19 The Father of B2
Zack let out a groan as he slowly came too; he was expecting to find Rachel, Eddie and Faith still there. Just waiting for them to wake up, and show signs that they were still alive. Though when he did open his eyes, he saw they were nowhere to be seen.
"What the…" He groaned as he tried to push himself up, "... Ray… Brat…? Fifi…? Where the fuck did they..."
He had been taken back when he heard the sound of coughing. He looked next to him and saw Kristen; her face flushed a complete red.
"Kris…" He said, before he started to shake her awake, "... Kris… Wake up…"
Kristen's body slumped over slightly, nearly hitting the floor. Zack was able to catch her though it only aggravated his wound as he groaned. He noticed that she looked paler then before; though her breathing had been soft, he could still hear her breathing horsley.
"Damn… It…"
Working through the pain he set her on her side as gently as he could before he looked down the hall.
"I gotta find them… I need… To find--"
He groaned as he placed his hand over his stomach as his vision started to worsen.
"I can't let her die… Not here… Not now… Have to… Help her…"
He reached out towards the path that lay ahead of him as the world around him became dark.
"R...Ray…"
***
Rachel, Faith and Eddie had been keeping up their pace, as they opened the first door they had laid their eyes on. When they opened the door they were met with a thick layer of darkness as they couldn't tell what had been inside the room.
"It's so dark--" Faith said, fixing her glasses slightly, "--I can't see a thing."
"Do you think we're gonna find something here?" Eddie asked Rachel.
"I don't know." She replied honestly, "But we have to try."
With that being said Rachel ran into the room, with Faith and Eddie following behind them hesitantly. As they had gotten about halfway down the hall, they were suddenly startled when the room became lit suddenly via a set of candles that had been sitting about. The three of them stood to each other's backs as they watched all the candles in a row lit up.
They soon noticed the very room they stood in as it had a stained glass window and the European build it had possessed, which took them all back.
"A--It's a church?" Faith said shocked.
"How… Odd." Eddie said, "And that's saying a lot coming from me."
Rachel nodded, "Something… Seems strange."
They soon jumped at the sound of a thump; when they turned they saw a candle stand had been knocked over which they found to be strange. However it wasn't as strange as when they saw what looked to be pink smoke coming from it. It hadn't been long before they found themselves surrounded in the strange pink cloud.
"What is this!?" Faith said as she covered her nose, "More poison gas!?"
"I don't think so…!" Eddie said as he did the same, before he used his other hand to cover Rachel's nose.
"This smoke…" Rachel said, "... It smells… Kind of sweet…"
The three of them started to feel woozy as they nearly collapsed on their knees. Each of them let out a collective groan but managed to steady themselves. "I don't feel so good…" Faith said as she groaned.
"Wha--What is this…?" Eddie said as he felt dizzy, "My body… Feels heavy all of a sudden…"
"Don't pass out…" Rachel told them as she stood up straight, "...Don't forget… What we came here… For…"
With a flicker of a candle they were shocked to find that they were standing in front of two sets of doors, and in front of them had been a pedestal of some kind. "What now!?" Eddie exclaimed.
"That DEFINITELY wasn't there before!" Faith added.
Rachel soon looked to the pedestal that had been in front of them as she had noticed an open book; it looked to be opened to a certain page. She picked up the book as she read what had been written inside. "God desires those who clean and without falsehood." She read, "Ask yourself: Who are you? Are you a desirable sacrifice? Are you an angel? Or if you are any other form of being God's salvation… Reveal and confess all of your sins."
"Okay that's not creepy at all." Faith said as she shuddered.
"Yeah--" Eddie said as he looked to the door on their right, "--Well neither is that."
They looked and saw what looked to be a sign attached to the door that hadn't been there before.
"What is thy name?" Is what it had read.
"This is getting freaky." Faith said as her body shivered.
"Something tells me we shouldn't go through…" Eddie said, "... But--"
"--We have no choice." Rachel finished, "Come on."
She soon stepped forward with Eddie and Faith following close behind her. They looked to one another before they exchanged a nod as they answered the simple question.
"Rachel Gardener."
"Edward Mason."
"Faith Bicari."
