The girl caressed one of the bright leaves growing on the wall. It felt… good. My dungeon. The word was still strange, but the sensation was warm, like a hug that enveloped her from within.
Then, she looked at Sebastián. He was sitting on the ground, his back against one of the walls, watching the hologram with a frown. She approached him and pointed at the wall, with a serious expression. Then, she crouched down and walked a few steps, looking ahead as if searching for something on the ground.
Sebastián looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "What are you looking for, little one?" he asked, with a slight smile.
The girl stood up straight and clenched her fists, showing a determined expression. Then, she pointed at the dark entrance of the room and rubbed her belly. Next, she picked up a small stone from the ground and tossed it into the air, simulating an attack on something. Finally, she pointed at the giant rat and the small green being, and then again at the entrance.
Sebastián chuckled softly. "She's determined to go out," he thought, smiling. "She wants me to go with her to find food," Sebastián thought. "It makes sense. We haven't eaten anything since…" As the girl did this last bit, Sebastián's hand brushed against one of the stones on the floor, feeling its rough texture. A vague memory of fire, of screams, of… something dark, flashed through his mind. He quickly dismissed it. It wasn't important. The important thing was the girl.
Sebastián sighed. She was right. He probably needed some fresh air. Besides, there didn't seem to be anything dangerous nearby. At least, nothing he could see.
"Alright, little one," he said, standing up. "We'll go for a walk. But we'll stay close. And if I see anything dangerous, we'll come right back."
The girl, hearing him, opened her eyes wide and let out an exclamation of joy. Before Sebastián could even take a step, she pulled him by the hand towards the entrance.
Once in front of the dark opening, the girl stopped and looked at Sebastián with an expectant expression. Then, she crouched down again and walked a few steps, looking ahead as if searching for something on the ground. She stretched her arms forward, wiggling her fingers like claws.
Sebastián chuckled softly. "Now you're a… cat?" he asked, amused.
The girl shook her head vehemently and then tried to imitate a wolf's howl, but what came out was more of a high-pitched whine that made her laugh at herself.
In that instant, the girl felt a new tickle, softer than the previous ones. She looked at the wall. The flowers moved gently, as if they were breathing. Residual energy. The voice, soft as a caress. Stronger.
The girl smiled. She felt good. Stronger. But also… sad. A fleeting memory of… falling? Darkness? passed through her. She shook her head to push the image away. It didn't matter. She was… strong now.
She took Sebastián's hand more firmly and pulled him toward the entrance. He, seeing her determination and thinking it was just a walk, finally gave in.
"Alright, little one," he said, smiling. "Let's go for a walk. But be careful."
Sebastián took the girl's hand and headed towards the entrance. The darkness that stretched beyond the opening was dense, almost palpable. A faint scent of damp earth and wet leaves reached his nostrils.
The girl, feeling Sebastián's hand in hers, smiled excitedly and pulled him forward, eager to go out. Once in front of the opening, she stopped for a moment, observing the darkness with curiosity, and then looked at Sebastián with an expectant expression.
Sebastián took a deep breath. The fresh air felt good after being cooped up in the room for so long. He looked at the girl and returned her smile. "Alright, little one. Let's see what's out there," he said softly.
The girl nodded enthusiastically and gave a small jump before running out into the darkness. Sebastián followed closely, his hand outstretched to catch her if she stumbled. The giant rat and the small green being followed close behind, moving cautiously in the darkness.
As they advanced through the tunnel, the reddish light of the room faded, giving way to almost total darkness. Only the faint moonlight filtering in from the entrance dimly illuminated the path.
While they walked, the girl felt another tickle, even softer than the previous ones. She looked back at the room they were leaving behind. The flowers on the wall glowed with a faint light, as if they were saying goodbye. Residual energy, the voice whispered in her mind. Growing.
The girl felt a pang of sadness, a fleeting memory of… screams? Pain? She shook her head, trying to push the image away. She didn't understand why she felt like this. She was supposed to feel… strong.
She squeezed Sebastián's hand tighter and continued walking, her gaze fixed on the darkness that stretched before them. She wanted to see what was out there. She wanted to… hunt. Although she still didn't fully understand what that word meant, she felt a strong urge to do it.
They exited the tunnel into a clearing bathed in moonlight. The trees stood tall and dark around them, their branches intertwined, forming a kind of natural roof. The air was fresh and smelled of damp earth, leaves, and… flowers? A different smell from the white flowers on the wall, a wilder scent.
The girl took a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill her lungs. She felt… free. She looked around with wide eyes, marveling at the immensity of the forest. Everything was so different from the small stone room.
The giant rat moved cautiously among the roots of the trees, while the small green being fluttered among the low branches, emitting small chirps. The girl watched them with a smile. They seemed to be enjoying the fresh air too.
Sebastián watched her with a worried smile. "Stay close, little one," he said softly. "Don't wander off."
The girl nodded, though her gaze remained fixed on the forest. She saw a shadow move between the trees. It was small and fast. What's that? she thought, curiously.
She felt the tickle again, this time stronger than ever. She looked at her hands. She didn't see anything different, but she felt… full of energy. Residual energy. The voice, clear and strong. Ready.
The girl felt a pang in her chest. A memory, clearer than the previous ones, struck her: the image of a face, with wide eyes and an expression of… fear? Screams. The sound echoed in her mind, making her tremble.
She shook her head forcefully, trying to push the memory away. She didn't understand what it meant. But a new sensation, stronger than the confusion or sadness, washed over her: the almost instinctive urge to hunt.
She looked towards where she had seen the shadow. It was no longer there. But the girl knew it was somewhere. And she was going to find it.
She looked at Sebastián, who was still watching her with concern. She pointed towards the forest and then pointed at herself, with a determined expression. Then, she crouched down and began to move stealthily between the trees, imitating the movements of a predator.
Sebastián sighed. He understood the message. It wasn't just a walk that the girl wanted. She wanted to… hunt.