Xuan wrote:Wow, finally a class premium Katawa long story!
Thanks! And this is proving to be too much of a long story. Chapter 6 will have to be in 2 posts (It's over the character limit
)
I'm sorry it's taken so long people. I really don't have any excuses. I hope you enjoy.
You have once again entered the world of survival horror. Good luck!
Chapter 6
I run my hand through my hair. Whew. Today's been a strange fucking day. I start to chuckle. Of all the shit today, I think Rin's been the weirdest part. It didn't really occur to me at the time, but the movie references were weird. I never really saw her as a film-goer.
While not in the scenario I'd prefer, I have learned a bit more about my friends, and that's something. I think just "not dying" is breaking even, so I guess this has been a positive experience, overall. If you wanna think about it like that. And I might as well. I might snap otherwise.
I close my eyes and sigh, stretching my arms out. A wide smile forms on my face, with a hint of smugness. I've made it. I've survived impossible situations, near-death experiences, and things seemingly made out of nightmares.
I don't want to get a big head out of this, but I think I'm ready for what's next. I'm almost a little curious as to what my fucked up future holds. Lets see...ventriloquists, a puppet master...what's next, a demonic mime?
I rub my eyes with my palms. Maybe I WAS too eager to get out of The Room, I'm feeling a little tired. Nah, nah. Can't think like that. Gotta keep going, gotta start moving.
I start walking down the hall, and head into the lobby. I start to think it's my imagination, but I hear the sound of feet pattering just up ahead. I follow carefully, trying not to sacrifice any stealth I have for speed. I turn the corner, and see a uniformed boy walk just out of sight. I can't see his face, but he's got short brown hair. No noticable disability, but he must be a student here, he's wearing the same thing I am. Then again, maybe that's its plan. To blend in. I'm not falling for any tricks it might pull, though I have to remember to at least make sure I'm right before I start stabbing.
I dash after him. I wish I could see his face, who knows, maybe I know this guy. "Heeey!" I shout before I think, so much for being stealthy. Ah well, I wouldn't mind helping someone unknown out. Even if it's some dude. Life can't all be about saving beautiful girls, can it?
I make it into the corner he walked into...which doesn't lead anywhere. There's just an empty corridor, heading into a blank dead-end wall. Where the hell did he go? Were my eyes fucking with me? Maybe I am too ti-
The floor underneath me groans. I feel it start to bend inward, as if it's getting ready to snap. Oh shit...this is why he lead me here...
Slowly, cautiously, I edge my foot forward, and as lightly as I ca-
CRASH
The floor I was standing on gives. I fall forward, my eyes closed and my arms crossed infront of me. My forearms and elbows smash into hard wood, after only a few feet of falling. The knife flies out of reach. I groan and roll over. Into thin air.
My eyes open as I feel the emptiness crumble underneath me. I prepare for the blow with each spare millisecond I have, tensing my body and lifting my head up.
Smash!
I grunt into myself, keeping my head raised and gritting my teeth. I managed to keep my air intact, which is good. I hate getting it knocked out of me. Happy to have the ability, I start drawing in slow breaths, checking for my heart. Good enough for me. Whew. My ears perk up...something's coming.
I hear footsteps come from behind me, moving in on my location. My hands and eyes swipe all over the floor, searching for my one and only weapon. My heart tells me to be quicker than whatever's coming. It does a shitty job of encouraging me. All I find is cold, tiled, floor.
"Hisao! My God, are you alright?!"
Wait....I know that voice. I lay back against the floor and see fake feet gallop infront of me, then stop abruptly.
In too much pain, and growing embarrassment, to make any big movements, I slowly lower my eyes. In my upside-down position, they travel down false legs, and a blur of cloth and skin, stopping at the green spotlights that are aimed at me.
"H-Hi, Emi. Yeah, I'll be fine. Just give me a minute." I let out another grunt. "To regrow a spinal cord."
She hops forward and bends her knees, getting a better look at me.
"C-can you move?!"
"Y-yeah." I groan and start to raise up. Emi immediately grabs my right arm and starts pulling me up. She's pretty damn strong. Surprisingly so, considering there are bugs in the Amazon bigger than her.
As I straighten up, feeling the pain in my back subside, I look down at her.
