Kira didn't have a response to that.
"Where are the others?" she asked, changing the subject.
"They are right here," Eoman answered.
Kira, confused, turned around once more. But they were the only people present.
"But—" she argued.
"Surely you would have already noticed something. Knowing this is your forte," Eoman said, looking deep into the forest, eyes shifting like he was watching something move.
Kira couldn't understand what he was saying. She looked again, but still saw nothing.
"Look a little closer," Eoman cajoled.
Involuntarily listening to him, she squinted, trying to look deeper.
To her surprise, the view in front of her began to warp, blur, and shift. A faint outline of a figure passed by as everything started to become clearer.
The fog receded, and she could now see a person passing beside her before vanishing past her.
A wave of noise hit her — the very noise that had been playing before her silence.
Everything slowly changed back to the reality she knew: kids running, some past, some before, and beside her, all evading spikes.
All the while they were doing that, none of them seemed to notice her or sense her presence while she stood in the midst of the chaos.
"Guys!" She called out, waving toward them, even trying to reach out.
"They can't hear, see, nor feel you." Eoman stated calmly. "We currently exist outside the foundation." Then he smiled. "Don't worry. As you progress, the knowledge will be available to you." His white teeth flashed in a grin.
Kira looked at him, then back to the running kids. One made the mistake of running right in her direction. The girl ran frantically, looking around for where the next attack might come from.
Kira's breath caught. She knew the girl. Amie from the second bed. She'd helped her when she struggled to wear her uniform, even aided her during her trip from the stream.
She took a step forward, involuntarily reaching out, when her whole body shook. Blood sprayed before her.
While Kira had been watching the girl, Eoman had flicked his hand. A spike formed out of thin air behind the girl, then shot forward.
It dove into the girl's neck. Bones snapped, flesh tore, and Kira's sight dyed deep red, flowing down like it was her own.
Kira trembled, slowly lifting her head to view the girl's face. The girl was slightly taller than her.
The eyes that once held life were now dull, empty shells, yet they seemed to be telling her something as they stared, not missing a beat.
Did the girl see Kira in her last moments?
The girl's body lost all control and slowly tilted forward, as if time had been put into slow motion.
Kira's hand came forward out of habit, ready to catch her. But the girl's body passed through her and hit the ground hard.
Kira quivered, eyelids frozen. She slowly turned to look at the girl, hands still up, unable to digest what had happened.
As she stared at the girl's still face, her vision glitched. In place of the girl lay a dead woman, brown hallow eyes but with a different fatal wound.
Her eyes widened. Her breathing staggered.
"Looks familiar, doesn't it?" Eoman commented, watching Kira's reaction.
"Why?" Kira said, turning to face him.
Eoman tilted his head as he looked at Kira deeply, yet his eyes seemed distant. "That's a question you should already understand," he said after a thought.
Kira gulped, taking a step back. Eoman noticed, then looked back at her.
"Your eyes hurt me, my lady. You were the only one who always understood me best," he said with weary innocence.
What did he mean?
Kira didn't understand him. His words made no sense.
The air felt stiff. Kira felt like any slight movement she made could cost her life.
Eoman blinked once, twice. And each time, Kira seemed to see different people. His eyes were alive.
Who was she talking to?
Why did he always call her 'my lady'?
More questions kept coming, and she had answers to none.
Feeling her stare, "Do you like my eyes, my lady?" Eoman said, then chuckled as Kira quickly looked away.
She stepped back, putting distance between herself and the body. Still shaken.
Then she felt it — the cold breeze again. Where was it coming from? Kira searched for its source until she heard a voice.
"When is it going to end? I don't think I can go on for much longer."
"Then please, be my guest and face your death."
Kira's heart dropped. She knew those voices. Soon their figures came into view, not very far from where she stood. At any moment they would be closer to her — and to their deaths.
Kira urgently looked at Eoman, then to Kealor, Nirro, Lucian, and Jex.
Why were they here? At this very moment, and at the worst possible time?
_____
"Hey, wait!"
"Watch out!" Lucian shouted as a spike shot toward Jex. They barely had time to react; they hadn't noticed it in time.
Lucian had his hand outstretched, but he wasn't close enough.
This time Jex was really gone — until someone drove him to the ground, narrowly escaping the spike but taking its mark on his forehead.
It happened so fast all Lucian saw was a shadow. He stared blankly at the space before him, then looked to where Jex had been flung. Now there were two bodies, not one.
The one on top shuffled to the side before sitting up, trying to steady his heavy breathing.
"Nirro," Lucian said. Nirro blinked in response.
"Thanks," Lucian said, looking at Jex, who was still in shock, then back to Nirro, who nodded in acknowledgment. Soon interrupted by the sound of heavy breathing.
Lucian turned to see Kealor, who had stopped in front of them, hands on his knees as he caught his breath.
"Don't leave me like that! Do you know how long I've searched for you guys? You can't keep doing this to me," he said. Noticing it wasn't only Nirro, he straightened up and cleared his throat.
"Oh, hello. I'm Kealor. And you are?" he beamed, talking to Jex.
Lucian rolled his eyes at Kealor's introduction as he helped Nirro up, then Jex, who was still stunned.
"You're bleeding," Jex said.
Lucian frowned, then turned to Kealor and saw his grey uniform was dyed red, and still spreading.