I had to get back to Central to have this wound taken care of but the question was how. Last I recalled, Central didn’t have a warehouse district anywhere near it and I was pretty sure Rift was just an empty void filled with soul devouring Umbras. In this state, I was just a sitting duck but I had to at least try to concentrate on what happened before I got here.
I could remember being tasked alongside Runihura but something was a little off with him. Before we had left, he went to speak with Omega alone but wouldn’t tell me what it was about. After we got to Rift, however, he was troubled. Even if he hadn’t said anything verbally, the way he kept looking at me was more than enough to disturb me. Omega had to have said something to trigger this behavior.
What I do know is that I don’t remember what happened after that, but I wound up waking up in this godforsaken place with one of those things trying to eat me while Runihura was nowhere to be seen.
There had to be something that I was missing.
“Hey! Wake up!”
God, my head is killing me to the point that I was now hearing things…
I then felt someone - or something - shake me.
My eyes opened slowly before focusing on the unfamiliar facial tattoo. I then lurched back, clutching at my midsection as I scooted further away from this person. I didn’t know anyone with that type of marking. I hadn't seen anyone in Central with one either.
“You’re not Runihura,” I grumbled through clenched teeth as I climbed to my feet.
My attention then went to the newcomer just barely in my line of sight before I stumbled back. As far as I know, these two could’ve been the ones working with – or behind – whoever was sending me the messages on the phone.
“Round two, Jayden.”
I staggered again prior to dropping down to one knee as the throbbing in my head turned into a stabbing pain once more.
“Fuck…”
Accompanied with the pain in my stomach, slight difficulty in breathing and dark spots in my vision, this situation was going to go south if they decided to get confrontational.
Or worse if that thing in the warehouse decided to join us.
Buzzing then pulled me from my thoughts and to the phone I still had clutched in my hand.
You found two others to play with.
I glanced at the pair in front of me before looking down at the phone again.
You should be friendlier.
I turned my attention to the surrounding structures before I eased myself back onto my feet. I didn’t want to go back inside one of these buildings; however, being out in the open like this was going to be problematic if whoever was watching had eyes on what was happening in real time.
You should talk to them. You might need to them later.
I scowled at the implications of that last statement before I looked back towards the two in front of me. I’ve seen enough to know not to judge someone on their appearances thanks to Central, but it was safe to assume that the pair in front of me weren’t from my time period with how they were dressed.
‘If they’re not from my time period…?’ A worrying thought then came to mind. ‘Have they been here longer than me?’
If they had, did that mean that there was no way out of here?
“Um…”
I turned my attention to the young woman fidgeting in place before turning my attention to the man that was hanging a short distance back. Position wise, neither of them seemed to be close. Perhaps we were all strangers.
Buzzing from my phone drew my attention once more.
I didn’t save you for you to bore me, Jayden. I could make this more interesting if you wish~
My gaze wandered the surroundings again before noticing something moving in the shadows of a warehouse a small distance away. I felt my face blanch at the sight of what looked like someone waving before recalling that I saw the same thing that had saved me before I managed to get out of the warehouse. Perhaps the spotty vision was just playing tricks on my mind.
But what if it wasn’t my vision?
The idea of encountering whoever – or whatever – that was now was enough to send a shiver down my spine.
All too soon did the figure disappear as the phone buzzed.
If you don’t want to meet sooner than later, you better entertain me for now. We wouldn’t want to end up being dinner, now would we?
I sucked my teeth before shoving the phone in my pocket.
If I was going to be stuck here, I had to see if these two knew more than me, as well as provide entertainment for whoever was pulling the strings.
“Hey.” I turned my attention to the girl first before taking a seat when standing was leaving me a bit more winded than I’d like to admit. “This a longshot but do you know anything about this place or what might’ve brought you here?” I questioned before looking over at the man still standing off to the side. “Same questions go for you too.” I then noticed the burn on his hand. “I’m guessing you ran into one of those things as well, huh? Good to see you managed to get away a lot more successively than myself…” I added as I gestured towards my stomach. I winced in afterthought before looking around once more. “Also, have either of you noticed anything… out of place?”
“Out of place?”
I nodded once as I stared out at the warehouse I had seen – or perhaps imagined – that shadow. “You know, anything strange?” I clarified as I looked over at the man. “Then again, all this might seem kinda’ strange, huh?” I asked with a breathy chuckle.
In asking these questions, I realized that I was just trying to assess my company. I get that they could see me but I’m still not good with determining who is dead or just having an out of body experience. Runihura generally back briefed me on what we’d be dealing with beforehand. However, if they’re dead then they’d be my charges while we’re here which was going to be a lot harder of a job in my current state. If they’re not dead then I should at least see to it that I try to get them back to where they need to be.
I did come to have one conclusion though.
Unless the need arises, they don’t need to know the nuances of Death’s – Omega’s – system. If I can have it my way, we wouldn't have to encounter anymore Umbras either. Even more, I wouldn't have to deal with whoever was running this place.
“Round two, Jayden.”497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBWM0dh9ti
I flinched at the recollection. Those words kept playing on repeat but I couldn't figure out who had said it. I was sure that they were the reason I was here and perhaps the reason that these two were here as well.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9k7ksJ1p6
But why?
What was to gain from throwing us into this place?
“Um... excuse me.” I turned my attention back to the young woman. “What should we call you? I’m Nuallis, but Nu is good too,” she said, looking from me to the dark-haired man.
“Vandal.”
I looked towards the man to see him looking elsewhere with arms folded across his chest.
“Well, given the current circumstances, it’s nice to make your acquaintance. I’m Jayden.”497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2wku60Ydz
