TW: DEATH, FOREST FIRE, NEEDLES.

———

The group was walking through the forest. The all ducked every time they heard a helicopter overhead. The jumped at every crunch of leaves, or rustle in the bushes. The leaves crinkled beneath their feet. Luckily, the tree cover was pretty thick, so Baxter, and the rest of the group wasn't seen by anyone searching overhead.

They continued, going deeper into the forest. Until they heard shouting and saw lights in the distance. Everyone crowded into bushes, and hid, Baxter having to hide in a large tree. The soldiers searched the area, scouring the forest for anyone who could potentially have powers.

That is until Mephone got a notification, telling him he needed to revive Microphone. The ping caught the attention of the soldiers. And they started running towards them.

"Oh— OH NO..." screamed Paper as he ducked to near OJ.

"How did they even know to come here so fast...?!" OJ muttered as they turned to run.

Floory looked around through the jar backpack. "Nickel... he's killing the grass beneath him." Floory warned. And he was right too, his footsteps were leaving behind a trail of dead grass and plants.

Nickel flinched at this revelation.

Everyone began to run, gunshots rang out behind them. Marshmallow directed everyone towards the edge of the forest. The mansion wasn't too far from here. Silver slowed the soldiers down by blasting a few trees with lightning. The trees exploded in sparks and burnt ash as they collapsed and burned from the heat of the electricity. They collapsed and started small fires which blocked the soldiers path as they finally reach the hill which the mansion was on.

It didn't take long for everyone to rush inside, Baxter barely squeezed through the front doors. And had to squeeze himself between the two stair ways. Most of everyone collapsed due to their exhaustion as they reached the deans hall of the mansion, especially Knife and Pickle who had all of the belongings Taco and Microphone had passed on to them.

Marshmallow dusted herself off before beginning to clean up Apple and Bow's many toys. "You all can pick empty rooms... There's a lot, and if you can't find a bedroom, I'll grab one of the spare mattresses in the basement." She explained.

Many of them nodded and began to explore and pick out rooms.

OJ unwrapped his bandages and let his wings spread out. They fluttered slightly and stretched out, his back was beginning to hurt a bit again.

Paper seemed worried and was looking over at Nickel, still carefully cupping Balloon in his glowing claws. He was very concerned about both of their safety. He felt OJ put a hand on his shoulder, and he leaned on OJ. Being careful not to touch OJ's wings.

"Everything will be okay..." OJ reassured as he gave Paper a look of reassurance.

Paper of course held back tears. "I don't want any of them to get hurt... It's not fair they have to live their lives in fear OJ!" Paper cried.

OJ frowned, and held Paper close. "We will protect them don't worry, okay...?" OJ grabbed onto Paper's hands and intertwined their fingers with a half confident smile. Paper thought holding OJ's hands like this felt a little weird because they were webbed, but didn't really mind after a moment.

"Alright..." Paper answered. His eyes drifted to Looseleaf, which he noticed was outside the mansion...? And looked rather pissed. "U-uh... I'll be right back..." Paper muttered and stepped away from OJ.

"What...? Why—? I thought—"

"I'll be back don't worry..." Paper reassured as he went down a hallway.

Paper, once he was out of view, ran into a bathroom and locked the door. And he opened the window. "Why are you so angry...?!" He asked in a hushed tone.

"If I go inside they'll be able to see me..." Looseleaf snarled, he also looked nervous about something else...

Paper flinched. "Oh..." he looked around. "Well, if you wanted to stay outside you could... but If not, I'm sure if I found a room for you, you could stay there." Paper informed, leaning on the windowsill.

"I can't get too far from you dimwit... so the second option is necessary..." Looseleaf muttered.

Paper gave a small nod. "Alright. I'll find one. I'll try to stick near the wall alrighty?" Paper smiled.

"Fine, yeah yeah... Just hurry up..." Looseleaf barked, crossing his arms and letting his nails dig into his ghostly skin.

Paper turned and snuck up the stairs. He walked through the hallways, sticking to the wooden walls and admiring the paintings and soft Carey beneath his feet. The mansion seemed so much bigger on the inside. He found a room that lead to an empty room. He placed one of his paper clips that OJ gave him against the door to show the room had been claimed and shut the door behind him. The room was quite big. It had a king sized bed, red blankets that felt pretty soft, and four pillows, two covered by a sheet, the other two with white pillowcases. The rest of the room had wooden was, and flooring, and a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. There was a red couch with a gold-ish threat that had printed the fancy designs on it. And a dark red carpet on the floor. There was also a window with red velvety curtains. There was also a wooden dresser with golden handles. A mirror hung just above it, along with candles along the top of the dresser.

