"Wanda!" Bernadina screamed out as she was smmed back into the wall, Ember's tight fists bunched into the colr of her button down blouse as Ember pressed her ft against the wall.

  Dern leapt forward aiming to jump to Bernadina's defense but suddenly Jake was between them, he didn't look nearly as aggressive as Ember, more so concerned, confused.

  Dern shouted out a protest as Jake looked back towards Ember questioningly. "Em?" he called, weapon raised against Dern, his other hand outward hoping to hold the younger man back.

  “Get away from her!” Dern screamed but Bernadina nearly cut him off with a simple command: “Wait.”

  Wanda sped down the stairs as quickly as it took Bernadina to start talking "I know it looks like I'm lying but Wanda will check her wrist." Bernadina assured, hands raised by her shoulders in surrender but her expression was fiercely serious, not a bit of fear in her eyes.

  Wanda shrieked when she saw the state of the room, quickly looking away from the rancid sight muttering "Gods." before she threw up, instead watery eyes focused on Bernadina.

  "Why would you need to check her pulse she has no fucking head!" Ember said, each word coming out louder and faster than the st until she growled out her shouting end.

  "The bracelet she's wearing. It's enchanted." Bernadina expined, her voice slightly strained, adjusting herself to try and pull away from Ember but with the wall to her back she didn't go far.

  "Enchanted?" Ember parroted, her grip loosened minutely, eyebrows twitching closer to the center of her face, the betrayal fshing out of her expression briefly.

  "Yes." Bernadina replied before looking over to Wanda, she covered her mouth with her hand while the other twisted into her green tank top, Wanda hardly managed to meet her eye when she called out "Wanda check, she's wearing Runeja's horn ring, look. I promise." she implored, but her tone was hard. Almost a command.

  Wanda gagged, forcing in a deep breath which she held in her narrow chest, stepping forward while trying not to look down. Bending her knees to lower herself, one hand still covering her mouth she tried not the look at the infected corpses of her undead co workers, there was an ancient band around her wrist, it looked to be made of iron or silver, the cool ring was metallic and shiny but there was obvious wear on the band, chips in the intricate carvings and gems missing from tiny sockets.

  The miniature hinges creaked louder than the small piece of jewelry should and Wanda felt a wavering resistance. Then suddenly it opened wide, each end repelling from the other like opposing magnets.

  "It's, so it's worn?" Wanda ghosted, her fingers gently ran over the ring, the carvings themselves were scratched with incredible detail but the figure on it was damaged, the long body of what looked a thin, serpent like dragon. The dragon looked pained, lines of strain ran across the bumps of its scales like scars.Wanda's inquisitive side briefly over took her disgust, she studied the bracelet, it was unknowingly old but she knew how much Lisa cared about these artifacts, she knew she would never mistreat them.

  Wanda startled as a shimmer of light ran over the shining metals, the magical energy seemed weak, strained, overused. Her finger tips grazed over the fleeting shine and she felt an electricity shoot through her hand, she felt it pass over her knuckles and up her wrist. There was no pain that followed, in fact it was strangely soothing.

  She stood up, the rge, ancient jewelry, overflowed in her small hands but she kept it centered in her palms, the mesmerizing piece remained in her eye line even as she stood up and turned towards the fighting group.Wanda blinked.

  Ember slowly stepped back, releasing Bernadina without a second look "What is it?" she asked, frowning, Ember hated not being in the know and this whole situation was nothing but unanswered inquiries and more questions.