"Thanks for the lift."
"You're welcome, but are you sure you're okay?! That had to hurt. Is your heart alright?"
After all that's happened, falling through a ceiling is a minor inconvenience. I try to convince her I'm fine, without sounding like I'm feigning strength.
"Yeah, it's really not as bad as it looked." I look back to where I landed, then at the empty shelf next to it. That must've been the first thing I landed on. My vision spins around the rest of the room. The only word to describe it is "dank." Dark grey walls, the shelf that broke my front half, and the light green tiles that broke my back. Blegh, horrible color choices. There are is a small staircase just past the entrance, and beyond the few steps, the floor is angled, with every step of it slightly declining all the way to the end of the room. There's a sizable drain at the last tile of the room.
"Emi, where the hell are we?"
"A storage room, or something...though it's pretty empty for a storage room. Anyway, I came in here to see if anyone was here. I haven't seen anybody for over an hour.....Where is everybody, Hisao?" She pouts a bit, her eyes shrinking in worry.
"Uhhh...first off, does Yamaku even have a store room? Have you ever heard of this room?"
She raises an eyebrow and cocks her head.
"I....I guess it does, I mean, we're here....but I'd never known of it before today. Or even seen the entrance."
Just as I thought. Who knows whether it really does or doesn't. I don't really care, I don't have to. I just go with the flow and try not to die.
"And secondly, I don't know either."
Oy, and on to the fun part. I need to find the most believable and logical way of presenting the most unbelievable and illogical situation.
"Emi, please don't think I'm a lunatic, or that I'm playing a prank on you. As you can see, everyone's gone, so obviously....something crazy is already going on. So the even crazier stuff I'm about to say....I need you to believe it. Because it's true. All of it."
She nods, her face shifting from mild confusion to headcrushing confusion.
"Basically, the school is devoid of life, except for a few people, all friends of mine, so far.....and monsters."
"M-monsters?"
The look of fear she gives is actually a relief. I think she actually might believe me! .....Or she thinks I'm out of my mind.
"Y-yeah...like I said...it sounds crazy...but...it's true. Oh, and the school got fused to the male dorms." Her confusion seems a little quelled, her head taking a straighter angle, her eyebrows straightening. Maybe my shakey demeanor is helping my case? I mean, if I calmly said this, I might sound too calm, like a freak with a story to tell. Then again, my instability may give me a psychotic look. Agh, this is always my least favorite part. Apart from the monster-battling, of course.
"S-so yeah....but earlier today, my rommate put a blessing, or a magic spell....or....whatever the hell you want to call it, on my room. It's completely safe there, and I've managed to lead a few other people there. Lilly, Hanako, Shizune, Misha, and Rin are there."
"Rin's there?! Is she okay? I've been trying to find her!"
"Y-yeah. She's okay. They're all okay, really. We've managed to come away from the monsters pretty much unscathed....I-I hope you don't think I'm as crazy as I would right now."
She smiles up at me.
"Hisao, I know you. One, you're a very honest person."
"And two?"
She winks, her smile curving even more.
"Whenever you DO lie, you absolutely suck at it."
I smile back, appreciating the humor that this day has lacked.
"So, basically, we need to get the hell out of here and get to my room as soon as possible."
"I believe you, but how has your heart been okay through all of this? Seeing a monster would probably give ME a heart attack."
It's something I've only given passing thought, but now that she says it, it is pretty damn unbelievable. I should be on my tenth heart attack by now. So far, I've chalked it up to either The Room's lingering effect on me, or me getting out of situations at just the right time. Either way, it's not something I'm too terribly upset about.
"Luck, is my best guess."
She gives a slick smile.
"Or maybe your diet and exercise have been working for you, huh?"
"Haha, well, maybe that's been a LITTLE help."
She puts her hands on her hips.
"A little? I'd like to see you do all this on that greasy garbage you used to eat."
Her cuteness forces a grin out of me.
"Yeah, yeah."
I start to realize how true her words really are though. I hadn't thought much about it, but I have been feeling pretty strong today. Maybe it's a combination of this and The Room's crazy ass magic, but I should give her some credit. I can tell she's not actually hurt, but I figure I should let her know how I really feel. Can't hurt.
