Colin's posts

She was mostly keeping to herself, when she heard someone sit down across from her.

"Hey." a familiar voice said.

"Mind if I sit here?" they asked.

"Or is this seat taken?" they asked further.

When she looked, she saw it was the one she'd helped earlier, Zeke.

And he looked a LOT better than before.

Though he still looked a bit sad and guilty.

Illias looked at her and nodded.

"All right." he replied.

"I can tell you know where you are now." he added with a light chuckle.

"Was nice to meet you, Ayla." he told her.

"If you're ever in the R&D department, let me know you're there." he said.

"You might enjoy a tour, or the gardens we have on the roof." he finished.

"...ow!" he then exclaimed, swatting at his head again. And this time, Ayla knew what it was about.

"Well, he DOES like it when his cheeks and neck are kissed." Aly said with a small blush.

"But on the other hand, I do, too." she admitted.

"What about YOU?" she then asked her.

"What gets YOU all happy and going?"

Illias laughed a little once more.

"True." he said.

"And yeah, it really is..." he agreed.

"It's pretty big. And it can be maze-like." he went on.

"The light-blue panels are meant to bring up a 3D holographic map of the building and area, but ever since we went on lockdown, they don't work anymore." he then admitted with a sigh.

"Anyway, we're almost there." he told her, as they turned a corner and things started to look vaguely familiar for her again.

Every so often, Ryker would make a little contented noise... as he seemed to relax more and more.

"MmmMmmmmMMmmmMMM..." he murmured.

"Life is good." he said.

"SO good..." he finished.

He then closed his eyes and seemed to just drift into a state of nirvana.

Illias read the message, before chuckling lightly.

"It's cool." he said.

"I'm actually involved with someone already." he told her.

"It's just that Helena really likes the one I'm with, and can get a little... 'jealous-on-behalf-of-them-even-when-it-isn't-warranted'..." he said further, through slightly gritted teeth.

It was at that point, Ayla saw a few more snakes emerge from the hair, looking at her.

"Don't mind them, they're harmless." Illias assured her.

"We'll be at your dorm in a couple of minutes." he then added.

Illias read what she typed, and smiled.

"Ayla. That's a nice name." he said.

He then paused for a moment.

"Ah!" he exclaimed.

"That didn't mean anything! I was merely saying her name was nice!" he seemed to argue... to nobody.

"Sorry, Helena thinks I'm trying to hit on you." he told Ayla.. as a snake emerged from beneath his hair.

He nodded in response.

"All right." he replied.

With that, he started to lead her to where her dorm was.

"I... wait, you're the wood elf, aren't you?" he then asked.

"It's nice to finally meet you." he said.

"I'm Illias." he introduced himself.

The man read the message, before looking at her and smiling with a nod.

"Sure." he responded.

"I can help with that." he told her.

"No problem." he assured her further.

"...yeah, you really DID take a wrong turn somewhere." he then mumbled.

"Are you all right to walk?" he asked.

"You look... well... winded. To understate it."

About 45 seconds later, as she was prepping to start walking again... or trying to... a voice spoke to her.

"Hey, you okay? You look lost..." it said.

When she looked, she saw what looked to be a young man with dark brown messy jaw-length hair and green eyes.

But she could tell there was... more to him than met the eye... and it seemed to be under his hair, if she were to pinpoint it.

"Is there anything I can do to help?" he asked.

"Can I help you find where you're going?"

As she walked, she suddenly saw the tablet appear in front of her, and it started to fall slightly. She caught it, and saw there was a message on it.

Keep this for now. it said.

You need it to communicate. But thank you. It means more to me than you can ever think that you saved him. it continued.

Please. If there is any way we can properly thank you, let us know. it finished.

It was from Hal.

Hal made his way over, and nodded.

"She's aware of your gratitude." he said to Zeke.

"Now, please allow her to return to her room, where she can recuperate." he told him.

Zeke just nodded and backed away.

"Thank you." Hal then said to Ayla.

"That was... simply amazing." he told her with a smile.

"W-wait..." Zeke said as she made her way to the door.

"Thank you." he said to her.

"You... you saved me." he told her further.

"I... I was... I mean... you..." he stammered, before losing his voice once more.

He then seemed to lunge towards her... before landing at her feet and getting down on his hands and knees.

"Thank you." he repeated.

"So much." he sobbed.

Hal was silent and approached Ayla, kneeling down and putting his hands on her shoulders.

They then both looked over towards Zeke, and waited for about 20 seconds... before he suddenly jolted into a sitting position.

As he did so, he let out a blood-curdling scream...

...and was then silent.

Moments before tears began to cascade down from his eyes.

"........what have I done..." he said, his voice cracking and quivering.