Much to their surprise the paper had crumbled suddenly as it disappeared within the door before they heard a click. The moment it opened, all they could see was nothing but darkness, as Faith and Eddie couldn't help but have a fearful look. Rachel took both of their hands as it had been a sign of reassurance for them, before she pulled them inside.
The hall had been lit again, though this time around they had been surrounded in what looked to be the same pink smoke, and not to mention they could smell the sweet aroma again. Still holding onto their hands they stepped forward until through the clearing of the smoke, they saw what looked to be a chair, a single small bottle.
"Now that's--Interesting." Faith said awkwardly.
"What do you think that's for?" Eddie asked.
The two of them were taken back when Rachel had stepped forward and picked up the bottle. The moment she did, they had been taken back when they saw a set of words appear in thin air; the writing had been in red.
"SPIT OUT YOUR SINS… AND THAT WILL BE YOUR PROOF...WHAT DO YOU FEEL UPON THE PROOF… THE DOORS OPENED SO YOU CAN KNOW THE STAINS YOU BEAR…"
Faith had gulped, "Okay--I'm officially freaked out now."
The writing had soon lit up causing the kids to jump and it had started to spin around them. They couldn't help but huddle close as it seemed like the words had drawn closer to them. Suddenly in the middle of the room there exploded a puff of pink smoke causing them all to jump back from each other and shut their eyes so that dust wouldn't get in.
In the process however… They became lost in it.
"RACHEL!!" Faith and Eddie shouted.
***
Rachel had been the first to open her eyes as she found Faith and Eddie were no longer at there side. Instead she found herself staring into her own reflection.
"A mirror?"
The familiar writing soon appeared again as she flinched slightly.
"LOOK AT YOURSELF. A SACRIFICE, A LOST SHEEP… OR A DEMON? THE ONLY THING GOD WANTS, IS YOU WITHOUT LIES."
Rachel had studied the words carefully, "What does that mean?" She looked to the eyes of her reflection, "All I see is myself. But that's all."
The words started to drip down the glass and the pink smoke appeared once more. More of the same handwriting appeared; the mirror began to break apart.
"ARE YOU JUST AN IGNORANT? OR ARE YOU HIDING YOUR TRUE SELF? HERE IS YOUR TRUE SELF. HERE IS YOUR CONFESSIONAL. TO LEAVE, COLLECT YOUR OWN PIECES AND KNOW THE TRUE SELF."
The mirror soon exploded into thousands of pieces as more of the same pink smoke had appeared. To her, it seemed like time had slowed down for her as the glass fell like snow.
"Collect your own pieces and know the true self…" She repeated as she started to put it together. She reached out and took hold of the closest glass in front of her. When she did, the whole world around her had changed once more, as she soon found herself standing in the same mirror, only this time she had been staring at what was left of it.
She looked around the area, but couldn't find Faith nor Eddie.
"Where are they?"
She soon noticed that a new set of words appeared in red again.
"SPIT OUT YOUR SINS. IF YOU DON'T KNOW, TEAR UP AND DRAG THEM OUT."
The smoke came again as it had blinded the child, as she could smell that strange sweet aroma again. When she opened her eyes again, she found herself in a small room, with little space to move around her.
"What is this place? All the writings are strange. Still--I wonder what happened to Eddie and Faith…"
She soon noticed that the writing in front of her had changed. Upon closer inspection, she could see it as clear as day.
"Can you recognize your sins?" Is what the writing had read. She soon jumped as she could see the writing had extended.
"IF THEY ARE BLACKED OUT, YOU DID SO YOURSELF. DID YOU ERASE THEM? OR DID YOU NOT REALIZE THEY WERE SINS? IF YOU LOST YOUR OWN SINS, MAKE THEM COMPLETE AGAIN. ACCEPT THE SINS AND FOLLOW THROUGH."
She had been taken back when the walls suddenly sunk into the floor as she was met with a black abyss. Though it only lasted for a few moments as a new set of walls slid up like that of a slide puzzle. The walls had been colored and in the color of pink as there looked to be portraits before her very eyes.
There had been a total of four portraits. One had been a child running through a field, another had been a large snake, the third had been a hunter and the fourth had been a woman sitting by the bridge in a state of twilight.