"I do want to thank you though. You know, for always looking after me. You've taught me how to take care of myself, and without that, I probably WOULD be dead right now."
Her cheeks get a little pink.
"Y-you're welcome, Hisao."
A thought ignites in her head, making her smack her forehead.
"Oh! Hisao, you dropped something when you landed, I almost forgot."
Agh! I almost forgot too! Second time today! How the hell has my dumbass survived this long?!
"Yeah! That'd be my knife."
"Kn-knife?!"
I walk over and scoop up it off of the floor.
"Yeah, it's saved my life quite a few times today."
"Have things really gotten that close?"
"Yeah....But really, I'm okay."
Her eyes scan over my body shakily, as if she's worried I'm going to spontaneously drop dead, or that it'll be like one of those animes where someone gets cut, but their head doesn't fall off till 5 minutes later.
"What's happened, Hisao? I want to know."
"You mean about the monsters?"
"Yeah, what's out there?"
"I.....Okay, first time, it was a bunch of slimey-sounding things creeping around in the dark."
She shivers a bit, but only after I mention the dark.
I wonder if I should continue....I mean, will hearing about a bunch of monsters calm her down? Then again, not knowing what's out there might make things worse.
"Next, there were these weird things without faces, or lower bodies, that could imitate any sound they wanted. So if you hear something, be careful, it might not be what you think it is. Next..."
She raises an eyebrow at the description. When I think about it, I realize it does sound friggin weird.
I wonder how to go about mentioning the imposter....
"There was a man....he...you know Hanako, right?"
I honestly can't remember if I've seen the two of them interact before.
She nods her head and elaborates.
"Yeah, I've seen her a few times, haven't really got to talk to her though. She seems nice, just really shy. I don't get it, I've always thought she was really pretty." Her face and words have an adorable innocence to them. My smile comes back, full force. Which may be a little inappropriate, considering what I'm about to say.
"Y-yeah...well there was a monster pretending to be her father, and he would catch on fire every once in a while. Things....things almost went bad. Hanako ended up saving my life." I'm quick to bring it up, not just out of gratitude, but of pride for my friend.
"Wow! I've got to thank her when we get there."
Emi's giving the muscles on my face a workout, my smile almost starts to hurt.
"Yeah, she really came through for me...Next, a psychotic teacher tried to make Rin kill me."
Emi gasps into her hand
"Ohmygod! Wait...how did she make her try?"
"Mind control....she was controlling her with a pair of double-handed arms, and that cross-thingy you control marionettes with."
Emi's lip wiggles, then she bursts out laughing, slightly bending forward from the commotion.
"I know I shouldn't laugh...but that sounds ridiculous!"
"Hahaha, yeah, like something out of a comic book."
I've gotten over any real fear of this place, knowing what to expect: the unexpected, then cute girls. Sometimes in varying order. I'm glad Emi doesn't seem to have much fear either. Maybe her knowing that I've survived all of this is giving her a boost? Or maybe because it all does sound laughable, if you think about it. The scariest things in life can look pathetic if looked at from the right angle.
"But yeah, that's what's happened so far....anyway, we should get going."
"Okay, Hisao. Lead the way."
"Right. I need to warn you though. Don't trust anything you hear, and only half of what you see. You can always trust me though, of course, so stay close."
She winks again, pawing at my shoulder.
"I've seen horror movies before, Hisao, I've got an idea of what to do. Besides, the cute girl never dies in those, does she?"
"...You're not afraid? At all?"
"Well of course I'm afraid. But I have to keep it together, we both do, and we have to keep moving. I...I started to lose it a bit earlier, after I didn't find anybody for so long. But I have it under control now, especially since I'm not alone now. We have a good chance, together, right?"
"That's right. Lets get home. I've got some snacks, in case your hungry. I think I'm running out of water, but I can fill some up at the-"
BZZT
The lights go out.
I fucking hate deja vu.
Emi shrieks and jumps, the slamming of feet-on-floor making me jump, as well.
"Emi, get behind me!"
I feel her tiny hands cling onto my back. Good. I don't want a replay of earlier. And I want her out of the way, in case I have to stab anything.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZT
The lights come back....way back. They were pretty dim before, now, it's like there's a mini-sun attached to the ceiling. It's actually painful to look at them. My gaze drifts back down....God....
