Vol 2 Ch 10: Inside the Compound (Lee's Version)

I was laying down, and I could feel the back of my hand against my face. I sat up with slight resistance and lowered my hand to my side. I was almost immediately greeted with a door, and near the top of it were these bars, it was like I was in some damn solitary confinement. Inside the room was different from the door, it looked a lot more comfortable, the bed seemed pristine, and there was even a TV in the corner. While the room was fine, I didn't know how the people were...All I recall is sniping with Sam and then immediately getting knocked out. I held out my hand and tried summoning my sword, I was able to, which made me more confused...Actually, speaking of Sam...I had no clue where she was.

I got up and looked through the bars, the place was dark, and I couldn't see much, but there was at least no one at the door. I backed off and knelt near the door, the keyhole was there, and I got an idea. I took off my headband and summoned my knife, hopefully, this would work. I moved my headband so the sharp edges were facing up, I guess those edges finally had some purpose besides for striking others. I wiggled the headband in and put my knife right under it, clearly, these two things were clearly not fitting, but I had to make it work. I moved my headband around, to see if I could feel any indent, I was able to feel one after moving for a minute or two, I flicked up once, no click, I tried a weaker flick, still nothing, I tried flicking as fast and with as much strength as I could, then, it clicked, I moved around more, seeing for any other indent, yet there was none, so I moved my knife to the right, the keyhole moved slightly, the damn lock was rusty, or it could've been since I was forcing these two things into it, I moved it enough where it became easier, I heard something crack and as I moved the lock all the way to the right my knife snapped, the blade broke off of its hilt, that wasn't all though, the second it broke I felt a sharp pain in my heart, even getting shot wasn't this painful. I fell onto my hand and knees with the knife in my right hand, I began to notice some glow from the knife as a very soft string coming from my heart went to the knife, and soon, the blade broke in the lock vanished and the knife was repaired, including the blade on it.

"What the..." I mumbled to myself, I know that they said our main weapons couldn't break, but I don't recall them saying we repaired any weapons we touched. I stood up and put away my knife. My headband was still in the lock, yet it wasn't broken, damaged, or even scratched, it was pristine, perfectly fine as it was before. I took it out and reclipped it to my head. I walked up to the door about to open it, until I noticed my hat hanging on the wall, well, I can't leave without that. I grabbed it and put it on, making sure the headband was still visible. I opened the door, walking through it. It was near impossible to see anything, so I decided to try something. Yuna!

"Oh! You actually called me for once" 'Though I didn't want to...' I could see her walking beside me, she had this glow around her, yet, she didn't light up anything other than herself. 'Can you, oh I don't know, help with this abyss?' "I can try...well, you can try, just do what Sam did, you have her powers thanks to the partner-link after all" She was right, actually, instead of lighting up the place, It was a shot in the dark, since we both had to do it. Using my left hand I put my fingers onto my palm and jerked my hand down. Nothing. "Ain't that lucky any more are ya?" 'Shut up!' I snapped my fingers just like Sam, a fire sparked but faded away quickly. I tried again, but the same result happened. I tried once more, but this time I kept my fingers together after snapping, that seemed to work, a small little fireball was right above my fingertips, it felt painful though, like my hand was gonna melt, before moving onwards I went back into my room, ripped some of the bedding and wrapped it around my now removed headband, I lit the bedding on fire and held my band in my right hand, and on I went, Yuna seemed to have bailed as well. I continued onto the left path, or at least, what seemed like a path, it felt like every day I was getting thrown into dark environments. While walking I felt like I kicked against something, I knelt down and began searching with my makeshift torch, soon I came across a small ribbon...I couldn't tell if it was Sam's or not, even with the torch I couldn't see much of the color or any names. I put it in my pocket and continued on. A terrible smell started to take over my nose, even if I tried breathing in with my mouth, the smell continued.

"It's disgusting" I muttered to myself. I tried clenching my nose shut, but it only made my nose sting even more, just what was this place.

