Second failure.
I collapsed inward. Folded into myself like a crumpled map. Hugged my own body (thank God it wasn't his anymore) and stumbled toward the next glow.
Somehow, in all that chaos, I hadn't noticed another streetlight just ahead. I stepped into its soft circle of light and shook my head, trying to exorcise the memory.
And then I heard them — my angels, my crew, my damn lifeline:
-Ali! Are you okay? Are you hurt? What was that thing?-
No… I'm But what the hell was that? Why did I fall for it?
We don't know. - Mia said, calm and careful, her voice like a glass of chamomile laced with vodka. -But I'm glad I hacked your brain when I You WHAT?
S-sorry! That wasn't my idea! - Julia panicked immediately, reverting to her usual -tiny scared anime girl- mode.
-It was Antwan. He begged me to find a way to protect you — to do something more than just cheer you on. So when you fell asleep, I slipped in a little program. It triggers an electrical impulse if you're in immediate danger.-
I froze. Brain rebooting. Antwan?
How deep did you go, Jul? What exactly did you hack?
-Just a tiiiiny bit! I swear! Only the top layers! I didn't peek into anything deep!
I considered scanning the whole cluster for breaches… but I was too drained. And honestly, she sounded sincere. I could grill her later.
From the background, I heard Antwan muttering angry curses. Something about betrayal and -snitches getting stitches.
It's okay, little Thanks for watching my six. I needed that zap. You did good.
Always here for you, - he -I'm your cleric and your tank. You're the rogue-DPS hybrid. It's an honor to buff you. - I smirked.
But it helped. The levity. The stupid gaming metaphors. The fact that someone was still out there, still caring, even while I walked deeper into whatever this hellscape was.
I straightened up. Shook off the memory of toothy toddlers and predatory nostalgia.
You guys with me?
Always.
Alright, time to keep moving.
Another stretch of quiet, relentless steps deeper into the kingdom of eternal dark. My little heels tapped sharply with each move, echoing into the nothing. I shoved my hands into my pockets, trying to keep them warm.
And for the first time ever, I felt cold.
Which was… weird. That hadn't happened before.
At the very edge of my limited sight, something flitted by — a small shadow. Then another. A little -hello- from the Obscurity. Didn't faze me. Even when a damp, clawed paw waved at me from behind the wall of black
I just kept
Ali, why did you stop? - Their voices brought me My qualia — whatever was left of my soul — slid back into my chilled body.
I blinked. Realized I was frozen mid-step, right in the glow of another lonely streetlamp.
Uh… did something happen?
You just stood there, not moving at We thought you passed out.- Antwan's voice was tight with concern. Wait… I wasn't walking?
Not even a twitch, - he said. -Did you think you were?
Girl, you're glitching like my PC after a coffee - Mia added, deadpan.
That hit harder than it should've.
Wait — was the Obscurity running a simulation? Was I just a variable in its twisted little sandbox?
I stepped out of the light, not sure if anything I did now was even real. But no time for philosophical dread, because BAM — a grotesque snarling face lunged into view and spat slime at me.
Reflexes: still golden. I ducked. The glob splattered somewhere behind me. Instinct took over.
My first high-kick slammed into something real and disgusting — it felt like kicking a bowl of microwaved jelly. Gross. But I didn't have time to complain, because suddenly — fists. Many fists. Six arms? Eight? I was catching haymakers like a Shaolin monk doing a stunt reel.
I blocked with my elbows, thankful for the razor-sharp spikes on my jacket. They turned defense into damage — every blow from the monster came at a cost.
Still, I was getting rocked. So I channeled just a sliver of ectoplasmic shield into my forearms — not enough to drain me, but just enough that some of its punches slipped through me instead of into me.
I wanted to destabilize the bastard. Make it lose its footing. Then go for the kill. But the universe doesn't care about your combat tactics.
One of its meaty fists landed a body-shot right to my solar plexus. Lights. Out. I crumpled like a dropped marionette. No thoughts, just pain.
Everything spun. Somewhere in the fuzz, instinct grabbed the wheel. A stiletto slid into my palm from its hidden compartment.
One of those gross, choking fingers reached for my neck — and I sliced it off. Clean.
Not into that kind of play, Try Tinder.
The thing roared again, lunging forward. I met it with cold steel and dead eyes. A few fast jabs and the monster backed off, spitting corrosive slime
which I caught mid-air, juiced it with power, and hucked it back in its
Sizzle. Scream. Its melting face flailed away, and just as I stepped in to finish it — something bit me.
Yeah. Something in its body reached out and bit me. Okay. Enough.
I am DONE with this.
I turned and bolted. Well, tried to.
But the air had thickened into soup. Like I was trying to run through invisible cobwebs spun by a passive-aggressive ghost.
Try the stiletto trick again! - Antwan I sliced the air. Nothing. Now. It's regrouping. I can hear it.
- Use your power! Which one!?
-Absorb the air. - Mia suggested, breezy as always. Fine.
I tried to form a vortex. Pull the air inside me.
The atmosphere basically gave me the middle finger.
-What the…! - Antwan cursed.