Year: 771

A little more than 3 years after the Cell Game

Fear it as you fear the grave

"Draco Mari Terribilis, the terrible sea dragon.

This name was given to this species by consulting the notes left by the few people who were able to get close to it. Only two sightings of the monster could be made, resulting in the death of the entire team of zoologists involved.

The danger of this animal is therefore extreme, and explains the little information we have.

No classification could be made. However, the known descriptions have made it possible to determine some families in which the species could be placed. Obtaining samples of the monster's skin, or especially of its blood, would be the only data to verify if these hypotheses are correct.

Here is a brief presentation of the available information:

Size: between 15 and 20 meters long

Description: the sea dragon would have 4 legs with long claws. Its body is elongated and reminds by certain characteristics that of the snakes. Its skull is long. The name "dragon" comes from the appearance of its head and its teeth, closer to other land reptiles like dinosaurs. It has a long tail, impossible to know if it is prehensile. The testimonies evoke an ability to emit powerful sounds, even described as "terrifying" by some. No explanation for this ability.

Dwelling place: the dragon has been observed only in one specific place. It is necessary to go down along a deep cavity dug in the rock to reach an underwater cave located at about 7000 meters deep. The great depth complicates the observation, very few machines being able to go down so low.

We do not know the total number of individuals, it could even be only one, nor how such an animal could have found itself and adapted in such an environment.

Its aggressiveness is extreme. We therefore formally advise anyone to consider studying this animal.

Our knowledge and our means to protect ourselves from it are probably insufficient at this time.

Fear it as you fear the grave."

17 slowly closed the book that he had been reading and rereading regularly since Ruri had given it to him three weeks earlier.

She hadn't lied to him: the last monster they had to study seemed to be very dangerous indeed. This reading never ceased to plunge 17 into an abyss of contradictory feelings.

This "dragon" looked like a very interesting challenge. The more he thought about it, the more he was looking forward to meeting him. But a strong apprehension was growing in him at the same time. He was not worried for him, he knew that this monster would not be able to cause him any injury. On the other hand for Ruri the risk was real. And the idea that she could be wounded again, or worse, was unbearable for him.

He also couldn't help but wonder what could have made her want to study such an animal. After reading the book, it seemed completely insane for a human to have even considered the idea. But Ruri had been planning this expedition for years, long before she met him. How old was she when this idea came to her? She must have been quite young in any case.

Sure, Ruri liked big animals, but she was not a risktaker. All this was curious.

And yet.

For a few days, he had observed a change in her attitude. She was more distant. Sometimes when he spoke to her she took a few seconds to answer him. And especially, she was less cheerful than usual.

Lost in his thoughts, he finally realized that night was beginning to fall. So he decided to join Ruri in her laboratory.

When he arrived she was immersed in listening to a video on her computer.

17 stood to the side so as not to disturb her, and took advantage of this moment to observe her. She was concentrating, her headphones on her ears, her right eyebrow slightly raised. The more he looked at her like this, involved, serious, the more he found her beautiful. Suddenly, he felt a powerful urge.

Touching her.

Feeling her against him.

The memories of their nights together were coming up in his mind, as the time for her to go to sleep approached, and this amused him a lot. This little human had obviously awakened in him a hunger that seemed impossible to satiate.

Suddenly, Ruri noticed his presence and stopped the video.

- Oh! Sorry 17, have you been here long?

- No. What were you looking at?

- A video about abyssal smokers.

- About what?

- These are hot springs found in the deep sea. They warm up the temperature of the surrounding water enormously.

- And why are you interested in that ?

- Because the dragon must live in a place where the water is warm.

- Why?

- His behavior. It is described as very fast and active. The animals of the abyss are rather slow, the icy waters and the lack of food do not help to have much energy.

- Are you studying the theory of the members of the third expedition? It was as a result of their dive that the humans thought the dragon was an animal that got trapped in the cave, right?

A short silence followed, during which Ruri seemed to freeze.