  "Runeja's horn ring, worn by the Goddess of Warmth.” Bernadina said, sighing and stepping away from the wall. Dern shoved past Jake without worry this time and quickly began fussing over her, Bernadina didn't really acknowledge him outside of a gentle nod as she continued speaking, this time in a more of a lecture style tone “Supposedly.” she started, walking over to take the bracelet from Wanda's hand.She looked down at it, then past it, and at Lisa's corpse. Without the magic she had already gained the sickly green tint to her skin all of the infected shared, the cmmy texture acted like it was wet, the skin shriveling at the fingers.Bernadina shivered but steeled herself to continue her clearly often repeated speech “Runejna was worshiped an unknown number of years ago, she was known for healing both the nd and the body, which is why she was such a popur Deity at the time. Veristanna was a dangerous pce before with magic running wild and beasts that could topple cities.” she gnced back towards the group, giving a vague gesture before she walked further into the room. “Worshiping a Deity at the time didn't guarantee survival but if the God or Goddess favored you they'd protect you. There were many recorded vilges in ancient Veristanna that were lead by a Deity, they would be considered like a mayor in today's time, some were even known to protect and rule entire nations alongside their royalty, those were the pces that thrived the most, having such a powerful magical force on your council all but assured victory and flourishing for the Kingdom.” Bernadina spoke pinly, but Dern could hear the slight excitement in her voice, a gentle flicker that made him think of a cozy homestead with a hearth glowing with warmth.

  Dern was mesmerized. Gaining a bit of a dopey grin as his eyes were locked on the faint smile that overtook her lips.

  Once she arrived at the final bookshelf she paused, peeking her head around the corner, honestly surprised she hadn't been interrupted yet, checking back and forth, she didn't see anything but disturbed desks. Bernadina went left. Towards a pair of desks. There was no door but there was a slight opening at the end of the hall, a small office but the entrance way was the entirety of the short hallway. The room didn't seem well fit for their furniture, the old walls were very clearly reinforced many times, probably so many times they were entirely new walls all together. The narrow hall was packed with as much furniture and file cabinets as it could fit while still allowing two people to walk down it, if they squeezed together.

  “The Deities we worship today were said to once walk this very pnet, some suggest even Bellefeuille once had a mortal body before she became the Mother Tree.” Bernadina added, Monet and Jake seemed genuinely interested in what she was saying but the others were paying more attention to the room around them, searching for danger, or possible supplies.

  “While most texts that have been discovered are credible, writing can only bring so much proof. Whether or not the Gods actually were once living on Veristanna, or even real, is still completely unknown. Which is why we have so many different divisions and scriptures-” Bernadina was cut off, as she was expecting, as Ember shouted “What about the bracelet.” she asked harshly.

  “I'd like to think they were with the people, the Gods, walking amongst their followers.” Monet added with a small smile.

  “Who gives a fuck about the Gods, they clearly don't give a fuck about us if one of them is literally trying to kill us for pnt food.” Ember's voice was loud and sarcastic, waving her hand in mocking annoyance.

  “Ember.” Debra scolded, then briefly made a swift hand gesture, pinching her fingers and crossing the arm by her shoulder while the other didn't move, a sign worshipers of Jaktu use as appeasement to their God.

  Jake scoffed while Charlene shook her head “Just drop it.” she snapped.

  The odd angles in the wall made it obvious there wasn't much pnning to the original 'storage' room, it was however built hundreds of years ago when the city of Southern Pools was first founded so they didn't have expansive pns at the time. The entire length of the back wall was lined with a variety of different styled desks, most had a second tier, like a telephone or hutch top desk, but some of them were even old roll top desks. One thing they all shared was that they were all very full. The desks were personalized by people who had clear passions for history or magic. Scriptures written onto notes stuck up at eye length, old passages and wisdom passed down by those never forgotten by history, then there were others who just adorned them with pictures of their families and home made trinkets.

  The wood types were even different, some were light wood, most were dark, rich colored in deep brown and mahogany tones, but one or two were a stark white birch wood, a bit of off cream melded into the grains of pale wood. On the opposite side of the congested hallways were lines of filing cabinets and stacks of thick cardboard boxes stuffed with pstics and written notes.

  Monet felt her chest tighten, looking away from the framed photos of smiling faces, she couldn't, didn't, want to recognize anyone.

  Bernadina led them forward, down the overcrowded hall, and with another prod from Ember Bernadina gnced down at the bracelet and began speaking “The horn ring will increase the body's ability to heal, don't mistake it as a miracle or anything. It won't save you from getting hurt either, small scuffs mend better and illnesses are, sometimes, countered. Or lessened, at least.” she expined, she felt annoyed rather than uneasy as Ember's gre bore into her. Bernadina turned her head, slipping the ring into her coat pocket, though with the size of it bulged the sleek fabric with an obvious circur shape.