After walking for around three minutes I came across a door to my left, it felt like this hallway kept twisting and turning. I grabbed the handle of the door and opened it, the smell only became worse, whatever was in this room had to be the source. I heard someone groaning in pain, coughing in between their unintelligible words. I took a step forward, my step echoed through the room and the groaning stopped. I stood there and extinguished my torch, I could feel my heart racing, for all I know this guy is right behind me now. The only thing I could hear was breathing, not mine, but someone else's, I stood as still as I could, trying not to breathe onto the person. I heard something metallic be picked up, and someone else began walking over to where I heard the groans. Whoever was making the noise started up again, only this time, it was quieter, like the guy was being choked. I could hear something cracking, and the noise got quieter, then quieter, the groans were replaced with gurgling. Until a quick burst of light shined through the room and my ears started to ring, as the burst of light shined through I could see whoever was breathing at me earlier was staring at me. The guy looked like a psycho, a gas mask on, wielding a shotgun in one hand and a cleaver in his other. The guy they shot was only wearing shorts and I could see cuts into their skin with their eye sockets empty. All of that, I saw all of that in just the two seconds of light the shotgun caused. It became pitch black again, Sam was in this hell!? PTS...I could use PTS...but that uses brainpower, right now, I need to focus on leaving this room as quiet as possible...fuck New Min...every damn second I deal with some fucked up shit! Even when I was human it wasn't this bad...I began taking very small steps, but even when I was slow it still made a noise, it was quiet, but if they were really close they'd hear. I started hearing the guy walk again, so I tried matching their steps, whenever they walked, so did I. During the flash there was something else I saw, it looked like it resembled a light switch, so it was worth the try. I banged up against something, glass shattered onto the floor and I could hear something move, I dove onto the ground as I heard a shot ring out again, but thanks to diving onto the floor, I couldn't see anything during the flash. I could hear the guy sprinting over to where I was so I decided to full send it, I ran towards the light until I stopped...if this guy wanted to kill me, why wouldn't he just turn on the lights himself? It seems like he doesn't know I have magic, so to him I'm unarmed...the guy wore a gasmask as well...the switch might be some gas release...but how far would it go then? What was the gas even? Lethal? Non-Lethal...I summoned my sword as the steps got louder, I gave one good swing, going from the right to left. I saw something flicker.

"FUCK!" I started to hear something dripping onto the floor, I guess I got a good hit. "Fine then you little shit, we're both going out!" Before I could recover from my swing I heard loud footsteps rapidly approaching me, I got into a stance but instead he ran past me...the switch, so it was something that'd kill me! I heard a flick and I started to hear something, it was a noise I had no clue how to describe, but it made me uneasy. I began to hear coughing, and soon I could feel it building up as well. I fell onto my side, it felt like every ounce of strength was being pulled out of me, I could barley even move my arms. I heard something hit the floor soon after...damn it...it wasn't gonna end like this righ-...the gasmask...Alice gave us a gasmask back then right? I extended my hand, trying to summon my inventory, it flickered, and it seemed glitched but it was there, I moved my hand left slightly, it was as much as I could move, it switched to another inventory...and I could see it, using as much strength as I could, I used my right elbow to boost me up and used my left hand to tap on it, the gasmask vanished, including the hud, it was still dark, I couldn't see anything, I felt around, slightly tapping due to my vanishing consciousness I knocked against a cillinder like object, like the filter...I grabbed it and put it onto my face, I adjusted the filter, putting on every strap I could for air, but instead of the gasmask like last time, I felt something go through my throat, and I could feel it digging into my lungs, I could hear myself gagging, but eventually a green light on the mask appeared. My energy came back shortly after the light popped up and a small screen below me appeared, it surrounded my jaw area, but outstreched enough for me to see.

Gas Removal complete
Connecting to User: . . .

That was written on the screen. This mask looked nothing like what I saw in my inventory...I guess in this timeline Alice gave us gasmasks, but not that one...so even my inventory is helping me be consistent with time travel...that was useful.

Connection Complete:
User goes by: Lee

The screen flipped away from me and projected something.

Intel: Corrupted
Full Conection: Suit or Plug-in missing
Files: Corrupted
File Recovery: Started...1%...1.1%
Magic Status: Failed

What? I tried summoning something else...failed...that gas must've messed with my magic...no it got out of my system, and I was also able to summon that mask earlier. The screen flipped back over to me.

