Some moments pass, as Steven and Tommy are left in shock, whether it was from pure adrenaline, or from fear, it truly made their flesh pulse alive.
Steven: Are they… dead?
Tommy: I think so, whew!
Steven needed some time to think, but in a place like this, there is no thinking, only action, some Absolutes were starting to get up, their bodies almost destroyed, some of them arose again, limping, still wanting to taste some flesh. As Steven readies his sword and cuts down their head.
Tommy: We need to hurry, it's not safe.
Steven: No shit! Where do we even go??
Both had the same question in mind, without anywhere to go, they start strategizing.
Tommy: Well, you notice how the place extends more towards the north than in any other direction? Let's keep moving that way.
Steven: A-are you sure?! What if we get lost?
Tommy: Steven, we ARE already lost!
Tommy sighs, as he continues
I know this place is… very different from earth, I get it, but we have to move, we can't just start arguing about it. I know you're a smart guy; you must know the best option right now.
Steven slowly calms himself, his expressions slowly faltering to soft ones.
Steven: Okay… Let's do it then, you're right, we have no other option.
Both teens start walking further to the north, rock boulders covering some of the land, far away, around them, high rocky platforms, probably made by tectonic movement, surround the whole place, their only way, being forward.
Suddenly, one of them halts on their tracks, taking in the environment.
Tommy: I uh, I'm sorry I can't be much help.
Steven takes some time to respond.
Steven: It's fine, we're both on the same page anyway.
Access Point 07 was never supposed to leave you alive, on the contrary, you are expected to die here, to perish and become another victim of this gruesome place. Even as a soul, you can still suffer the same, mortal, fate. Every kill, every death, only buys you time from the
inevitable, and yet… every action, wakes up something bigger, something much more than a simple being.
Something Near Zero to escape, or fight.
Tommy: Hey, Steven?
Steven responds with a hum, looking over Tommy, confused.
- Do you see that… thing?
As both look over to what seems to be some ruins, something in them fills with both desperation and hope. Steven and Tommy find themselves completely sprinting over the ruins, it seems to be a catholic church, crafted within the same materials as the surroundings, flat grey stone, without any vivid colors.
As they reach the stone door, Steven hesitantly opens it, as Tommy steps in first.
Steven: Woah, this place is huge… it's also cold too…
Tommy agrees, the place indeed has a cold temperature, as they walk forward to the rows of seats at the sides of the building, an altar is seen at the end, holding what it seems to be a book.
Tommy: Can I open it?
Steven: Go ahead.
Both teens start reading what seems to be in this book, it is labeled "The foremost Commander" by some division whose name is hard to read under the dust. They try to blow air on it, finally making it clearer.
Steven: The Ingenious Division? Hah, seems like a cheap propaganda group of activists.
Tommy, unamused from the comment, keeps reading the book, the more he does, the more he realizes… it's a half manual, half diary of someone named Tobby.
Steven, upon seeing the name that Tommy pointed out for him, freezes.
Steven: T-Tobby...? I… that name.
Tommy is shocked, yet curious, what could possibly Steven mean by that?.
Tommy: What do you mean by that? Do you know this person at all?
Steven: I have no idea if it's from the person I knew before I woke up from the coma... but if he is... then that means.
THE COMA WAS TRULLY NOT JUST A COMA.
What could have possibly happened then? After all, he woke up thanks and only due to Tobby, he didn't enter the portal… he stayed, but why? Why did he stay?
Thoughts fly by Steven's head, he still didn't confirm if the person that wrote the book is trully Tobby, but he needs to know more.
Steven: Tommy, we need to move, please.
Tommy reacts weirdly of Steven, not only he went silent for seconds, but his sudden hurry made him even more suspicious of Steven.
Tommy: Okay, let's go, but you owe me an explanation on the way Steven.
Steven nods, as he shakenly breathes, both walking out of the church, forward to whatever comes forth, in this expanse world.