A bleeding moon's pulse

CHAPTER 8 | ACT 2

Iodine huffed, leaning against a wall and slouching against it. Every time their consciousness began to slip away, they could feel a sharp jolt of pain force them awake. A refined torture made just for their soul, rotting in this purgatory.

They had scoured a single sector that day, for they feared encountering the beast and its ungodly gurgling. Apprehension built by clanging pipes and rattling tubes, those low pitched series of clicks meant to unsettle and drive away. They felt queasy resting here, but their body ached. They brought their cloak closer to their body, wrapping themselves in its faint warmth. They were half conscious, but still awake.

Lidocaine was there beside them. A meter or two away, sitting right by their side. They took comfort and pride in knowing it, soothing them into a true form of safety and security. For a short amount of time, they had fallen asleep. But the caretaker rejected them. They woke once more, at the unholy hours where the black sun still shone. Groggily looking around, and hearing voices of unknown sorts.

"...Yes yes, objective one has been completed. Our radio officer should've reported back to you, the event took place a couple days ago. Last week even." a resonating voice seemed to murmur. Iodine's brows furrowed as they shakily got on their knees, their body too sore to stand at the moment. They were still suffering from the time Gauze had beaten them senseless.

"Asset 1's death went smoothly, actually. Not according to plan, but oh well. Perfection, is inevitably, unreachable."

They crept forward. The voices grew less mellow as they walked towards the end of the hallway, stopping a few steps before they turned the corner. Their heart dropped, pounding in their ears. What if that was Larynx...? Their fumbling hands unholstered their gun, shakily holding it up as they inched forwards.

"No. I'm sure Asset 2 will recover. I am confident with my choice, I think that way too." A voice boldly reported back. The words sounded almost distorted, shaking and trembling. Mmm. That was surely the work of Larynx. Iodine felt queasy. Could they really take this thing on without Lidocaine? As frail as they were? As mentally unsound?

"Very well. I am pleased with this. Thank you for your patronage." Iodine's heel pivoted as they jumped from the corner, shaking. They held their gun with both hands, stumbling forwards slightly. They were greatly struggling to walk, with their heart hammering away in their ears, and their legs weak beneath them.

Their stomach dropped. "Lidocaine?" their despaired voice wailed, their shoulders dropping and their face souring, about to cry. They sounded as if this was the last straw — and it was. They huffed and panted, looking around like a dazed animal. They took a step back, the position of their gun unwavering.

It was all just lies. Lies upon lies, garlands upon garlands of them. The radio officers had connection, but chose to ignore their pleas. Lidocaine knew about Gauze's mania. Everything was... planned out in some way and sense. Everything was fabrication.

"Signing out." Lidocaine said into the radio, standing there like a deer in the headlights. "Hmph. It seems you've outwitted me, as usual. I knew you'd catch on eventually, with a mind as sharp as yours." Lidocaine softly tried to say.

"Shut up." Iodine barked, stammering and skipping through words. "Lidocaine... I..." They started to choke on their tears as their throat grew hoarse and stung with saline. Iodine's head dipped as they cried, burrowing their head into their cloak as they kept their gun pointed at Lidocaine. Fingers brushing against the trigger. "What's wrong with you? Did we not swear to reject them?"

"They're... right about something. They gave me something I couldn't resist." He stammered, taking a tentative step towards Iodine. "It was so WE could have something better. It was for US."