  Bernadina looked to Monet as she spoke up “Will it help Creed's leg?” her rge eyes blinked hopefully.

  “Like I said. It doesn't create miracles.” Bernadina replied dryly.

  “Bernadina?” Wanda's small voice called.

  “Yes?”

  “Why was Lisa wearing the horn ring again?”

  Bernadina paused, turning to briefly look at Wanda as she said “You know why.” with a cold tone. Then she turned away and continued to lead them forward towards the awkward room “Is that answer enough? I'm a Historian, not a Magiologist.” she asked with the tiniest bite to her words, not bothering to meet Ember's simmering gre.

  “Fine.” Ember snapped back. Letting the axe drop to her side rather than press on her shoulder.

  Dern sniffled awkwardly. Inching closer to Bernadina's side.

  They finally arrived at the slightly outdented room. It was hardly bigger than the hallway was, two desks were pressed into the back corner, one against the right wall with the other nestled in the edge of the room, as close to the other as it could be, with a mp in the small corner space between them. Both desks looked older but styled together, companion desks, they looked old. Its age shown in the subtle imperfections of ancient tools and hand crafted work, the sharp points of the furniture had dulled to rounded edges from years of bumps and movement, the one on the right looked less used, it was more organized but the keen of eye could see thin lines of dust around the upper shelves showing its disuse while the beside it was over used, scratch marks and ink lines from drifting pens covered the surface.Bernadina and Wanda immediately moved towards the less used of the two. Ember followed with Monet trailing behind her, the others waited in the drafty mouth of the hallway entrance, the rest of them were searching, Bernadina seemed to know exactly where she was going as she opened a small drawer on the cramped twin secretary style desk.

  The second, much messier desk, with drawers hastily ripped out and papers strewn about, drew Monet's attention. The other was meticulously put up, almost staged, while this one gave the air of a warm, calm, personality. Subtle decorations adorned it, but what drew Monet's attention was a bright colge of photos, set in a wide, ornamental frame, the silver filigree held small sparkling stones of which the authenticity she couldn't tell, but they were petty to look at. The photos held pictures of people, Bernadina was in quite a few of them while Bi was in nearly every one. The singur figure that stood out in every single captured moment was Lisa, whom Monet amused the desk belonged to, some she had the same brown hair Monet saw adorning Lisa's infected skull while in others she had what seemed to be different wigs all made in extravagant styles, every piece she wore was fshy, attention drawing neckces and rge hooped earrings, her well blended make was never over the top but Monet felt like it was hiding something, in some photos she cked the brightness in her eyes, she looked beautiful but held herself almost sickly.

  The next thing that drew her attention was Bi's expressions in each photo, they were beaming, watching Lisa with an awe one would attribute to seeing a grand event or a py finish to perfection, the brightness on their face was something their current day visage never held.

  Monet felt a sudden darkness in herself, the thoughts in her mind becoming shades deeper than she pleased. She shook her head, as if she could physically shake them loose, then she startled at the sound of Wanda's excmation.

  “Here!” she cheered, pulling out a small velvet drawstring bag, she set it down on a ft folder and quickly unwrapped the silky ribbon and pulled out three even smaller bags of softer quality. Bernadina swiftly took one which was oblong in shape, the biggest of the three pouches, while Wanda was gentle and slow when unwrapping the remaining two. A pair of gloves, and a small ring that looked to be made from intertwining material of unknown quality.

  Bernadina produced from the bag a wand, most likely the one she described earlier. The mahogany hilt was stubby and wrapped in a charred fabric which protected the wielder from the unsanded wood. Arching from the wider end of the short staff was two short prongs mimicking the shape of a fat diamond but the tips at the top never met, had less than an inch of distance between the sculpted wood, between the pointed sides of the sideways triangle was a brilliant red gem fixed there by an extremely thin crystal like spire that grew from the end of the wand top. It looked inert, a dullness in the center of the sanguine stone as if the gem itself refused to shine even when put to the light, which Bernadina quickly did, checking the surface of the stone for any marks or scratched which she thankfully found none, that seemed to bring a weight off her chest as she let out the smallest of relieved exhales.