"What is this?"
"Rachel!"
Rachel soon jumped at the sound of a familiar voice; and another that came soon after.
"Where are you!? Where did you go?!"
"Rachel! Please give us a sign that you hear us!"
"Faith! Eddie!" She called out, "Can you both hear me?! Where are you?!"
She did get a response, but… This voice didn't belong to either of them. This voice belonged to a man.
"Here is the Confessional." The Voice said.
Rachel looked around as the voice had come from all sides, making it impossible for her to figure out where it had been coming from. "Who are you?!" She called out.
"Spit out your sins." The Voice said, "Accept your sins."
Rachel looked puzzled, "My… Sins?"
The Voice spoke, "Tear them up and drag them out."
The words kept on repeating on and on, as it started to become distorted in her eardrums. They started to get louder and louder as she looked at the shard in her hand. She might've imagined it however, though she could've sworn, she had a Cheshire like smile on her face.
Then, almost as if, she had been in a trance--
"... Tear them up… And drag them out…"
She kept on repeating, and repeating like she was on a constant rewind. She stepped towards the portraits and began to slice them one by one as she could hear the sound of screaming. However she found herself stopping when--
"Rachel…"
The shard in her hand stopped just inches from the painting of the woman sitting in twilight. It was then in the frame she saw the familiar appearance of the young woman with familiar red eyes within as she seemed to have snapped out of her trance.
"... Kristen…?"
The pink smoke soon engulfed her again as she was forced to shut her eyes once more. When she opened them again, she found herself standing in front of an entirely different portrait; it looked to be a family of sheep.
"It--Changed?"
"Ray… Ray…"
Rachel pulled herself back when she heard a familiar voice--One that didn't belong to Kristen. She didn't even jump back when two figures came out through the portrait; there eyes were clouded as they reached out to her, attempting to hug her by the looks of it.
"Come here Ray…" The man said.
"Ray…" The woman said.
She felt the woman place her hand on her cheek as she flinched slightly. "Ray…" The woman called out as she caressed her cheek.
"What's the matter Ray?" She heard the man say, "Come here."
Rachel paid the couple no mind, as her had shook slightly, though it hadn't been out of fear, nor anger. No--It was out of impatience.
"That doesn't matter--What I need to do right now is save them."
She soon sliced the family of sheep as she could hear the couple let out a shriek of agony as blood seemed to have appeared from the painting and stained her face and clothes. Though she didn't seemed to have flinched from it; instead she held the bottle towards the painting as the bottle soon filled with the blood from the portrait.
"Spit out your sins… And that will be your proof."
The pink smoke soon came again once the bottle had been full; she had been forced to shut her eyes as the sweet smell had gotten stronger. When she opened her eyes, she found herself in the middle of the path, as she had been surrounded by candles.
"Another strange place…?" She said as she looked around.
"Rachel!"
"Rachel!"
She looked over and saw Faith and Eddie had been the ones that called out to her. She nearly found herself falling over as they had put their arms around her. "Faith? Eddie?" She said a bit confused.
"We were so worried!" Faith said, "Where in the world did you go?!"
"You just disappeared suddenly!" Eddie said, "We were so worried!"
"I disappeared…?" Rachel said, confused.
Faith and Eddie couldn't help but look relieved, though they soon noticed the bottle she carried. "Rachel--" Faith said, noticing the color, "--Who's blood is that?"
"Where did you get that from?" Eddie asked.
For a moment she looked to the bottle in her hand, just now remembering what she had been holding. Though she remained expressionless, her look changed, "It doesn't matter." She told them, "We have to hurry."
They had been taken back by her tone before she stepped forward; though as they were about to follow, Faith had let out a shriek.
"What?!" Rachel said, before she noticed why she shrieked.
There they saw a bloody footprint just behind her; and from the look of it belonged to Rachel. "Your footprint is red!" Faith said fearfully as her face paled, "Why are your footprints red?!"
"Rachel--" Eddie soon said, "--Did something happen when you disappeared?"