17 did not know how to react to this unusual behavior. He couldn't figure out what could be causing the young woman to act this way. Was she so afraid? That would not be surprising in itself, but Ruri was not a fearful person. She was cautious in all circumstances, and if he had felt her sometimes feel fear, it had never made her back off.

What was he supposed to do?

He was still thinking when Ruri turned to him. She took off her headphones and spoke again:

- You have read my book well, I see. This is indeed the conclusion that most scientists have come to based on what we know about this expedition. They filmed themselves. This video is short but we learn some interesting information. For example, the teeth of the monster are visible in the image and they do not correspond to anything usual at such depths. Its morphology is very strange. And its behavior too. It attacked the team at an amazing speed. It did not give them any chance to escape.

- A video? You never told me about it. Could I see it ? asked 17, intrigued.

This question seemed to unsettle Ruri.

Yes.

It was fear that 17 saw in her eyes.

- If I could see how this animal attacks it would help me prepare, he continued.

- Yes. Yes, that makes sense. I'll go get it.

Ruri tried to look contented in front of him, but he knew her too well by now. He had learned to read her gestures, the slightest movement of her face or body. He knew that she was not in her normal state.

17 could not find the words to express his concern. It was as if the words he wanted to say were stuck in his throat. He knew what he wanted to say, but not how to say it. And yet he wanted more than anything to understand and to relieve Ruri's pain.

Instinctively, he held out his hand.

- Come on, human. It's getting late, let's go look at it in your room.

Ruri took a deep breath, then grabbed his hand and smiled shyly.

Once they arrived, they both lay down on the bed. With a hesitant hand, the young woman started the video on her small television, before coming to sit right next to 17.

The quality of the image was not very good, but they could distinguish the presence of several humans. Three men and one woman at least. Ruri put the speed in accelerated mode, without a word.

She didn't realize it, but it had no impact on 17. His superhuman speed allowed him to follow the images as if they were passing at normal speed. As the minutes passed, he saw the precise course of this third expedition. The giant turtles, the megalodon and the krakens. Then came the dive into the abyss. Images of animals scrolled by, interspersed with more convivial moments. Meals, parties, games of the whole crew who lived on a boat similar to theirs.

Finally, the last monster.

Ruri stood up and put the initial speed back, still without saying a word. But when she came back, she lay down next to 17, this time putting her head and hands on his chest.

The images became less clear and more intermittent. The recording looked like it had been damaged. The crew was gathered in a submersible that was sinking into a tunnel cut into the rock. They spoke little, simply giving each other directions or depths in low voices. Obviously they had installed a radar to scan the surroundings and detect the presence of the monster. All of them wore on their faces the marks of tiredness and worry.

They were very focused when suddenly a roar was heard.

17 immediately glanced at Ruri. But she didn't react, her empty gaze simply fixed on the screen.

In a few seconds everything became blurred on the television. The camera seemed to shake in all directions, while 17 clearly saw the submersible break up under the violence of the blows given by a gigantic animal whose shadow could hardly be seen in the background. The images blurred again, becoming very difficult to see properly. But what had happened was easily understandable: screams, cries, and always this terrible roar.

Then, suddenly, nothing.

A total silence.

And the camera was slowly going up to the surface, before everything got blurry and a black square appeared on the small screen.

There was a long silence in the room.

17 was impressed by what he had just seen. Indeed, the humans had not had a chance to escape. The monster had appeared out of nowhere, completely surprising them, and had attacked with great ferocity. The video didn't show much, but he was particularly surprised by the fact that the dragon had not been spotted by the expedition members at all.

"Like the Krakens," he said to himself, "he can see without being seen. We're really going to have to be careful when we go down."

It took him several minutes to realize that Ruri still hadn't said a word. She was huddled against him, her left hand clutching his shirt as if she was holding on to it to keep from falling.

She was terrified. More than that. A feeling he couldn't identify.

He didn't have the words to comfort her.

But he had an instinct that guided his actions.

He then put his fingers on Ruri's chin, and raised it so that she was in front of him. He looked at her, long, before putting delicately his lips on hers.

