Victor's eyelids grew heavier and heavier as he listened absentmindedly to the young woman beside him.
« I'll start by summarizing the situation as a whole. »
Everyone was on edge — the teachers had become students, listening and taking notes attentively.
« Everyone present in this room is probably the only people still alive in the entire school. All the others have either been transformed or… »
Her expression darkened for a moment before she composed herself again.
« All I mean is that we have to work with the people who are here, without hoping that anyone else will come. We have to make do with what we have. »
« I'm sure most of you already know this, but the main thing keeping us trapped here is that monstrosity outside. To put it simply, it's a gigantic skeleton that moves and seems aware—maybe even intelligent. »
Many faces paled, especially the newer students who had never heard of such a creature.
« That thing isn't even the biggest problem. The real problem is its army. It subjugates every living creature that has the misfortune of dying on its territory, turning them into some kind of zombie. »
She let the information sink in before continuing.
« We don't know the size of its army or the kind of creatures that make it up. We only know they resemble their master—their skin turns green, and moss grows all over their bodies. That's about all we've been able to observe. »
Victor wondered when Lucie had managed to gather all that information, but he left the question hanging for now.
« The main goal of this meeting is to find an effective and realistic way to defeat that thing and its army—or at least find a way to escape from here alive. »
The entire room fell silent, every gaze fixed on the girl with the emerald eyes.
« So… if you have ideas, questions, comments—no matter how small—related to what I just said, speak up. »
Most students were still digesting the storm of information she had unloaded in just a few minutes, while the adults were already lost in possibilities and calculations.
A student spoke up first.
« Can't we just escape with some vehicles? The teachers must have their cars in the parking lot nearby. »
The principal intervened.
« The parking lot is already overrun with vegetation. We wouldn't have time to clear a path before the creature spots us. »
The brown-haired boy, Mickaël, spoke up in a mocking tone.
« If you and the monster over there are so strong, why don't you two fight that thing while we make a run for it? »
Lucie frowned, unsure how to respond to such a sarcastic remark without insulting him.
Seeing that, Victor sighed in exasperation and took over.
He was really starting to get fed up with that kid.
« It's very simple, really. »
Everyone turned their attention to him. Having stayed silent throughout the discussion, they had almost forgotten his unsettling presence.
« Unlike most idiots, I don't have a hero complex. I won't die for anyone, and I won't sacrifice myself for the greater good. »
« But— »
« You know, with my speed, I could just run and leave this place. Wouldn't be a problem at all. »
That was a lie.
He hadn't seen the thing run, but he was willing to bet it was faster than even Lucie.
« But I'm choosing to stay, to give you all a chance to save your sorry asses. »
Another lie.
He didn't care at all.
« So instead of wasting time on those futile, unrealistic ideas, use your tiny brains to come up with something that might actually make me want to help you. »
He swept the room with a cold gaze.
When he noticed some of them glancing hopefully at the girl beside him, his jaw tightened.
He knew exactly what that look meant.
And it annoyed him.
A little.
« Don't even think about it. If any of you tries to convince Lucie to sacrifice herself to save your worthless lives at the cost of hers, I'll break your legs and personally throw you as an offering to that thing outside. With some luck, it'll thank me and let the rest of us go. »
His voice grew sharper and sharper with each word.
Those who had harbored such thoughts immediately erased them from their minds.
They could feel it — this wasn't a threat.
It was a truth. An unshakable fact.
Lucie was secretly surprised by Victor's sudden outburst.
He had clearly told her before that he didn't care whether she lived or not. Something must have changed.
She spoke again.
« Any other suggestions? …Preferably ones that don't end with death threats. »
The bowl-cut student raised his hand, his face lighting up.
« If those things are made of moss, then they should burn like dry wood, right? »
Lucie sighed.
« We've already thought of that, but it's not possible. Those things aren't immobile—far from it. We'd need, I don't know… flamethrowers or a huge number of Molotov cocktails. Impossible to find that in a school. »
A professor in his forties suddenly stood up, determination written all over his face.
« I can make them. »
« What…? »
« I can build makeshift flamethrowers. With the equipment from my lab. »
Lucie exchanged a glance with Victor, and they nodded in sync.