"It doesn't matter--" Rachel said, surprising them again, "--We don't have time to stand around. Let's keep moving." They started to walk forward as Faith and Eddie couldn't help but look back at the bloody footprints as they each could've sworn they heard someone else behind them. As they were about halfway down the hall, they could hear a sound.
"You guys hear that too?" Faith asked.
"That sound--" Eddie said, "--Are those… Organs?"
The pink smoke soon cleared up as they saw a set of doors in front of them. "It's coming from there." Rachel said. The three of them approached the doors before they managed to get it open with a turn of a knob. They stepped inside a hall where no candles were lit as they followed the sound. The further down they went, the louder the organs had gotten.
"Seriously--" Eddie said, "--Where is that coming from? It's starting to get annoying."
"Look!" Faith said, as she noticed what had been up ahead, "Down there!"
There through the smoke they saw the instrument that had been responsible for the sound; though much to their own shock. "It's… Playing by itself?" Faith said, stunned.
"Look--" Eddie said as he noticed a podium that held a book.
The three of them approached it as they noticed there had been something written. "What is your confession?" Rachel read out loud, "Does your heart truly wish to be saved? Can you lift your sins up to God as the sins that they are? Can you lift your sins up to God as the sins that they are? More importantly, you lack the ability to recognize a sinful heart. If you seek salvation, declare this place the nature of your sins."
"Does that mean it wants us to confess?" Eddie asked, "In here?"
"This is getting more freaky by the minute." Faith said with a shudder, "What in the world could this mean?"
Rachel soon looked to the jar in her hand, before she noticed a painting had been in front of them. It had been a painting of an angel what it seemed like; it appeared to be praying from what they could tell. She looked at the jar, filled with blood once more.
"Declaring your sins…" She soon enunciated softly.
"Rachel?" Eddie said with worry.
She soon stepped away from the pedestal and the two of them as she approached the portrait. "What is it?" Faith asked, "Did you figure something out?"
"I think so." Was all she replied with.
Eddie and Faith jumped when they saw her thrust the bottle forward; in a few short moments the portrait had been stained with blood. The organs played loudly as all of a sudden, a thick layer of pink clouds had surrounded them; it hadn't been long before they found themselves feeling woozy. It seemed as if it had been hard for them to breathe, even when the smoke finally cleared for them.
As Faith had been the first to recover, she had soon come to realize that they had been in a Church; she could see the painting on the organ had been stained with blood, "Well--" Faith said as she could see the others had recovered, "--I don't want to go through that again…"
"What do you the adults call that again?" Eddie said, "Trippy?" He soon went over to Rachel as he could see she had been in distress, "Rachel--Are you okay?"
"I--" Rachel said as she could feel her head throbbing, "--I think so."
Faith soon froze up as the two of them were quick to notice. She didn't say anything, rather she only motioned them to look behind them. It was then they realized a shadow had towered over them as they looked over. There before them, stood a middle aged man with short black hair that is slicked back, his eyes are only white with no pupils visible at all which couldn't help but make Faith shiver. His whole attire consisted of a long purple cloak with golden lining, a golden cross necklace, and a black suit vest with a white buttoned shirt underneath. He also had on black dress pants and shoes and had seemingly fair skin. He appeared to be holding a red book.
The man soon spoke, "Who are you?"
Rachel, Faith and Eddie had flinched slightly at this; though the look on Rachel's face changed slightly at the sight of the man as he appeared to be looking at Rachel in particular.
"Why are you silent?" He said.
"What about you?" Rachel asked as Eddie and Faith were a bit taken back by her tone of voice, "Who are you?"
"I am the priest of this church." The man replied, "My name is Gray."
"A--A priest?" Faith said surprised.
"You mean he's supposed to be the master of this floor?!" Eddie said, "Where's he been hiding!?"
"You're really a priest?" Rachel asked.
"Now, it's your turn to answer me." Gray said, "Who are you little lambs?"
The three of them looked to one another as they were each compelled to answer. "I'm Faith. Faith Bicari."
"Edward Mason." Eddie said, "Though--I guess you might've known me on the previous floor."
"Yes--" Gray said, "--I remember."
"And I'm Rachel Gardener." Rachel soon said, "Are you really the master of this floor?"
"I am." He replied, "From your perspective, I suppose I would be."