The ground around us has changed. The room....grew. Just like it did in the Student Council Room, and the Tea Room.
Did I mention I hate dejva vu?
We're a long distance from the exit/entrance, and the weirdass "ramping" of the room has been retained, so it's going to be an uphill run. Great.
"Hisao, what's going on?!"
"Don't worry, Emi. Lets just get out of here."
It's going to be a long walk, and a pain in the ass. And heart. But, eh, it could be-
BLUBLUBLUBLUB
The noise comes from behind us, the gravity of the sound instantly sucking our eyes towards it. It's coming from the drain...
The drain at the end of the room is now the size of a friggin car, each linear hole big enough for a person to fit through. The glugging noise stops, but we continue to stare at the drain, hypnotized with fear, and anticipation.
Suddenly, black liquid starts to shoot out out of the drain and fall to the floor, spilling across all of the tile like a mudslide. The velocity it's launched with gives it no problem sliding up the ramping room.
"Hisao! What the hell is that?!"
"I don't know, but lets get the fuck out of here!"
I grab Emi's hand and we start to run. Hmmm, she's in her "casual" legs, I wonder if this makes it harder for her to run. I wish she'd had the foresight to bring her running legs. For that matter, I wish this place was filling with chocolate pudding and bikini-clad women. Not finding any solace in my immature wishes, I focus on running.
We're going fast, faster than I usually do when I run with her on the track. We keep a relatively similar pace, which gets me wondering: am I that much faster today, or is she slowing down for my sake? I don't want to be holding her back...
We hear the muck slop across the floor, and before we know it, it's under our feet. We slow down a bit, trying not to slip and fall on it, but still keep a decently fast pace. It quickly starts to crawl up my ankles. I look back as we run, the black stuff is filling the room with an unbelievable speed. I don't know about Emi, but my feet tread through it with a bit of trouble. Despite the watery appearance, it's thicker than mud. It's like trying to run through sand or snow, while your feet are burried in it.
As my head turns from the back of the room to the front, I lose my balance and slip forward. My grasp on Emi's hand breaks, and I start to make a collision course with the floor, which is interrupted by Emi grabbing my hand and yanking me back onto my feet. Her tiny hands grip mine like a vise, my knuckles crack from the constriction. I've gotta remember not to piss her off.
"Hisao! Be careful!"
"Thanks, Emi! Lets keep moving!
Our run turns to a quick walk as the frigid sludge makes its way up our thighs. Our legs have to work thrice as hard to move through the sludge. The smell becomes more apparent, a plasticine fragrance, not a good smell, nor a particularly bad one, just very strong. I turn from the rising ground to the squealing, pint-sized, person at my side. The sludge is starting to crawl up Emi's hips, which freaks her out considerably. I think the beating I'm hearing is coming from her chest, this time.
"Emi, stay calm, we're almost there!"
As we keep moving, we reach higher ground, making the sludge retreat from our bodies for a bit. The sludge is climbing the room at a speed near ours, so it's nothing but a close race to the finish between us.
The approaching exit gives me encouragement, and with it, a burst in speed. With this burst in speed, recklessness. The tip of my left foot slides into the muck too awkwardly, and I end up falling into it, catching myself with my knees. The biting cold crawls up my chin...but I can't move....I can't even breathe...
Small arms slide under mine, and with a squeaky grunt, I'm lifted back up onto my feet.
"Come on, Hisao! Just a little further!"
Hey, God, if you're listening: thanks for Emi.
The freezing muck that was on my chin and chest slides off immediately, falling back into the pile. It also comes out of my clothes completely, without even a hint of any staining...weird...
Without the cold to distract my body, my heart's working at overdrive...we need to get out of here now.
The muck is climbing up Emi's stomach, and it's nearly there for me as well. The snail's pace we chug through the mud at makes my heart more anxious...it's gonna be a close one. We're nearly at the first step when the muck is at Emi's chest, she's hyperventilating. I need to say something...or do something.
I squeeze her hand, getting her to look into my eyes.
"Don't give up, Emi. We're almost there, we're gonna be okay!"
I force myself to wear a smile that's probably too confident to make me look anything except psychotic, but it seems to work.
