Phased out

Ethan's silhouette stretched across the cold metal bars, cast by the dim red light above.

He stood there, unmoving.

Staring.

His eyes locked onto the path they had chosen.

The one that killed Karlos.

The wrong path.

The mistake that cost a life.

And now—

He knew.

Now, he finally understood which direction led to survival.

Now, he knew where he had to go.

But at what cost?

His throat tightened. His breath came out slow and hollow.

This phase—this cruel, godforsaken phase—

It was never about making a "choice."

It was about making a sacrifice.

And the price had been Karlos Walker.

Ethan clenched his fists.

His nails dug into his palms, but he barely felt it.

Because now—

He had to handle everything.

By HIMSELF.

The silence around him felt heavier than ever.

For the second time since this nightmare began— all the way from phase 0

Ethan was alone. Again.

And no one was coming to save him.

Ethan walked.

Step after step.

The memories clawed at his mind, repeating like a cruel, endless loop.

Karlos' face.

Those eyes.

Wide. Unblinking.

Never looking away.

Even in his last moments.

Even when he was already doomed.

Why?

Ethan muttered to himself, his voice barely above a whisper.

"What… why was he looking…?"

His breath hitched.

"Why didn't… he say anything?"

His footsteps felt heavier now.

"Was he… that… helpless?"

The thought made his stomach twist violently.

He walked until he reached it.

Their starting point.

And there—still wedged between the metal bars—

Unguibus' claws.

The same weapon Karlos had used. The same weapon left behind.

Ethan stared at it for a moment.

Then—he knelt.

His hands trembled as he reached for the handle, slowly trying to unstick the claws.

The cold metal pressed against his skin, his grip tightening.

Careful.

Steady.

He couldn't afford to hurt himself.

Not now.

Not when he was alone.

His breath shuddered.

Fear crawled into his chest.

Karlos was better than him in every way.

Stronger. Faster. Smarter.

And yet—he still died here.

The Vorator hadn't even struggled.

It wasn't a battle.

It wasn't even a fight.

It just… happened.

Ethan's grip tightened.

His fingers curled around the handle of the claws, his heart pounding.

He had to keep moving.

He had to survive.

But for the first time since this nightmare began—

He wasn't sure if he could.

Ethan pulled.

The metal screeched.

With one final yank—the claws came loose.

He staggered back slightly, adjusting to their weight in his hands.

Heavy.

Solid.

Cold.

The same weapon Karlos had used.

The same weapon Karlos left behind.

Ethan exhaled, gripping them tightly.

Then, he turned—

And walked.

Walking…

Step after step.

Walking…

His breath was uneven, his legs felt like lead.

Walking…

His mind was numb.

The bridge stretched endlessly before him, the same rusted metal, the same dim red glow, the same silence.

It was just him now.

Alone.

No Karlos.

No rulebook.

No direction—except the one he had to take.

The Vorator was gone.

But its presence still lingered.

Like it had left something behind.

Not a body. Not blood.

Something worse.

The weight in Ethan's hands wasn't just the claws.

It was everything.

And so, he kept walking.

And walking.

And walking.

Until the sound of his own footsteps became the only thing left in this empty world.

Ethan kept walking.

One step.

Then another.

Then—a voice.

Soft. Familiar. A memory.

"The dead are gone in an instant…

The ones left behind carry the weight forever, Ethan."

His father's words.

Spoken in a dimly lit room.

The same words he had said after Ethan tried to take his own life.

After Ethan's sister.. Emily's death.

After grief consumed him whole.

Ethan's steps slowed.

The memory hit him like a knife to the chest.

Back then, he didn't understand.

Didn't care.

Didn't think those words meant anything.

But now—

Now, they were a curse.

Karlos was gone.

His body didn't even exist anymore.

But Ethan?

He was still here.

Carrying it.

The weight. The loss. The emptiness.

It wasn't just about Karlos.

It was a pattern.

A cycle.

He was always the one left behind.

Ethan clenched his fists, his grip tightening around the claws.

His breath shook, but he didn't stop.

Because his father was right.

The dead are gone in an instant.

But the ones left behind?

They never stop carrying the weight.

Ethan kept walking.

His breath was slow. Heavy. His mind still clouded by the weight of everything.

But then—

A figure.

