The others have been discussing theories of this being an afterlife after Magpie had mentioned it. To be honest, the idea of discussing such matters didn’t quite pique my interest as much as it had for the rest of the group. I didn’t have answers for everything but I did know that this was not how the afterlife was supposed to work.
After the today, I was just glad to make it back to the room. Even more, I was more relieved to see that Nu was alright. I couldn’t help but to grimace at the idea what Cordis had said while holding a scythe up to her neck.
My attention then went over to the newest addition to our party. I wasn’t expecting to see anyone else here and fortunately she appeared at the perfect time to get Nu out of danger. I still can’t believe she shocked Cordis. He definitely wasn’t pleased with how fast he departed but I was at least relieved that he wasn’t any closer. That attack looked like it would hurt.
Then there was Vandal.
To say he was pissed was a little more than an understatement. The immediate questioning as soon as Magpie was being seen to was to be expected but the glare was a little unnerving. Or was it the fact that he brandished his beloved Leonette every so often during the one-sided interrogation? Dead or not, I rather not be shot.
“So, do any of you have a plan?” Magpie questioned.
“What do you think?” Senshi growled as she folded her arms. “We wouldn’t be here if we did.”
“C’mon, you two. It’s been a long day so let’s not fight,” Nu said gently. “If anything, you two should be resting. Magpie, you still have to take it easy.”
“She makes a good point,” I commented as I made my way over to the kitchen to prepare dinner. “We shouldn’t be at each other’s throats.”
I kicked myself mentally for the comment before glancing over at Nu with a frown. I then glanced at Vandal to see he was less than thrilled by my choice of words before I started preparing food.
“Well, since we have a new person here, what are we going to do about beds?”
We did only have three of them after all.
“I don’t want to share,” Senshi griped as she started to head off for the room she had claimed for herself.
“No one has to share a bed,” I stated as I started chopping vegetables. “The girls can have the rooms. Vandal can have the sofa in the parlor. Those can be the arrangements.”
“And what about you?”
I looked towards Nu before resuming with preparations. “I’ll sleep in one of the other rooms on this floor.” I turned to set the temperature on the stove before taking a step back when I saw that Nu closed the distance a bit. “Nu–”
“We have to stay together.”
A slight smile pulled at the corner of my mouth before I returned to chopping ingredients as Vandal drew near. “I’ll be fine,” I stated. “Besides, if you read the atmosphere, it’s rather tense right now, Nu.”
“But–”
I placed the knife down to look at her. Reaching out to place a hand on her shoulder, I stopped last second to just offer a smile before my gaze wound up at her neck.
It seemed that all I could do was smile to try to reassure her that everything was fine and that she didn’t almost lose her head.
“I’ll cut her throat before you can finish pulling the trigger…”
Those words didn’t sit well with me. Not only would Nu have been dead, we would’ve lost an asset to the team. Even more, I wouldn’t know how to explain that to Omega when – if – we got out of this. Plus, I was sure that she had people waiting for her after this.
I looked around to see Vandal and Magpie before I returned to cutting. I was sure they had someone waiting for them. Even the spitfire in the other room could potentially have a person waiting.
The idea of it made my chest ache.
“Jayden, you have to be careful!” I blinked before looking down at the blood leaking from my sliced finger. “Hold on. I’ll heal that for you!”
“It’s alright, Nu,” I replied as I held my hand. “Don’t worry about it. There’s a first aid kit in the bathroom.”
“But–!”
“Save your ability for something more life-threatening like if I were to be shot,” I stated as I went to the bathroom. “I’ll finish cooking when I’m done tending to my hand.”
“But–!”
“You heard him,” Vandal uttered. “Just let him go, Nu.”
Everyone seemed squared away for the most part after eating dinner. Each of the girls had their own bed, Senshi getting a room to herself while Magpie and Nu shared the room with the double beds. I saw to it that I showed Vandal how to pull out the bed from the sofa before placing the room key on the counter after the food had been stored away.
Once everything had been taken care off and the others were squared away, one would think that nothing significant had occurred. If anything, the arrangements seemed normal.
Snagging up my phone, I walked out and quietly pulled the door closed behind me before searching for a suitable enough room to occupy for the night.
It was a bit unsettling at first as I walked down the dark hall. As my eyes adjusted to dark settings, I eyed the potential rooms to see that most of them were unsuitable. The doors were destroyed, rooms in shambles. That faint musty smell lingered as I walked further.
Scowling more so to myself, I wound up opting in a room that had some remnants of a door and wasn’t too much of a wreck.
‘I suppose this is just as good as anything else I’ll find on this floor,’ I thought jadedly as I took a seat by the window.
I could see movement down below but it was still a ways off from the hotel. The faint buzzing of my phone had me glancing at it before looking back out the window again.
I didn’t want to deal with him.
Not after the stunts he pulled.
The buzzing of the phone made me grimace again before I wound up looking.
Need some company?
My eyes darted every which way before turning towards the door as I heard the floor creak. Tensing as I sat straighter, I jumped at the notification of a new message.
Don’t worry. I’m not with you right now. I am watching though…
I looked around again.
Are they mad at you yet?
Nu would most likely forgive me for what happened, but I was pretty sure that Vandal would shoot me on sight if given the opportunity. It was a gamble with Senshi and as of now, I think I was alright with Magpie based off what she had said.
I missed the gunslinger on purpose mind you. I had to get him away from the girl.
I scowled because he could’ve easily sliced the two of them in one motion if so chose to.
I am pissed about the other girl though. I wasn’t expecting to be zapped so a penalty is warranted.
A penalty?
Creaking then had me looking towards the door again before I got up to see that nothing was in the hall. Walking back to the bed, I took a seat at the next message.
You’re going to have to find a new safe room after tomorrow.
Was this bastard serious?
You don’t want to be caught outside tomorrow night without one. If you are, it’d be a shame if something happened to one of your friends. If something does happen, the rest can just blame you, right? It’ll be your fault after all.
“Cordis…”
Goodnight, Animae
I threw my phone at the wall to hear it fall to the floor with a thud before pulling my knees up to my chest as I tried to think of a plan.
We were going to have to be out of here by tomorrow. I didn’t want to risk staying and have Cordis try something else. I’m sure he was just playing with us today but what would happen next time?
That was going to be detrimental to the others and myself.
Recalling what he had said one last time when he had Nu, I exhaled slowly before trying to get some rest.
ns 15.158.61.20da2
