Two weeks had passed, and Stephanie's strength was fading with each grueling day of survival and living like a borrower. Her once-healthy frame had withered into something dangerously thin, with her ribs visible beneath her pale skin. Her slacks, once snug, now hung loose around her hips, requiring her to cinch the belt tight every few days. The hems of her slacks were ripped up to her knees, shredded beyond recognition, or to be repaired.
Her hair, which she had kept neatly tied in a half-braid whenever she went to work, had grown wild because she had lacked hair essentials. Loose waves framed her gaunt face, nearly brushing against her hips and acting like a natural cape. Without sharp tools or the time to fashion something to trim it, she had let it grow unchecked, and it had become a hassle for her.
Stephanie tightened the belt around her waist again, frowning as her slacks slipped slightly from her slim waist. But her physical features had changed significantly, with toned muscles from climbing and running. Yet this didn't show much because of her gaunt appearance, which resulted from her lack of food while hiding behind walls.
"This isn't sustainable," she muttered, her voice hoarse from spending the whole night awake and on edge. The borrowed Barbie raincoat was warm, but she shivered from the lack of thick clothing and warmth. She could hear the snow falling from the other side of the walls, and her bare feet, wrapped in makeshift bandages, ached with the cold. Winter had come, and Stephanie had nothing prepared to keep herself warm for the winter.
"I need to find somewhere warm," she murmured, rubbing her arms to keep the remaining warmth to herself. The chill of the RED base seeped into every corner, leaving her feeling perpetually frozen as she shivered from head to toe. Her exhaustion was overwhelming as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. Her exhaustion slowed her down several times, and she nodded off to sleep, but she kept waking herself up from falling asleep.
Every noise—scratches in the walls, chittering from rodents, or the unsettling rustling of Soldier's raccoons—kept her awake at night. Once, she had been rudely awakened by a rat gnawing at the corner of where she had made camp to sleep. The two small scars on her cheek were a bitter reminder of how dangerous her tiny existence had become. Now, she couldn't sleep. She kept waking to a subtle sound, always making her believe it came from a rodent.
As she trudged through the gaps in the walls, she was acutely aware of the heightened activity among the RED team. They seemed more alert, almost like they were searching for something—or someone. Food, tools, and trinkets had been left suspiciously unattended in easily accessible spots. While Stephanie appreciated the tiny scraps of food she could scavenge, she remained wary about tools and trinkets. Was this bait? A trap set up to catch her?
Stephanie didn't like that the RED team was becoming suspicious of the little activities around them. She felt her uneasiness grow whenever she watched them working or socializing together. If she accepted these trinkets, they would see she was listening to them and plotting to do something with her. She didn't like that she was the main target of being captured.
She avoided the offerings, except for the food, which was too tempting to pass up and essential for her to eat for survival. In return, she left small tokens, like a button for the Tailor and an eraser for the Scout's drawings. Some easy items for her to carry around after finding where it was and returning to the rightful owner. It was her quiet way of expressing gratitude while remaining unseen by team members.
For Stephanie, it felt both good and anxious about giving them what they had lost. But Stephanie couldn't take it without giving. It didn't feel right to be one-sided with eating and not respecting them for "having" food. Stephanie believes it's better to do good deeds than to survive alongside humans and rely on them too much. She trusts them less and is afraid of being killed by them. This is shown when she returns a lost pencil to Scout.
Stephanie eventually stumbled upon a small opening that led into the RED base's medical bay. She hesitated, her hand brushing against the tattered bandages around her legs. The fabric was filthy and torn; it had been too long since she had changed them. The bottoms of her soles were stained with dirt from walking through the dark parts of the RED base's walls. They didn't do much, but the bandages did keep them from being too dirty—another sign of needing to wash her body from her natural body odor.
"Right," she nodded to herself. She adjusted her bag, preparing to enter the medic bay. "I'll grab some new bandages and a few extras."
Looking cautiously into the room, Stephanie's sharp eyes scanned for movement. The room was empty, except for an open window that allowed a cold draft to seep in. She frowned, unsure why the window was open, but quickly focused on her goal. She stepped into the room, hugging the shadows as she approached the medic kit. Her bare feet emitted faint clapping sounds as she approached the counter.