"Lee"
"Physical: Full Connection Needed"
"Mental: Full Connection Needed"
Notable Issues: Corruption Overload Detected within "Lee" Aid should be located

Overload? I feel just fine...

Serious Issues: None, Full Connection needed to see worse issues.

This full...I took a quick look around, I had almost forgotten about the guy. But I couldn't see, it didn't help that a screen was flashing me with li-...It flipped over before...I grabbed the screen, and tried turning it, until something on the screen popped up.

Minor Light: Active
Flashlight: Full Conec-

Come on! Really?...I pressed on the minor light and the screen flipped over, I could see in front of me a decent amount, but only that, the light seemed to follow where ever my head was looking. I turned over to where I heard the noise earlier, the guy was there. Laying on the floor...where the sick bastard belonged. I took looks around the room, yet I looked down the second I saw feet dangling from the ceiling...so, my worries may have been correct...were there really cannabils in this place?

Other M.F.G.S User Detected:
User goes by: "Sam"

Seems like the gas may have found its way through the entire compound, either that, or she's dealing with someone else. I grabbed the guy's shotgun and cleaver, the shotgun had a sling on, which I put over my shoulder, I held the cleaver in my left hand and went to leave the room, before I could get even across the room a hand tugged on my leg, I turned and raised the cleaver, ready to attack, but I saw that the person tugging me was the guy earlier, the one with missing eyes, and cuts on their skin...

"H...help me...."

"I'm sorry...I don-"

The guy pointed at something behind me, I took a step back, making sure he couldn't attack me or try anything. I looked to where he was pointing and saw a cabinet, I went over to it, the damn thing had a lock. I raised the cleaver and swung it at the lock, it broke almost immediately, so much dust came off it, like it hadn't been opened in ages. I opened it and a single syringe laid there. I grabbed it and headed back over to the guy.

"The syringe in the cabinet?" I didn't know how the guy could tell where the cabinet was...but I couldn't judge...I didn't know how long they've been here. The guy nodded to my question, I popped off the cap. "Anywhere in particular?"

"No..." I put my headband back onto my head using my right hand, it was hard not to stab myself with the syringe, but I didn't want to put either on the floor. I jabbed the guy in the neck with the syringe, after a few seconds the cuts on the guy went away. I sighed, the guy was still a poor sight...I took off my jacket.

"Here, put it on" I was about to correct myself and put it on for him considering his eyes, but he was able to grab it himself.

"It's fine...I've learned magic that allows me to see things without my eyes...it's not as well...and it's a bit blurry...but it works" He stood up..wait.

"How're you unaffected by the gas?" Asking why he didn't die from getting shot was pointless, clearly, the guy from before couldn't see either, so he probably missed.

"My body has grown used to it" He walked over to the guy. "I could've just taken his clothing you know" He looked in my direction, throwing my jacket back at me. I tied the jacket around my waist, it was warm enough with all this. After the syringe, the guy seemed perfectly fine, and by the time I looked back at him, he had taken his captor's clothing and tied a piece of cloth around his eyes. "Let us get out of here" We both walked to the door, I opened it and we both left the room, with the guy in front of me. "We should leave this place, I know the exit"

"No, not yet, I'm looking for someone...I can't leave them alone...not again" The guy stood in silence for a minute before sighing.

"Of course...in that case, I might as well guide you, I won't get far on my own, and neither will you. We should get to know each other before going any further." He stretched his skinny arm out, and opened his hand. "Toya" I took his hand and shook it

"Lee"

"Lee...The people here talked about you, yet, I could not hear everything, I pray for your safety" I was still slightly skeptical about the guy, but I guess if he's survived this long in this hell, he was someone I had to rely on. "These hallways used to make me nauseous, it felt like I went in circles every time I was dragged through here" We continued walking through the halls, some of the doors actually led to more hallways, progressing through the compound...or whatever this hell is. "Tell me, what does this friend of yours look like, maybe I've seen her using my magic"

"About my height, pink hair in a ponytail, last I saw she had a light-colored uniform, kinda like mine but different, very optimistic and cheerful...I assumed you haven't?"