Faint.

Distant.

A human-like silhouette, sitting on the edge of the bridge.

Motionless.

Facing the abyss.

Ethan froze.

For the first time since Karlos' death—

He wasn't alone.

Or at least… he hoped he wasn't.

Ethan's instincts sharpened.

His grip on the claws tightened, his knuckles turning white.

His body was tense, his mind already bracing for the worst.

Whatever this thing was—he might have to fight it.

But as he stepped forward, the faint silhouette took shape.

Long, flowing blonde hair.

Softly illuminated under the dim, flickering red light.

A girl.

Alice.

She was sitting at the edge of the bridge, her legs resting over the abyss, as if she had been there for a while.

Ethan's heart skipped a beat.

For the first time since Karlos' death—he saw someone.

Someone real.

Someone alive.

He opened his mouth, his voice quiet—uncertain.

"Alice…?"

She didn't move.

Not immediately.

Just the red glow reflecting off her hair, her posture unreadable.

The air felt strange.

Was she okay?

Did she even hear him?

Or…

Was something wrong?

Alice turned her head toward the voice.

"Ethan…?"

The moment she saw him, she ran.

Not hesitating.

Not thinking.

Just running—straight into him.

Her arms wrapped tightly around him, her grip desperate, as if she was holding onto the last piece of hope she had left.

"Ethan, thank God—"

Her voice was shaking.

"You're here... I thought—"

Her breath hitched.

"I thought I was gonna rot here alone… not knowing what to do..."

She clung to him like a lifeline.

Like she was terrified he would vanish, too.

But Ethan—

He didn't react.

His arms stayed at his sides.

His body felt distant. Empty.

Alice was trembling, trying not to sob.

Ethan simply lifted a hand and patted her head.

Slow. Mechanical.

It wasn't comfort.

It was just… something to do.

Alice slowly pulled away, sniffling as she wiped her eyes, looking up at him.

She forced a small, awkward laugh.

"Uhm… sorry about that."

She glanced away, trying to shake it off, feeling a little embarrassed.

Then—she noticed it.

The emptiness in Ethan's eyes.

The hollow look.

The way he wasn't really here.

And the relief in her expression faded.

Her voice lowered.

"Wait…"

She looked around.

Then back at Ethan.

"Where's Karlos?"

Silence.

Ethan's chest tightened.

And suddenly, the air between them felt suffocating.

Ethan stood there, staring past Alice, as if she wasn't even there.

His body felt heavy. His mind felt empty.

Then, finally—he spoke.

"The Vorator…"

His voice was hoarse, dry—lifeless.

"Ate him."

It sounded less like an answer—and more like something that had to be forced out.

Like he didn't want to say it.

Or more like—he couldn't.

Alice blinked, tilting her head slightly, confusion in her expression.

"Vorator…? And Karlos is dead…?"

Ethan didn't say anything.

He just nodded.

His hands trembled slightly—with guilt, with failure, with grief.

His voice was barely a whisper.

"I… I wasn't even able to save him."

Alice froze.

The weight of it sank into her chest.

Karlos.

Dead.

First April. Now Karlos.

They were dropping like flies.

Alice's fingers fidgeted, a cold fear pricking at the edges of her mind.

How long until it was her?

How long until she was next?

But she pushed the thought down.

Because right now—

Ethan needed her.

She looked at him, at the way his body slumped slightly, at the way his eyes had lost their fire.

She took a slow step forward.

"Ethan…"

She reached up—gently touching his arm.

Her fingers were warm. Soft.

"It's not your fault."

Ethan didn't move.

Alice's voice softened further.

"You did everything you could."

Still—nothing.

She took another step, moving closer.

"I know Karlos wouldn't want you to blame yourself for this. He trusted you, Ethan. He knew you'd survive. That's why you're still here."

Ethan's breath hitched slightly.

Alice tightened her grip on his arm.

"He wouldn't want you to break because of him. He'd want you to keep going."

Ethan finally looked at her.

And for the first time—his mask cracked.

Alice gave a small smile, her eyes kind and warm.

"You're not alone in this. You still have me."

She hesitated for a moment—then, softly, she hugged him again.

This time, it wasn't desperate.

It was comforting.

A silent promise.

Ethan's body was still tense.

