EX//MACHINA: EXORDIUM

Chapter IX - White wing

— Man... I'm amazing.

A girl's voice echoed through the room, followed by a loud thud on a padded surface. As usual, Kimiko was boasting and lounging on the couch she used as a bed since she arrived. Much to her delight, she seemed to be alone, which meant uninterrupted hours of sleep, another victory for her name.

Not like anyone would interrupt her sleep with noise or anything, considering the only other person who would come in was Dantalian, and he was respectful about it. The problem was she just couldn't let her guard down with him around; his mere presence made her feel like she was fighting for her life. So, it definitely wasn't the best condition for sleeping. Nevertheless, she was extremely excited.

— You don't find me; I find you. — She mimicked her own tone from hours ago, followed by a big smile. — And that look on his face after that, he was definitely intimidated.

She talked to herself, and after hearing the room echo her voice back to her, she closed her expression, feeling strange about it. Something about her tone of voice and the way she was talking to herself made Kimiko feel odd, even if just for a moment.

— Well, he wasn't in his right mind; this could be bad for me. — She continued talking to herself, but this time in a serious tone, as if she were precisely analyzing the situation. — Nah, if he doesn't accept this deal, it's for the best. No idiot like that would be useful. Yeah, that's it, there's no other logical option.

Kimiko arrived at this conclusion and prepared to sleep for several uninterrupted hours. But while she was thinking about what to eat when she woke up, a shiver ran down her spine, making every hair on her body stand on end. Unfortunately for her, what would happen next was terrible.

— Do I intrude upon a moment? — That calm yet unsettling voice made itself present after three knocks on the door, opening it and entering the room without waiting for a response. — I sensed thee in discourse with another.

— No, you're losing it. I'm trying to sleep.

The girl replied while observing Dantalian, dressed in his usual attire, wearing the same creepy smile as always, and now, unfortunately, with his eyes shining. Like everything else, that was terrible too. She didn't feel this with anything else in the world, and Kimiko believed she had seen some pretty grotesque things.

— So, fair madam, how hath it fared?

— Don't call me "fair madam". — Kimiko ordered and thought about not answering his question. But when the guy stood there for several seconds, staring at her expectantly, she gave in out of sheer irritation. — It was normal. He's just a whiny, paranoid kid with a beaten-up face. I only called him because of the information you gave me; otherwise, it wouldn't have been worth my time.

The young priest opened his mouth to say something and raised an eyebrow but gave up at the last second, sighing and letting out a slight laugh.

— If such thy thought, thou must possess sound reasons. Yet mine visit today bears a different purpose, more entwined indeed.

— Be quick; I wanted to sleep before I have to go out again.

Seeing him approach the door and nod to someone who wasn't in her field of view, Kimiko became furious with how Dantalian messed with her senses. She could easily hear two people entering the shelter from afar, but whenever he was close to someone, that person seemed to be "camouflaged" to her, which could prove dangerous if she didn't pay attention.

Getting up from the couch in case of a fight, she began to plan her moves even before knowing if something would actually happen: run to the door while interfering with an opponent's aim — assuming they were wielding a firearm — position herself behind Dantalian, run to him, and break both their necks as quickly as possible. Usually, this would be a stupid plan, but Kimiko was confident she could do it in a second. Maybe even less.