Nightshift 38: West Wing, South Hall 1-B

[shallweplay]

[From here]Ophelia carefully opened the door, listening and looking around in both directions for any signs of monster activity. When she was satisfied that there was none that she could detect, she swung the door open and hurried down toward the main hall where more of the moonlight could be seen faintly. Once she got there, she knew she was

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[roseoverture]

Utena had never seen her friend like this before. The closest to being truly upset that she had seen her before had been on the night of the ball earlier in the school year, when the dress Nanami had given to Himemiya had half dissolved in front of everyone in the ballroom. And this time, there didn't seem to be an obvious way for Utena to rescue Himemiya from such hurt. How could she when she didn't even understand what she was being accused of?

As Himemiya drew her hand away, Utena reached out to gently take it in her own hands. Though she felt a little awkward doing so, she guided her friend's hand back to her and held it against her chest where her heart was beating. "I don't know why you think I'm not me. Who else would I be?" she asked, her blue eyes full of worry. She kept her friend's hand against her bosom, letting the girl feel the warmth of her own pale hands and the thump of her heartbeat underneath. "I'm not that clever, so this is the only other thing I can think of to prove who I am to you. If that doesn't do it, then I don't know what else to say."

[iamyourflower]

The feeling of a human heartbeat under her palm was both frightening and heartening. Made her feel all the more human herself, like those small moments with Utena once had. She melted, just a touch, her eyes softening into an expression resembling comfort, for one hesitant moment in time.

No. Utena was gone. Or dead. Or free. Or all of those things. Anthy was in no shape to play these games with a creature of the institute. She'd had enough of dishonesty.

She withdrew her hand as if hurt somehow, and without a word, turned straight around and began to walk away. No aim, just a forward, brisk escape. She couldn't stand to see Utena's face in this ugly world where Anthy belonged.

[roseoverture]

Utena felt tears welling up in her eyes when Himemiya turned her back. She really didn't know what else to say. What had happened to make her friend like this? What exactly did this place do to people?

It was in that moment that the sounds of the fighting further down the hall finally registered fully in Utena's ears. She couldn't see very well what was happening, but she could hear hissing and shouting, and she could swear that she saw glimpses of blood as she shone her light further down the hall. Her eyes widened, seeing Himemiya begin to wander straight in the direction of whatever was going on.

"Himemiya, no, not that way!" she cried out, rushing forward and retaking her friend's hand. Rather than holding it gently this time, however, she held on tight, trying to guide the girl back in the direction she had come from earlier. "I don't care if you don't think I'm me. I'm not letting you just walk out there to get hurt. You have to take better care of yourself!" The last of those words seemed much too familiar in her ears, and she felt a disconcerting flash of blank memory in her mind briefly as she ran for the door.

[To here]