Hello. Here is another chapter. You know when you post a new chapter, and then you write a little message at the beginning that you're pretty sure no one reads but you write it anyway in case some people do, but you really have no idea what to say? But, you don't want to always write the same boring thing, so you keep digging to find something even though there's nothing to say? That's how I feel right now... Oh well. Leave a review X3 And enjoy!

Chapter 14: Crystals

Rin fell asleep in Len's arms. Len knew this because he felt her body release its tension. Her position was hurting his rib, but he didn't care; he wanted her, no, more like needed her beside him. So, he leaned back against the wall and shut his eyes.

Rin's soft and regular breaths were like a lullaby to him. It reminded him of how truly tired he was. With Rin so close to him, he thought he would be too agitated to sleep, especially now that he knew she was in love with him. But that didn't seem to be the case.

She loves me, he thought as he fell into a deep sleep. He couldn't and didn't fight the smile that came to his lips.

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Gumi's scream was heart-wrenching. Gakupo didn't know how he found the strength to keep pulling, but he did. It didn't take long for Gumi's leg to get cut free, but it seemed like an eternity. As soon as Gakupo felt the resistance disappear, he swung Gumi onto his back and began running away, not paying attention to his direction. Adrenaline pumped hot and fast through his veins as he prayed to find the way back to Luka.

Gakupo burst out of the darkness, stumbling and tripping but somehow maintaining his balance as the light blinded him after being in the dark so long. He didn't waste a minute; he dropped Gumi to the floor and began tightly wrapping her bloody leg with piece of fabric torn away from the jacket he'd been wearing.

"What happened?" Luka calmly asked as she knelt beside him, handing him cloths.

Gumi moaned as Gakupo, adrenaline still rushing throughout his body, worked at stopping the blood flow with the cloths and torn fabric. His breath was coming quick and ragged and he felt tears stinging his eyes. Luka watched him with worried eyes.

"Help me carry her back," Gakupo ordered, his voice devoid of emotions.

Luka nodded and they carried her back quickly. The blood was still gushing from Gumi's wounds, but much less so than before. When they arrived to the little waiting room with the working water fountain, Neru, Haku, Meiko and Ia stared at them with wide eyes.

Gakupo poured water onto Gumi's wounds, cleaning them thoroughly before using disinfectant. Gumi's eyes flickered shut, sending Gakupo into a panic state.

"Gumi!" Gakupo said, lightly tapping her on the cheek. "Gumi, stay with me."

Her eyes opened slightly as she tried to mumble something.

"That's good," Gakupo encouraged. "Just keep talking and staring at me."

He went back to working on her leg, a pool of blood already forming there. Shit, Gakupo thought angrily, not knowing how to stop the blood. She needed stitches badly, but they had nothing of the sort. Then, another idea formed in his head.

"Luka! Hand me some matches!" he screamed. "And come give me a hand with Gumi!"

Luka appeared by his side, handing him some matches without asking questions. He decided it would be best if he explained the plan first.

"If we don't close those wounds, Gumi's gonna bleed out," he said gravely.

Luka nodded stiffly, understanding his plan. "You're going to burn the wounds shut."

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Rin woke up first, but it didn't surprise her; Len had to be exhausted because of that injury. He was still shirtless, bandages wrapped around his chest. She unwrapped them carefully, making sure not to wake him.

The bruise was worse. It had grown and became even darker than before. She sighed and bandaged him again, trying to imagine what it must've been like walking with a freshly broken rib. Thinking of her brother's injury reminded her of her own; she hadn't checked on it at all.

She sat down and pulled out some disinfectant for her cut. She began unwrapping the bandage around her arm, all too aware that the pain she was feeling every time her fingers brushed the area around the wound probably wasn't a good sign. She tugged at the last pieces of bandage, but it didn't come off; it was stuck to her cut.

She gritted her teeth and pulled at it, ripping the scab off. It stung and she gasped, stopping her movement; she'd only taken half off. When the burning subsided to a dull ache, she took the rest of the bandage off and stared at the gash; it was a mess.

