Fresh warm air inside my lungs and on my skin, along with the feeling of wet grass underneath my boots. For a while, I stood still and felt my lips form a smile. The place really looked better during the day.
"This is nice," Reilya said, having already ditched her coat beside her and was lying on the grass; their expression was the same as mine. I walked over to her.
"It is, but we still have to check inside," I said, bending over and offering my hand. "Come on, get up."
"Come on, don't ruin the mood." She said, but grabbed my hand. I pulled, but her arm's pull was stronger, and I fell on her other arm, which cushioned my head.
"I'm sorry," She suddenly said, and my annoyance was quickly replaced by confusion. "For hitting you, back then." She said with a small smile, and her eyes showed that she was being genuine. Again, my body felt weak.
"…It's fine," I manage to speak. "I guess that makes us even."
She gave a small nod and turned her gaze to the sky; my gaze shortly followed. "Resting is important as well. We'll check the cabin after we get back some stamina." It was a statement I could not argue, and as a comfortable silence settled over us, my eyes closed, and I let my body relax.
Taking a deep breath, the smell of grass was comforting.
Minutes, or hours, maybe even days. Time felt flying by, and as I opened my eyes, the sky had barely moved an inch. A sigh quietly left my mouth, and my eyes turned to Reilya. Her face was calm and peaceful, almost as if she were sleeping.
She was.
Another sigh left my mouth, and for a second, I thought about checking the cabin alone.
"Eh.Heh… don't." Reilya sleepily muttered, and my thoughts died before I closed my eyes again. And again, time felt like it was flying by.
My thoughts drifted along with my awareness, a sinking feeling as if the ground was swallowing me, and suddenly I felt hyperaware of my body. A steady rhythmic beat of my heart and the sucking push of blood through my veins.
Everything was severely bruised, and the drawbacks of assimilation had yet to end. My range of full control had thankfully extended to my arm and hands, and a portion of skin and muscle on my upper body. But the important organ and skeletal systems seemed far out of reach.
But maybe I could just…
A stabbing pain through my back and chest, burning, and freezing. My entire body clenched. Forcing control was no longer an option I could freely use; trying to use my body as if I were piloting a corpse was just a painful mistake.
Rest… Remembering her words, I repeated them as if they could help.
Just rest…
Just…
In a snap, like a cord bearing too much weight, my mind fell into exhaustion, plunging into an ocean of darkness, and for a time, my body slowly sank into the depths of my psyche. It felt freeing, like loosening a belt, but if that belt were your skin.
"So," Their voice was mine, and so was everything else; they sank beside me, with our heads equal. "You're finally back? Did you enjoy my gifts?"
"Gifts?" I asked before remembering how my body moved on its own. "You're stronger than I expected."
"I'm dead," They flatly replied. "I don't know if strong is the word used for me."
"But you still help, unlike some people here."
"The dolls?" They asked, and I nodded. "They're good company." They said, using the words lightly.
"And yet you chose to greet me first," I said and sighed. "So why are you here?"
Snapping their fingers as if it helped with their memory. "Right, I just wanted to say. I think you should be cautious around her." A finger sealed my lips, and counter. "I know, I know. You're not going to trust me, but. There's just something off about her. I don't exactly know what, but I got a feeling she shouldn't be trusted."
Growing a mouth, I spoke my mind, "Why should you care? You're dead."
"Because I can't get my revenge if you're dead."
"Who said that I was going to kill them? I don't even know where they are, or even if they're alive."
Crossing their arms over their chest, they shook their head slowly and spoke with a raised voice. "As long as you're alive, that's good enough revenge for me, and if you meet and kill them, that's even better. BUT, until then, I can't risk you dying on me."
"I'mm noot-" My words dragged, and my body felt pulled, their form distorted like a reflection in a rainy puddle. They grabbed a tail of flesh, stopping my ascent.
"Trust me, and be cautious. It's my second life after all." They let go, and the darkness faded with them.
"…ch…"
"Ches…"
"CHESTER!"
Opening my eyes, Reilya's face blocked the sky, and even for her, it was too close for comfort.
"Did you enjoy your nap?" She said with a smug smile.
"How much-" She cut me off, her voice ever sweet.
"Just an hour, or I think it was only an hour." She pulled her head back, revealing the orange sky. I immediately sat upright despite the protest from my abdomen and back.
"You didn't think to wake me up sooner?"
"Calm down," Reilya answered, casually standing up and slinging her coat over her shoulder. "We have no reason to hurry, and do you really think you could fix anything broken when you could barely move?"
She was right, though I would never admit it.
"Let's just check inside," I replied and stood up, and silently made my way to the cabin's porch. Reilya followed shortly behind.
The wood creaked as we stepped on it, and for a moment, I stood in front of the oak door before stepping to the side.
"I think you should be the one to open it," I said, turning to face her. "You're the one who started it after all."
Reilya's smile softened, and she reached out and grabbed my hand and placed it on the brass handle of the door.
"Come on, we did this together, there's no point finishing alone."