"Actually, where are we going to go?" Theli asked, glancing at the sunset. "It's starting to get dark."
Gyles scanned the wooden cabins around them, her brow furrowing. "Well, if none of these are full of corpses, we should be fine sleeping in one," she said, her voice laced with uncertainty. She looked at the fading light, then back at the cabins. "We could camp outside, but with that roar we heard earlier, our safest bet is to find shelter in a cabin."
Theli's gaze followed Gyles as she seemed lost in thought, trying to weigh the options. "You just want to check and see if any of these cabins have suitable living arrangements?" she asked, gesturing toward the group of cabins. The air felt oddly still, with the faint scent of wood and moss lingering in the evening breeze.
"Yep. Preferably one with no corpses, minimal black ink, and maybe some food," Gyles replied, sounding half-joking, though there was a touch of seriousness in her tone.
Theli sniffed the air and pointed toward a cabin that was closer to the woods. "That one doesn't smell so bad."
"Oh, right. I forgot you're part animal," Gyles teased with a smirk, her exhaustion momentarily lifted. She started toward the cabin, her footsteps quickening, and Theli followed with a slight, amused shake of her head.
As they reached the door, Gyles stopped. "Ready to check?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder.
Theli nodded, her eyes scanning the surrounding area, watching the shadows lengthen as dusk settled in. She felt a strange tension in the air, but she pushed it aside, focusing on the task at hand.
Gyles opened the door, and to her surprise, the inside of the cabin was relatively clean. There was a heavy stillness in the air, like the house was holding its breath. "We could sleep in the living room, but I'd prefer to be further from the ground floor in case the monster comes through. Let's check upstairs," she said, her voice a little quieter now, the weight of the situation creeping back in.
"This place looks good," Theli commented, her eyes scanning the room. The large, spotless couch caught her attention, and the soft cream-colored walls gave the space a warm, inviting feel. The stairs to the upper floor stood like an unspoken promise of refuge, and a door at the back seemed to lead to what she assumed was the kitchen.
Gyles nodded. "We just need to check upstairs," she said, rubbing her temples. She was clearly more exhausted than she let on, and Theli could see the faint lines of weariness on her face.
Theli raised an eyebrow. "You're tired too."
"Yeah," Gyles admitted, a tired smile tugging at her lips. "We've been walking all day, checking out houses, and seeing if anyone else is still alive. If this place is okay, we can sleep here." She yawned, rubbing her eyes, then started to ascend the stairs, her footsteps light but heavy with fatigue.
Theli followed, the air feeling thicker the higher they climbed. At the top of the stairs, Gyles glanced to the right, and Theli followed her gaze. A door covered in black ink greeted them. Gyles frowned and moved toward another door next to it.
"What's in there?" Theli asked, her curiosity piqued, her eyes narrowing as she peered at the door.
"Nothing but black ink and children's toys," Gyles muttered, her tone dripping with annoyance. She opened the door with a flick of her wrist, her eyes scanning the room before she stepped back. Inside, a small bed sat in the corner, and scattered dolls and toy trains littered the floor, like the room had been abandoned in haste.
Theli stepped forward, inspecting the room briefly. "It feels... off," she said quietly, her tone heavy with uncertainty. She could sense something wasn't quite right, but she couldn't put her finger on it.
Gyles sighed again, her shoulders slumping as she turned to the door at the end of the hall. "Let's just see what's behind this one."
"What's got you so frustrated?" Theli asked, her voice gentle, though her concern was evident.
Gyles hesitated, then met Theli's gaze. "I don't know. We've been looking at so many houses, and it's all the same. It's just... exhausting." She exhaled slowly, almost as if releasing the weight of the day in that single breath. "I probably said the same thing earlier when we were on the stairs too. Sorry."
Theli offered a small, understanding smile. "I get it. It's been a long day." She gave her a soft pat on the shoulder before following her to the door at the end of the hall.
