With the breaking of the greatest Pact--the revelation of the Safe Havens' collective existence--the barrier of every haven has fallen, leaving them open and vulnerable. Xirxine, the Avatars, and the Worthy are working around the clock to maintain g...
Soon, Bari and Snake reached a turn in the hallway, which led to a wider hallway. This hallway was strewn with more sparking cords—so many that it was lit with white-blue light. Pieces of sheet metal and steel pillars lay throughout the hallway as well, making for a treacherous journey to the safe room, whose entrance lay at the very end.
In addition to all of that, a series of tables lay on their sides on either side of the hallway, set up in a way that appeared to make the light of the sparking cords reflect toward the walls, effectively dimming the total amount of light in the hallway.
Bari beckoned to Snake and hid behind a table, with the latter following a second later. "Miss Snake," Bari began breathlessly, "I have a feeling that whatever did this is still in this hallway. So we will need to use stealth as previously planned."
"O-Okay," Snake stammered. She leaned back against the table and closed her eyes, exhaling. "Man," she said, chuckling nervously. "This really got my heart pumpin'."
"Calm yourself, Miss Snake," Bari advised. "You'll need all your wits about you if we're going to survive—DOWN!"
Bari and Snake dropped to the floor as a strange figure—apparently a stick figure with jagged arms around legs shaped like cartoonish lightning bolts—loped past, swinging its white head (and painted-on face) to and fro, sweeping the hallway for stragglers.
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Bari glanced at Snake as she began hyperventilating. He held a finger to his lips, trying to calm her down.
"I ain't n-never b-b-been in a situation like th-this before, B-Bari," Snake stuttered. "I kn-kn-know I talk all b-big and stuff, b-but... I'm s-s-scared."
"So am I," Bari told her, keeping his voice so low that she could barely hear it. "But if we let our fear stop us from moving, we won't make it. Do you understand?"
Snake nodded rapidly, scooching back into a sitting position. Bari did the same, letting out a long breath. He opened his mouth to offer more words of encouragement.
Then, suddenly, Snake grabbed Bari and kissed him, holding him so tight he thought she'd never let go. As they kissed, the strange creature walked by in the opposite direction, turning slightly toward their location. It paused for a moment before continuing on its way.
Snake finally released Bari, both of them breathing quietly but heavily. "Sorry," she panted. "Couldn't let 'im hear ya."
Rattled, Bari blinked rapidly and answered, "Th-That's... quite alright, Miss Snake." Snake smiled shakily. "Hope I didn't scare ya too bad."