"From our--" Faith said, a bit shocked, "--You're the only one on this floor!"
"Now, now--" Gray said calmly, "--You have no need to be frightened Miss Bicari. You and Edward will not be judged."
"Judged?" Faith and Eddie said confused.
"You on the other hand--" He said as he looked at Rachel in particular, "--I have yet to judge the kind of person you are. Since I do know that, I will not pass blind judgment on you."
"What do you mean by that?" Faith asked, "What do you want with Rachel?"
"All will be answered soon--" Gray said, "--Now what are you doing here?"
Rachel soon stood as she stepped in front of Faith and Eddie before she answered, "We're looking for medicine, and something to stop bleeding."
"I see." Gray said, "So you require an antibiotic, and an antihemorrhagic then? Zack and Kristen require this, is that right?"
The three of them looked to the man just in sheer shock, that he had gotten the guess right. Even more so--The fact he had spoken their names.
"How do you know Zack?" Rachel asked, in a demanding tone of voice.
"How do you even know Kristen!?" Eddie said.
"That's obvious." Gray said, "I know more about them than anyone else." He shut the book he had open as he turned away from them, "Sadly I'm afraid, there's nothing on this floor you can use to treat them.
"What?!" Eddie, Faith and Rachel said shocked.
He soon continued, "If there is such a thing… I would expect them to be on Danny's floor."
The three of them looked surprised by this sort of thing. "You mean--We have to go back down there!?" Faith said.
"But… How?" Rachel asked him.
"Do you wish to go back down?" Gray asked them.
"Of course we do!" Faith replied, "Zack and Kristen need that medicine!"
"I am not asking you…" Gray said, "... I am asking you--Rachel Gardener."
"Yes, I do." Rachel replied without hesitation.
"Then--What must you won't be difficult." Gray said, before he turned to them; he appeared to have a smile on his face, "With me, you can return there."
The group had been taken back to this sort of thing. "You mean, go back with you?" Faith said before she turned to Eddie, "Can floor masters do that?"
"I don't know, I never tried it before!" Eddie replied.
"It's possible as long as you're with me." Gray told them, "I know the way to get there."
"Can we trust what you say?" Rachel asked him as she remained skeptical.
"Rest assured, I do not lie." Gray said, "However before we do--I will need something from Rachel Gardener in particular."
"What would that be?" Faith asked.
"She must undergo a bit of a test." He answered, which surprised them again.
"What do you mean a test?" Eddie said as he had a leer, "What are you planning on doing with Rachel?!"
"Don't worry." Gray said, "It's nothing too difficult. I only wish to know--Who Rachel Gardener truly is. I do not require an immediate answer. Make the choice within your own heart." He looked over to Faith and Eddie, "As for you both--You are free to do as you wish. If you do go with her, then you can only observe her in the test."
"I want to say that's comforting but--" Eddie said as he had a look of suspicion.
"--You're not gonna try and kill us right?" Faith asked, "I don't know about you, but we're tired of that.."
"You have my word, there will be no tricks." Gray said, "Until Rachel makes her decision, I shall wait here. The choice is hers and hers alone."
Faith and Eddie looked to Rachel as they wondered what she would say. Though she didn't bear any expression, they could see the gears moving in her head. Eventually however, she had an answer--Or something at least.
"I just need some time to think." Rachel soon said before she took Faith and Eddie's hand, "Please excuse us."
Neither didn't have time to answer as Rachel started to drag them out of ear shot from him. "Rachel--" Faith said once they were out of earshot, "--I don't know if we should trust him, he might be leading us into a trap."
"And if he leads us into a trap, he could really kill us." Eddie said.
"I know that--" Rachel whispered, "--But right now he's our only lead. First we need to talk to Zack and Kristen."
"That is--If they're still awake." Faith said.
Faith and Eddie still had a look of worry, though they each nodded their heads in agreement as they figured it had been the right thing to do. They soon went to make tere exit however they were a bit taken back by a rather unusual sight.
"What the--" Faith said as she had now stepped into what she was assuming was going to be the large hallway they walked through before.
Only much to their surprise… There wasn't any.