But for the first time—he didn't feel completely empty.

Maybe, just maybe—he could keep going.

Alice's eyes sharpened slightly, listening intently.

If Ethan had an answer—if he knew how to get out of here—

She needed to know.

"Me and Karlos actually found the rulebook for this place."

Alice's brows furrowed slightly, confusion flickering across her face.

Yet, despite that—she still looked as gentle as ever.

"How…?"

Her voice was soft, but there was a hint of curiosity.

"I mean, where? And… like, how?"

She tilted her head slightly, looking at him.

Ethan paused for a second before answering.

"There's a thin slab at the bottom of the bridge. That's where the rulebook was. Karlos and I figured that out and got it."

Alice's lips parted slightly, her confusion deepening.

She had searched. She had tried to find something—anything.

But she never thought to check underneath.

Because she was alone.

Because she was scared.

Because she didn't want to take a risk and mess up.

Ethan noticed the shift in her expression but quickly continued.

"Let's not go deep into how we managed to obtain it, though."

His tone was quieter now.

More distant.

Alice saw it.

The way his fingers tensed slightly.

The way his gaze flickered for just a second—like he was suppressing something.

She understood.

He didn't want to think about Karlos again.

Didn't want to relive it.

So she didn't push.

Instead, she just nodded.

And then, Ethan took a slow breath—

And began explaining everything.

Bit by bit.

The rules.

The paths.

The truth about the phase.

And most importantly—what they had to do next.

Alice stood still.

For a moment, she didn't say anything.

She just let the weight of Ethan's words settle in.

The Vorator.

The gamble.

The cruel, merciless design of this phase.

This wasn't just a game.

This was a death sentence, disguised as a choice.

Alice's breath felt heavier.

Karlos had died.

April had died.

And yet, she was still here.

How long until she wasn't?

She swallowed, her fingers curling slightly before she finally exhaled.

Then, gently—softly, carefully—she asked:

"Ethan… are you okay?"

Her voice wasn't forceful.

She wasn't demanding an answer.

She was simply… offering him the chance to speak.

Ethan glanced at her.

For a second, he hesitated.

Then—he forced a small, tired smirk.

"You don't have to worry anymore, Alice."

His voice was quiet, steady—but hollow.

Alice studied him.

She knew he was hiding it.

She knew he was far from okay.

But still—she nodded.

Her blonde hair swayed softly as she moved, the dim red light catching in her strands.

"Alright," she whispered.

Ethan straightened slightly, his grip adjusting on the claws.

"We need to move. Now."

Alice took a deep breath.

Then, without another word—they started walking.

Together.

One step closer to escaping this phase.

One step closer to survival.

They kept walking.

Walking.

Walking.

The bridge stretched endlessly before them, the dim red glow flickering above.

Then—Alice hummed.

Softly. Absentmindedly.

A tune. Melancholic, yet comforting.

Her voice was gentle, steady, almost hypnotic.

Ethan found himself listening.

Not stopping her.

Not telling her to be quiet.

Just… listening.

It was strange.

It was distracting.

Not in an annoying way—but in a way that made him forget.

Forget the cold metal beneath his feet.

Forget the suffocating silence that had surrounded him since Karlos' death.

Forget—for just a moment—that he was trapped in this nightmare.

Alice's humming filled the air, wrapping around him like a warm blanket in the middle of winter.

A sound that didn't belong in a place like this.

A sound that reminded him of something human.

And for the first time in this cold, lifeless place—

Something felt warm.

…

…

…

Then—

They saw it.

A door.

Far ahead, in the distance.

Ethan stopped.

Alice, noticing, halted beside him—her humming fading into silence.

She followed his gaze, eyes locking onto the door.

A way out.

Ethan exhaled.

His grip on the claws tightened slightly.

Then, he spoke.

"It's time."

His voice was calm.

But there was something heavy beneath it.

"We get out of this phase."

Alice nodded.

Her blue eyes reflected the dim red light as she stared at the door.

"Yeah."

No hesitation.

Just quiet determination.

And together—they walked toward it.

Toward whatever came next.

They walked toward the door.

Side by side.

The humming had faded, but its warmth lingered.

Ethan didn't know what waited for them beyond that door.

But he knew one thing—

He wasn't walking alone anymore.

And with that—

They open the door..