Hey readers, I recently got a comment saying this chapter felt too short and a bit confusing. After looking over it again, I agreed it could be better. So here's a new version of the chapter, and I hope it makes you happy, Temptest3600!
If you have any more thoughts or feedback, please share them—I'll do my best to keep improving this story.
Much love,
Writer
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I stood there, the world seeming to fade to the background, as a war waged inside me, before I killed to return to Liv, to Kusina, to Mom, to everything that mattered. At least that's what I told myself, that's how I explained the lack of anything, the lack of reaction, or emotions to the act of ending a life.
But now that could no longer explain my actions, I could no longer pretend. That feeling, the colors, the taste, my body shaking at the memory, it was exhilarating, a smile seeming to grow on my face without my permission.
I steadied myself, and wiped away the smile. I would not do this for pleasure, I would not be some murderer's monster. I do this to return home, I promised myself, even as the two other goblins fell to the ground dead. I steadied myself, even as my heart seemed to beat faster, and my hands seemed to tremble. I do this to go home, I repeated, as I turned around. I do this so I could go home, I thought as I stalked the halls. I repeated the thought with every death, I repeated the thought even as my footsteps grew lighter, as my movements became smoother, more predatory, my body seeming to almost move on its own, my thoughts growing sluggish with every kill. And still I repeated—I do this to go home—even as the kills seemed to blur together, and soon the movements seemed to come unprompted, and soon all I could do was watch kill after kill after kill.
But as I watched, I heard the system: "You don't have to watch this, I could take over, you could rest." I was so tired, it wouldn't hurt just for a little bit. And just like that, I was no longer in the hallway of the ship. I looked down at my hands, I was no longer holding the bone dagger that had been with me for so long, but instead I held a fork. And as I looked in shock at the everyday object, a familiar voice made itself known.
"Are you okay?"
I looked up in surprise, only to be met by that familiar, concerned face. Mom? I felt her hand against my forehead.
"You aren't sick, are you?"
A smile spread across my face. "I'm fine, Mom."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure. You worry too much."
"That's my job, buster. Eat something and get some rest, okay?"
I could only smile at that all-too-familiar motherly love. "Yes, Mom."
This was right, I thought, as I watched Mom put a sandwich in front of me. This is how it should be, I thought, as Kusina and Liv joined me at the table. This was right, I thought.
I lifted the sandwich, the hunger that had followed me the last two days urging me forward. It was so good, satisfaction following every bite.
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Scab's POV
Scab is getting fucking tired of this. Why must Scab look for every fucking goblin that is late for guard duty!? My thoughts were consumed by frustration, but soon a strange smell grabbed my attention.
It was blood.
I followed the smell. The rumors of something killing goblins on the lower floors came rushing back to me. Shit, this isn't good.
But as I came around the corner, I was frozen in shock.
There sat a pale thing, hunched over something. It was thin, with fur only on its head. But what grabbed my attention was the blood—it was covered in it. I saw the goblin bodies surrounding it. Fuck. This wasn't good.
My every cell was telling me to run, but I was frozen with fear. That's when I realized what was in its lap. It was a goblin corpse.
I watched as it raised the body to its mouth. That sound—the sound of flesh tearing as it took a bite. I have to fucking run before it kills me.
But as I took a step back, the floor bent under my weight.
Creek!
The thing turned, and when our eyes met my heart stopped.
It was smiling.
Not cruelly, not even mocking. It could have even been considered friendly if it wasn't for the blood that covered it.
The room seemed to grow colder at that moment, the thing's red, blood-covered teeth on full display, smiling as if we had been friends our whole lives.
And then it brought the body up again, this time the bite was slow, as if to enjoy it just that much more.
I was going to die here, wasn't I?!