  Wanda held the gloves like they were precious, like the gently stitched fabric wear tear at the slightest touch, Ember surged forward suddenly, she didn't snatch at anything but she quickly looked over what they had. The inquisitive anger on her face was fading into genuine curiosity, still the exhaustion was taking its toll of her, new lines of worry purpled under her eyes and the folds by her lips from frowning were more apparent, though few of the others in her group looked any different, cheeks sunken and skin paling, the constant effort and drastic decrease in their daily intake was clearly showing physically on the survivors.

  “Those are the magic things you were talking about?” Jake asked, approaching from behind Ember.

  Debra notably remained by the entrance, as if she refused to breach the doorway of the room, instead he remained guarding the hall. Eyes back towards the entrance.

  “Yes.” Bernadina said distantly, gaze still detailing every inch of the scepter she held.

  “Good, take them. Let's get the hells out of here.” Ember demanded, bumping the dull end of the axe against the desk “Get to the garage, there's some sort of car down there, isn't there?” she asked, suddenly having thought to ask.

  “The shuttle bus.” Dern spoke up, patting on both of Bernadina's shoulder for no reason other than to be closer to her.

  “It's either that or the security golf carts.” Bernadina remarked lowly, finally taking her eyes off the wand. Holding the hilt in one hand she used her other to wave them all together, she slipped the wand into her already bulging pockets and the end of it stuck out slightly, much to her displeasure.

  As Bernadina looked away Wanda moved, shakily, but attempting sleight of hand. She stealthily pulled out another ill used drawer and slipped from it a small pistol, many would call it a 'pea shooter' but it was the biggest thing Bi was comfortable owning, the pocket pistol was of sleek and compact design but had no personality, no marks of use or modified detail, it hardly looked used, as if it was purchased then hidden away. She took a small zip lock bag made from translucent pstic which held a few spare bullets, no one had a chance to count them with how fast and how furtive she snuck them into the silk bag but Wanda knew there were twelve bullets total, six in the bag, six in the gun.

  Bernadina didn't notice her as she turned and gave a thin smile to Dern as she pulled away to lead the exploring group back out.Wanda swiftly deposited the enchanted items back into the soft bags and tied the ribbon shut, she easily fell in line behind Bernadina, who was much taller than her, showing she often did so with how practiced the maneuver seemed to be, Bernadina paid her no mind and moved past Ember's unsatisfied expression with the same attention.

  Debra briefly met Bernadina's eye as she walked past her, despite being at least ten years her senior Debra still felt a strange superiority in the way Bernadina carried herself, it made her want to follow, or at least listen to her. So she did, silently trailing behind Wanda and Dern like ducklings behind Bernadina.

  Jake looked to Ember and gave a shrug, his face holding an apologetic smile but he was at a loss for words. Ember clearly wasn't pleased with any of this as she wore a fiery frown. She didn't let her anger burn Jake however and she gently stroked his arm as she moved forward and gestured for him to accompany her, only stopping to gnce back at Monet, still memorized at the trashed surface of Lisa's work desk. Her voice called out “Mouse!” which to Monet seemed to sound close enough to her name to startled her out of her fixation.

  She spun around, yelping a “Yes!” as she faced Ember who only huffed, she jerked her head down the hall signaling their leave and Monet frantically nodded her head as she swiftly gave a short sprint to her side, almost pushing past Jake without realizing it. She quickly distanced herself to allow the couple to be side by side and the whole group managed to get to the archives door without much effort. Excluding the great effort in keeping their unsavory meals down as they stepped around molding blood and desecrated bodies.

  “What about the other ones?” Ember asked as they began to ascend the stairs. “It was gloves and a ring, wasn't it?” she added, now looking towards Wanda hoping she'd be more forthcoming.

  “Um, yes. Lizard Latch gloves and an Illusionary ring.” she replied as expected.

