It felt like it had been hours upon hours of her and I acting like his lab rats, drinking small bits of "potions," rubbing salves made of god knows what onto our skin, saying phrases and words in some language that was most likely Latin. I let out a frustrated groan, wondering when it would end or if anything would help and then flopped onto my back. Instant regret. As soon as I heard the sharp thud of my head smashing against the floor and feel pain swiftly spread throughout the back of my skull, I immediately regret my decision.

"Trying to die already?"

Vigo turns and asks, his eyebrows raised and amusement glittering in his eyes. Susie looks at me and purses her lips together, looking like she was trying not to smile at my stupidity. I could see the concern in her eyes and almost melted.

"Now why would you do that on hard tile?"

She teases, finally letting her smile break through. A smile slowly makes its way to my lips at the sight of her face, and I look at Vigo, who was flipping through an old, worn book.

"Maybe I don't want to swell to the point my insides explode if he gives us some weird shit. I figured a head injury would be a better way to go."

I mutter in embarrassment as I push myself back up into a sitting position. Vigo gives me a pointed look and rolls his eyes as if I had just said the stupidest thing that he's ever heard.

"I'm not giving you the Blighted Serum, I'm not Talbot for fucks sake. I don't care that he's extremely intelligent, his mother should of swallowed him."

He spat out drily, venom lacing his tone. Okay, so he really hated this dude. He whips back around and began to mix some liquids and powders, the substance he was working on changing color as he continued to tweak it. Susie noticed my curious look and sits down next to me, murmuring in my ear.

"Talbot is another killer known as the Blight. The mad scientist type, likes to inject his victims with his little serum and cause them to turn inside out. Not the prettiest sight. He's done it to some of the other Hunters."

I raise my eyebrows as she paused, nibbling on her lower lip. My eyes flick down to her mouth before returning to her eyes. Then down once more.

"Is my attraction really the Entity's doing? She may have started all of this but... fuck."

I thought, tearing my gaze away from her lips and back towards her eyes. She must've noticed my stare, as her speckled cheeks were now a soft rosy shade.

"So um... anyways.. what's next on the list?"

She asked Vigo, seeming distracted as she averted her eyes away from me. He lets out an irritated grunt in reply, continuing to focus on his task at hand.

"Dick."

She grumbled back, and if he heard her, then he didn't give any indication of it. I hum as I glance around the laboratory. There was a lot of space in here, and much of it was already taken up with whatever important information and objects he kept hidden away from the Entity's prying claws. I noticed a tall, mahogany double door on one of the "cleaner" sides of the lab, and my interest spikes. I was dying for something else to do, even if it was only for a little bit.

"Instead of sitting here and waiting for you to finish whatever that is, can we just go and explore a bit?"

He glanced over his shoulder at me, pursing his lips. He hesitates before momentarily looking like he wanted to object, but just lets out a tired sigh.

"I suppose. You two have been sitting here for awhile. After testing the one i'm working on, I may just take a break myself. Just... don't touch anything that looks like you shouldn't be touching it, got it?"

He said firmly, fixing us with a stern look. I just nod, only wanting to explore the new area. Maybe I would touch something, but only if it looked like it won't make me implode. Or kill me in any other strange and painful way.

"Hopefully I don't get lost and pass out."

I almost let out a snort of amusement at the thought of all my misfortunes. He turns back to his work, which is probably his way of dismissing us.

"That door leads to a library, it's easy to get lost so be careful. There's also a kitchen, dining area, sleeping quarters– well–you two just go explore for yourself and see what all there is."

He shakes his head, trying to get back to focusing on his weird vial of whatever-the-hell-it-is. I turn away, not wanting to think about it too much, and grab Susie's hand. As i'm tugging her towards the doors, she calls over her shoulder to him.

"Don't worry Vigo, i'll keep her out of trouble. Even though she has a knack for always finding it."

She mumbled the last part and I heard Vigo choke down a laugh. I pretend to be offended and attempt to pull my hand away from hers, but she tightens her grip, not letting me go. She walks ahead of me and opens the door before I got the chance, our eyes briefly meeting as I walk into the library. I look away from her and scan the vast towers of bookshelves before me, stepping forward as she shuts the door behind us.

"Wow."

I sighed out, the smell of old books growing stronger with each breath. I look to the left and see a lit cobblestone fireplace with an old looking couch a few feet in front of it. Books were piled on the top of the fireplace, some of the frayed pages looking as if they were about to spill out.

"Dwight would be jealous."

I mumble, thinking of the messy stacks of books he had in his tent. I thought that was a lot then, but now i'm completely surrounded by books, the shelves spanning all the way up to the ceiling. The old wooden ladder that Vigo had propped up on one of the shelves didn't look reliable in the slightest, but to each their own I guess.

"Dwight.. the nerdy one with the glasses?"

Susie asks and I nod. She purses her lips, looking regretful, and I don't question whatever thoughts are going through her head. I can feel the slight warmth emitting from the fireplace, and as if she read my mind, she gives a gentle tug on my hand as she leads us over to the couch, sitting down slowly. Almost hesitantly.

I sit down next to her, the heat from the fireplace quickly warming my body. It's been awhile since i've felt this warm...

"The campfire."

A twinge of pain went through me at the thought of my friends that were left back there, not even knowing what had happened to me. Steve, Quinten.

Claudette.

I think of her face, but don't feel anything. Not the warmth, not any tingles. Nothing. Surprisingly, that doesn't even make me feel guilty. After all, we were only friends, nothing romantic really ever happened besides a few glances. I guess I just easily get flustered by pretty girls.

"Except now, there's only one that makes me feel that way."

I thought as I look down at my lap, Susie and I's thighs just barely brushing against each other. I bring my eyes to her face and watch as she absent-mindedly stares into the flames, not being able to read whatever it was behind her eyes. I give her hand a gentle squeeze, and she began to rub the back of my hand with her thumb.

"This is all so weird. Being away from all of that. The Entity, the others, my gang... I haven't truly been away from any of that in forever. Not since She brought us here."

Her eyes didn't wander away from the fire as she talked, they stuck there as if it were the only thing in the room. Her eyes seemed to get slightly glassy with tears as she continued to speak.

"God.. even before here, I can't believe some of the stuff I did. Just to try and impress Frank. I wanted to prove it to them. I wasn't a coward," her voice sounded strained as she struggled to choke her next words out. "I did so many awful things."

I immediately release her hand and wrap my arms around her, pulling her tight against me as she sobbed into my neck, the hug finally being her breaking point. She wraps her arms around me as well, her nails slightly digging into my back with the tightness of her grip, but I welcomed it.

"I'm so sorry {Y/N}. For what I put your friends through, for what I did to you. I'm so sorry."

She whimpers out, and I softly shush her as I move a hand to stroke the top of her head, my heart aching for everything that she's done and been through.

She was just lost. Broken. She wasn't some deity's puppet, she was just a scared girl.

I was scared too.