The group gathered around the body of the dead intruder. Harlan lay where he had fallen, his lifeless eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. The air was heavy with the scent of blood.
"We need to decide what to do with him," Sam said, working through the possibilities. "Leaving him here isn't an option. It could attract predators, and we can't afford to draw more attention to ourselves."
They exchanged uneasy glances. No one wanted to be the first to speak, but the question hung in the air, demanding an answer.
"We could bury him," Maria suggested. "It's the humane thing to do. He may have been an intruder, but he was still a person."
Victor shook his head. "Burying him would take too much time and energy. We don't have the tools, and we can't afford to waste resources on someone who tried to kill us."
Ethan frowned. "So what? We just leave him out there for the animals to pick apart?"
Sam cleared his throat, drawing the group's attention back to him. "There are... other options," he said carefully. "Options that could benefit us."
They fixed their gazes on Sam. Victor raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued.
"What are you suggesting?" Lily asked cautiously. She sat cross-legged, her eyes flicking between Sam and the body.
Sam hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "The energy in this world, it's everywhere. In the plants, the animals, even the air we breathe. But we still don't fully understand how it works or how it affects living, or formerly living, organisms. If we examine the body, we might be able to learn more about it."
Their expressions were a mix of shock and disbelief. Maria was the first to speak, her voice sharp with disapproval. "You want to experiment on him? That's... that's grotesque."
Sam held up a hand, his tone defensive but calm. "I'm not suggesting we desecrate the body. But if we can learn something from it, something that could help us survive, then isn't it worth considering?"
Victor's lips curled ever so slightly. "How practical of you."
Ethan shook his head. "I don't know, Sam. It feels... wrong."
Sam sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly. "I understand your concerns. But we're in a world where survival is the priority. If we don't take every opportunity to learn, we're putting ourselves at risk."
No one wanted to admit it, but they all knew he had a point. The world they were in now was harsh and unforgiving, and they couldn't afford to be sentimental.
It was then that Sam turned to AJ. "There's another option," he said quietly. "AJ, you've been absorbing materials to gain energy. What if... what if you consumed part of the body?"
The cave went deathly quiet. All eyes turned to AJ, who rippled slightly under the sudden attention. His form shifted, the faint glow of his slime body reflecting the firelight.
Consume a person? he thought, his mind reeling.
I've absorbed plants, rocks, even weapons... but a human? The idea made him uneasy, but he couldn't deny the logic behind it. The body could be a massive source of energy, and energy was what he needed to grow stronger.
Lily spoke up. "No. Absolutely not. We're not going to turn AJ into some kind of... of cannibal. That's crossing a line."
Victor shrugged, his tone indifferent. "It's not cannibalism if he's not human anymore, and it's not like the guy's using his body anymore."
Maria shot Victor a glare. "That's not the point. We're not animals. We can't just start treating people, even dead ones, like simple resources."
Ethan looked conflicted as he stared at the ground.
"I don't like it either," he said finally. "But... if it helps AJ get stronger, and if it keeps us alive... I don't know. Maybe it's worth considering."
AJ rippled again, his form shifting as he processed their reactions.
I don't want to be a burden. He focused on the body. What if I just... took a small part? Just enough to see what happens?
As if sensing his thoughts, Sam spoke again. "AJ, it doesn't have to be all or nothing. You could try consuming a small portion, just enough to see if it gives you any benefit. If it doesn't work, or feels too wrong, you can stop."
They turned to AJ again, their expressions conflicted. AJ hesitated, his form rippling as he weighed the options.
I don't want to do this, he thought. But if it helps me... helps the group...
Finally, he moved forward, his form gliding toward the body. They watched in silence as he extended a thin tendril, sitting by the body for a moment before making contact.
Just a small part, he told himself. Just enough to see.
The slime began to dissolve a small portion of the body, the energy flowing into AJ's form. It was different from anything he had absorbed before, richer, denser, almost overwhelming. His form pulsed slightly, the glow intensifying as he processed the energy.
It's working, he realised. But... I really shouldn't do this, I need to keep my humanity intact.
He pulled back, his form rippling with unease. They watched him closely, concern in their eyes.
"Well?" Sam asked eagerly. "Did it work?"
AJ rippled in response, his form shifting in a way that conveyed both affirmation and discomfort. It worked, but I won't be doing that again.
His form pulsed rhythmically, the glow fluctuating as he attempted to convey the magnitude of the energy he had absorbed.
Sam's eyes lit up, his excitement barely contained.
"Fascinating," he murmured, taking notes. "The energy density must be much higher in animals, especially in humans. This could confirm some of my theories."
Walter, who had been silent until now, spoke up. "I won't lie, this feels... unnatural."
Sam, meanwhile, was already jotting down notes in his notebook, his mind racing with possibilities.
"This changes everything," he muttered, more to himself than to the others. "If we can harness this energy... we could-"
"Sam," Walter interrupted. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves."
"Of course, but this... this is a breakthrough," Sam replied, still clearly excited.
AJ's unease mingled with a strange sense of relief. Seems like I was able to help.
Maria spoke up. "If you're going to do this, Sam, do it away from here. I don't want to see it."
Sam nodded. "I understand. I'll take the body outside of the cave. You won't have to see anything."
Victor's tone was matter-of-fact. "Just make sure it's worth it. We're not doing this for your curiosity. We're doing it to survive."
"I know," Sam replied.
The next few hours passed in uneasy silence. Sam worked diligently, his movements precise and methodical. The others stayed inside the cave, their conversations hushed and sporadic.
No one asked what Sam was doing, and he didn't offer any details. The occasional sound of rustling was the only indication of his work.
When Sam finally returned, his face was pale. He carried his notebook in one hand, the pages filled with hastily scribbled notes. The group turned to him, their expressions a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
"I've made some significant discoveries," Sam began. "The human body, or at least the body of someone exposed to this world's energy, is capable of absorbing the strange energy."
They leaned in, their attention fully on Sam now.
"What does that mean?" Lily asked. "Could we... use this energy somehow?"
Sam continued, his voice rising. "I could be wrong, but it seems like the energy circulates through the body. It's like... like the body is a conduit for this energy."
Walter stroked his chin thoughtfully. "So this energy... it's not just something we're exposed to. It's something we might be able to harness."