  “It's been recently discovered the leather of the Lizard Latch gloves have been linked to an ancient species of samander that were said to live in the swamps of one of Veristanna's least documented kingdoms from before the Dark Ages.” Bernadina quickly added, as if the words left her lips without her control.

  “Really?” Dern asked, cocking his head to better see her. She nodded in reply. “I heard there were dragons there, do you think the dragons and the samanders fought, or do you think they were friends?” Dern suddenly asked, as if the idea just struck him.

  Bernadina simply giggled.

  The conversation would have continued if not for the sudden shout at the top of the stairs, a droning voice coming into ear shot as the owner of it wandered the halls of the museum. He was screaming out “Debra!” over and over and the group knew immediately it was Mrs. Days' husband, Phil, much to their chagrin, Ember went as far as to roll her eyes in exasperation already drained she wanted nothing more than to drown out the fool's voice and move on but her desires didn't seem likely.

  Reaching the top of the staircase Debra replied, shouting “Over here!” voices much louder than his call, they continued to allow Bernadina to lead them forward as they began the walk back to the main entrance, they got to their first turn back when they saw Phil, hands on his hips as he head snapped back and forth in search of his wife.

  He had young Bill in his arms and Steve at his side, holding his arm. He blinked at the sight of her before he shouted “There you are!” but his tone was indiscernible between relief and annoyance, he surged forward dragging Steve beside him and Debra sped up to meet him, immediately he looked at the night stick in her hand and yawped. “What are you doing with that?” he asked before seeing the group behind them, noticing the blood spttered across Ember's leather jacket and his face scrunched like he tasted lemon “With them?” he asked gesturing at the group around her, inadvertently shaking Steve's hand while he did so.

  “She stood by the door.” Ember remarked as she stepped past him without a second acknowledgment. Jake didn't even react to him, just followed alongside Ember, Dern and Bernadina as they continued down the hall.

  Monet stood back, slowing her pace to say “But she was still a big help.” giving a quick gnce to Debra, obviously saying it for her and not for his easement, Phil passed Bill to Debra, who then gave the nightstick to Monet to better hold her child, but as he opened his mouth to speak up Monet continued, keeping her expression kind but firm “C'mon.” she said, looping her arm around Debra's and leading her forward, she gave a short wave, gesturing for Phil to follow them.

  When Wanda, the st of their group, walked by him Phil decided to follow. Storming forward to Debra's side, ensuring his entire family was near one another again, he liked them in eye line, which he was making uncomfortably known as he stared at Debra and inadvertently Monet, who felt herself heat up with nerves from the intensity of his stare.

  He decided to walk with them and attempt to keep his argument quiet “What were you thinking running off without a word?” he snapped, gesturing wildly which caused Steve to groan and yank his hand away, now crossing his arms despondently he trailed beside them.

  “I was thinking I wanted to help get us out.” she replied without looking at him, her voice was tired, devoid of any fight but still stern, swift, as if she wanted no back talk.

  It caught Phil off guard and he babbled nonsense for a bit, then scoffed, gesturing as if that was a better repcement for his words to describe his feelings but Debra only gave him a less than a second gnce and a risen brow.

  “I haven't heard that Woolcat in a while.” Jake noted. Gncing over to the rge shutters covering every entrance as they passed by the main doors. The gss and metal dividers were completely engulfed in segmented steel inches thick, even the dull pounding of the undead didn't even mark the heavy protectors. Not that they could hear them, the heavy barricades and the undead's ck of attention span seemed to be working in their favor as they assumed the mob had begun dispersing.

  “Where is everyone? Is Charlene still in the cafeteria?” Monet chanced a question, peeking over to make quick eye contact with Phil to let him know she was speaking to him, he rolled his eyes though and it certainly made her regret asking.

  Monet's pout went ignored but Phil zily replied “Yeah.” which she had to take as enough of an answer, or at least she decided trying to talk to him more wasn't worth the effort.

