our last night alive

Act 10

-"I had to think quickly, but the conclusion was already obvious. Someone was inside the base with us, and they were certainly following our actions. I had to tell the others."

Yuji

"Yuji here. This is an emergency, can you hear me?" I waited impatiently for an answer that luckily arrived soon.

"What's the emergency, Yuji? Are you okay?" Nobara's concerned voice reached my ears as a small smile painted my lips. Hearing something from her was comforting.

"What's happening, Yuji?" George demanded.

"I'm afraid there's someone here in the base. A grenade exploded out of the blue and Anastasya got injured." I glanced at her face, she was suffering.

"What do you mean there's someone?"

"I have no clue, but we certainly didn't place it there. I doubt it was some sort of emergency system, someone must be here."

"Fuck, that's not what we planned." He sighed. "Everyone, pay maximum attention to your surroundings. We don't want anyone to get hurt any further. I'm gonna repeat it; pay extreme attention to your surroundings." George stated steadily and rigidly. "Yuji, is Anastasya deadly wounded?"

"No, she's not. Those are all pretty superficial injuries."

"Good, take care of her. You must have everything you need to medicate her."

"Yes, sir." I didn't waste any more time and took out the first aid kit from my backpack. To my surprise, she stiffened for no reason and got me wondering what was up with her. I disinfected the bloody wound in her forearm and her head, covering them after with some bandages. Meanwhile, she seemed to relax her muscles and gain full consciousness, sitting up while I put the tools I used back in my backpack. A whimper of pain escaped her lips, as I turned around in concern. She laid back down. Her hair had grown long, spreading on the cold, dirty surface.

"Anastasya, I'm afraid something is cracked." I told her softly.

"Yeah, certainly a pair of my ribs." She stated out of breath. "I'm gonna kill whoever put us in danger."

"Thank you for saving me." I smiled sadly. She turned on her hip and sat up again, grinding her teeth. "No, don't do that, it's danger-"

"I've endured far worse than this, Yuji. Some broken ribs won't stop me from accomplishing my mission." She stood up under my surprised and worried gaze, holding her stomach and taking deep breaths. "Let's go."

"Wait."I got up and approached her. "Let me proceed in front of you, I don't have any injuries." She took me by my wrist with a steady hold as I began walking to the door..

"No, I'm already injured anyway, it would be a problem if we are both hurt. I'll protect you." My eyes went wide.

"That's such a thoughtless decision for someone like you." I murmured, causing her to halt her actions. "You're basically saying that it's better if you get even more injured just because you are already hurt. You'd risk dying." She sighed. I knew I was behaving in an impertinent manner, but I couldn't just avoid the topic.

"If we are both wounded we'd be of no use."

"So your suggestion is to get you deadly injured so that I can survive? You'd be of no use then."

"I wouldn't." She spat rigidly. "Knowing I would have saved you, I certainly won't feel useless. Let's go now, I'm not gonna stand here and argue with you." She turned around, as her heavy steps echoed on the gloomy hallway. She looked like a general. Her composure seeps out and hits you with contempt. You're destined to feel inferior and compressed under her existence. I followed her as an irritated and defeated breath left my mouth.