A light kiss, filled with the tenderness which sprang in him by seeing this woman which he cared about so much being so afflicted.

A kiss of an immense delicacy.

A kiss of an infinite softness.

Their noses touched in a ticklish embrace that made them both laugh.

17 then felt Ruri's body tense up towards him. She arched her hips in his direction, letting her fingers run through his hair, which she clutched with unusual ardor. He entered her, slowly. He perceived that it was what she needed. What his voice could not say to her, he let his body express it.

Each of his glances was a new word telling her all the good that he wanted to make her.

Each pressure of his hands on Ruri's hips or thighs was a way to make her understand that he would put all his power to protect her.

Each movement of his hips was a proof that he offered himself totally to her.

Each gasp that he let escape as the pleasure went up in him was an "I love you" of which he was not conscious himself.

Ruri, on the other hand, knew how much she loved him.

She thus let herself go, abandoning herself to this deluge of sensation which went up in her. She wrapped her legs around 17's lower abdomen, guiding his rhythm. She clung to his shoulders to be able to better feel the extent of his force, letting this feeling of intense safety that only he knew how to give her invade her little by little. Closing her eyes, she let him take full possession of her body, savoring every second, until the end. Panting, sweating, they remained entwined of long minutes, trying to retain a little of this ephemeral happiness by still exchanging kisses and caresses as long as possible.

Sleep was long in coming for Ruri, and 17 waited patiently. He only left her when he finally felt the slow breathing of the sleeping young woman on his chest. Once out of the room he returned to the laboratory, taking with him the video that he watched many times that night. The next morning, he had a very precise idea of the way he envisaged the continuation of the expedition. While Ruri took her breakfast with him, he spoke to explain his suggest.

- I think I have an idea of how we should do. For the dragon.

He paused to take a sip of coffee, and discreetly observed the young woman's reaction. She stopped eating for a fraction of a second, but recovered just as quickly, and turned to him:

- Really?

She was trying hard not to show her anxiety. She even seemed to be doing a little better than the day before. And yet, clearly, she was still very confused. Something about the expression on her face gave 17 the impression that she was expecting something from him. For him, the behavior of a human was sometimes just as obscure to interpret as that of an animal. However, Ruri had taught him to observe the slightest movements or sounds made by an individual and to adapt his own attitude accordingly.

Her eyes were wide open and her torso was slightly bent toward him.

What did this body language mean?

"She wants me to say ... no ... do something. She's scared. I talk about going down to meet the dragon. So ... I have to reassure her. But that's what I do with my plan. If I have a plan, it must reassure her. So ... AH! I know!"

Accompanying his answer with a smile that he tried to make look as natural as possible, he continued:

- Yes. Don't worry, I think I know how to get down safely.

Immediately, Ruri seemed relieved. She let out a very light sigh and her shoulders relaxed.

"Well done!" said 17 to himself with pride. "In fact, you have to smile! And even if it's obvious, you have to explain. Humans are really strange. But anyway. It works!"

- In fact I watched the video very well. The submersible went into a long tunnel and during the whole descent nothing happened. But then they arrived in the cave, and that's when they were attacked. I deduced two things from this.

- Which ones?

- The dragon must be too big to get into the tunnel that leads to the cave. So as long as we are in the tunnel we are safe. But the speed at which it attacked afterwards reminded me of the Krakens. As if it knew they were coming, as if it had spotted them before.

- Excellent deductions, answered Ruri by inviting him with a gesture to continue.

- And so here's my idea. Once we get to the tunnel I'll go out into the water.

- What?

- That way I can activate my shield all around the submersible. If I'm right, the dragon will have spotted us and will be waiting at the entrance of the cave to attack us. I'll block his blows with my barrier and that way I'll have him in my sights. From there, you'll go back to the tunnel and wait for me.

- But ...

- I know you probably want to see the dragon. But I've thought about it a lot, and I think it's too dangerous. It's hard for me to move around with you in my arms. I'll take your camera with me, I'll take all the samples and videos you want. You'll just have to guide me with the headphones. But you'll be much safer in the tunnel. Let me do it this time, it's safer. I know how to handle the capsules, the syringes. I know how to do it. I can do it. Okay?