  Monet gnced down, deciding to keep to herself. She startled, almost screaming when she felt a light tug on her hair fearing an undead had snuck up on her only to defte in relief when she saw Bill's chubby hair twirling her long straight locks listlessly. The boy looked sad, pressed against his mother's shoulder with his cheek puffed and eyes swollen from crying, she tried to give him the kindest smile she could muster despite her own despair and Bill noticed, brightening just a bit to smile back. It warmed Monet's heart the faintest bit.

  They moved through the museum once again with the expert guidance of Bernadina, she wasn't saying anything, no one was, gnces were exchanged or throats cleared. Dern was tapping his hand against his thigh, but most of the walk was otherwise quiet and slightly awkward.

  Ember wanted it to be a triumphant moment but not even her, nor Monet, seemed able to muster any joy or feelings of accomplishment. Just exhaustion followed them. Tiredness that a good night's sleep wouldn't fix easily. It was a quick jaunt to the cafeteria and when they arrived they saw Charlene and Creed sat at the same table, Creed was still ft against the table but when he and Charlene both waved after Charlene's verbal greeting of “Hey!” proved him to be awake, Monet gently pat Debra's arm as she pulled away to run back over to her.

  She hugged Charlene before settling on the other side of Creed again, giving him a gentle pat on his back.

  Ember looked around the room and saw Sani and Barbara far off in the corner chatting together, Barbra was leaned forward clearly intrigued at whatever he was saying but Ember just scoffed and led everyone to the main table, longest in the center where Charlene and the others sat. Sani seemed to take notice of their arrival as he and Barbra were quick to begin their approach.

  It wasn't long until everyone save Bi and Ewell were sat together, Jake and Ember were across from Charlene and her two companions. Debra was beside Monet with the rest of her family all to her side, Sani, Wanda, and Barbara, were across from them with the third couple of Dern and Bernadina being on Ember's other side. They all shared quick and quiet gnces as if unsure who should speak first, it was a very brief second as Ember was already sick of it all and wanted this tied up and finished.

  So she took the initiative no one else seemed capable of. She threw the key ring onto the table in front of her, there were several metal keys and two pstic cards all around the small pliable ring, there was a charm on it that previously went unnoticed, it was a small mermaid like silhouette that was iridescent in color, shining with different hues in the light, Ember didn't know nor care who or what the charm attributed itself to but those that work here, and even Dern, knew it was based from Lybelle, a Goddess known for aquatic affinities. Rumored to have even been some sort of fish-like creature herself.

  Everyone stopped to look at the keys.

  “We're going to the garage, taking one of the buses, and fucking off to the evacuation center. We should pack up anything useful and leave before it gets dark.” Ember instructed with little sugar coating “Some of you pack up weapons while the rest of you gather whatever food will survive the trip.” she continued but before she managed to keep her pn rolling Barbra spoke up.

  “Who said you could just take all our supplies?” she snapped, spping her hand against the table loudly, as if that would better prove her point.

  “Wait, you're not actually going to stay here are you?” Ember asked, honestly bewildered, cocking a brow in dumbstruck bafflement.

  “Why would we go with you?” Barbra added.

  “We?” Bernadina scoffed.

  “Why would you stay!” Ember excimed before suddenly shaking herself as if to bring herself back into the moment. “You know what, stay here, do whatever you want. I don't care, Jake and I will keep our bike and whoever wants to live can join everyone else in the bus.” she finished, waving her hand in a stern gesture of finality.

  “We have food, shelter, this pce is protected? Why would we leave?” Barbra interjected with an annoyed wave of her hand, gring at the others.

  Despite the argument going on around her Debra managed to hear hurried footsteps, then a voice, she couldn't tell what they were saying but she assumed it was Bi as she turned to look towards the cafeteria archway.

  Bi rushed in. Their face drained of color aside from an embarrassed blush across their face "Monet!" they called, shifting in pce before bringing their hands together by their chest. "Monet?" they awkwardly waved at her trying to get her to approach.

  Monet gnced briefly to Charlene, who nodded in approval, but before she could stand up Bernadina spoke. With a sigh of relief she said "Good, you're here. We were just discussing our leave," Bi startled at her words but shook their head and returned to giving a pleading look Monet's way "Please come help me expin how leaving is safer than staying." she added which caused Barbara to scoff.

