"Look at that," I said.
The butterfly's — deputy director's — corpse lay nearby, torn open.
Selene held her bleeding hand. "Alan, I'm sorry for attacking you—"
"No need for it," I said.
I pulled the deputy director's body closer with Telekinesis and stored it in my inventory rune.
It was the main cursed spirit of this place, and its corpse would be useful for alchemy.
Then I grabbed Selene's arm and wrapped a portion of the thread around her finger.
"We need to move. This place is going to collapse."
"O-okay."
She looked surprised. Either by my calmness or adaptability.
The ground shook violently.
Pipes above us burst one after another, spilling steam.
Cracks spread across the walls and screens.
Selene and I ran toward the hole in the ground and jumped.
I wrapped my arms around her as she took flight.
Below us, the city was crumbling.
The earth was splitting apart. Buildings were collapsing, and the sky itself looked like it was falling.