Deep inside, Ruri felt a huge relief.

She would never have dared to make such a request, but that was exactly what she needed to hear. Because deep down, the dragon was really terrorizing her. If they did this, she was sure she would be able to control her anxiety. She would just have to stay in the tunnel. From there, she could see 17 via the camera and help him by communicating with him.

This plan was simply ...

- Perfect, she murmured.

- What?

- Your plan is perfect. You had a great idea. I'm impressed, really.

- Is the fact that I can have a good idea that is impressive? asked 17 with a laugh.

For the first time in days, a big smile lit up Ruri's face.

- Haha! Sorry, tin can. But admit that your last diving initiative was not the idea of the century!

- Of course it was ! I brought back an extremely rare venom, and we are both safe. This is a success.

- The result is certainly positive but the method was ...

- Only the result counts.

- ABSOLUTELY NOT !

Delighted to see her finally laughing, 17 stopped teasing her, and they both resumed the normal course of their research. As with the last dive, the beacon was impossible to locate because of the depth at which it was located. They had to determine beforehand a perimeter using all the resources that Ruri had: pieces of notes, not very readable and incomplete, and the video whose images were not of excellent quality. So many fragments of a puzzle left by the previous explorers and that the young woman had managed to recover.

The tunnel itself was very difficult to find. They needed to dive many times, traveling on the submersible, until finally one morning they arrived in front of what looked like a huge underwater hill. A pile of gigantic stones, black as night. Certain that they were on to something, 17 and Ruri got out of their vehicle to take a closer look at the place. Blocks of stone lay on top of each other with other strange, dark, ball-shaped rocks all around. It looked exactly like the description of the entrance to the dragon's lair as written in the notes. 17 slowly walked around the area, scanning the surroundings with his eye sensors. He finally found what they had both been looking for for days: a hole in the side of the stone mound.

One entry.

- I don't see the beacon, it's weird. Yet I really feel like it's here. I think it's worth taking a look at, don't you?

But he did not get an answer.

He turned his eyes, and saw that Ruri was staring at the hole with an expression he had never seen before. She looked like she was in physical pain at the mere sight of this place. Worried, he approached her and put his arm on her shoulder.

- Is everything okay?

The young woman reacts immediately to his touch.

- Yes, yes, everything is fine, she answered.

- Okay. Shall we get in the submersible and go?

- ... okay.

It didn't take long for 17 to realize that Ruri was not well at all. During the whole trip back to their vehicle, she didn't say a single word. He could see the features of her face distorting under the violence of an emotion he did not understand.

Who was beyond fear.

He didn't dare say anything to her, fearing of making the situation worse. But when, as he entered the tunnel, he saw tears silently running down her cheeks, he stopped immediately.

The distress that Ruri felt made him feel bad, but not mad: he was worried. And this feeling was so new and intense that he did not manage to control it. He cut the engines, seized the arm of the young woman and brought back her towards him.

- This time it's enough. You're going to tell me what's going on with you now.

- Stop 17, you're hurting me! cried Ruri.

- I'm sorry, he replied as he removed his hand. Sorry if I squeezed you too hard. Ruri, I don't understand what's going on. I don't know what's wrong with you and I hate the way I feel right now.

- What do you feel?

- My chest hurts, and I don't like it. But I know you're lying to me when you say you're fine. Why are you lying to me, Ruri?

His gaze reflected a sincere concern, and the young woman even detected a hint of pain in it. Only then did she understand. When he had told her his story, she had experienced a feeling of oppression and immense pain. It was as if thinking about 17's sadness made her instantly feel his pain as if it were her own.

"I'm doing the same thing to you...you're hurt because I'm hurt...oh I'm so ..."

Guilt assaulted her.

17 was, after all, a sensitive being. Even though his daily impassivity tended to make her forget it, she had seen that he was in fact perfectly capable of feeling emotions. She suddenly felt terrible for being selfish, not caring about the impact her behavior might have on him. He seemed genuinely affected by the discovery that she was lying to him.