  "I'm staying?" Bi blurted out, their eyes went wide with regret watching as Bernadina's expression dropped.

  Then Bi blinked as to them Monet was suddenly at their side, as if she teleported, Bi knew she didn't teleport but still they startled as her worried expression was just inches from them. Bi staggered back a step, nearly tripping over themselves but they added "He's awake." with the same careless panic that they used before.

  Monet felt herself jump in excitement, the massive smile on her face twitched with confusion as to why Bi wasn't as pleased as she was. Before she could ask about his condition words started to pour from Bi's lips with the same control as a broken damn. "He woke up and was freaking out, he kept asking about his friends where everyone was and I didn't want to lie but I didn't know what to say either so I just told him," they said before cringing "I didn't exactly sugar coat it either..." they regretfully sighed.

  Monet exhaled shakily.

  "He, well, he shut down, I can't get him to speak, eat, anything." they said nervously, their expression switching between nervous, shamed, and worried "I should have gotten someone else from the get to, I thought I could handle it but I panicked. I'm sorry. Can you try and talk to him?" they asked but couldn't bring themselves to meet her eye.

  Monet was standing in shock, stumbling over her words she gnced back at Charlene for advice but she was shouting at Phil who waggled his limp wrist mockingly in reply, Monet sucked in a deep breath, she steeled herself, calming the rapid beating in her chest and gently reached out to pce her her delicate hand on Bi's shoulder, giving a comforting squeeze. "I'll go check on him, thank you for trying." she said with a smile, then she gingerly pushed Bi towards the cafeteria "Take my pce, let me know what the pn is." Monet added before she pulled away and moved towards the office.She kept her nightstick with her, she didn't know why, she felt she needed it. Scared, somehow one of those things found their way in here and would tear her to pieces, suddenly she just curled into herself, grabbing the shaft of the sleek weapon of enforcement and holding it close to her chest. Head snapping to every time noise she heard.

  She did however note the relentless pounding against steel had quieted, leaving the welcoming hall all the more ominous, expecting to see smiling faces ready to learn but all there was were dust and empty shelves.

  She entered the office without too much fright. Immediately she searched out Ewell who she quickly found in the corner of the room, he had the desk to one side of him and the wall to the other, compacting himself as small as he could with a head buried in arms, which rested on his raised knees.His thin fingers were scuffed, red at the knuckles, and one hand gently stroked the broken edge of his horn, flinching now and again when the pad of his pointer ran over tender spots or exposed nerves.

  Monet gavr a cursory gnce of the room as she approached him, she leaned the nightstick against the long L shaped desk as she stepped closer, she gave a tiny wave, mostly in the wrist., as she called out “Hey.” gently.

  Ewell didn't do much in the way of acknowledgement, he cringed, but she couldn't tell if it was in response to her or just because of general pain. Monet swallowed and took another step closer, she cocked her head to the side and leaned herself down just a bit, it was impossible to see his face with it nuzzled in his arms and lost under the mess of light cream colored locks.

  She knelt down, leaving a few feet of room between her and the opening of the hole he stuffed himself in, there was a subtle tremble in his lithe form, he held himself so tightly his nail dug into the ripped fabric of his striped sweater. She wanted to reach out to him but she didn't want to hurt him, nor make him more weary. Monet looked at him like an injured rabbit, a mix of patronizing pity and affection. After waiting a few agonizing seconds she spoke up again.

  “Are you hungry?” she asked sweetly.

  He didn't even shake his head. No reply whatsoever.

