The break down

Allen Walker changed into a new outfit. She pulled on a fishnet shirt and leggings, both reinforced with light iron-covered plates for protection. Beneath the fishnet clothes, her body was wrapped in bandages to cover the numerous wounds and the spreading skulk infection. Each bandage felt like a testament to her resilience, but also a reminder of her constant struggle.

One evening, the weight of her suffering became unbearable. The infection, the nightmares, and the ceaseless pain combined into a torment that broke her mind. She stumbled into the forest, desperate for an escape from the torment inside her head.

A random player named Marcus, who had seen her leave, followed her. He found Allen leaning against a tree, her face twisted in agony. "Allen, are you okay?" he asked, his voice full of concern.

Allen's eyes were wild, unfocused. She clutched her head, trying to block out the voices and the images that plagued her. "I can't... I can't take it anymore," she muttered, her voice trembling.

Marcus approached cautiously, his hand reaching out to offer comfort. "It's going to be okay. We'll get through this together."

But something inside Allen snapped. Her control over her hunger, already tenuous at best, shattered completely. With a primal scream, she lunged at Marcus, her teeth sinking into his flesh. The infection, the hunger, the madness—they all took over. She could only think about the gnawing need inside her.

When it was over, Marcus lay lifeless on the ground, his body partially devoured. Allen's hands were covered in blood, her mind slowly coming back to the present. Horror and guilt washed over her as she realized what she had done. She hid Marcus's body under a large tree, covering it with leaves and branches. Her heart pounded in her chest as she ran back to the city, her thoughts a chaotic mix of fear and regret.

When she returned, the other players were waiting, their expressions filled with concern and curiosity. "Where have you been, Allen?" Amber asked. "And what happened to Marcus? He went after you."

Allen forced herself to stay calm, masking her terror. "I just needed some fresh air," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "I didn't see Marcus. Maybe he went a different way."

The players exchanged worried glances but didn't press further. Allen quickly retreated to her room, locking the door behind her. She slid down to the floor, her back against the door, and buried her face in her hands. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she silently cried, her sobs muffled by the walls. "I'm sorry," she whispered over and over again, her voice barely audible. "I'm so sorry."

The weight of her actions crushed her spirit. She couldn't believe what she had done, driven by the infection and her own desperation. The image of Marcus's lifeless body haunted her, a stark reminder of the monster she was becoming. She felt trapped, not only by the skulk infection but by the guilt and shame that now consumed her.