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As quickly as they could, Kris ran through the streets of their hometown, making their way to their childhood friend’s house. They wondered if Noelle would agree to call them a friend after what happened today. Probably not, they decided, but they had to do what they could for her no matter what, even if she hated them.
They could still feel the tug on their heart, exerted by the SOUL in that cupboard below the sink, disconnected from their chest. It formed an especially painful reminder, along with the persistent chill that had settled at the back of their spine, of what had happened today.
Logically, they knew the one who commanded Noelle wasn’t them, but they couldn’t put that look in her eyes behind them. That broken, far off gaze she’d held, walking away from the corpse of her friend, neither casting a gaze to him or her “Leader.”
Leader Commands.
That title sounded so twisted to Kris now. They didn’t think they could say the word “Proceed” normally ever again. Berdly was dead, Noelle, twisted in some sort of terrified murderous trance, and it was all the fault of that thing. That parasite that took their life, then took their friends along with it. Susie didn’t even know the real them, Noelle was never going to talk to them again and Berdly was dead. Who was next? They could still feel its influence, watching, waiting.
No matter, it wouldn’t happen. Not if Kris could do anything about it. This would be resolved here and now. A small clang pulled Kris back to the road ahead. In front of them was the Holiday manor, imposing in its size and solitude. Quickly, Kris climbed the gate and jumped to the other side, as they’d done countless times. They jogged up to the wall right below Noelle’s window, almost stepping on a white piece of metal in the process, then started climbing up.
The window, surprisingly, was open. Deftly, Kris jumped in and looked ahead. Standing in front of them was Noelle, coldly staring at them, as if expecting them. Her chest gleamed a slight red. Kris’s eyes widened. In the back of their mind, they heard a voice.
“Proceed.”
Noelle raised her arm. Kris shivered.
Sometime later, Noelle’s room was found abandonned and covered in ice.