Isolophobia

V

Picture Credit: Magness3

Haiden grabbed Craig's hand, slowly making their way over to the open

elevator. "Do you really want to trust it?" Craig whispered, tightening his grip on

Haiden's hand. "Do we really have an option? Look what those invisible monsters did

to you." Haiden said, turning around to face Craig. Craig looked down, slowly

mumbling something. "Sorry." Craig mumbled. "What? Don't apologize. It wasn't your

fault! You were the one harassed and beat up. Don't ever apologize for someone else's

problems or someone else hurting you." Haiden said sternly, rubbing his fingers

against Craig's hand. "Ah, thanks." Craig said, looking softly up at Haiden. The

elevator dinged, the doors starting to close. "Ah shit." Haiden said, frustrated. He

swung Craig in front of him, throwing him into the elevator. Haiden quickly squeezed

his way through the doors before they shut fully behind him. "Woah, that was close."

Haiden laughed. It was silent for a moment. "Hm?" Haiden hummed, turning to look at

Craig behind him. The elevator gave a light buzz, with dim golden lights. The

elevator slowly rumbled, moving downwards. "Craig? Are you... okay?" Haiden asked,

making Craig jolt out of his thoughts. "Huh? Oh yeah, sorry I've just dealt with a

lot in the last 24 hours." Craig sighed, leaning against the elevator wall. Haiden

frowned, walking over to sit on the floor next to him. "Sit." Haiden patted the

floor, trying to get Craig to sit next to him. Craig slowly leaned down the wall,

sitting next to him. "This is going to take a while." Haiden whispered, pointing to

the elevator's floor counter. "We're currently on level 32, it's taking us to level

-33. The elevator is moving slowly, so it might take a while. Might as well get to

know each other more, don't you think?" Haiden asked, smiling at Craig. Craig hummed

quietly. "So what was with that girl and the other gentleman? I knew Gabe-" "You know

Gabe?" Craig interrupted, turning all his focus to Haiden. "Yeah, I saved his life. I

was in a subliminal level, there was a healing pool and he had clipped into a pool

behind me. He was bleeding heavily so I took him to the pool to heal the wound on his

neck. He would have died if it wasn't for the pool and I. Then he told me he was

looking for his female friend and left me behind while I had my back turned." Haiden

explained, fidgeting with his fingers. "But he looked completely different. His hair

was shorter, a lighter brunette brown. He had both of his eyes, and only that neck

scar after the pool healed him. No facial hair and he wasn't extremely buff." Craig

laughed. "So you must have met him ages ago! We've been here for years." Craig

smiled. "Years? I fell in a couple minutes after Gabe and his friend, I was trying to