Paper noticed Looseleaf outside the window. Again. Paper opened the window. "Are you coming...? Or not." He asked.

Looseleaf's face turned embarrassed. "If I come in... No matter what happens... You promise not to laugh...?" He raised an eyebrow.

Paper looked confused, and then shrugged. "I guess...? Why?"

"Just shut up..." Looseleaf growled.

Paper watched as Looseleaf entered the room. His ghostly form shifted and twisted like mist in the wind. It swirled and turned until...

He was small. Like a kid.

Paper stared wide eyed as he observed him.

Looseleaf looked relatively the same, his eyes were still red, he had less of a red ring though. And he was much smaller. He looked no older than 14...?! And his scar along his body was much more evident.

Paper stared down at him a bit longer.

"Don't you dare..." Looseleaf snarled. His voice was different, it also sounded younger, and much more like his own person.

This broke Paper, he snorted and burst into laughter.

Looseleaf blushed in embarrassment. "YOU SAID YOU WOULDN'T LAUGH YOU ASSHOLE!!!" Looseleaf screamed in anger.

Paper covered his mouth. "I'm sorry! Im sorry... You— You're so—!"

"Small...?!"

"Child-like!" Paper giggled. "And it's not bad! I just didn't expect you to be adorable...!" He put his hands on his hips.

"I AM NOT ADORABLE. IM A FUCKING DEMON." Looseleaf screeched.

"Sure you are..." Paper huffed with a smug smile.

"I AM." He clenched his fists tightly, seething with rage.

"Alright! Alright... Though I have a question... If you are some "scary demon", why do you turn into a little kid when you come in here...?" Paper crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.

Looseleaf huffed. "Well... You can see ghosts— or... 'Lost souls' that find their way here. Once a ghost that isn't bound to a body or place enters, they're stuck here and gain a spiritual form resembling their... Alive body... or at least what if looked like before they died."

Paper's amused smile faded to one of horror. "You— you died as a little kid...?" He frowned.

Looseleaf looked uncomfortable.

"Looseleaf... Usually I'd stay quiet and let you have your secrets. But if we're going to be partners, you're gonna have to stop keeping things from me... Cmon..." Paper looked sympathetic.

Looseleaf kept quiet for a moment. He thought about what he should tell Paper. He then sighed, and turned back to Paper.

"Fine..." Looseleaf began. "It... It happened about 600 years ago........."

Looseleaf was running through the forest, and turned to his best friend Dynamite. He was playing tag and running along, through the branches and bushes. He giggled and felt the grass rush along beneath his feet.

His friend suddenly tackled him. He yelled playfully as they tumbled down the hill and into a pile of leaves. The momentum carrying them causing the leaves to explode into the air as they landed.

Both boys laughed and brushed the dirt and dried leaves off of themselves. The light from the sun shined through the leaves onto their silky faces as they laughed together.

"Gotcha! I told you I was faster!" Dynamite giggled as his sat up.

"No! I was simply— Letting you win..." Looseleaf smiled as he crossed his arms.

"Hahah, I think not!" Dynamite threw some leaves onto Looseleaf.

Looseleaf snickered and spat the dry leaves out of his face and mouth. "Alright! Alright! How about we play one more time?" Looseleaf suggested.

"Alright let's—!"

Thunder rang out in the distance along with a loud flash. There was a sound of an explosion in the distance. They heard the crackle of fire and flinched.

"What was that...?!" Dynamite flinched as he shrunk away from the loud sound.

"I— I believe that was dry lightning— I-I think the forest is ablaze! We must go back to the village...!" Looseleaf panicked.

"Y-yes! Hurry!" Dynamite grabbed Looseleaf's wrist and began running back towards the village. A problem arose however.

The wind was strong. And the fire was spreading fast. They were close, but not fast enough. The smoke was thick, and it was beginning to get hard to see. Looseleaf and Dynamite were inevitably surrounded by the blaze. Trapped in a circle of flames. The bushes and trees around them being slowly burnt to ash as it closed around them. Trees fell and the dry summer from before the fall didn't help their situation one bit.

Both boys were terrified for their lives. Crying for their lives. And, due to their time period and age. Neither of them were really aware of explosives. After all, they're ere a rarity in these times.

Dynamite turned to Looseleaf. "I-I'm going to try and— get to the village okay...? You will simply burn if you go through! But I can make it! I know it...!" Dynamite reassured. "I will get help!"

