“…I-”
A sound.
Both of us froze.
It wasn’t loud.
Not at first.
Just-
“…heh…”
That same quiet, warped little laugh.
Right at the end of the hallway.
Eclipsara stopped.
Mid-word.
Her grip on me didn’t loosen-
But her head turned.
Slowly.
I followed her gaze.
Also slowly.
Very slowly.
Then-
“…Oh.”
It stood at the far end.
Tall enough that its head nearly brushed the ceiling.
Its body-
Wrong.
Completely wrong.
Covered.
Layered.
Infested-
With hundreds of pitch-black skull-like faces embedded into it, all twisted in different directions.
Some grinning.
Some open-mouthed.
Some just-
Staring.
Its massive, writhing tentacles stretched outward, dragging slightly along the walls-
And those had faces too.
Red eyes blinking open across them.
Watching.
All of them.
Watching.
“…heheh…”
Silence.
“…Huh,” I said.
Eclipsara didn’t look at me.
“…Yeah.”
“…Is that,” I started slowly. “…the ‘hehehe’ thing you and Mira were running from earlier?”
“…Unfortunately.” she replied flatly.
A beat.
I squinted slightly.
“…Why does it have so many skull faces on it?”
“…Because it’s terrible.” she answered immediately.
“…That checks out.”
The creature twitched again.
“…Heheh…”
I pointed slightly.
“…It looks like it’s about to do something.”
“…It is,” Eclipsara said.
A pause.
“…It shoots things.”
I blinked.
“…It what?”
“…Projectiles.”
“…Oh, come on.”
“…Mm-hm.”
Silence.
We both slowly turned our heads.
Looked at each other.
Same expression.
Wide eyes.
Blank.
Processing.
Then-
Simultaneously-
“…Oh no.”
Beat.
“…Oh no.”
Then-
We moved.
Fast.
Eclipsara shot up first, practically launching off me like nothing had just happened. She grabbed her axe with her left hand.
Her right hand immediately grabbed mine-tight.
“Run.”
“No argument here.”
And then-
We bolted.
Down the hallway.
Full speed.
Eclipsara leading, dragging me with her as her hair streamed behind her, that red eye still sharp, still focused-
“…Heheh-!”
Something slammed into the wall behind us.
“Yep-projectiles!” I shouted.
“I told you!”
Another impact.
Closer.
“WHY DOES IT LAUGH LIKE THAT?!”
“I DON’T KNOW, BUT I HATE IT!”
We turned a corner hard-
Didn’t slow down-
Didn’t look back-
Just ran.
Together.
Fast.
Very fast.
“…That’s kinda rude, don’t you think? You didn't leep your promise.”
First typo
Second 🤤
Thanks for letting me know. Fixed it. Hope your enjoying the chapter!
@CrustedMuffin02 always enjoy it lol
@CrustedMuffin02 BABY COME BACK YOU CAN BLAME IT ALL ON ME
@Pandasaurus I've been summoned. Sorry for not posting lately-it's been one exam after another. I've just got one last final left, then I'll be back starting Tuesday. And nah man, it ain't your fault-blame these exams for taking me away. I did sneak out 1 short story chapter on another story though! (Chapters are being worked on slowly-I just haven't posted yet because I want to properly check them and add a few things, but exams have been taking priority for now. Sorry for that. Also, that short story chapter is on the Father's Protection story if you're curious-just an experimental short story. Don't worry, it won't take time away from the main story here.) Thank you for your support as always!
@CrustedMuffin02 ok bbg imma hold you on Tuesday
@Pandasaurus The chapter is sent, although abit later due to other factors. Sorry for that.
@CrustedMuffin02 im just happy its here lol