"No, my apologies" We walked in silence until we were in the middle of one of the hallways, it was still dark, with only my small light to help us see ahead. We both stopped at the same time, something felt off. "Your headband...it can be used to lockpick, right?"

"Yeah?..." He walked up to one of the doors, none of them were labeled or even named, nothing to tell them apart from the others.

"In here, it's the command room for this area, this part of the place is usually left alone, so we should be able to enter without a hitch." He stood aside the door waiting for me, and so I did my stuff, putting the knife and headband in. This time though, while turning the lock I took out the knife so it wouldn't break, I turned the lock and opened it. When I entered I saw a camera system, I rushed over to it and looked through the cameras. I saw Sam, thank god, but she was with someone else, they wore the same cloth on their eyes as the guy behind me. They were running, at first I didn't know from what, but after switching through the cameras and following them, I saw it, some massive blob of a creature, its mouth with teeth around the entire thing, it used spike-like arms to push itself around, gliding across the floor, sliding whenever a corner was turned, for its size, it was fast as hell. "What's going on?" The guy stood aside me.

"We gotta go! Can you keep up!?" I was already out the door.

"I assume you found them through the cams...if they're a female they'll be in the R area in here, it's close, so we must hurry" He said that as if I wasn't already running, he was right behind me however, I didn't underestimate him...or maybe I did...I didn't expect him to be able to catch up "Through there!" He pointed to my right, a door was up ahead, I still had my sword pre summoned and sheathed around my waist with my jacket, maybe I should give the guy something to defend himself with. I opened the door and starting sprinting again the second I went through, it was just one long hallway with what looked like a massive garage door. at the end...I saw two hand cranks, I knew what we'd do!

"he-

"I know! You better give it your all!" We each dashed to one of the hand cranks and started cranking, it was extremely painful to do, the rust and broken handles only made it worse. "Stop!" I could hear their footsteps getting closer at an alarming rate.

"What do you mean stop! They have to get through" There was only a small gap.

"Yes, I know, but if we raise it too high, it will give whatever caused you to sprint here, time to get under as well, maybe even lift the gate." He was right. "They'll have to slide under, and the minute we see them do so, we let go." I nodded, though I didn't know if he could see it. The footsteps got louder and I could hear the beast behind them.

"Slide girl!" I heard an unfamiliar voice speak. But with that, I heard screeching and soon two people came through the gap, I wanted to turn and make sure it was the two I was hoping for, but I had to let go. The gate dropped and we all took a step back, when I looked over, I saw Sam with her hair down, and with a few cuts.

"Scared me, thought you were someone else." I walked over to her and lending her a hand. She took it and I brought her up, the guy helped the other girl. I don't know why I couldn't tell that she had her hair down on the cams...maybe some magic stuff was going on.

"Can I get my hairband back?" She extended her hand.

"I don-

"You do, someone told me that if you have something important from your partner, PTS and other abilities relating to each other are easier to use, it's why we had the roses on our heads, but this helps even more" When she mentioned the roses I had to check...it...was still there luckily. I checked my pockets, and wouldn't you know it, I had it on me. I handed walked behind her and set up her ponytail.

"There"

"Thank you~...ehh, why do you smell and look terrible" I forgot that she had that gear as well, she walked backwards and shined the light on me.

"Well...it's a long story, wha-" Interrupting me, the beast slammed against the gate and we all fell over. The gate seemed sturdy. So we all relaxed, sitting up in different ways. "How about you tell me what happened, I mean, you being chased by...that" I motioned my head to the door. "Is probably more entertaining than mine."

"Alright" I started to realize that her smile was gone, I assume she went through stuff that was just as bad, if not worse.

"Before that, let me introduce you all" I motioned to Sam "Toya, this is Sam" I motioned to Toya "Sam, this is Toya"

"Nice to meet ya!"

"Hmhm...an introduction for the others is unneeded, I was only curious on why Lee would be risking himself, regardless. Sam." He said it so condescendingly that it ticked me off. "You may begin your story"

"O-okay..."She seemed hurt, like she could tell the guy hated her for some reason. She pulled up a menu in her hud. "Alright! I'll begin!"