"You, you trusted me enough to tell me everything..."

She couldn't go back.

She shouldn't go back.

Ruri then put her hand on 17's, and after a deep breath, she finally decided to explain everything to him.

- What you're experiencing here is empathy.

- Empathy?

- Does this word remind you of anything?

- No.

- It is the ability to feel the emotions of others. You see that I suffer, and that is what makes you suffer.

- So you're suffering?

- Yes.

- Why? Are you afraid of the dragon that much?

- This is not fear. It's worse. At least I think so.

- What is it?

Ruri searched something in her phone before handing it to 17. He saw a picture with three humans in it. A man, a woman and a little girl. A little girl with brown hair and big green eyes.

"Ruri?" thought 17 immediately.

He also seemed to recognize the other two. He had seen them before. But where?

- They are on the video. That's why their faces look familiar to you. They are my parents.

The young woman had anticipated his question. 17 looked at the photo again for a few more seconds, pondering the implications of this information.

Her parents? She had told him that they had died in an accident three years earlier.

This meant that ...

- Is that how they died? Was it the dragon that killed them? he finally said, confused.

- Yes. That's right.

- So this expedition ...

- It was theirs. My parents were zoologists, and my father was a marine animal specialist. That's why I swim well and know how to use all these instruments, I spent months with them on expeditions during my vacations. That's why I know a lot of rangers. And that's why I have their notes and the video. The university kept copies, but because I'm their daughter they let me have the originals. Because that's all I have left of them. This is all that has come to the surface. Their bodies were never ...

She stopped, her throat tight with tears she had been holding back for a long time.

17 did not know how to respond. He was still confused about what the death of the Ruri's parents had to do with the magnitude of her reaction. That the dragon had killed her parents did not make him more dangerous in his eyes. Cautiously, he decided to ask her the question:

- Ruri, I understand that you are sad, but why are you so afraid?

And suddenly, as if something was breaking inside her, Ruri burst into tears. Her confession resounded in the cabin in a terrible and heartbreaking complaint, mixed with anger and suffering contained for too many years.

- Because I am afraid to die! I am afraid that this monster will kill me and devour me like it devoured my parents! I have watched this video hundreds of times 17. Their screams...their screams gave me nightmares for months! I couldn't get those horrible memories out of my head. I begged heaven to give them back to me ... I wanted to finish what they started. I wanted to finish my parents' dream. When I met you I was so happy, because you are so powerful, with you I thought I could do it. But still... I can't do it. I'm so weak. So pathetic. I must make you feel so pity for me... Sorry. Sorry 17. I'm so sorry...

She was crying. She couldn't stop crying.

17 listened to her very carefully, without really understanding. But he answered her in a soft voice:

- I have nothing to forgive you for. You should have told me before, but it's not that important. I am here with you. It is precisely to go and meet this monster that you asked me to accompany you. With me you risk nothing. I am here, and I will take care of you.

- I know. I know, but still, I have... I don't know how to explain. I'm really a fool, I play the great explorer, but in fact I'm just a coward. This fear paralyses me. It crushes me from the inside. It burns my throat. And I just can't... Sorry. It must sound so stupid to you...

A paralyzing fear?

A fear that destroys?

A fear so strong that it becomes impossible to fight against?

These words resonated in 17 with a force that Ruri did not suspect. Contrary to everything she could imagine, he suddenly understood her state of mind very clearly. He was the first to be surprised, because he had never met anyone who had experienced the same thing as him. Who had felt in his flesh the same thing as him.

So that's why she was so bad.

Hearing her put words to her suffering enlightened him on his own, after years of wandering and troubles that he could not explain. In an instant he felt relieved of a gigantic burden that had been torturing him for a very long time.

The loneliness. The feeling that he was a stranger to the world around him, lost in a hell of pain that no one else could understand.

He knew at that moment that he was no longer alone.

- What makes you think I'm going to think you're stupid? he then asked Ruri.

