I felt the weight of reality pressing down as I made my way downstairs from my room. After the dream I shared with DJ and Capuchin, something about today felt... off. Smoosh, always the cautious one, told me to be careful as I left. I brushed him off with a grin, saying I'd be fine, but deep down, I wasn't so sure.
When I met DJ and Capuchin outside, it was almost surreal seeing them in the flesh. After what we'd shared in the dream world, the sight of them standing there, in broad daylight, felt strange, almost unnerving. DJ looked exhausted, like the weight of his situation was hanging off of him in chunks. Capuchin was anxious, her eyes darting around like she was expecting something bad to happen at any second. I couldn't blame her.
They asked me what we should do next, but I didn't have a plan. Not really. My instinct told me to just... rip the parasite out of DJ. Simple, right? But the looks on their faces told me they weren't convinced.
"That's dangerous," Capuchin said quietly, glancing nervously at DJ. "You sure that's the best idea?"
"Do you have a better one?" I shot back. I wasn't trying to sound harsh, but we didn't have time to sugarcoat anything.
Neither of them said anything. The silence lingered in the air, heavy and thick with fear. I took that as my cue to go ahead.
Activating the Eyes of Truth, I could see it—the parasite. It was like this dark, pulsating mass hovering within DJ, twisting and slithering around his magic, feeding off it like a leech. I took a deep breath and moved closer, ready to yank the thing out. But just as I reached for it, DJ's infected hand shot forward, nearly stabbing me.
I stumbled back, heart pounding. What the hell?
DJ's eyes widened in horror. "I'm sorry! I didn't... I didn't mean to do that. I don't know what's happening!"
Capuchin rushed to his side, her face pale. "We have to keep him still," I said, trying to shake off the fear that had gripped me. She nodded, holding him in place as best she could, but the parasite fought back. DJ's body jerked violently, like something was trying to tear its way out from inside.
With a deep breath, I reached through DJ, my hand passing through him like he was made of smoke. I could feel the parasite now, cold and writhing beneath my fingers. It took everything in me not to pull back immediately.
DJ screamed, the sound ripping through the air like a blade. His pain was palpable, and for a moment, I hesitated. The doubt crept in, whispering to me that this was a mistake, that I was hurting him more than I was helping. My grip loosened, and I let go.
DJ collapsed, unconscious, as the parasite slithered back into the depths of his magic. I stood there, staring at my hands, feeling like a complete failure.
"What happened?" Capuchin's voice was shaky as she crouched down beside DJ, her eyes wide with concern.
"Weakness," I muttered, barely able to meet her gaze. I had the chance to save him, and I let it slip through my fingers.