Looseleaf looked to Dynamite and then nodded unsurely. The other boy then stepped away from Looseleaf. Walking towards the fire. Slowly making his way to a small clearing. But suddenly... the wind blue a burning leaf, and it caught Dynamite's fuse ablaze. Dynamite seemed confused and flinched at the fire. He reached to put it out.

Looseleaf flinched and ran to help. Reaching to put out the fire, but, as it reached the body of the other young boy, Looseleaf barely got a fraction of a second to relax before the body of the boy exploded, Looseleaf turning away and having half of his body burned and scarred horribly.

He luckily didn't catch fire fully. And was left there lying in pain.

Luckily the explosion caught attention from the village people. His parents and other residents rushed to his aid. The village doctor did everything their power to heal him, and to aid him with his wounds.

His parents watched over him as his wounds got infected, and grew worse overtime without the proper medication to help with his injuries.

Looseleaf grew incredibly sickly. And his grief for the death of his friend grew and grew. He blamed himself for not stopping Dynamite that day.

It wasn't long before the infection took over, and he could no longer keep his strength to keep breathing. Life left Looseleaf's body at the young age of 15 three days after his birthday.

The beating of his heart grew softer until there was nothing but silence.

Looseleaf had died.

Looseleaf was relieved in the fact he believed he could finally be at peace. His grief and pain could finally end. But as he took his last breath he woke up in another place. One that wasn't the peaceful abyss he longed for. He had consciousness.

Consciousness in an infinite space. His body a more misty—ghostly form now. He watched as his body delayed to move along with him as if he was a cloud. He didn't understand...

Where was he...?

"—And that's how I ended up outside of time and space— In practically a void of nothing. I just... Slipped through the cracks." Looseleaf sighed.

Paper frowned at Looseleaf's story of sorrow. "I'm sorry you had to go through that..."

"It's whatever... My life is gone, but you still have yours. And... You're choosing to share it with me. Being able to grasp life is enough for me." Looseleaf gave a small smile, with an expression of gratitude that Paper had never seen.

Paper chuckled, "well I'm glad your happy little fella!!!"

Looseleaf's face shifted to annoyance. "IM STILL OLDER THAN YOU DEAD OR NOT!" He gritted through his teeth.

"Sorry...! Sorry—" Paper put his hands up in front of him. "—But in all seriousness... I'm glad you opened up to me... I don't think you've ever done that for me before." Paper smiled.

Looseleaf looked at Paper in the eyes for a moment. And then turned away with a bitter expression. "Yeah yeah..." he spat.

Paper smiled. "I'm going to go downstairs and look around. I'll be back later alright?"

Looseleaf nodded.

Paper then left the room, shutting the door behind him.

———

Marshmallow turned to OJ and mephone as they approached her. Again. "Can I help you? Do you need help navigating again...?" Marshmallow asked casually.

"No, I'm just... Concerned. What are we going to do with Baxter?" OJ pointed at the dragon who seemed uncomfortable and cramped. "Are your sure there are no bigger rooms for him? Lightbulb won't stop nagging me..." OJ frowned.

Marshmallow thought for a moment, and then shook her head. "No. I don't think so..."

"I don't won't to be crushed by— WHATS essentially a giant puppy." Mephone huffed and put his arms on his hips. He was giving a mean glare at Baxter.

"Don't be rude please, I'm trying my best..." Marshmallow frowned.

Test Tube, who overheard the conversation walked over. Thinking of something. "I think I have an Idea..."

All three of them perked up.

"What would that be?" OJ asked. Looking towards the Vial.

"What if instead moving Baxter somewhere bigger, we make Baxter smaller?" Test Tube suggested.

"You could do that? Do you have some sort of gadget?" OJ asked with a hopeful expression.

"Well... I'd be able to make one! In my lab of course." Test Tube informed.

"So, you're going to brave the island swarming with soldiers?" Mephone raised an eyebrow skeptically.

"Hey! Do you want a solution or not?!" Test Tube hissed with an annoyed stare.

Mephone backed off. "Hmph..."

"Worst comes to worse, Ill shatter myself and Mephone can revive me." Test Tube crossed her arms.

OJ thought about it for a moment. "Alright. Sure... Go ahead." OJ nodded.

Test Tube smiled. "I'll leave in an hour or so." She turned to go prepare, she might be in her lab awhile after all.

OJ then perked up at a memory. "Mephone, speaking of your revival logs, didn't Microphone die?" OJ asked.

