The Weight of Exhaustion

Chapter Thirteen: The Machine

Sabre heard mumbling above him. He tipped his head to the side, trying to listen. Something shifted slightly on top of him.

Who was talking?

The voice stopped its mumbling, and something cold touched his head.

"—bre?"

Sabre blinked his eyes open, quickly slamming them shut with a groan when the light made pain shoot through his head and entire body.

Why did his arm feel on fire?

"Are you awake?"

"Shadow?" Sabre cracked his eyes open to see the blurry shape of Shadow looking down at him.

"Hm, that was a word at least..." Shadow replied. "Not sure what though." He mumbled to himself.

Sabre shivered, before his body decided to flash hot, then back to cold. Pain shot through his entire body, making him groan. Shadow made a pained look in response. "Well, there goes that plan." Sabre could hear the eye roll. "Go back to sleep, Sabre."

Yeah. Sabre closed his eyes, letting out a sigh. Faintly, he heard something creak off to the side, and Shadow's voice spoke something.

He'll deal with it when he isn't so tired.

— —

Sabre blinked slowly as he stared up at the ceiling, the room dark enough he can't even tell what room he is in. Was it night?

Sabre listened to the quiet bubbling from... something nearby. He really isn't sure what was making the sound. It was relaxing, and his eyelids pulled themselves down against his body's wishes.

Every instinct in his body wanted Sabre to move, to get up and go for some reason even with the pain that radiated from one side, but Green Leader was always on his case about moving when hurt.

Maybe he'd listen for once and rest? At least until he doesn't feel like he has a fever. Maybe he'll rest, then go.

His body seemed to agree with that statement as just thinking the words seemed to make his body feel like lead replaced his bones. Something screeched quietly off to the side, and mumbled conversion was heard. Sabre wondered...what they...were talking...about.....

— —

Shadow could do nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

He hated it.

Shadow was sitting on the stone floor, leaning against the wall. Faintly, he could hear lava bubbling in the hallway. An oddly rhythmic pattern that pierced the silence.

He rolled his eyes at remembering what exactly the entire volcano lair looks like. Origin, what was it with villains and aesthetics?

At least the lava helped with heating.

Shadow glanced at Sabre, who has yet to have awakened as the second day passes by. Soul or Corruption would stop by occasionally, not really talking to him, just changing Sabre's bandages with his supervision. They wanted Sabre alive, and that meant Void had a plan.

Shadow shifted. He knew quite well what Void's plans looked like and wasn't enjoying being on the opposite side of them.

He let out a sigh. He just had to wait for Sabre to wake up, that's all. Then they can figure out what to do from there.

Corruption opened the cell door, this time without any bandages in his hand.

Shadow felt his stomach twist. Corruption sighed, looking at him with an expression Shadow couldn't pinpoint. "Come on. Void wants to talk to you."