The long cut hadn't healed and was still open, partly because the bandage had stuck to it. The edges were red and sticky and the skin around it was also red. Dark blue veins streaked her arm here and there, stretching from the cut. Blood and some infectious liquid seeped from the cut itself, crusting around it. Little bits of bandage still clung to the gash, held there by dry blood and another yellowish-white substance.

This is bad, Rin thought grimly as she stared at her arm. This is really bad. She was about to wake Len, but hesitated. Wouldn't he think this was his fault? It wasn't, of course, but knowing Len, he would take it upon himself since he was the one who got trapped between the walls. No, she couldn't tell him. He was already tormenting himself enough about almost killing her.

She started trying to disinfect it, but quickly gave up; it had to be cleaned first. Len started stirring in his spot against the wall; he was waking up. Rin quickly wrapped her arm up, wondering if it was okay to reuse these bloody bandages.

"Rin?" Len mumbled, his voice sticky with sleep.

She stood up and went to him, handing him something to eat. He propped himself up higher, yawning before groaning in pain. Rin shot him a worried look.

"I'm fine," he assured with a smile.

Rin was unconvinced, but she let it go. She sat down beside him and they ate in silence.

"How's your arm?" Len asked when they finished eating.

Rin was caught off guard. "Uh, fine," she answered, too late to be convincing.

Len raised an eyebrow and Rin quickly changed the subject before he could take it further.

"How's your rib?"

"Better than ever," Len lied with a forced smile.

Rin jumped up to her feet and stood in front of him. He stared up at her, his eyes curious.

"I think we should stay here until your rib gets better," she declared solemnly.

"No." His tone was final.

"But-" Rin began before Len cut her off.

"I'm fine."

Rin sighed. "No, you are clearly not fine. You can lie all you want, but I can tell by the look on your face that it hurts to fucking breathe."

His eyes dropped to the floor. She had him.

"I can handle it," he muttered, almost as if he were trying to convince himself.

Rin sighed again and sat down beside him.

"Len, as a human being, there's only so much you can do."

She felt him laugh before groaning. "I suppose so. But, we can't stay here; it's too dangerous. We have to find a way out. Plus, we'll run out of water soon enough."

He had a point; but, Rin was stubborn.

"Then we can find both those things. After you're better."

"Fine." He switched his gaze to her. "Then, keep going without me." His face was serious.

"No," Rin said, offering no place for discussion.

"Then we'll both go." End of discussion.

Rin scowled at him. But, she realized he wasn't looking at her anymore. He was staring at something behind her with wide, horror-struck eyes. Rin turned to look and stared as well. Miki's body had seemed to crystallize somehow.

Her body had split up into thousands of tiny little crystals that lay on the floor in the shape of a human being. Then, they darkened from Miki's dead skin color to pitch black. The mass of black then expanded slightly before exploding, sending shards of little black crystals flying in every direction.

Rin's first instinct was to protect her face with her hands. She expected for something to come flying, stabbing her, but nothing happened. She finally lowered her arms; all the crystals were gone without a trace.

"What the hell just happened?" Rin asked, stricken.

"I-I don't know." Len seemed just as confused as her. "They disappeared in thin air. How is that even possible?"

She detected traces of anger in his voice, though she understood.

"We should probably get out of here soon." Len was already standing to get the bag.

Rin's expression turned sour; she was still upset that Len wouldn't rest, at least for another little while. Len plopped back onto the floor, clutching his ribs with a pained face. This alarmed Rin, who rushed to help him up. She momentarily considered strapping him down into a chair to force him to sit, but decided against it; it seemed wrong somehow. Although it would probably work.

Once Len was standing on his own two feet, he limped towards the backpack, meaning to pick it up, but Rin beat him to it.

"If you're gonna walk around with a broken rib like an idiot, then I'm carrying the backpack," she said.

She could see Len was fighting a smile and tried not be insulted by it. He opened his mouth and she expected him to laugh, but instead, all he said was, "Okay."