When Stephanie arrived at the counter, she saw its height, which was taller than any building. Climbing onto it proved tricky, as she didn't have anything to reach it. Her eyes scanned the area around her, then perked up when she saw a hole in the wall. Aha! That looks like a perfect way to reach the counter. Stephanie listened for any sounds, cautious about entering a random hole.
After several minutes, no sound came, and Stephanie nodded, seeing that it was safe. Stephanie slipped into the hole and started to navigate through the walls. She found a series of wires dangling from the medical equipment and used them as makeshift handholds. Her arms trembled with the effort as she hoisted herself upward, gritting her teeth against the strain. When she finally pulled herself onto the counter, she paused, scanning her surroundings again.
She kept herself low to the counter, not wanting to stand up fully to grab anyone's attention of a tiny blue speck. Stephanie's azure eyes scanned the medic bay, ensuring the doctor wasn't around. She shuddered at the creepiness lingering around her, reminding her too much of medical horror movies. After spending a moment low towards the counter, Stephanie gingerly pushed herself up and shakily nodded.
"Safe," she whispered, approaching the large medic kit. Its latches were massive and required several hard pushes to release. Stephanie went to the nearest latch and used her strength to open it. The loud clicking of the buckles made her freeze, her heart pounding. She scanned the room again, expecting someone to burst in. But the room remained eerily silent. Stephanie breathed a sigh of relief and continued, pausing to listen to her surroundings.
With a soft grunt, she pried the lid open, straining a little from trying to open it. The familiar roll of white bandages greeted her. Stephanie exhaled in relief and climbed into the kit, freeing a loose end of the bandage roll. She measured the material against her legs and tore it down the middle, fashioning two new pieces to wrap her feet.
The fresh bandages were a relief against her cold skin. She smiled faintly as she secured them, discarding the old ones into her jacket pocket. "Maybe someday I'll find proper socks," she muttered, half-joking. Although the thought of the Tailor making socks filled her mind, wondering if it could be possible.
Satisfied, Stephanie climbed out of the medic kit and began closing it. The lid was heavy, and she had to strain to click the latches back into place. A sudden flapping sound filled the air as the final latch clicked. Stephanie whipped around, startled, as a white dove landed on the counter. Its beady black eyes stared at her, and its blood-stained chest rose and fell with soft coos.
Stephanie froze, her breath hitching. It must have been the same dove she had explored in the Medic's room. Slowly, Stephanie started to take small steps toward the hole where she came from, not wanting to make startled movements. Birds attack anything that threatens doves or eats bugs. And Stephanie looks like a bug to them because of her shrunken height compared to it.
"N-nice dove," she stammered, raising her hands cautiously. "Stay right there, okay?"
The dove tilted its head, cooing again as it hopped closer. Its movements were uncomfortably fast, and Stephanie instinctively backed away. The dove looked gigantic compared to her, the wings enormous enough to become wind gusts. She felt like she was facing off against a Roc from the Legends.
"Stay back," she pleaded, her voice trembling. "I'm not food. Go away."
But the dove had other plans. With a sudden movement, it lunged forward, its talons snatching Stephanie off the counter. She screamed as it lifted her into the air, her stomach lurching from the sudden altitude. The room spun wildly as the dove struggled to carry her, its wings flapping heavily. Stephanie squirmed and screamed, kicking her legs to free herself. The dove's talons dug into her raincoat, keeping her firmly in its grip.
"Please, put me down!" Stephanie yelled, her voice frantic. The dove ignored her, flying clumsily toward the open window. The icy air hit Stephanie like a wall, sending shivers through her small frame. She wriggled harder, tears pricking her eyes as panic set in. "I'm not a bug! Let me go!"
Her voice cracked as she screamed again, unintentionally in the dove's language. The dove suddenly paused mid-flight, startled by the unfamiliar sound. Its talons loosened, and Stephanie slipped free, falling toward the snowy ground below. Stephanie's screams filled the air as she tumbled, the wind whipping past her. Snowflakes blurred her vision, and she braced herself for the impact.
She hit the ground with a muffled thud, the thick snow breaking her fall. The impact knocked the air from her lungs, leaving her gasping as she lay motionless. The world spun around her as darkness crept into her vision. The last thing she felt before losing consciousness was the faint warmth from her head and the distant sound of boots crunching in the snow.