Instead, they found themselves back in the confessional hall much to their own surprise. "That's odd--" Rachel said, "--A few rooms are missing."
"Yeah--" Eddie said, "--Shouldn't there be more?"
"Now that I think about it--" Faith said, "--What happened to all that pink smoke?"
Rachel looked behind her as she noticed that hall hadn't been as long as before as she couldn't help but find it curious. Though she didn't think about it, she soon ran ahead of them, which took them back. "Rachel!" Eddie called out, before he ran after her, "Rachel wait!"
She ran back the way they came as fast as she could towards where Zack and Kristen had been. It hadn't been long before she had reached the hallway, but soon let out a gasp as she noticed a familiar young man had been on the floor face first as there had been a trail of blood.
"Zack!" Rachel exclaimed before she rushed over to him. It hadn't been a second later, Faith and Eddie came through, as they had noticed Rachel had been trying to get him to back up.
"Oh my God!" Faith exclaimed.
"Why is he on the floor?!" Eddie said.
"It doesn't matter, just help me!" Rachel told them.
Neither of them had any hesitation as they each grabbed a side before they helped back against the wall just next to Kristen as her breathing had still been labored. Zack let out a groan as he opened his eyes, bringing relief to the kids.
"Thank Goodness." Faith said.
"I told you not to move." Rachel said.
"Ray… Fifi… Shitty Brat..." Zack said, "... Where did you go…?"
"I thought it was obvious, we were trying to find medicine to help you and Kristen!" Eddie said.
"Kris…" Zack said before he looked over to her, "... Ah, right… I'm not an expert… But… I think she's getting worse… I was trying to find out where you three ran off…" It had soon hit him as he couldn't help but give a leer, "... Wait--You three went off by yourselves…? What were you thinking…? Leaving us like that…"
"We had to, we couldn't risk aggravating your wound and Kristen's fever." Faith explained.
"Besides--" Rachel said, "--You were asleep."
"DUMBASS!" Zack shouted as it made Faith in particular, flinched, "You should've woken one of us up then!"
"We couldn't do that." Rachel argued.
Zack still had his glare, but only sighed as he found it best not to argue any further, "And? What did you find…? Did you find medicine at least…?"
"Wel, no." Faith replied, "But we met with the master of the floor. He said he could bring us down to Danny's floor and let us get the medicine we need."
"Wait, what…?" Zack said shocked, "... You guys want to go back there… After coming all this way…?"
"Yes but--" Rachel started to say, before they were taken back when Zack went to stand up.
"No, don't!" Faith exclaimed as she went to stop him, "You can't move!"
"Let go of--" Zack started to say before he practically gagged out blood.
"Just sit still for awhile!" Rachel told him sternly.
"Shut up! I'm not a little kid!" Zack told her as he took hold of his scythe. Though when he tried to lift it, he found it oddly difficult.
"My scythe is heavy…?" He groaned, "... The hell? That doesn't make sense…"
"It's because you don't have your strength right now!" Eddie told him.
"If you try to move it, you'll die." Rachel added, "Your body is telling you, you can't handle it right now."
"DON'T TELL ME SHIT LIKE THAT!" Zack shouted.
"BUT IT'S THE TRUTH!" Eddie shouted.
"BUT YOU KNOW I'M NOT GONNA KICK THE BUCK THAT EASILY!!" He argued.
"Zack!" Rachel said as it shocked all of them when they saw she had gotten on her knees. She placed her hands together, almost as if she had been praying. "Please…" She pleaded, "Let us be useful. Let ME be useful to you and Kristen."
"Please huh?" Zack said, "I hope you realize that's going to change anything."
Rachel ignored this as she looked to him, with pleading eyes, "... Please."
Zack only gritted his teeth before Faith helped him to sit back down against the wall. "So… Is there really a way to get back?" Zack asked.
"Well--" Rachel said, sounding a bit hesitant, "--I think it'll be fine."
"Like we said, the floormaster is willing to take us down there." Faith said.
"We would take you with us but--" Eddie said.
"I get it." Zack interrupted him, "I'd be dead weight if I went with you three. And if Kris was up… It would be the same wouldn't it?"
"That's not true!" Rachel argued which surprised them.
