The Madness Within ✓

XXXII.

„The statues," I said in-between shaky breaths, „one of them started playing a melody before."

„What?" Chris said as he wiped the blood off his face.

„The statue starts playing music when the creature is nearby. The creature that approached us right now made statue number 09 play music when it was close to you," I explained and walked to Chris, looking at the dead creature next to us from time to time and checking if it's actually dead now. If it weren't, we'd be in big trouble.

„We can use that to our advantage then, can't we?" Chris responded and smiled. I nodded.
„But let's get those cuts on your face treated now," I responded and began walking back inside.

I led Chris upstairs to the library and picked out a first aid box from one of the cupboards, then put it on the table. I opened the box while Chris sat down on the chair next to the table, then I walked to him and tended to his cuts.
„I can do it myself, don't worry," Chris said, but I just shook my head and continued with a light smile on my face.

Once the cuts were taken care of, I went downstairs and prepared some dinner for the both of us.

„I made some chicken. I hope you're not allergic to anything," I said as I was putting the food and utensils on the table. Chris shook his head and smiled.
„You really didn't have to. You should rest now, I'm sure the fight with the creature made you tired."

I nodded and smiled back, sitting down on one of the chairs by the table and taking a knife and a fork into my hands, „It did, but we both deserve some delicious food as well to keep us energized."
Chris just nodded in response and began eating. I took a bite of the chicken and savoured the taste in my mouth. I missed dinners like these. Dinners with delicious food, where I could relax for once and enjoy a simple activity without worrying about other things. And yes, I should be worrying about things, but at that moment I felt at peace for once.

„But.. we should still be cautious at night," Chris said, then finished chewing his food before continuing, „they might attack us at any time."

„Yes, of course. But still, if I'm right, then the statues should start playing music when a creature is nearby. I'm not sure why it works like that, though," I responded and shrugged.

„Guess we'll never know," Chris said and smiled, then continued enjoying the food in front of him.

Once we finished eating, we talked about our next steps for a moment. We decided that if we ever choose to go outside the house, we need to go together. We can't split up no matter what.
And once we leave the house, we should take the statues with us and keep them nearby, so that when a creature tries to attack us, we'll know that it's close to us. That way they won't be able to attack us from the back, since we'll have the statues to alert us that they're close by. That is, if the statues are working as we think they are, of course.

After a little bit of talking about our interests, we both headed to bed. I decided that Chris will sleep in the room next to mine, so that if anything happens at night, we'll be close to each other and we'll be able to go help one another.

„Keep the knife under your pillow, alright?" Chris said as he walked towards the door to his room and laughed.

„Of course. Good luck putting that axe under your pillow though."
Chris shook his head and turned to look at me, „I'll find a way, don't you worry. Goodnight."

„Goodnight," I responded and entered my room. I put the knife under my pillow and laid down. As soon as I placed my body on the bed, I knew it would be difficult to get me off of it in the morning. I let the comfortable mattress swallow my body as I slowly drifted off to sleep.