Nightshift 25: Discplinary Therapy Room Hallways

[stray_shinigami]

[from hereRenji stopped himself from simply stumbling into the hallway by grabbing the door frame. There were nine people behind him, poised for attack and rescue. But it would be stupid to run in blindly

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[damned_monsters]

The hallway was dark, shadows stretching and reaching as though clawing at the beams of light from the flashlights. That beam passed over shapes, moving out there in the darkness. Beasts set to guard, to watch, to protect. Beasts that hungered for flesh. Beasts that seemed to give off some strange, faint glow of their own when the light touched them.

Three in number, forms like humans, skin a strange dull gold, the creatures moved with a jerky rhythm, as though puppets controlled by some unseen force. Blind, hairless, open mouths devoid of teeth, the creatures shambled towards the rescue party. Their five fingered hands, a gross mockery of humanity, raised and sliced at thin air with sword-like claws.

[stray_shinigami]

Well, he hadn't thought for even a moment that this would be easy. Renji decided not to check for the spirit threads quite yet; the creatures were between them and the doors, so it wasn't like they could try to break through until they'd been taken care of, or at least sufficiently distracted.

He nodded to Sora, jerking his chin at the one closest to the doors. They'd go after it together. He looked at Artemis as well. "Stay behind me," he said. "If someone falls, help them. If three of us fall, run."

He signaled his intention to Hitsugaya and whoever else might be watching, though he didn't move forward quite yet. As soon as Sora had his keyblade out, they would charge it together.

[byname_bynature]

The boy followed Renji along the hallway as fast as he could--drawing a crude map and running wasn't as easy as Artemis had originally thought. When the group arrived at the hall, he craned his neck to see past Renji.

Artemis stared in shock at the creatures. His mind was fumbling, desperately searching for a scientific reason for these things. Obviously, his brain couldn't wrap itself around the issue because there really was no reason for their creation--that he could see, at least.

Renji's words snapped him out of his trance, and he gave the man a stiff nod, "Understood." Something cold had gripped his heart. It was foreign, and altogether unwelcome. Was this the feeling Artemis had never had time to experience? Was this fear?

Left hand shaking, Artemis drew the scalpel Haku gave him out of his pocket--ready to stab anything that might want him for a midnight snack.

[scintillatingly]

The trip to the halls where the experimentation happened wasn't nearly as long as Sora had been expecting it to be. He made certain to commit that path to memory, as it was one he might have to travel many times in the future. He hoped not, but even the bearer of light had to be realistic about certain things

[stray_shinigami]

[ from here]

Renji walked out of the room, Kairi firmly in his arms. He paused once they were outside of it; at least one of the fights seemed close to ending. He looked at Artemis. "Stay here," he said. "When the next group finishes, tell them that Adel is in that room." For a moment he balanced Kairi easily in only one arm, so that he could point out the room to Artemis. He kept pointing until he was certain that Artemis had the exact location.

He turned his attention to Sora. "Let's head back to Ed's room," he said. "The kids'll want to know how things are going."

There was room to get past the monsters. He headed that direction. He figured he'd drop Kairi off at Ed's room; Sora could stay with her, and Tamaki could fuss over her. Then he'd head back and... hopefully find something to kill.

[byname_bynature]

Renji's command caught Artemis by surprise. Stay here? Renji must have really not wanted to look the boy in the face now. His secret was blown, after all--there were bottles all over the floor. But Artemis was used to being hated by now. At least staying in the hallway didn't involve suturing wounds. ...yet.

Artemis shrugged, trying to look indifferent. But of course he wanted to come back with the rest of the party--hail the triumphant heroes and all that.

But then again, there was blood to be bottled...

"I'll let them know," Artemis assured Renji, trying to keep the edge out of his voice. He didn't want to become the next surgical table, that was for certain. Without another word, he moved to stand next to the door Renji indicated. There was no need to help the group. After all, a man had just pierced the monster's weak point with a spear. Ed's rescue group would be there soon enough.

[scintillatingly]

While it made sense for Artemis to stay behind and help the others (though it looked like things were winding down, anyway), Sora was still somewhat sad to have to leave him behind. He had offered his help, after all.

He gave the other boy a pat on the shoulder similar to the one he'd received from Artemis just earlier, and then turned to Renji. It looked like Kairi was falling asleep, which was probably for the best. She had to be extremely drained after being injected with darkness. Though he did have some concerns as to how that was going to affect her...

Renji was on the move, though, and Sora had to jog to keep up. "The kids?" he asked. Were there people waiting for them, then?

[heartcrown]

Kairi was surprised to see Renji balance her in one arm while he pointed out a door to Artemis, and for a second she clung to him as if she thought she were going to fall, but realization sunk in and she soon released the death grip.

Sighing to herself once Renji and Sora were on the move again, the redhead caught a fleeting glance at her old friend and flashed him a small smile before allowing her eyes to shut once more.

Within a few moments, she was fast asleep.