...
'Ok... ok... calm down.'
'Think of the best plan of action and maintain eye contact.'
Stare.
Shudder.
'The best option I can think of in this scenario is to push Glint and make a bolt for it.'
'Glint can probably hold his own for a while against that thing and during that interval I can hide myself.'
Thoughts clogged Rusty's mind and yet, he couldn't take action, helplessly staring back at the monster watching him.
'We haven't encountered a creature like this in all our years of exploring. Why now?'
Rusty was afraid but not scared witless.
React slow to danger and death is all that awaits. It had become the unspoken motto of their squad.
'Maybe this thing appeared after the exploration failed. After that alarm, the weird voice did say something about disinfraction...or was it disinduction? Ugh... I don't know whatever.'
Neither Rusty nor his group dared to move a single inch, as an awkward staring contest ensued. The being on the ground had its eye fixed solely on Rusty, bloodshot and bulging from it's head.
...
After what seemed like an eternity, the silence was shattered by the soft squish of flesh as the creature's gaze slowly dragged across each member of the group before fixing it's gaze on Freya.
The atmosphere only grew more tense, Rusty could now make out the widening and constricting of its pupil, fully making out how much of a gnarled and bloodied mess this 'thing' actually was.
'Freya is just a kid. Not her.'
As if sensing Rusty's inner thoughts, both Hammel and Glint shifted slightly, covering up Freya from the creature's line of sight. The natural tendency to protect the youngest had overridden the notion of fear brought forth by the mangled monstrosity.
Although this feeling of dread was quickly returning as the creature's gaze now roamed over Glint and Hammel. Its unblinking stare was unsettling to say the least, not because of the horror its eye projected, but due to the fact...it clearly needed eyelids. Its singular remaining eye was quite evidently under immense strain. Pulsing blood vessels, a mixture of blood and tears, the reddened sclera that caused irritation to even those watching. It was like its eyelids had simply melted away.
The creature shivered briefly, causing the cohort to raise their guard.
Pop.
The sound of a jaw popping into place was all that followed, as the weird monster slowly opened its jaws wide, as if to speak yet frozen mid-sentence.
...
Silence.
"Brrr..."
Freya was the first to speak up, peeking from behind the other two.
"Shhhh! Quiet, Freya. And no, it doesn't seem to be dead."
Rusty was closely examining the creature and so was Hammel. Glint was...well, there was no immediate threat, and being 'afraid' cost a lot of energy. In simple words, he was now peacefully snoozing.
Nearly 15 minutes had passed, and despite their antics and hushed conversations, the 'thing' had not moved an inch. Eyes still occasionally moving, jaw locked open, but no movement whatsoever.
Rusty could not wrap his head around what purpose this strange creature served.
'What a weird beast.'
This cycle of observation continued until Rusty and Hammel realized that Freya was missing.
'Huh???'
'Where is s-'
Rusty's orb-like eyes went wide as he finally laid eyes on Freya. Only to see the soft blanket of moss right next to the monster's face with an innocent look of curiosity in those pink eyes.
"Freya... what are you-"
Ignoring Rusty's voice, Freya continued staring at the creature's face, a hint of recognition within those luminous eyes. Not an ounce of fear to be found, even as the creature stared right back, its jaw still open in a silent laugh or cry, they couldn't tell.
The inactivity of the beast did nothing to ease Rusty's worry as Freya inched closer and closer.
"Brlooop..."
Even Hammel joined in with a deep rumble that hoped to deter her, but to no avail. As Freya stood right next to the creature's throat...the gooey bony mush that was probably the throat. And then she hopped atop. Yes. She jumped on top of that supposed monster's throat, enveloping it in a layer of pale pink slime.
The three watching this unfold–I mean, the two watching this unfold (one is currently in his dream world)–were speechless.
'Why would she use that on this thing?'
As their leader, Rusty obviously knew what Freya was doing, but didn't understand why.
She was using her 'power'.
Indeed, all of Rusty's group including himself had abilities they labelled 'powers'. Simple I know, but real. Rusty could influence things around him, small objects and himself, which is where his power of levitation originated from. Freya well, had a really useful one.
"Everyone move away from Freya. Now."
Rusty spoke in a resigned and firm tone, as they retreated nearly thirty steps away.
...
Hummmmm.
A soothing hum filled the silence as Freya's body illuminated the surroundings, the 3 or 4 strings within her gelatinous body, pulsing with a pink glow that cast shadows on the hallway torches and ruined cells that lined either side.
The light grew brighter and brighter, enveloping Freya and the creature.
'She's never pushed this hard before. Sigh '
'Just what is this kid thinking?'
The minutes ticked by as the pulsing light reached a crescendo.
VUMMMMMMMM.
A final bright light pulsed forth, before vanishing in a flash.
Plop. Plop.
Two dead rats fell from the hallway ceiling.
Plop. Plop. Plop
Three more.
Rusty looked around, seeing more dead vermin within a few rusted and decayed cells as they moved closer.
'Yeah. She definitely overdid herself.'
The group made their way back to Freya, seeing her fall of the creature's throat. Barely conscious.
Yep, this was the side effect. Freya had a strong and irreplaceable healing power, though it had it's drawbacks.
Firstly, while using her power, no ally should be close. From experience, Rusty and the group predicted it to be around twenty-five steps, thirty to be safe. This was because her power, while strong in healing the intended target, caused other living things in the vicinity to age or straight up drop dead. They could only theorize that maybe it took from one living being and gave to another, a 'life-force' transfer of sorts.
Secondly, it was extremely draining on Freya herself, both mentally and physically. She would need days to recover from the exhaustion and her healing ability could only be used again once she regained her strength.
Lastly and most obviously, the extent of the 'healing' depended upon the number and vitality of surrounding living beings.
...
Rusty slowly lifted Freya using his power and placed her atop Hammel's head. At the same time, his eyes fell on the creature.
Hair. Long, splayed across the carpet.
Pale skin and jutting bones.
A mostly healed body, though small wounds still remained near the chest, arms and legs.
A face with sunken cheeks, black eyes and-
"Wait... a minute. "
"Eh?"
...
"EHHHH???"
"I... IT'S..."
"IT'S YOU!"