"Yeah... And Taco hasn't come back yet..." Mephone muttered rubbing his chin area as he thought about it. He then swiped his screen to the side and clicked on the revival logs. He then revived Microphone.

Microphone's glowing silhouette appeared, and she collapsed onto the ground wide eyed. She gripped her head before her eyes began to dart around. "Taco...?!" She gasped. "Oh no... nonono...!" She cried as she stood.

"What? What happened?!" Marshmallow rushed over, worried about Microphone, she tried to help her up off her knees, but Microphone grabbed her which made her yelp.

"THEY HAVE TACO! They took her! They took her I know it! Oh god! Oh god...! We have to save her!!!" Microphone shook Marshmallow.

"W-we can't Microphone! It's too dangerous!" Marshmallow frowned and tried to calm her down.

"NO! We HAVE to go! We have to!" Microphone started to breath faster and tears formed in her eyes. "She would do it for me! I know it!"

"I doubt it..." OJ rolled his eyes.

"YOU SHUT UP!" Microphone snarled, and stood up, nearly knocking Marshmallow over.

"What?! I'm saying the truth! Maybe it's better she's gone..." OJ growled.

Microphone jabbed a finger in OJ's face. "I SAID SHUT UP YOU ASSHOLE! I CANT BELIEVE YOURE SO FUCKING SELFISH!" She growled.

OJ flinched at Microphone's aggression. "Oh my god... You're one to talk! You don't know anything about her."

"You'd be surprised..." Microphone spat as she backed off.

"The answer is no Microphone! It's too fucking dangerous." OJ gritted through his teeth at the taller girl.

Microphone looked both hurt and out raged. She opened her mouth to protest, but ultimately decided against it and stormed off.

OJ watched this happen.

Marshmallow next to him. "You think she'll be alright?"

"She might shun me for a day or two. A week if I'm unlucky, but she will probably get over it." OJ shrugged and walked off.

Marshmallow had an unsure look on her face.

Mephone sighed. "I doubt she will throw herself into danger. And even if she did, she pulled off a rescue mission before. Microphone will be fine."

"Don't jinx it..." Marshmallow rubbed the side of her arms.

Mephone was silent, before shaking his head and turning away. "If you're really that worried, go to Soap and Clover. Ask Clover to make sure she's okay. I don't know..." Mephone rolled his eyes with a bored look on his face.

Marshmallow looked worried.

———

Microphone stormed into across the mansion, not caring where her legs took her at this point. She was scared, angry, sad... So many emotions filled her mind! What could she do...? She inevitably entered a living room area. Of course to find Pickle and Knife watching the news.

The dragon thing was all over the news. Along with other things. Not Taco though. Probably because whoever had her wanted to keep her and the powers she had a secret. All the more reason to worry.

Knife noticed Microphone and then remembered what happened back in the forest. "Hey, you good...? Why did you die?! Did something happen?!" He asked in a concerned tone.

"Taco... She was taken... A-and— the soldiers sh-shot me... I-I couldn't save her!" Microphone couldn't hold in her tears anymore. She felt bad for crying in front of her friends, but she just couldn't take it.

Knife frowned and got up from the couch. "I'm sure Taco is fine. Besides, maybe it's—!"

"MAYBE ITS A GOOD THING?! IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE GOING TO SAY?!" She snapped. As if a dam broke down. She looked pissed. "WHY DOES EVERYONE KEEP SAYING THAT?! SHES FUCKING 16. SHE HAS HER OWN PROBLEMS! AND MAYBE WE DIDN'T HAVE TO HATE HER! MAYBE SHE DID WHAT SHE DID FOR A REASON! Or... Something." Microphone screamed in outrage. Taken aback that her friend just said that.

"She USED you... She USED me!" Knife's eyes narrowed. "Not everyone is a good person!"

"I'm sorry, what?" Pickle stood up. "When did she use Microphone?!" Pickle asked.

Knife froze, he spilled to much. "S-season 2... They worked together..." Knife replied, hoping Microphone would forgive him.

"You WHAT—?!" Pickle hissed, "—She wasn't even part of season 2! Did— did you CHEAT with her?!"

"Thanks for the SELLOUT Knife..." Microphone rolled her eyes, and wiped the tears from them. "Yes... I did..." Microphone sighed.

Pickle looked furious. But just looked away, not wanting to escalate things further.

Microphone spoke up again. "Look, I have to save her! I need to sneak out so I can get her back!" Microphone explained. "...And... It would be nice to have some help." Microphone looked to the two boys.