She regains a little composure and keeps moving, giving me a troubled smile and nod for my efforts. I notice tears starting to dry on her cheeks.
I stretch out my leg as far as I can, and I feel the first submerged step with the tip of my foot, whew. I toss the knife at the entrance. I'll need the free hand to lift Emi, and it's not like stabbing this shit is gonna help, anyway.
"We can make it, Emi! Come on!"
I climb up onto the step and start to pull her up by her hand. My foot slips on the muck that rises onto the step, and I fall back onto a step, hitting my back. With a groggy groan, I lift my head up with my hand. I look back at-
She's...not there...
She fell in!
Oh.....no......
I lay back against the step for about three seconds, frozen in indecision.
What the hell do I do....
What do I tell the girls?
What do I tell myself?!
I lift myself up, shooting a glance at the exit, then turning back to the giant bathtub of sludge. It's stopped rising, now that it's completely claimed something...
Emi wouldn't give up on me. She'd go back for me. I'm going. I take in a deep breath, and close my eyes.
Giving caution a gaunt "fuck you," I jump into the pile of sludge. My feet quickly sink in and touch the floor. Everything up to my chin is under the muck.
I suck in all the air I can and submerge myself in the frigid filth, my arms struggling through it, feeling for any sign of life. Immediately, I feel a tiny arm. Both my hands wrap around it, and I grunt into the sludge as I lift her up. I let out the long breath I'd taken in and nearly laugh to myself. Whew. That wasn't too bad...I wrap my arm around her and lift her out of the sludge, she's light as a feather. I place her on a step that's sticking out of the muck. The muck slides off of her face and body, then slides back into the pile.
As it falls off her face, I realize that she looks....fake....
I put my fingers to her neck, and don't feel a pulse....I don't feel skin either...she's....plastic....
I slide my eyes over the replica of my fallen friend, the palm of my hand smashed into my face, going up my head. This place still has the same shitty sense of humor...
FUCK!
I toss the faux-Emi to the side and jump back into the muck. My heart begs me to call it quits, but I can't quite hear it over the cursing and shouting in my mind.
Frantically, my arms slice through the sludge, as if I'm trying to swim through it. My heart is bashing against the wall of my chest. I'm sure that if it could, it would cry right now. I'm sure that if I could, I would too.
The air captured in my lungs starts to run dry, until I have none left. I rise up as fast as I can, taking in air so quickly it hurts, then sink back in. Gotta find her, now! We're either leaving together, or dying together. The other girls are strong, they can make it without me. Emi can't.
The screaming my mind joins in a perfect rhythm with the screaming my heart is doing...and I still can't fucking find her...I'm taking way too long...
Suddenly, my hand brushes against something trapped in the sludge...
My arm juts forward, stabbing through the muck and grabbing what feels like a hand. This better be the real thing...
My hand travels across the hand, feeling for where her torso is. I wrap an arm around her side and put everything I have into my legs, waveringly pushing myself through the muck. She's a little heavier than her "doll" but nothing to complain about. My lungs are hard at work the instant my head emerges.
I hold Emi's head above the sludge, taking the last few steps I need to to get to the inflated staircase. It's a hell of a lot harder now...my legs feel tired, and my heart...I'd rather not even think about that.
I push Emi to the stair step that's dry, then scramble up the stairs to pull her to the top. I kick the Emidoll back into the sludge and lay the real one onto the dry floor, then fall after her.
I was too distracted to notice earlier....but agh....I'm not quite at a heart attack...just a thread away. I think...any second now...I'll be done...
I put a hand to the tortured organ in my chest and let out a haggard scream, the pain becoming too much.
....urgh...I can't just stay here. I can't die here either, not yet.
Maybe when I know Emi's okay. I'll save the horrific death for that.
I try raising myself up, but can't get past a crouching position. I don't think I'll need to, anyway.
I drag myself across the floor towards Emi.
She's not moving, but it's definitely the real Emi this time.
I put my hand over her nose and mouth...no breathing..
FUCK
Don't tell me I was too late....
Before I even think about it, my hands are pressing into her chest with a pulsing rhythm, hoping to inspire her body to do the same.
It sure as hell is inspiring mine...I need to hurry. The tension's about to crush me. I need to at least make sure she's okay, before I pass out...or worse...
