I wonder if these are the eyes Mathias saw when he died.
I wonder if these are the eyes I will see when I die.
Worse fates could be imagined.
Maybe.
The stone wall pressing into my back is almost the same temperature as me by now, but Lara is showing no signs of backing down.
I'm not even scared anymore.
Just so, goddamn tired.
I stand, like a statue, waiting for an angry goddess to deliver judgement. Every breath taken is a treasure, every heartbeat a reward. I count them.
How long will they last?
Lara blinks, slumps a little.
"I'm waiting too, you know."
She frowns at me, tilts her head to the side just a little.
"For you to leave." I clarify.
The nightly screams have stopped. It's only muffled crying now. At this point, that's as good as I could have hoped for. But at the same time it is the most frightening thing, leaving me colder than Himeko's touch ever could.
If she-
When she heals, she will have no reason to stay. I will be a liability. Her ball and chain. And I refuse-
35 breaths later my breath is taken away.