  “Do you want to talk? I'm here to listen.” Monet offered, reaching her hand out, opening an olive branch of sorts, her brows pinched together in worry when he didn't even move.Monet felt like a ghost, so she dropped her hand. She bit her lip.Monet sighed, looking away briefly before looking back at his hair blocked face “I'm sorry,” she said with a deeper tone, like she had to force the words out they felt so heavy on her tongue “I'm so sorry about your friends.” she noticed him twitch at that, the only reaction he'd given so far, Monet fought off her frown and managed to keep the smile on her face, her eyebrows however were pointed upwards, knotted in concern. Monet blinked at him, giving him a few more moments to think, or sit, or do whatever it was he was doing, she gave him another once over, trying to get a better image of him in her head but he was doing his best to hide himself, all she could make out were his snapped and cracked horns and his thin, scratching fingers, his pale digits were flushed a deeper red at the tips making his the contrast beside his milky skin all the more apparent. Sickly purple began to brown into deep bruises which splotched his skin almost everywhere she could see, even rips in his clothes revealed nothing but bandaged wounds and marred flesh.

  Monet didn't want to risk upsetting him more but she wasn't about to let him rot, she took the chance and reached out. As gingerly as she could she pced her hand and his arm, right at the bend of his elbow, and curled her fingers as gently as she could to give him a faint, comforting, squeeze. Ewell didn't reply outside an involuntary flinch away from her, he nuzzled his face further into his tightly wound arms.

  “I'm not going to ask you to get over their deaths, I'm not going to ask you to put on a smile and suck it up, none of us are expecting you to be fine, we found a bus and we're going leave soon, I, I want you there, on the bus with us.” Monet implored, lightly patting him. Trying anything to coax him out of his secure corner.

  His shoulders tensed, then dropped as he sniffled.

  Monet moved, reaching over to grab the still opened tin can before she urged it towards him. He didn't take it, he didn't move. She could hear the quiet sobs he failed to stifle and patted him again.

  This time Ewell leaned ever so slightly closer to her, testing before he recoiled back and wiped his eye before hiding himself away again.

  “It's okay to cry,” Monet was fighting back her own tears at this point, watching as Ewell shifted yet again. Then he peeked up above his bicep, his red, watery eye, hardly visible behind wavy locks. Heavily bagged and sunken she glimpsed his hollow expression for the briefest of seconds before he lowered his head again, sniffling, his exhales shaky and inhales sharp “I'm so sorry...” Monet ghosted, she wasn't even sure if he heard her but she said it in a soft whisper.

  Monet let her hand reach his shoulder, she gripped him just a bit tighter this time trying to instill her strength into him somehow. She pushed the tin can towards him once again, swirling the food inside to draw attention to the spoon sticking out of meaty sauce “I'm not going to leave you here to die. You don't have to talk, please, just eat this and come with me.” she said, this time tapping his hand gently with the edge of the can “Please?” she finished with a soft plea.

  He was slow, twitching, Ewell lifted his head. Monet was quick not to react outwardly to his appearance, face wrapped mostly in bandages she saw how deep they were stained, as Ewell cried his tears mixed with blood and it turned the thicker cotton underneath a sickly pink. The rest of the bandage had stained brown or yellow in pces already and she knew they'd be needing to change it often. Monet inched back and gestured for him to follow.

  “Okay...” was his coarse reply.

  Monet smiled, he took her hand and allowed her help in pulling him out of his secure hiding spot, he stumbled, still limping, and Monet gave him a quick once over, he stood awkwardly to hold himself up on his aching legs but with the wall and Monet to help him he managed to take a step, she quickly pushed the meal into his hands and this time he took it with what seemed like reluctance. He gave a tiny nod of thanks, still he felt so drained, numbed but overwhelmed at the same time, he looked down and examined the food with little care and absolutely no appetite. He felt Monet's eyes on him but he couldn't bring himself to meet her gaze yet. He didn't want to see her expression, the disappointment, the pity. Not yet.

  “Let's get you cleaned up and maybe the gift shop still has some clothes left over.” Monet said with a soft warmth in her tone that brought what little comfort she could to him. She helped him stumble forward as she led him towards the office door, she thought of the other's, of the pns made without her.

  Monet was putting her trust in them. She knew that, maybe a bit too much than she should but she knew those people, her best friends and neighbors, she wanted them all to make it to the evacuation point with her.

  Her thoughts darkened as she led him forward, she tried to keep the worry off her face. Tried to stay smiling as Ewell's bored breathing filled her ears.