- Because you are so strong, it must seem foolish to be so afraid that you let this fear overtake you.

- When Cell absorbed me, I was afraid.

This sentence, which he had pronounced with an abrupt coldness made Ruri jump. Unable to react, she raised her eyes and looked at him. To her surprise, she did not see in his eyes the distress he had shown before when he had mentioned Cell. This time he looked much calmer.

- Afraid? she finally asked him.

- Yes. From the first punch. He knocked me down with one punch. From that moment I knew I couldn't defeat him. I refused to admit it, I refused to run away, but the truth is that every second of our fight was a countdown against which I could do nothing. Nothing at all. And when I turned around and saw him behind me... It only lasted a second, but I knew it was the end. That I had no way out. But you know, that wasn't the worst part actually. That's not what scared me the most.

- Really?

- For so long I had only one thing on my mind: to get my freedom back. It was the only thing I could get back and the only promise I had made to 18. I had finally done it, I was so happy. But when Cell absorbed me, it all ended. And I remained conscious every minute, every second, for 10 long days. I was immobile, but my thoughts were intact. You can't imagine how I felt during all that time. I begged and pleaded as much as I could for 18 to escape. When it was her turn to be absorbed I felt her close to me, so close, yet so far. We couldn't talk, couldn't see each other, couldn't touch. But she was there. From then on, for me, no one was able to defeat Cell. I didn't know if this filthy monster was mortal or not. I really, truly thought I was going to spend the rest of my life like that. For me it was the worst possible prison. And that thought alone terrified me to the core.

Ruri's whole body shivered as she listened to him.

17 had indeed already told her that the absorption had not killed him or put him to sleep. But she had not thought about the repercussions of this: he had remained perfectly conscious.

The horror of this truth chilled his heart.

She could hardly imagine what it must have been like for him. If Cell had not been killed, 17 would have been condemned to live for years without being able to move a finger, alone, separated from the only person who mattered to him and who would have been forever inaccessible to him: his sister.

She didn't know what to say to him. No words seemed to make sense in the face of such a confession.

- Why do you talk to me about it? she ends up asking him.

- Because I understand what you feel, this fear so strong that it prevents you from breathing or taking a single step. Deep down I want to take revenge on Cell, every time I think about it I dream of killing that cockroach face. And yet if I had him in front of me I don't know if I would be able to face him. I don't know if this feeling has a name, and I don't care. But I understand. That's all.

Ruri could not believe it. The contrast with the previous times 17 had spoken about this moment of his life was staggering. He was almost serene, as if something had changed in him.

Before the young woman could say anything, he continued to talk.

- And I don't think you're stupid at all. If you tell me to turn back, I will. But I want you to make your decision knowing one thing.

- What ?

- Whatever is down there, however strong that monster is, you are safe. I will never let anything or anyone hurt you. Not now, not ever again. Even if I have to die for it.

- Don't say something like that !

- Like what ?

- Don't talk about dying like it's nothing!

- I am not afraid to die.

- Really?

- I've already died once, don't forget it.

And suddenly Ruri remembered. He had indeed died at the same time as Cell.

A question came to her, simple, banal, but she could not hold it back:

- Hey, 17, what is it like to die?

This question surprised 17. It was not an easy question to answer, but he took the time to think about it. He stepped back a little and crossed his arms for a few seconds.

- I don't really know what to say to you, it was quite short actually, he finally said. Why are you asking me this?

- For years, I kept wondering what the last minutes of my parents' life were like. You can't see them on the video, you can only hear them screaming. What did they think when they saw the dragon coming at them? What did they say to each other as they died...

Ruri was suffering inside, 17 could see it. She had one of her hands clasped to her chest and she had tears that wouldn't stop running down her cheeks. Her face was tight, contorted with intense pain. Although it made sense to him that she was saddened by the death of her parents, he still didn't understand what was tormenting her.

In fact, his perception of death was not as negative as hers, for what seemed like an obvious reason. But telling the truth seemed to work with humans. So he answered her, as truthfully as he could.