"Oh no. NO NO NO." Knife shook his head. "No fucking way. I'd rather watch paint dry..." Knife snarled.

Pickle was about agree, but he realized that... He'd never get his closure... If Taco died, or worse. He'd have no answer of why Taco truly did that to him. He wanted a real answer. Not 'strategy'. Pickle stood up. "Fine..."

Knife flinched and looked Back at Pickle. "What?! You're seriously going with her...?!" Knife looked taken aback and astonished at this turn of events.

"Yes... Maybe if I save her, she'll owe me an explanation..." Pickled said in a bitter tone.

Microphone looked a bit angry. "You're coming to save her for your own personal gain? And not because she's a living person? In danger of DYING?!" Microphone raised an eyebrow.

"Be lucky I'm going at all!" Pickle stomped his foot in retaliation, already irritable from this entire situation.

Microphone was about to protest, but decided against it, and then turned to Knife.

Knife looked at the both of them for a moment. And then he groaned in frustration, rubbing his eyelids. "FINE! Fine! I'll go too... But how the FUCK are we going to get off the island?!" Knife growled.

Microphone froze for a moment. Puzzled on what to do... They couldn't use the boats... They'd get caught. They could get caught on purpose! But there was no guarantee they'd take them to a the same place... How would they even know where to look?! Unless...

"I... Think I have a plan..."

———

The lights were so bright... The halls rushed past her, and she heard yelling. It's like she was in a hospital. Or something similar. The light felt blinding to her drowsy body. She couldn't move, and everything looked blurry and underwater. It was all so overwhelming and stressful. She felt so strange and she couldn't control a single thing that was happening to her.

She hated that. She hated not being in control over a situation. It was one of her worst fears to be powerless. She felt so small and insignificant. She had no way of defending herself in this moment. It was horrifying.

She felt her heart beat quicken. Her breathing began to get heavy. The annoying beeping of machines grew faster which pierced through her eardrums like daggers and teased her with her own insignificance.

She tried to scream, to shout. But nothing escaped her lips. Her restraints were tight on her wrists. It hurt. She hates this.

Let me out...!

LET ME OUT!!!

Her mind screamed. She felt it ring through her head. Her disdain and hate was building. Along with fear and horror. He tried to struggle, All she could manage in her drowsy state was slight shifting. It wasn't fair, IT WASN'T FAIR! It was agonizing.

It felt like her body was sinking into the ocean. She had to get out. She didn't even care about the thought of pain, she just wanted to be free. Being trapped was a horrifying thought to her.

She'd brute force it if she had to.

She saw the blurry figures above her notice the machines going off faster and faster. And picked up one of the tubes attached to her. She then began to feel incredibly drowsy again. And this time she passed out again. No matter how many times she tried to drag and pry her eyes open, they remained firmly closed.

Taco couldn't wake up.

A bit later she woke up. She woke up in a room, the buzzing of the lights above her was incredibly annoying. The room itself was padded, but pristine and clean. The white walls were blinding combined with the bright lights.

Taco raised her head. It ached like she had been bashed into a wall. And her body burnt from the many tasers she had been fired at her. She tried to move to rub her aching head, only to find she was trapped in some sort of straight jacket. It looked like something out of a Sci-fi movie.

Her eye twitched, she felt her heart pump faster. She shakily stood. And saw the door across the room. She walked towards it, only to be stopped about two feet from the door. Something chained her ankle to a cable like rope that came from the floor. She was impressed at the advancement of the technology the room held. But also concerned. Especially since she hasn't been around technology much in her life.

Mostly due to poverty, and the unfortunate events that took place following events she'd rather not vividly remember. Of course, the moment they crossed her mind it's like a movie began to play she couldn't stop.

She yelled in frustration and listened to the sound of her voice bounce of the walls. The sudden movement made something in her back hurt. It was like something was stabbing into her. She winced, and tried to look at it. But... She didn't have eyes on the back of her head. So that seemed impossible.

She sighed in annoyance. She tried to kick at the walls and door for about 15 minutes. But couldn't reach them.

Then she got an idea, she tried to use her powers, shifting into the shadow creature. Though, that didn't work. The moment she attempted it, a burning sensation filled her body and pulsed from head to toe.

She screamed and collapsed, and twitched from the electrical shock that flowed through her. The pain ripped her away from the transformation. Tears briefly filled her blood red eyes.