"Come on, Emi!"
From the force I'm using, I wouldn't doubt it if I broke the tiny thing. I've never done this before...I hope it works....it has to work...
I consider doing mouth-to-mouth as I continue pushing. It might be the only way...
I lean my head over her's, still pushing in pulses.
I....guess I'll have to...this isn't going to be enough...
I brush off any awkwardness that contextually shouldn't be there....I mean, it's not like we're actually gonna kiss. I'm just gonna give her mouth-to-mouth to save her from almost drowning in demon shit. Doesn't every teen go through this at some point? I shake my head, trying to get the stupid nervous comedy out, and get back in the situation at hand.
My face inches closer to her's....our lips about to touch...
"Well...here go-"
Blagh!
A cold jet of black muck sprays onto my face. The surprise launches me onto my back, but it's not enough to kill me. Which is a nice bonus, to Emi being alive.
I wipe the stuff off with my sleave, listening to the intense gasps coming from Emi. After a few dramatic heaves, her breathing starts to straighten. I guess she's okay. Whew.
I close my eyes. The whining and bitching of my heart is all I can hear now.
I feel arms wrap over me as Emi rests against my right half. The pain is strangled by her embrace.
"H-Hisao...thank you...thank you..."
"Egh, you saved me earlier. Twice. Fair's fair, right?" My words are too strained to offer relief, I can feel her body tense.
"Hisao, are you okay?! How's your heart?!" She frantically presses her head against my chest, an action which, let it be known, fucking hurts.
I can't lie to her...I don't think...I'm gonna be okay...
I try and plow through the words as quickly as I can.
"Urgh! Not so great. Emi, I don't think I'm going to make it. Go to my room. You'll be safe. Take my knife, it's ove-"
"No! I'm going to your room, you're damn right I am, but you're coming with me! I'm not leaving without you!"
It's exchanges like these you take for granted in the movies. The kind of words you see coming a mile away, rolling your eyes as you hear them...but hearing them in real life....they really are heart wrenching. Ha.
Telling her to leave was harder than pushing myself to go through the muck. I really don't want her to go...
I wrap my arms around her, hoping she won't fade away as I do, hoping this isn't the last time I see her....
...I can't die yet....I can't leave her like this.
Hahaha. I can't believe myself. I can't die, not because I just don't want to die, but because I don't want to leave Emi by herself. Maybe I've been letting this "hero" bullshit get to my head. Ah, well, this chivalrous crap hasn't got me killed yet, so it can't be all bad. Time to go.
I lift myself off the floor and onto my knees, making Emi squeal and fall off of me.
"Are you okay?!"
"Yeah...just...gotta...gettoTheRoom." I grunt like an old dog and shakily raise to my feet. My legs feel like jelly.
"Hisao, you should rest! You're gonna kill yourself!"
"...No...gottagonow." I grunt and take a few steps towards the exit. I feel...like all the strength The Room has given me has run out...and I'm just left with my own. Which isn't very much. Barely any, really. I don't know who I'm trying to fool...My heart sure as hell isn't fooled by the misplaced bravery...it whispers threats into my ears.
"Hisao!"
She doesn't so much say it, as she does scream it. A wobbly scream. I turn back to her...she's shaking, ready to push out tears...
"If I get to The Room, I'll be fine. I just gotta-"
"No! Don't be stupid! You need to rest. We can go later."
"Later?! If we wait here, things like THAT-"
I point to the....empty, regular-sized, room...no black shit, no Emidoll in sight. The lights are back to normal, too.
"C-can...come...after us...."
"It's gone..."
"Yeah..."
"W-was that real?"
"I'm...I'm afraid so. But it's over now. At least THAT is."
I don't know if it's the relief, or that I'm too fucking close to breaking, but I fall onto my knees, then my back. I let out a throaty sigh and lay my head against the cold floor.
"Good. Just stay there. Do you have any pills you can take? Or anything that you have, or that I can get, that can help you?"
"Nah. I'll just...take a breather. This is bad, but it doesn't compare to Thursday's with you."
I manage to tear a smile out of her.
"Emi...are YOU okay though? I...I almost thought..."
When I look back on it, I don't think she was actually down there that long. It felt like an hour though.
