It's dark out, and I can hear the distant sounds of howling coyotes, but I steel my nerves, taking a deep breath. It's my turn to go check on Caine; he's been in and out of consciousness since he got back from the mineshaft. Nobody knows what happened to him there, but whatever it was, it sure did screw him over.
Holding the tray with half a bottle of water and a can of beans - food is in short supply now - I walk out of the main Coates building, and head out to the cabin where we sort of left Caine after he blew a hole in the wall of the boys' dormitory. Ha, that was kind of funny. Especially the horrified look on Penny's face as she hit the ground to avoid being crushed. And the look on Drake's face? Priceless. Not that I'll tell him how terrified he looked or anything; I would like to keep my skin whip-free, thank you very much.
I don't see the rock on the floor, and end up tripping over, crashing to the ground. The tray lands in front of me, the water bottle still intact, but the can of beans is rolling down the hill. Panic grips me. If Caine doesn't get his food...
I dart down the hill, and leap for the can, grabbing it in my hands. But it's not enough to stop the forward momentum, and I continue to roll down the hill, crashing into a tree. I let out a groan of pain, surveying the damage. My knees have been scraped badly, and I've managed to cut my arm on something along the way. Blood drips from it onto the paved road beneath me. But at least the can is still fine.
"The things I do for these guys," I say with a heavy sigh, and climb the hill again, my legs hurting with every step. But I grit my teeth, and continue upwards, reaching the dropped tray. I place the can of beans back on the tray, and pick it up, finishing my journey to the cabin.
The wooden door is open slightly, and I can see the faint light from inside the cabin. Perhaps Caine's finally woken up from his crazed state.
"Caine?" I say, pushing open the door, and stepping inside. "I brought food for you and - oh Jesus!"
Caine is standing in the doorway, wearing only his underwear. His eyes lack any emotion, except for exhaustion. His once tanned skin is now a deathly pale, and he's become painfully thin.
"Hungry," he mumbles. "Hungry in the dark. Hungry in the dark. Hungry in the dark!"
"Uh, Caine?" I say. "You all right?"
"It needs to be fed," he lifts his head up, glaring straight at me. "The Gaiaphage needs to be fed! It hungers in the dark, and its hunger is my hunger!" I feel my heart beating in terror as I look at Caine, frozen. He's lost it, gone crazy. And then, he lifts his hands up, palms facing towards me.
"Oh no," I say, dropping the tray as I back off. "No nonononono. Caine, you can't do this. Caine!" But it's too late. Caine flicks his wrists, and I'm lifted up into the air. Another flick, and I'm flying through the air.
I barely catch a glimpse of the wall before it's all over.