She then heard a screech from an audio playing. She winced and turned to it. The camera in the corner of the room had a small speaker beneath it. And an unknown voice began to speak through it.

"Hello. It seems you're awake." The voice from the speaker called.

Taco's eyes narrowed, her eyes glowed brighter, but she didn't really notice. "Yeah..." Taco croaked in weak voice, still a little drowsy from the sedatives.

"Name?" They asked.

Taco studied their tone looking for intention. She couldn't find anything, they sounded monotone and empty. Probably expecting her to do that. "Like hell I'm giving it to you..." Taco growled.

There was silence for a minute. Then the voice began again. "Your cooperation would be prefere—"

"FUCK OFF." Taco seethed.

Silence again. This time for longer. Then finally. "Fine, have it your way." The voice sounded slightly bitter and annoyed. Taco noted that.

The burning sensation began again. This time, Taco bit her lip and tried to bare through the pain. Trying to show these bitches they couldn't control her. That she had control of the situation. But trying to brute force her way through the pain didn't work. The pain began to get worse over time. Though Taco was stubborn eventually she began to seem bothered despite her incredible pain tolerance. She struggled trying to get whatever that thing that was electrifying her off, but she still couldn't move her arms.

Her grunts of pain from the electricity soon became yells, and then screams in less than five minutes. Tears streamed down her face and she couldn't take it anymore! She opened her mouth to speak. "AL-ALRIGHT! ALRIGHT!!!" Taco screamed.

The electricity stopped.

"Taco... Taco Flora..." She hissed in defeat, her eyes full of tears from the pain. She was finding it incredibly difficult to steady her shaky voice.

"Taco Flora..." the voice echoed. They then ask a second question. "Parents?"

Taco was silent. Her eyes softened and she shrunk back.

"Deceased?" The voice called. Still monotonously.

Taco could only nod slightly. Upset they even needed to bring this up. She didn't see how this had anything to do with her powers.

"How did you get the abnormal abilities and features? We're you born with them?" The voice questioned.

"No. I got them from a glowing card." She gritted through her teeth.

"Are you lying?"

"Tch... Yeah. I'm sure I am... Maybe the tooth fairy came and gave me her magical fairy powers or something..." Taco growled. "What else do you want me to say eh?!"

The voice was silent for a few moments.  "Have it your—"

"OH MY GOD..." Taco rolled her eyes and stood up. "IM NOT LYING OKAY?! It was a weird fucking card." Her legs were shaky from the shock earlier.

Taco was beginning to get irritated from the long silence in between when the voice came through the speaker.

"How long ago did it happen?"

"What's the date and time?" She asked in a bored tone.

"The 23rd, and 7:43."

Taco sat in silence for a moment. "Three weeks, four days, and 23 hours..." Taco answered.

Silence.

"How many more of you are there?"

Taco went silent. She didn't want to answer this question. It would put more people in harms way. She already didn't know about Microphone's safety. She went completely silent, and then lied. "I only know about me..." She said in a fake voice of worry and disappointment.

The intercom was silent, and then spoke up. "Are you completely sure."

"I don't remember." Lie.

Silence. And then a the continuation of silence made Taco's nerves ease. Just a bit. She hoped Microphone was alright... For now she had to think of a way out of this mess.

A few hours go by, which feels like days, even though she's counting every second. The silence was annoying, she could only hear the buzzing of the lights above her. It was making her more irritable. Not that she wasn't already.

Her arms were growing stiff from being firmly stuck in place. And the cuff on her ankle was beginning to irritate and rub off a layer of skin from the friction. Taco tried to at least cause some intimidation by staring threateningly in the camera. The red flashing light on the device made her teeth grind. It was almost like they were teasing her. Even if they couldn't see her. She wished she could tear them apart. To have some control.

The device piercing her back began to hurt more and more throughout the course of the few hours she had been here. She wondered if anyone even cared she was here. She wondered if she'd ever get out of here... She knew from several accidental cuts during the few weeks she had these powers she could regenerate. But it was intimidating to think she might be a lab rat forever. No matter what they did to her, she'd have more to deal with.

It made her feel scared... she pressed her knees against herself. She could see her body shaking at the thought. Taco had almost never been like this before. Z there was only one other time. But... She'd rather not think of that.

Of course though.

Now that it's crossed her mind.

It played in her head as if it were a movie.

"I don't want to be alone again..." She muttered, tears prickling her eyes.

The silence was deafening.

Letting the panic set in faster.

———

WOO ANOTHER 5k+ CHAPTER!!!

HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED!

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