"Ha..."
It's the worst feeling.
Awful.
Never again.
Can't escape.
Always again.
Someone help me! Please...just make it end for real! I'll do anything!
I wake up again in the darkness, my heart cold and empty. I'm not trying to count how many times the Hunter has killed me. But it's hard not to keep track anyways.
Why...why is this happening? My sins...were they so heavy that I deserved this? Isn't this how they punished evildoers in the myths? The Underworld...that's what this is. I'm just like the old Titans, stripped bare and laid here to be eaten alive. He always calls me a rat, but rats die when you step on them.
No...I'm not even a rat.
The System God was right.
I'm a worm.
That's really all I am.
Cold, blind, wet, and when you step on me, I don't die. I'll just break in two.
One half always survives to die again.
But every time I come back...there's a little less.
What will be left after another hundred deaths?
"Hei! Hei! Wake up! You need to move!"
Huh? Am I losing it? That sounds like...
"It's Rita! Thank the System we found you! I need you to wake up!"
"G-Guys?" My disbelieving voice cracks as I hear their voices. I must be going insane. Unless...unless the loop changed? I try to turn my head towards them. My sightless eyes hungrily search for salvation. "You have to get out of here! He's coming! The Hunter!"
"I know! Listen to me, Hei! You need to get up! We can guide you away!" She sounds desperate and afraid. I don't blame her.
"Are you guys really here? Can you help me up? I think my collarbone's broken." My voice fills with hope. A terrible feeling of relief eagerly blooms in my chest. This nightmare...is there a way out? "I...I'm blind."
"It's okay! You can do it! I'm sorry, Hei, but I...I'm not doing so hot either. I'm sorry...I can't help you. But the others are waiting for us! Just listen to my voice and I'll get you out of here!" Rita sounds exhausted. I don't know if I can keep up and I don't now why the loop has changed, but the chance to change this nightmarish loop gets me on my feet. For the first time in who knows how long, I manage to start running. Fire burns in my chest, both pain from the broken collarbone, and hope. "That's it, Hei! Just keep going straight!"
"I...I'll try." I huff, focusing on breathing. Rita warns me of incoming obstacles.
"Root! Lift your right foot higher! Come on! Keep up!" I can't tell where her voice is coming from, but I'll follow her directions if it means I can get out of here.
"WAIT RIGHT THERE, RAT! YOU'RE DEAD!"
The Hunter says his line but I'm already on my way. Rita seems to be directing me to the strange hanging roots over the river's edge.
"Are you sure this is the right way!" I yell out, ignoring the raspy pain in my throat. "I'll fall in! I can't see!"
"You're not alone, Hei! I have you. Just keep going...always...you can't stop or he'll catch you!" Rita yells out as I get to it. "There! Get on your hands and knees! Go straight! When you get to the end, turn left!"
