(Viewpoint: Chetan)
TACK!
TACK!
TACK!
The noise is getting closer.
Too fast.
Too precise.
I put a hand over my mouth
By reflex.
As if silence could save us.
My heart is beating.
Fort.
Every second became heavy.
Thick.
Then-
A breath.
Right behind us.
I close my eyes for a fraction of a second.
- …Not now…
TACK.
He stops.
Silence.
Total.
A presence.
I can feel it.
A raw instinct.
Animals.
A predator.
My whole body froze.
My muscles lock up.
I know.
I'm even ashamed of myself
It's over.
A rubbing sound.
Very lightweight.
Like something that slips away.
A shadow passes in front of our hiding place.
I don't dare breathe.
She stops.
Right there.
In front.
I slowly raise my eyes.
Very slowly.
And I see it.
– …Rome…
The word escapes me.
Without meaning to, I come out of my hiding place.
He doesn't move.
Standing.
More…
It's not really him anymore.
His body is… altered.
Dark veins snaked beneath her skin.
Glasses.
Alive.
His arm…is entirely black
His breathing is irregular.
And her eyes…
Fixed… .The Voids.
He looks like he's dead.
A cold shiver runs up my spine.
I don't understand
– …they didn't pick you up?
Shit.
My blood runs cold.
My hand immediately clamped over my mouth.
Too late.
Roum tilts his head slightly.
A slow movement.
Abnormal.
As if he were breaking down my sentence.
As if he were trying to understand.
I'm not moving anymore.
He takes a step.
Towards me
I'm backing away
But stay.
I can't.
Not with Eugene.
So I move.
Slowly.
I pull Eugene out of the wreckage.
Without taking his eyes off Roum.
– We… move.
My voice is low.
Controlled.
Not for him.
In my opinion.
Roum does not react.
He's looking at us.
Just like that.
Then-
He's still moving forward.
Not fast.
Not aggressive.
More constant.
He follows us without speaking.
I straighten up.
Eugene on the shoulder.
I take a step back.
Roum retreats.
Same distance.
Perfect synchronization.
– …he's sick…
I whisper.
It's like I'm dragging him along on a leash
– If he is here…
I whisper.
– …so they don't know where we are.
Silence.
Damn, nothing is going my way
We're making progress.
In the ruins.
More deeply.
Further away.
The calm becomes oppressive.
No wind.
No animals.
No machines.
Nothing.
Except for us.
And him.
Behind.
Always.
I hope to find a babysitter to send a message
But I know.
If things get out of hand…
That won't be enough.
I'm always looking around.
– …there must be a basis…
I speak in a low voice.
– A relay…
– A cable…
– A connection…
Something.
Anything.
To go back up.
To get out of here, damn it, I didn't make all this effort so that this would be my last mission.
My eyes scan the trees.
I grit my teeth.
- shit…
Still nothing.
A noise behind me.
I turn around.
Rome.
Very close now.
I point my finger at him.
– STOP, I'M FED UP WITH YOU.
He stops.
But her eyes…
Staring into the void
I frown.
– …he doesn't even listen to me
No response.
Obviously.
– …what have you become…?
I glance at Roum.
– …that .