- I don't know. But for me death was not such a bad thing.

- Really?

- I'm not saying your parents were happy to die, just that it's not necessarily the hardest thing to bear.

- Are you serious?

- Yes. It's hard to explain, but I wasn't afraid to die. In fact I was quite relieved when it happened.

- ... Why?

- Because at least my nightmare was over.

- I'm not sure I understand...

- Nothing and no one could free me at that moment. I had lost all hope. Life had simply become unbearable, a torture that would never end. Do you remember the wounded elephant? You finished him off because his death would ease his suffering. That's exactly what it was.

Ruri did not answer. She was disarmed by the sincerity of this confession, and very touched by 17's words. His pain was still there, intense, but he had mastered it much better. This new confidence in him made him incredibly reassuring, he seemed stronger than ever. She then remembered their discussion when she had told him that she was going to kill the elephant. 17 immediately let go of her and said nothing more. She then realized that he must have understood perfectly well at that moment and that this was why he had let her do it. Because he agreed with her.

At one point in his life, he had suffered so much that dying had become almost a positive thing.

But had the same happened to her parents? Ruri was still wondering about this when 17 spoke again. He seemed to be speaking as much for her as for himself, as if he were verbalizing without realizing it a thought that he was just beginning to perceive.

- 18 had been spit out, she was going to live. So when I felt that my last hour had come, all my regrets were gone. I welcomed death as a liberation, and it was no longer something terrifying. I don't know what your parents thought when their vehicle was destroyed and they were confronted by the dragon. But at the very end, I'm pretty sure they were relieved too. I hope I'm not hurting your feelings by saying this?

- No. Not at all. That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me.

- I wasn't saying that especially to be nice...

- I know, Ruri answered tenderly.

Of all the characteristics she liked in 17, this frankness mixed with a great awkwardness in human relations was, by far, what she appreciated the most.

"Unintentionally nice, huh?" she thought, the thought making her laugh inwardly. The idea that perhaps her parents had also experienced this relief in death soothed her greatly. Probably because it made her feel better to believe it, she chose to trust him on this point.

- I'd like to say one last thing before I leave you to think about whether you want to go down the tunnel or not, 17 continued after a few seconds of silence.

- Yes?

- I will respect your choice, whatever it is. But to convince me to go with you, you made me a promise, that I would never be bored. And I must admit that I would really, really like to see with my own eyes the animal that is able to freak you out so much.

Ruri had a movement of surprise.

In front of her, 17 was still standing there, motionless.

But this time a small smile had appeared on the corner of his lips. This smile so characteristic of his temperament. This smile that she knew too well.

- Wait... are you making fun of me right now?

- I thought you could need a little motivation boost.

- I CAN'T BELIEVE IT ! You really have a very special sense of timing 17 !

- I know.

17 then turned his seat around, casually placed his feet on the dashboard and closed his eyes, before resuming:

- Now it's your choice. Take your time, just let me know when you decide.

- Are you really going to wait like this?

- You wouldn't believe how many hours I've had to wait in my life while 18 went shopping or whatever. I know how to wait.

Ruri looked at him carefully again.

He was motionless, relaxed, with his arms crossed behind his neck.

"Oh my god he's really serious actually!" she concluded when she saw him.

Yet she knew he was right. He was by her side and his presence was her best chance of survival. But there was nothing rational about the fear she felt, nothing that could be erased by logical reasoning. It was a visceral emotion, and she was the only one who could fight against it.

He had told her all he could say to reassure her, it was up to her.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Facing her fear.

Facing the monster.

Facing the death of her parents.

Was she even capable of it?

She was still doubting it when she took one last look in 17's direction. His strength, his solidity, his courage... She could rely on it. She could rely on him. He had proven that to her enough in the months they had been traveling together.

Once she got this far, she didn't want to go back.

Another, even deeper breath helped her to restrain the powerful beating of her heart and control her panic.

A minute passed before she dared to open her eyes again. Then, in a firm voice, she finally gave her answer.

- Wake up, tin can. Let's go...