"It is, and you know it." Zack countered, "But if you three can tell me honestly, that you won't die, then I can tell Kris not to worry when she wakes up, and let you all go." He soon took Kristen's hand as he felt her unconsciously squeeze it a little, "I think I might just nap with her, before she comes to."
Faith and even Eddie had a look of worry. And though Rachel didn't show it, she had been worried as well; though she was quick to come to a conclusion as she stood up. "Okay." Rachel said, "We'll go meet with the floormaster then."
"Wait--Does that mean we're really going?" Faith asked.
"Of course." Rachel said, "If we're going to save them, we need that medicine. Stay with them until I get back."
Thus Rachel went to back the way they came; or at least that's what she thought, until--
"Wait--" Zack soon said as he took hold of Rachel's wrist, "--If you're going down… Go as far as my old floor."
"Your old floor?" Faith said confused.
"The place where I found you guys--" Zack clarified, as he grew more tired, "--My room is back there… There's a knife… Bring it… To me…" Rachel felt her hand loosen as it fell to the ground.
"Zack?" She said worryingly.
The three of them soon sighed with relief as they saw that he had fallen asleep. Faith had soon rummaged through her backpack before she took out a blanket. "They must be cold--" She placed it over them as she made sure they were both comfortable, "--I just hope they can hold out till we get them the medicine."
"You had a blanket the whole time?" Eddie said shocked, "You didn't take it out before?"
"I wasn't cold--" Faith replied, "--Plus my bag has a secret compartment and I only use this for emergencies. And this is an emergency."
"Huh--Go figure." Eddie said.
"You two wait here for me." Rachel said, "I'll be back in a bit."
"Rachel--" Faith soon said as she stopped in her tracks, "--Look, I know you said that guy--Gray was our only lead but… How do you even know if we can trust that guy?"
Rachel didn't even turn back; as the look in her eyes changed slightly. "... I don't." Was all she replied before she headed back the way she came, leaving Eddie and Faith as they stayed by their comrades' side.
The young girl had entered the chapel as she found Gray had been exactly where he had been. It was like he had sensed her return as he turned towards her.
"Well--" He said, "--Have you made your decision?"
Rachel stepped towards him, until she had been looking up to him. "I have to do this for them--" She thought to herself, "--I can't let Zack die… And I can't let Kristen die either."
It was then--Rachel had soon spoken up, "I will go to Doctor Danny's floor to get the medicine." She answered, "So--I will take your test."
Gray had smiled as he had been satisfied with this answer, "Very well."
"But please--" Rachel pleaded, "--I'm begging you, don't do anything to Kristen or Zack."
"Of course." Gray said, "Now let's go meet with your friends, shall we?"
As Gray walked by her, she had been taken back by something, oddly peculiar. A familiar, and peculiar sweet little scent as the very scent of it, made her head a bit fuzzy.
"It's that smell?" She thought.
"Well Rachel Gardener?" She heard Gray say as his voice startled her. She shook off the fuzziness in her head before she quickly caught up with Gray. They had soon returned to Faith and Eddie as they were both waiting anxiously, all the while they were keeping their eyes on Zack and Kristen.
Though they each had a defensive look the moment Gray had been close to them.
"I see you're all determined to keep them away from me." Gray said amused, "There's no need for glares--I won't do anything to either of them. Shall we then--"
The three of them had been hesitant, even as Gray stepped into the elevator. "Are we really doing this?" Faith asked.
"Seems that way." Eddie said before he had his shovel ready, "Don't worry--If he tries anything, I'll bash his head."
"Don't--" Rachel said, "--Not until we know for sure, he plans on killing us."
"So--What do you think these tests are?" Faith asked to fix her glasses a little as she threw her bag over her shoulder.
"... I don't know." She replied, for a moment she looked over to Zack and Kristen. Unconsciously, Kristen brought herself closer to Zack as even he adjusted himself slightly.
"Just remember why we're doing this." Rachel told Faith and Eddie before she took their hands, "Let's go."
Faith and Eddie didn't have time to retort, or well say anything for that matter as Rachel pulled them into the elevator. The doors soon closed shut with the turn of a key from Gray, and it started to descend back down to B3.
