"Loads of natural light.", you noted as Ellie led you through a hallway that had an entire row of windows to allow a 180 view of the forest that grew around the building.

Colourful paintings of faces, animals and shapes decorated the walls along with framed artwork that made you wonder if the frame of the picture was supposed to be the art.

Small clouds of dust whirled up with your every step. Your eyes followed the ground, tried to look for footprints or any sign that something living had been strolling through this place only a short time ago.

But with every second the tension eased and your mind started to rest. There was nothing here. Or at least not close by.

Your gaze jumped up to catch a glimpse of Ellie. She walked around as if there was nothing to worry about. Almost as if she knew this place.

Or had no reason to keep her guard up.

"You think there will be infected around?", you asked to ease your own worries.

She shrugged. Her grip was loosely wrapped around the bow in her hand.

"Dunno.", she stopped in her tracks to throw a glance out the windows. "There's a pool on the roof."

You frowned.

"Why the hell would they build a pool on a museum roof?"

The light of the sun shimmered on the surface of water that was surprisingly blue even though there were leaves at the bottom of the pool.

Turquoise tiles formed shapes that made it seem like rocks and other natural minerals covered the ground. A soft breeze formed small waves on the surface and made the water tremble.

The forest sang a song of peace.

"Needs some cleaning but it would make a good bathtub.", you joked.

Ellie chuckled.

"As long as it doesn't freeze outside."

"True.", you shook yourself all over. "Fuck, I hate cold water."

"This is an art museum. I'm sure there will be a pool inside somewhere.", Ellie looked at her arms and then the shirt she was wearing since forever now. "Maybe it's time for the annual monthly wash."

Disgusted, you pulled a face only to remember that you had washed the last time she had washed. Which was about two weeks ago.

"That's so fucking nasty...", you muttered and had to swallow a wave of nausea.

"Well, at least we ain't stained with blood all over. That shit was fucking disgusting."

Snorting, you pushed her further down the hallway.

"I still have no idea how you walked around like that. Unnoticed."

"Oh, I was noticed. But who's insane enough to talk to someone who's drenched in blood?"

"Me.", you pressed your lips into a thin, thoughtful line.

"Yeah...", Ellie's eyes narrowed. "You do realise I could kill you, right? Still."

Unimpressed, you stopped and gifted her the most sarcastic expression a human was able to put together.

"Then why didn't you?", you just asked with a shrug, hands on your hips.

Ellie eyed you. And for more than just a moment it seemed like she was a little too interested in the way your body was shaped, how your hips moved as you stood comfortably.

She swallowed hard and then playfully rolled her eyes to play it all cool.

"Oh, I wanted to... sometimes.", with a smirk, she wrapped her arm around your neck and forced you gently to walk with her. "But... ya know. You're not that bad."

Chuckling, you placed a hand on her side, wrapping your arm around her back.

"Whaaaaaat?", you asked, eyebrows lifted. "You mean... you'd dare to... ya know... say you like me?"

"Shocker, I know.", Ellie let out a huff. "But I'm mature enough... and most definitely enough healed from the previous events to say that, ya know, maybe, just maybe I'm kinda glad you did save me that day."

Her eyes jumped to the side to catch a glimpse of your reaction. But all you did was smile and pull her closer. So close in face that she almost stumbled to the side and made you tremble to the side, huffing.

"You're welcome.", you gave her a firm push to the back, making her stumble out of the long hallway and onto another indoor balcony.

An impressed whistle crossed her lips as she popped her hands onto the railing and looked down into another showroom.

This one was larger than the one that was connected to the entrance. Large glass tiles coloured the air in all the shades of a rainbow as sunlight bathed the entire hall with a natural kind of magic.

"That's beautiful...", you reached out and tried to catch one of the blue shimmers between your fingers.

Obviously that wouldn't happen but there was this kind of childlike hope in you, the power of imagination that made you wonder how it would feel like to catch light with bare hands.

Smiling, Ellie rested her chin on one hand and tilted her head. Strands of her brown hair fell into her face and made it look like alive wood that grew from her head.

Out of reflex, you reached out and tugged that strand behind her ear. As you did so, you noticed a bit of bloody crust that stuck to the tanned skin.

With a little care you peeled it off and examined the wound that now started to reopen. A thick pearl of blood grew.

You wiped it away. It smelled of iron.

"We should clean that.", you said and looked around. "Fountain down there."

You pointed over the railing.

A small fountain filled with surprisingly clean water. Small fish swam around, hid underneath pads of water lilies as Ellie's shadow scared them.

"Pretty warm.", she said with one hand in it. "Looks clean enough."

Small waves formed, broke as they came in context with the water lilies and reformed again. The statue that stood at the center did not spit any water no more. Now it was covered in flowers and green plants that seemed like they had been made to adore the white and black marble.

"Everything's so pretty...", you sighed while staring at the statue with a dreamy smile.

Ellie looked at you.

"It is."