Chapter2 :
(Keith's POV)
I open my eyes slowly, head throbbing. My vision swimming in and out of focus ... Finally it focuses long enough to make out something.
It's a face. It's...Lance… 'Lance, wait what? What happened?'
Everything came flooding back at once. I jump up and push him away, desperate to get as much distance between us. I landed next to my bed. However, Lance's landing isn't as graceful. I had accidentally pushed too hard when I was making my escape, and as a result Lance was flung across the room. He hit the wall with an audible thud.
'No! This can't be happening, not now. Not with him here…' I start panicking. 'I don't know what's happening. But if it's anything like what happened last night, Lance needs to get out of here. Quickly!'
As if the pain and ever-growing patches of purple fur weren't enough torture, I've been experiencing gaps in my memory. Sometimes only small pieces go missing, others like last night, we're much bigger. At least an hour of my memory, completely forgotten. Which means I still have no idea what happened or how I managed to nearly destroy my room.
And right now, I feel like I can slip under any moment…
Lance got up. "Hey, calm down. It's just me, Lance." He says, probably trying to calm me down. He raises his arms defensively. That's when I remember my current appearance.
'Wait, is he…is he afraid of me?' my heart breaks a little at the realization that he actually is scared. And it's because of me. It probably didn't help that I threw him across the room.
I feel my grip on reality start to slip. I'm going to black out again, and I have no idea what will happen after that.
Lance is still looking at me, concerned. I look away, toward my reflection in the mirror next to him. I don't look human. My right eye is still normal, but it probably won't be for much longer. The purple is spreading. Swallowing up the last of my humanity. I realize that I had started crying at some point. So, it's already starting then…
'I need to get him out of here. Get him away from me. Now!'
So, clinging to my last strand of consciousness, I managed one final word. And all I can do is pray that he will listen to me. Just this once. As I fade away.
"Run…"
(Lance's POV )
Keith drops to the ground. The sound of his knees hitting the hard floor makes me flinch. I move to catch him before he smashes his head into the floor. 'Something is seriously wrong with him. Something even worse than the purple skin…'
"Let's get you to a med-pod." I mumble to myself as I get ready to move him. I quickly check his temperature with the back of my hand. He doesn't seem to have a fever… His eyes shoot open. Glowing orbs of molten metal, filled with no emotion other than hate.
"Whaa- " I jump back in surprise, letting Keith fall backwards.
He slowly sits up. A terrifyingly creepy smile on his face. I hurriedly try to get away, like a deer that has just wandered into the lion's den, only to find their exit blocked. My back hits the wall and I find myself staring at the precious little space between us. Between me and the monster that has consumed my friend.
For a split second I found myself wondering if the Keith I had spent so much of my time with over these past months, has… has always been just a lie. That this is his true form...
'No! This isn't Keith. Not the Keith I know. This is someone…something else. It has to be! I won't accept thi-'
I am pulled from my thoughts by a low, threatening growl. The horrible sound of a predator about to pounce. I look up and see that, sure enough, Keith -or rather the monster possessing him- is going to do just that. The manic smile still on his as face he lunges forward, claws and fangs bared.
(Pidge's POV)
I look up from my computer and sigh for what has to be the 100th time today. 'I am sooooooooooooooooo bored!' I think to myself as I play with my pen. Spinning it around in my hand. 'Maybe I should go see if anyone else is as bored as I am. Maybe Hunk and I can work on money of our projects, or I can ask Lance if he wants to play some games. Even talking about different conspiracy theories with Keith will be nice. Huh, come to think about it, I've hardly seen Keith-'
I am pulled from my thoughts by screaming. Horrible screams of absolute terror replace the silence of the castle. My blood runs cold. The screams sound like something out of a horror movie- and not one of those horrible ones we like to make fun of… these screams were so much worse.
I'm up, running before I even have time to think about what could possibly have happened. With my heart pounding in my chest, I silence my racing mind. Now's not the time to think about what-if's…
I meet up with Hunk, Allura and Coran along the way. All of them look extremely pale as we rush to the source of the horrible sounds- Keith's room. When we finally arrive, the whole world seems to freeze. The seen before my eyes… I don't even know how to describe it. It's the most horrific, terrifying, gruesome thing I have ever seen… I feel bile rising up, stinging my throat.
Keith's room is absolutely covered in blood. The red liquid is splattered all over the floor, walls and even the ceiling. Lance lay on the floor, barely conscious, in a pool of his own blood. Hunching over him is a Galra. A Galra, covered in Lance's blood. A Garla who is now looking at us with the a smile so sadistic, it sends a shiver down my spine.
"Lance! How the quiznack did a Garla get onto the ship?!" Hunk yells. "I don't know, but stand ready, we need to distract it to get to Lance," Allura replies, eyes fixed on the all back away when it starts moving closer. It moves slowly, still on all fours, like it's playing a game. The creature's widens it's smile, revealing bloodstained teeth. Really, really sharp teeth.
Without warning, it attacks. Landing on top of Hunk, bearing its fangs. Allura manages to kick it off of Hunk's chest. The creature hissed as it hit the wall at the end of the hallway. It didn't stay down for long. Now fully enraged, it barrels down on Allura, who is just barely able to get out of the way before it's on her again. I turn, rushing to check on Lance. I fall to my knees next to him, quickly checking for a pulse. I breathe a sigh of relief when I find one, but it's weak. Coran appears next to me, eyes darting around trying to catalogue all the injuries that Lance has sustained, simultaneously checking if the healing pods will be able to save him. Finally he speaks the urgency in his voice pulling me out of my previous shock," We need to get him to a pod. Now!" Together, we carefully lift Lance up and begin to make our way to the med Bay.
Allura and Hunk are still fighting the Galra in the hallway. Both of them are already covered in scratches thanks to the creature's razor-sharp claws. It is entirely focused on the two of them. Using this as a distraction, we hurry down the hall, careful not to jostle Lance too much. After what felt like an eternity, we finally reach the med Bay. The sounds of fighting still echoing through the castle. Coming closer. Looks like it hasn't forgotten about its original plaything after all… "HURRY!" I yell desperately as Coran rushes to prepare a pod.
I look over at Lance, 'Is he- is he saying something? No, he's in a lot of pain, he's probably just delusional.' And he is losing a lot of blood, seeing as I am already soaked in it. This only ads to my distress. Coran runs over helping Lance into the pod. It closes with a whoosh, sealing him away. Healing him. I let out a shaky breath. My peace, however is short-lived as Allura is thrown through the door of the med Bay, shortly followed by Hunk.
The creature seems slightly slower when it comes running in after them. I pull out my Bayard, activating it. Coran hurries over to check on Allura while Hunk joins me. Ready to go down fighting.
