The corridor was darker here, damp with the silence of something long forgotten.
When I walked further to see who it was, I heard a faint voice.
"Help... me... Help. Please... Anyone..."
Without thinking, I reached out and pulled the figure toward me.
Cold. Her hands were freezing.
A small girl stumbled from the shadows and crashed into me.
"Ugh!"
We both fell. I hit the ground hard, the weight of her small body heavier than expected.
"Llyne, you alright? What happened? Why did you suddenly walk deeper in, huh? Do you want to die? Don't do that ever again."
Isaac ran to me, practically fuming, his words tumbling out like a machine gun as he pulled me up.
He glanced at the girl now lying limp against the wall. "Who's that? Where'd she come from? Do you know her? Why aren't you saying anything? Are you unwell? That's why I tell you to use your brain before doing anything. Now look at what happened."
I rubbed my ears and frowned.
"Oui… Stop nagging and ask questions one by one, okay? Sheesh… My ears are going to fall off one day if you continue like this."
I propped the little girl up against the wall. She was light. Too light.
"I don't know her, okay? I heard someone pleading for help, so I dragged her out. Other than that, I know nothing. I'm as confused as you are."
Ronald approached, keeping Rona behind him, his tone uneasy.
"Is she alright? Or is she dead? Are you sure it's safe to go near her? And look at those scars on her entire hand—"
"Those are old," Isaac cut in, crouching to examine the marks on her. "She just fainted. But look here—handprints around her neck. New. Fresh."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Judging from the size, they belong to someone our age. A child."
Ronald's face turned pale.
"Y-You mean... Someone strangled her? Why? Shouldn't we help each other out instead? How could they resort to such violence? Didn't anyone teach them that violence is a no-no? Wait! Did they chase her here? What are we going to do? I hate violence!"
"Ouish. Chill, bro. Now you sound like Isaac," I said.
Isaac sighed.
"Not for some people. There are players who'll do anything to win. Their first move? Kill off the competition. Haven't you ever seen a movie?"
"I do! But only the cartoon types with pretty colours and sprinkles. Not blood and dead bodies! Those are yucky!" Ronald shivered.
My jaw dropped.
"Wow… No wonder he's so pure. He only watches cartoons. I never heard anyone our age who only watches cartoons and nothing else. HE IS SO PURE! HE NEEDS PROTECTION!"
Rona grabbed Ronald's hand with absolute conviction.
"No worry, Rona will bash anyone who will harm Ronny, TsunTsun, and Lil!"
I wheezed.
"Kehehehehe, TsunTsun. She called you TsunTsun. Bwahahahahaha!"
I hit the floor rolling with laughter, clutching my stomach.
Isaac, meanwhile, was undisturbed and still examining the unconscious girl.
"Kekekeke." I wiped my tears and grinned. "Oh. It's been a while since I had a good laugh."
"You're welcome," Rona said proudly.
Crack.
"Hm?" Ronald blinked. "Did you guys hear something?"
We paused.
I pointed at the girl. "The sound came from near her. You don't think the wall's gonna collapse, right?"
Ronald went full panic.
"Eh?! If this place crumbles down, aren't we going to get buried alive?! Oh no!"
"I've never seen someone with such a big build be scared of everything. What a waste of muscle," Isaac muttered.
Crack.
"Ah! It's that sound again?! We're doomed!" Ronald dropped to the ground, sobbing. Rona patted his back.
"Don't cry. Rona is here for you."
Ronald sniffled.
"Oh, Rona. You're so brave, meanwhile I was acting like a total coward. I'm sorry, Rona. I'll try my best not to cry and face every challenge with my head held high."
Rona cheered, and Ronald looked determined.
"First, I'll move closer to the little zombie girl."
"She's not a zombie, airhead," Isaac snapped.
As Ronald stepped forward, the girl's fingers twitched.
He froze.
"Hmm? Did her finger move? It can't be, right? I must've imagined it. Haha. There's no way—"
Her fingers twitched again.
Ronald screamed.
"EEYYAAAAHHH!"
He jumped and ran behind Rona.
"She moved! Her fingers moved. She is going to turn into a zombie!"
"She's not dead, you meathead!" Isaac barked, stepping forward. He frowned, staring at her neck.
"Huh? What is this?"
I leaned in and noticed it too—something about her pupil...
Suddenly, her eyes snapped open. Black. Dilated. Wrong.
With a hiss, she lunged at Isaac, teeth bared.
"Watch out!" I grabbed Isaac's collar and yanked him back. Her jaw snapped shut where his neck had been.
Isaac gasped, grabbing my arm.
"Thanks."
We stared at the girl as she slowly rose, limbs creaking.
Crack.
Crack.
Crack.
The sounds echoed off the walls like bones breaking in slow motion.
"So that's where the cracking came from," Ronald whispered, trembling. "I'm glad it's not the ceiling, but this is equally terrifying."
The girl stood. Her bones snapped and popped with every movement.
"Oui… I can hear every crack on her bones. I don't think she's that old."
Rona stood still, her usual cheer gone.
"Stay behind me. Don't move," I said quietly.
The girl stared at us, a strand of drool falling from her lip.
"Ew… Her drool just dropped to the ground," I said, making a face.
"That's not important right now," Isaac whispered.
She rushed.
Too fast.
Her hand shot up, aiming for my throat—but I sidestepped, twisted low, and clenched my fist.
"RAAAGH!"
My punch connected with her stomach. Her body flew, crashing into the wall with a thunderous THUD.
She staggered, groaned, tried to rise.
Not this time.
I dashed forward and grabbed her by the neck, lifting her into the air. She kicked, flailed, scratched—her nails cutting shallow lines into my wrist—but I didn't let go.
She's strong for her size. But I'm stronger.
I tightened my grip.
Finally, her eyes rolled back, and her body slackened.
I dropped her.
Thud.
I turned to Isaac.
"Hey, Shorty! You alright?"
Isaac exhaled shakily. "Ya. I'm fine."
His fingers trembled as they grazed his bruised neck.
Rona and Ronald caught up.
"Why'd she act like that?" Ronald asked, horrified. "I thought you said she wasn't a zombie."
"Ronald," I said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Isaac spoke up.
"I was careless. First, let's tie her up."
Rona handed over a rope she'd found, and I quickly restrained the unconscious girl.
Once done, Isaac stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"I want to apologize. Because of my carelessness, I almost got us all killed. I know a simple apology isn't enough. That's why I—"
I silenced him with a hand over his mouth.
"It's fine. There's no need to apologize."
Ronald nodded.
"Everyone makes mistakes. That's what makes us human. So don't apologize."
"Rona thinks so too!" Rona said brightly.
I pulled up Isaac's sleeve and revealed the bruises forming.
"Instead of always worrying about us, you should take care of yourself too."
Isaac blinked at the discoloration on his shoulder and arm.
"When did I get this…?"
Ronald leaned in. "When she squeezed your arm and shoulder! You didn't even realize you were injured."
He looked down guiltily.
"Sorry I raised my voice. I panic and say things that hurt people… Maybe that's why people don't like me."
Isaac placed a hand on Ronald's shoulder.
"No. Don't apologize. It's natural to panic. And… about calling you a crybaby—I was jealous. You reminded me of how I used to be. I hope you'll forgive me."
Ronald's eyes teared up.
"Wah~ Thank you, Isaac! Thank you, everyone! I'll never forget this moment!"
He lunged forward and crushed Isaac in a tight hug.
"Let go! It hurts! You're crushing me, you dunce!"
Rona and I burst into laughter.
We laughed so hard, we completely forgot about the restrained little girl behind us.
But her eyes…
They were open again.
And watching.