The faceless remained pop-eyed for a long time.
[It was just a dream?]
They shook their head.
[It felt so real tough…]
Thump
They sensed their chest tightening upon reminiscing pieces of the events from the said dream.
[No… On second tough, it's not that bad that it was just a dream. They were too many strange things in there. Besides, the kids…]
They didn't dare to go further in their thoughts. During the dream, they were able to have a close look at them. So close that they almost believed that they were there too.
Even if it only lasted a few minutes, they became fond of the brats. Picturing something bad really happening to them was enough to worsen the faceless' mood.
"What have you been yelling about?"
The faceless flinched.
There was someone behind them.
They briskly turned around and spotted a person.
The person held a candlestick with one lighted candle on it. However, the light was too weak. The faceless couldn't really make out the newcomer's features. Actually, they still felt a little bit of drowsiness and were wondering if they were truly awake. Their sight was a bit blurry too. They were only able to see basic shapes and colors.
"Why are you staring at me like that? Did you just wake up?"
The newcomer only received a confused look as a reply.
"I guess that it's a yes then. Come on, stand up. They are waiting for us for the supper."
[Supper? They?]
KBRAAAAM
A violent flash followed by a mighty rumbling echoed in the room while the newcomer was turning around. The sound was deafening and the light so blinding that it could be misunderstood as daylight. At this moment, the faceless was able to catch a glimpse of the newcomer's flinching shoulders.
[What's with this hair color? Are they that old?], they tough as darkness returned.
The room remained quiet for a few moments.
"That… Surprised me. Never tell anyone about it."
The newcomer spoke with a chilly voice.
"Now hurry up and come."
The faceless immediately got up and went after them. For an unknown reason, they felt like they shared a deep trust with this white-haired person. They knew that this person despite their scary vibe, would never betray them. Nor would the faceless. Their secret will be well kept.
They quickly came to another room which have a round table at its center. Around the table were seated other persons babbling noisily.
A brown-haired one instantly caught the faceless gaze and gestured them to sit on the sole empty chair. The one beside them. The faceless wandering to the chair met with the dish facing it.
On it was a big roasted fish whose dead eyes were hanging down from its alien head.
The faceless felt something hot reaching their throat. Their body bend forward and they swiftly turned around before fleeing.
The dining room fell silent. But the faceless was already too far away to care about it.
They quickly found their way to a small room occupied by a lone chair with a hole in the middle.
The restroom.
Without wasting anymore seconds, they threw themselves on the furniture and gave back their stomach's content.
With their hard work done, they began pondering while recovering their breath.
[This thing in the plate… I recognize those eyes…]
[Its dead-look, yellowish color and small round irises…]
A new gastric spasm halted their thoughts. The faceless bent over again and returned one more time their stomach's content.
[…It was from that beast.]
[Was it this fish who triggered my d-]
KBBBBBBBRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMM!!!!
A deafening rumbling echoed again. But this time, the faceless felt as if their eardrums were being hit by a hammer. Their balance broke. Or was it the ground that was shaking? The faceless didn't care.
They clang with all their might to the closet hoping to not crack their skull.
When the rumbling died down and the room stopped shaking, they rose wobbly to their feet. They took a quick look around in order to understand what happened.
Thick and long streak-like cracks ran through the walls.
[It was an earthquake? Better not stay here then.]
The faceless didn't wait any longer and dashed out of the restroom. They had to, however, restrain their momentum. Darkness ruled over the corridors and surely the other rooms.
[Ah… The light is off. It will be tough to proceed if I can't even see two feet ahead.]
[?]
[What was that? Sounds like someone is shouting]
High-pitched screams rang weakly from the corridor's other side. The faceless remained quiet a few minutes listening attentively. They felt shivers run through their body thereafter.
[These voices… It's from the persons from earlier! Why are they so panicked? Don't tell me… Something bad happened?]
[Please, let it not be something serious. I'm already distressed with the other brats' fate. I don't need more worries!]
The faceless immediately, rushed through the corridor. Their race was greatly disrupted by random stone fragments, other wreckages and remaining darkness. But, they had to quickly meet with the others. What if there was someone injured? Worst, this person was the white-haired one? The faceless felt their chest tightening at those thoughts.
While they were nearing the corridor's end, the screams became clearer.
[Someone is yelling my name… Is everyone fine? Doesn't sounds like it. Still, I hope that it's nothing too big.], they though drenched in sweats and with an ever-increasing heartbeat.
Unable to wait, they yelled.
"Hey! Is everyone alright?"
"No, don't co-"
BRAAM!!
The ground shook.
A muffled scream echoed.
Then everything became quiet.
The faceless' mind went blank. Their blood turned cold despite their heart thumping heavily in their chest. Their innards and their throat tightened. They couldn't take another step nor ask for what happened. They didn't dare to.
Tagata… Tagata… Tagata
Something was coming. At first the faceless thought it was a horse. But why would a horse run through a corridor? Then metallic clatter added themselves to the racing noise.
Skrieeeeeeerch!!
Next came an earsplitting shriek knocking the faceless' eardrums and making them collapse with their head in their hands.
A shadow appeared above them. It scanned them with its big protruding yellowish-eyes. Eyes that were easily recognized by them. The faceless felt sick again.
But the dark mass didn't give them any time to throw up. Its eyes turned red and began glowing. Below, a void appeared. Appendices came out. Their saw and sickle-like shape stiffened each muscle of the faceless' body. It was so rough that that they nearly screamed. However, only indecipherable gurgles escaped from their knotted throat.
The appendices didn't waste more seconds and swooped on the quivering faceless.
Their visions darkened.
Crunch!
Soon after, sounds of dissected meat, breaking bones and painful whimpering echoed.
Then came bursting sounds and alien-like agony cry.
The faceless reopened their eyes.
However, this time their eyelids felt heavy. Their drowsiness seemed to have made a strong return.
They could no longer feel their limbs. Moreover, they felt a sense of lightness, as if their body no longer weighed that much.
People were leaning above the faceless shouting something. But they couldn't hear anything and even if it wasn't the case, they didn't thought that they would be able to respond.
Plic
They sensed something warm falling on their cheek.
It was a tear.
The people gathered around the faceless were crying. Among them, they recognized the white-haired and the brown-haired individuals.
Those were the last things reaching the faceless' eyes until they closed definitively with their sinking consciousness.
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Under an inky black sky sprinkled with numerous jewel-like stars were a tent.
A shadow gushed forth and dashed toward some nearby bushes.
After a lengthy round of disgusting noise, they muttered while panting.
"No… more… fish … before sleeping…"
"…No…"
"…Just… no more fish…"