« Tell us what you need. »
**
Thirty minutes later, the meeting finally ended — much to Victor's relief, since he could only think of one thing.
Collapsing to the floor and sleeping for a week.
He loved sleeping.
After all, it was the only time when no dark thoughts or pain could reach him.
Dying shouldn't be so bad then, right? In a way, it was like a long sleep.
A very long one.
They had agreed to form a small team led by Victor to retrieve the necessary materials for crafting several makeshift weapons which, with a bit of luck, could give them an edge over that creature—or at least its army.
He didn't know whether the skeleton's bones were made of ivory or some kind of moss-like material, but they'd find out soon enough.
Either way, it was the best plan they could hope for in their current situation.
But that would have to wait until after the much-needed rest Victor desperately required.
He left the room first, followed closely by Lucie.
They headed upstairs, looking for a room comfortable enough to rest for a while.
« Vic, I can't anymore, carry me, please! »
« No. And stop calling me that, I don't like it. »
A mischievous smile appeared on Lucie's face.
« Vic~ aren't you the one who said I was a princess? Then treat me like one! »
« You're the one who said that first, remember? »
« Damn, I thought you were too out of it to remember that. »
They finally entered a small, almost empty office — only a wooden chair and desk furnished the place.
Just like their first night in this new world, they both sat down against a wall, side by side.
« You know, we could've just rested in the infirmary. At least there are real beds there. »
« Too many people walking around. But hey, I'm not stopping you… princess. »
She gave him a small punch on the shoulder in response.
« Convenient, huh? Fine, you sleep first, I'll keep watch. »
Victor let out a mocking sound.
« Hm, so you can fall asleep again and leave us at the mercy of those snakes? No thanks. »
« Hey, that wasn't on purpose, asshole, it was… an accident. Yeah, just an accident. »
« You're trying to convince yourself more than me. »
She glanced at him.
« By the way, Vic. »
« What? And I told you to stop calling me that. »
« What you said during the meeting — did you really mean it? »
The boy frowned, trying to stir his sleep-fogged mind enough to recall his own words.
« Of course not, there's no way that thing would let us go even if I offered it new toys for its collection. »
« I'm not talking about that, idiot. »
She shifted position to face him.
« I mean the part where you said you'd break their legs if they tried to make me sacrifice myself. »
« Oh… yeah, I guess? I always say what I think. »
A small smile tugged at the blonde's lips.
« But you know, if I decide to do it anyway, you won't be able to stop me. »
Victor thought for a moment.
He wasn't the type to make decisions for others, whatever they were — if they decided to die, so be it.
But for some reason, imagining that girl, who had been with him from the start, throwing her life away for those parasites…
It felt… wrong.
« I'd just knock you out. »
Lucie chuckled softly before leaning back against the wall.
« So, you're taking first watch? You don't exactly look fit for it. »
Victor smiled in turn.
« No need. I've got a much better solution. »
Under Lucie's curious gaze, he tossed his cane into the air, watching it separate and reform piece by piece, regaining its original form — a towering fly, roughly a meter tall.
Lucie's eyes widened, she still hadn't gotten used to that horror.
With a single thought, Victor gave it one simple, concise command.
Protect.
The insect vibrated and rubbed its long legs together as if to confirm understanding.
Then it split into dozens of smaller flies, hiding in every corner of the room, silently watching over their master's safety.
« That's… convenient, I guess? »
Lucie didn't get an answer — the moment Victor allowed himself to relax, his eyes closed on their own, pulling him into the realm of dreams.
She watched the boy's sleeping face for a moment.
He looked surprisingly… peaceful.
When he was awake, his features were always tense, as if he were constantly fighting something — waging an endless internal war.
It was almost strange to see him so at ease.
And that horrible wound on his jaw… She'd be lying if she said she wasn't curious about its origin, but she had never dared to ask.
She guessed it wasn't a particularly pleasant memory.
Yet she couldn't help but notice that it didn't bother her as much anymore.
It had never really disgusted her, exactly — just disturbed her a little, especially the rare times when he smiled.
But now, she had unconsciously started to stop paying attention to it.
And with those thoughts, she too slowly drifted into a deep sleep.