Gyles opened it, her eyes immediately drawn to something gleaming in the midst of the black ink—something that didn't belong. Sticking out of the thick, dark substance was a shiny silver sword, about six feet tall and as wide as 1.25 inches. Gyles froze, her mouth slightly agape.
"Woah," she muttered, her voice filled with awe. She stepped closer, eyes wide with wonder, as the sword shimmered in the dim light.
Theli's eyes went wide too, and she stepped closer, taking in the sight of the massive weapon. "Woah, indeed," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "That's... something."
Gyles turned to her, a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth. "That sword could be yours."
Theli raised an eyebrow, looking between Gyles and the sword. "Wouldn't it make more sense for you to have it? You've got the shield."
"Yeah, but you need something for protection too," Gyles replied, shrugging. "I can't take the shield off anyway; it's stuck to me." She tried to move it, but it didn't budge. "See? It's melted into my skin. I'm not about to risk pulling it off."
Theli's gaze softened, and she nodded. "Fair enough." She walked over to the sword, a sense of reverence in her movements. Bending down, she easily grabbed the handle with both hands and stood, lifting the sword above her head. "Wow," she breathed, surprised by its lightness.
"How's it feel?" Gyles asked, a little smirk tugging at her lips.
"It's surprisingly light," Theli answered, holding the sword up with ease, inspecting the blade. "I can't believe how easy it is to wield."
"Alright, now where are we going to sleep?" Gyles asked, crossing her arms as she surveyed the room.
Theli looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "Aren't we just going to sleep downstairs?"
"I don't want to risk it," Gyles replied quickly, her eyes scanning the shadows of the room. "What if the monster comes through the door while we're sleeping? We'd be dead before we knew it."
Theli rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Can't we just sleep in the kid's bedroom?"
"The bed's too small," Gyles said with a frown. "One of us would have to sleep on the floor with no cover or pillow."
Theli shifted, glancing down the hall toward the stairs. "I'm fine with sleeping downstairs on the couch. You can take the kid's room."
"Okay," Gyles said simply, surprising Theli with how easily she agreed.
Theli raised an eyebrow. "Okay? Just like that?"
"Hey, if the monster shows up, you'll probably die first," Gyles said, a casual shrug accompanying her words. "At least I'd have time to run." She turned toward the stairs, the flicker of her usual humor returning, though it was tinged with fatigue. "Besides, I'm hungry. I'm going to see what's in the kitchen."
Theli shook her head with a soft chuckle. 'What a pessimist,' she thought, following after Gyles as she moved into the kitchen.
Gyles was already rummaging through the cabinets when Theli entered. "Heads up," she called, tossing a granola bar in Theli's direction. "Most of the cabinets are empty, probably cleaned out by the people who lived here before."
Theli caught the bar easily, unwrapping it. She took a small bite, grimacing at the stale taste. 'Better than nothing,' she thought.
Gyles sat beside her on the couch, opening her own granola bar. "So, what was your life like before you came here?"
Theli thought for a moment, looking down at the granola bar in her hands. "I was just living with my adoptive mother," she said softly, her tone thoughtful. "There's not much to it. What about you?"
Gyles shrugged nonchalantly, a flicker of a wry smile on her lips. "I'm homeless, just trying to survive."
Theli's eyes widened. "My condolences," she said quietly, her voice full of sympathy.
"Don't worry about it," Gyles replied, her voice softer now, but still full of strength. "Right now, I'm the happiest I've ever been."
Theli smiled, feeling a little warmth spread through her chest. "I'm glad."
"Thanks," Gyles said, her voice surprisingly gentle for someone so used to fending for herself.
Theli stretched, yawning. "Well, I'm going to lie down now. I'm so tired."
Gyles removed her cloak and handed it to Theli. "Here, since you don't have a cover. I'm going upstairs."
"Thanks," Theli said, her smile genuine as she took the cloak.
Gyles nodded, heading upstairs, and Theli reclined on the couch, wrapping the cloak around her. She placed her hands behind her head, staring at the ceiling, the steady rhythm of her breathing the only sound in the room. Slowly, she drifted off to sleep, the weight of the day finally settling in