"I'm fine, really. I feel like it never happened, apart from being cold, and a little sticky."
"Really? You're not just being strong for my sake?"
"Nope!"
She's stable. No, she seems perfectly fine...like nothing happened. Maybe it's shock? Maybe in an hour or so, she'll completely lose her shit. I think I may join her on that.
I try closing my eyes, in an effort to take a genuine rest, but they're torn open as Emi noisily rummages through the shelf.
"I found a flashlight!!"
She turns to me and completely glows with a childlike wonder as she presents it, as if it's a gift right out of Santa's gloved hands.
It's a small, L-shaped flashlight, the kind you see in movies with army guys. I think it clips on or something. She tries pushing the button again and again, then lowers her head as nothing happens.
"It...it's broken."
She tosses it back into the shelf.
"Oooh! I also found a radio!"
I hear a dial turn, then blaring pop music roars out of the tiny shelf.
"GAH! Sorry about that, Hisao!!"
She cuts the volume off.
"A working radio, and a broken flashlight...great. Emi, unless you find a spare heart and a qualified surgical team in there, you may as well give up."
"But....I want to help you...."
Working along with her somber tone, her eyes shoot fully charged guilt-rays at me.
She's just trying to help me. I'm in pain, but come on, I can't act like a dick.
"Just don't leave. I'll be okay. Just....stay here...it'll help plenty."
I think I will be okay, if I just take it easy, but I'll need a lookout. I don't want to be left alone, and get eaten by cockroaches while I'm defenseless, or something.
"Okay, Hisao!"
She once again brightens, knowing there IS something she can do. Or, not not do.
Emi sits beside me, tucks her knees in and sighs, then shivers, rubbing her arms.
"Kinda cold in here, huh?"
"Heh. Yeah. Hey, since I'm on the floor, you mind getting my knife? You're in charge, for now. I'll do what I can, if something happens, but I think an old man with a walking stick has a better chance of helping you right now."
"O-okay."
She crawls over to the knife and scoops it up, she stares at it in a trance, her eyes never leaving it.
"Where did you get this, by the way?"
"Killed a monster-thing, to protect Lilly. I took it off of him."
"Oh..."
She keeps looking closely at the knife, as if it's talking to her, or she can see something moving within the blade. I think it's starting to set in, how serious this all is. I don't want her to freak out on me.
"Hey, uhh, you can just set it in the floor. This place seems safe, I just wanted to have it close. You know?"
She nods, then drops it on the floor.
I close my eyes and lay back, hoping she'll speak again. The silence is uncomfortable, but I don't have anything to say.
"AH! I got an idea!"
I shake at the loud noise, which doesn't do anything good to my heart. I get the feeling that there's a high chance she's going to end up killing me with her "help."
"What is it?"
"Well, you need to rest, and keep your heart at a good pace, right?"
"Yep, pretty much."
"Well, you could try meditating! It'd really help you out!"
"....right now?"
"Unless you've got something better to do." She says with a giggle.
"Ugh.....sure..Keep watch though, eh?"
I think my dad used to meditate, but I never got into it. It always seemed like bullshit to me, I don't get how it works. Then again, after today, I can't really be skeptical about much. May as well try it. This should also serve as a good distraction for her.
"Of course! Now, can you sit up?"
"I....I think I can."
I try and stifle the grunt that comes as I raise into a sitting position, my legs crossed.
"Okay, now, clasp your hands together, like this!"
She takes both of my hands and puts them together on my lap.
"I think Rin mentioned meditating, but I never knew you did it."
"Oh, yeah! She's tried showing me her way of doing it before."
"Oh, how does she do it?"
She furrows her brow and looks down in disappointment.
"I...I don't know. She fell asleep when she tried to show me. Twice."
"Ah. So what exactly am I supposed to do here?"
"Close your eyes, and relax. It's simple."
I close my eyes and lower my head.
I sit there for a few seconds, feeling nothing.
"Emi...this isn't doing anything for me."
"Just be patient. You have to wait a bit for your body to get ready for it to work."
"So am I supposed to start humming for the juju magic to take effect?"
"The humming thing is something you only see in cartoons, at least, I never do it. And it's NOT juju magic!"
I supress a snicker and try to focus on relaxing. Which is kinda self-defeating, if you think about it.
