iii.

“What is with you and that girl, anyway?”

Image: This place isn’t right. Blurred, somewhat.
Joce forges ahead, Addison close behind.

“And, yeah, maybe my tone was a little harsh. It took a while for Joce to answer. And when she did, she had this whole spiel:

“They’d only just met, her and the girl, Ka… Katelyn, whatever she’s called, if that’s even her real name. The vampire hadn’t hurt us, didn’t even ambush Joce or anything. (Which, true, but, low bar?) While Joce was searching the vamp-girl followed and just… made small talk, apparently, told her about the place, but nothing useful.

“Then they heard something, and whatshername left to make sure ‘the other one wasn’t causing trouble.’ And I’m like, ‘Which other one,’ and Joce has no clue. That’s why she followed, Joce did, and they both barged in.

“Does that make sense? I feel like I’m not making sense.

Image: Joce talks; out of focus. Addison has a headache.

“Not like anything has, since we got there. Joce was—I guess she’d been looking for a key? I thought she’d ditched me, that’s what the other guy said, the one who got stabbed to ash. I told Joce she better not leave me behind again. She gave me a funny look, stammered something like ‘I didn’t— You’d said—’. That’s all.

And I’m thinking, am I going crazy? Am I being double-gaslit? Does it even matter anymore?

Image: The castle is labyrinthian. Dusty rooms, stairs weaving through halls tucked under arches; visually, perspective is dead, impossible lines and wayward curves abstracting the grounds. Onward drags the night.

“Where the hell were we? Joce asked if I’d found anything, and I don’t know what she’s talking about, and I’m not gonna lie, I got upset. Why am I getting interrogated, y’know? How did we get here?

“All I know is that I read some stupid book and it said mortals couldn’t last here, and the fang boy said the same thing, and maybe they’re both lying, but I didn’t even want to tell her what happens to the bodies, that was too much.

Image: Addison says something to Joce, loud but uncertain; she staggers forward, one hand raised as if about to strike (Joce caught it), the other falling limp. Joce, though backing away, has a firmer stance.
(The background, faint but clear, is significantly less warped. Same arches and railings as ever.)

Image: As Addison keeps talking, Joce frowns, startled.

“It’s a lot to process as-is.

“I felt bad. Then wasn’t sure why. And I thought you were talking to me, but you didn’t reply, so either you were being rude or it was wishful thinking.

“But I definitely heard something.

Image: Faint yelling downstairs. The world warps again, odd silhouettes popping out from the darkness.

“Someone below was pretty mad. Figured I should check that out, maybe try to calm them down. Make it… worthwhile…? I could’ve sworn someone else said that….”

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