Transcendence ✹ Septicgab

Eleven

Robin and I both explained what all we knew that happened, but I found many holes in his story. He said he was here with Seán from the beginning, and I knew the only person he had been around before meeting up with me and the others.... was the tall Dutch hunter he fell in love with.

"Um.." I said, knowing something was up. I had to come up with a logical reason for the two of us to split up that wouldn't make it look suspicious. "I'm going to use a lantern... I'll be back."

"Yep... That sounds sooooo casual.."

"Okay," he said.

"Wow... Okay..."

-

As soon as I came back from Hunter's Dream, I was in a more recognisable area... Central Yharnam. I scouted the area, hoping to find someone I knew, but no one was near.

"Seán?" I called out. "Gab?" I continued to yell their names until I heard footsteps approaching me from behind. "Please say you're not someone who's gonna kill me..." A hand rested on my shoulder, turning me around.

"Mark? Is that actually you?" A woman said. My stress made me lightheaded, thus messing with my eyesight and making me confuse reality with a mirage. "Mark?" The woman shook me, trying to get my attention. "Hi?"

"Wait.." I said, seeing another hunter approach... a man. "Who.. who are you?"

"Is he okay?" The man asked.

"Babe, I don't know.." The woman responded. "What.. What do you think we should do?" I fell to the ground, rubbing my eyes. "If he's not the real Mark.."

"This is all so fucked up," the man said. "Mark, is that you or not?" He held up his weapon. "Talk.."

"I'm Mark!" I yelled, hiding behind my arms. "Don't hurt me!"

-

I blacked out, reawakening in the cathedral. I heard talking in the distance, but sat and waited until anything happened.

"Seán, I'm scared."

"If it's him, we'll find out.."

"But what if it's not? What if we're the only two left here?"

"Evelien, breathe.."

"Why the fuck are we back here?"

"I don't know.. but I do know this.." the man spoke. "I love you.. and I always will. If it turns out that we are the only two left... then we will get through this... together." As they finished their conversation, I heard footsteps coming closer.

-

"Okay.." Evelien said. "Mark.."

"Yes?" He responded.

"Do you recognise us?" I asked, hoping for the best. He slowly looked at Evelien, at me, and then back to Evelien.

"Seán and Evelien...You're my friends." Mark started to tear up. "Oh my god... What happened?"

"The last thing either one of us remember... Is we had a note from Ethan.." Evelien reached into her bag. "He didn't finish it... but he did write that he had figured out the secret."

"Can I see that?" Mark asked, so Evelien handed him the note. "Seán and Gab.." He started to read. "It's me, Ethan. I thought I would write this for you two before we split up. If you're reading this... then I have great news." Mark started to cry. "I've learned the truth about this place. The only way of leaving is death or fighting until you're done. I'm sorry I couldn't be there to see you guys continue your lives outside of all of this..." He saw the blood at the bottom of the letter. "Oh my god.."

"He could still be alive... but not here.." I said. "That is as much as we know.."

"What happened to Amy?" Mark stood up. "I... I woke up.. with blood all... all over my hands.. and arms..."

"Didn't... Didn't you summon her?" Evelien asked, and Mark started to hyperventilate. "Mark... breathe.."

"I.. I let her die!" He was in full blown panic. "She died, and now she's gone!"

"Wait..." I said. "Babe.." I grabbed Evelien's arm. "You.. You were dead, too..." She looked frightened. "We... We were fighting.. in Hunter's Dream... Gehrman..." Her eyes widened.

"Oh my god.." She held her hand over her mouth, then looked down at her arm that had a massive scar. "I..." She paused, then lifted up her shirt. "That.. that would explain this." Evelien had a large bruise on her abdomen that surrounded a hole shaped wound that scarred over. "I.. I was shot.. wasn't I?" I nodded.

"This.. This makes no sense.." Mark said. "If.. If you died, you shouldn't be here.."

"If everyone who dies here... gets back..." I said. "Ethan would be here.."

"And Amy.." Evelien said. "If... If they are dead, and I died.... but I'm here...." She hesitated. "I'm alive... so they could be, too.."

~

I managed to sneak past security and get back to my room before anyone found me. Since we planned on meeting regularly, I snuck Dr. Reynolds's card back into her desk before she noticed it was missing. She had to have known she dropped it somewhere or misplaced it, but I wasn't ready to take the blame for that.

The following morning was unusual. I woke up to the sound of my door being opened. A nurse pushed in a wheelchair, asking me to sit in it so I could go meet with the physical therapist. When I first arrived, I wasn't allowed to leave the room unless accompanied by a police officer. I didn't receive any sort of prosthetic until I had been evaluated upon initial wellness check, but the metal in the prosthetic made my leg throb.

The nurse pushed me down the hallway, past room 302. I looked in and saw no one. She led me further down the hall, and I saw something I thought I'd never see as I was wheeled into the gym. A television was set to the news, and my face, followed by Amy, Mark, Seán, Evelien and everyone else who was there... was plastered all over. It made me feel extremely uncomfortable, but once I saw there wasn't a single person in the room other than me, my trainer, the occupational therapist, and a female patient, I was able to take a breath.... until I heard the story.

"Good afternoon.." The news anchorman said. "Our first story today... breaking news.. The investigation is still underway as three of the now eleven individuals missing have been hospitalised for their severe physical and mental injuries. One patient, saying 'I didn't kill anyone. A woman named Christine cut my leg off with her sword.' We will update this story as more evidence comes forward." I held my hand over my mouth, starting to cry. Luckily, I was one of the only patients allowed in the gym at the time. The police were still suspicious of me, and now that there were three people hospitalised, and an eleventh person missing.... Things were truly getting worse.

"Ethan.." Dr. Reynolds said. "I'll be in here with you, in case we need to talk.. Rhyan is going to help you be able to walk better on your leg, so we can get you feeling better physically."

"Who's the third person?" I asked. "The news.. said three.." I clenched my fists, feeling frustrated. "Who is it?" Dr. Reynolds and Rhyan looked at each other. "Who?!"

"You know I'm not allowed to give that information, Ethan," My doctor said in a soft tone. "If you're feeling too upset to work with Rhyan right now, we can have you back in your room.." I nodded. I sat back down in the wheelchair, and the nurse pulled me out of the gym. As I left, I looked up and saw someone get escorted by police.... A woman with long hair.. brunette... a few inches shorter than me...

"Who is that?" I pointed, asking the nurse.

"I'm not sure on her name.. but she's a new patient."

"Marzia.. That's Marzia Bisognin.. Felix could be next.."