"Okay, that's good, Hisao. Now, start to count slowly, to ten, then count back down, then count to ten again, and keep doing that. Just think of the number in your head, nothing else."
"I thought this was supposed to be simple, how am I supposed to relax with all instructions?"
I smile as I say it, I just want a reaction out of her.
"Just try it, trust me! And take deep breaths as you count."
I try clearing my head, which is pretty hard for me. I'm good at compartmentalizing, and keeping one thing on my mind to keep myself going, but getting rid of it all....tonight hasn't made my head easy to empty.
"Just reeelaaax."
I chuckle at Emi's theatrical delivery. I can hear her clothes and hair rustling around, I think she's looking around the room, every so often.
"Alrighty."
I draw in a deep breath and count to one, then release and count to two. Three and four are soon out of the way.
Wait, maybe she means count at each drawn breath. Damn.
I restart, counting at each drawn breath. I make it to 4, when I realize that this system doesn't make sense. Wouldn't you want to count at each exhale? It seems more...fitting. Agh, this is harder than I thought it would be, especially since my mind won't shut up.
I erase the number in my head and start back at one with a big exhale. Another breath, then another, and soon, I'm all the way at ten, counting back down.
I feel my back tense. No, not tense, straighten. I'm not slouching anymore. My thoughts clear, all I can see now is the number in my mind. 7.
6.
5.
I feel a calm envelope me. Usually the same way I do when I'm at the Tea Room. But this might be moreso. It actually feels like I'm back at The Room...ahhh....
The pain and exhaustion starts to dissipate.
2.
3.
4.
"Emi, I think there's something to this. I'm starting to feel better."
"Good, good. Now, stop talking, you'll lose your place."
I nod internally and go back to counting. This continues for the next few minutes. Very pleasant minutes. Emi could turn into a werewolf, and I think I'd be too cool to care.
Tiny hands rest on my shoulders. I don't react to them with anything more than a dull "mmmng."
"Are you feeling better now?"
I feel something rest against my back, then start to move across it. I think she's listening for my heartbeat.
"Yeah, I think I can make it now. Thanks."
I open my eyes and stand up slowly, stretching my arms out. Grabbing the knife off of the floor, I turn to her with an attempt at a serious look.
"Okay, now, the same rules still apply. Stay behind me, and don't move from there unless I tell you. If you see anything, don't freak out, just let me know."
She raises her hand in a salute, hitting her bangs.
"Yes, sir!"
I shake my head and smile, then open the door. Too deep in thought to walk, I just look at her smiling face, the glow in her aura.
"How do you do it, Emi?"
"Do what?"
"Be....so positive. Get past the bad? And so quickly?"
"No matter how bad things get, there's always something to hope for." She says with a giggle. I nod and look at the floor, processing her words.
"When I lost my legs, and I was stuck in the hospital-"
The surprising seriousness the conversation starts to take forces my vision to her.
"All I wanted was to walk again. Not just for me, but for Momma. It was always harder on her than it was on me. I wanted to see her face when I take my "first steps." So I just tried to stay strong till I could get my prosthetics. You know, keep smiling, keep positive. When I finally got them, it was all worth it. Now, I'm better at running than I ever have been, and Momma doesn't worry about me anymore."
Her smile gives off a nearly lethal amount of radioactivity. She stands there with it for a while, then feels she has something else to add.
"Yeah, it's hard at times, I won't lie about that, but you just have to find a goal, you have to have something to hope for. Once you do, just keep going till you get to it. Like right now, our goal is getting to your room. And we'll just have to keep going till we get there." Though she's not the greatest speechmaker, the certainty her words are wrapped in manages to erase any doubt that I had.
Apart from that, I'm a little disappointed. It's funny, I guess I expected something different. Some profound reason for why she's so stable and capable, but it's the same line of thinking that's kept me going through this adventure. I guess this is just proof that that's the right way of going about things. And here I thought I was just psychotic for staying sane.
"Yeah...I guess you're right. Thanks."
"No problem."
We share a smile, then start walking walking out the door, and into the lobby. It's a slow walk. I don't want to take any risks.
I figure if you're going to jump the shark, you may as well learn to ride the shark! 
Thank you! Glad you were entertained!