It had now been a full week since Grub had left the Lacert settlement, and by this point the constant movement had started to blur together and became quite repetitive for him. Step after step through the forest, the same sounds, the same trees, the same quiet feeling he had of being watched by something he couldn't see.
Grub walked forward with a steady pace, his posture relaxed but his mind far from it. He trudged along as he bit into a fresh fruit he had picked along the way. He had tested it beforehand of course, carefully observing its smell, texture, and reaction before committing to eating it. Once he confirmed it wasn't dangerous, he didn't hesitate any further. He bit into it greedily, the juice spilling slightly as he chewed, the sweet taste a rare change from the dry and bland food he had been surviving on for days when he first left the Ridge. It wasn't anything special, but it was tasty enough to keep him moving without complaint.
As he swallowed, his eyes drifted down toward his wrist almost unconsciously. That aggravating bracelet sat there like it had every moment since it had been placed on him. It was unmoving, unchanging, and yet constantly present in a way that irritated him more than anything else. He flexed his hand slightly, but not enough to trigger anything. It was a strange attempt to remind himself that it was still there. He hadn't had much luck removing it. Not even close. Every attempt over the past week had ended the same way—with a sharp, immediate shock that cut off whatever he was trying to do before it could even begin. It didn't matter how careful he was or how subtle his approach was, the bracelet responded instantly. Grub clicked his tongue quietly.
It does not matter. I will eventually figure it out. I always do. Just got to keep going forward.
Grub reached into his coat and pulled out the map again, glancing over it with a small sigh as he walked. The route was already memorized at this point, but checking it had become a bit of a habit for him. He supposed making sure he was on course would be a given when if he isn't he will die.
From what the Colonel had told him, he should be close now. Maybe another day at the latest. That meant he needed to start thinking more seriously about what came next. The bracelet was one problem, but the village was another entirely. Grub's eyes narrowed slightly as he began to think about how he should approach it. He didn't have a disguise this time. He had no stolen skin to cover himself with. No prepared identity to fall back on. That meant everything would rely on how he presented himself. One wrong move and he could ruin everything before it even started.
I wonder, will they be Lacerts? Or something else entirely?
Grub thought about it carefully as he walked, still chewing slowly on what remained of the fruit.
If they were Lacerts, then things might be simpler, at least in terms of understanding them. But if they weren't… then he would be stepping into something completely unknown. It would mean betting on a completely unpredictable variable. That was a dangerous possibility that wasn't just about the threat of a fight.
He had no clue what the nature of the villagers was after all. He could very well die as soon as he gazed upon their image, even if that was unlikely, possibilities existed when the facts were not clear.
Grub didn't slow down, but his thoughts became more focused , running through a multitude of outcomes and ways to adapt depending on what he found.
Then he heard a strange noise. So Grub stopped immediately.
It was faint at first, almost blending into the natural sounds of the forest, but it was so alluring that it immediately stood out to him. It wasn't the rustling of leaves or the movement of animals. He knew that the sound couldn't have been the wind and it certainly wasn't anything he had been hearing for the past week.
It was… singing.
Grub tilted his head slightly, his eyes narrowing as he focused on the sound. It was distant, but clear enough to recognize. The sound carried through the trees so ethereally that it almost felt unnatural. There was something strange about it. Something… heavenly. The kind of sound that didn't feel like it belonged in the same world as everything else around him. Grub slowly turned, scanning the area, trying to locate the source while keeping his awareness sharp. He briefly checked the map again, making sure he wasn't drifting too far off course. The last thing he needed was to trigger the bracelet because he wandered too far.
The sound grew clearer as he moved. And as it grew closer it also became more distinct
It was definitely a feminine voice. He couldn't quite make out the words, or if there were even words at all, but the melody carried itself without needing them. It was so beautiful that Grub could easily point it out. It wasn't an emotional reaction that came from the boy in a lab coat. Rather, Grub felt unnerved by the sound. But he had no clue why.
Grub moved carefully now, pushing through the forest with more caution than before. The trees began to thin slightly, the undergrowth shifting as he approached what looked like a small clearing hidden behind thick brambles. He slowed his steps, carefully parting the vines in front of him so he could see without immediately exposing himself.
He saw her at that moment. A girl sat in the clearing, positioned calmly on the forest floor as she held a small bird-like creature in her lap. Her voice carried the melody effortlessly as she sang, while her hands glowed faintly with a soft light that pulsed gently against the creature's unmoving body. Grub watched in silence, his eyes focused as the light spread slowly through the bird until the small creature began to stir. After a moment, it moved and chirped around happily. Then it fluttered its wings.
The girl smiled softly as she lifted her hands away, watching as the small creature took flight and disappeared into the trees. She gave a small nod, as if satisfied with the result, before relaxing slightly where she sat.
Grub stepped forward—And accidentally snapped a branch beneath his foot. The sound echoed loudly through the forest as the girl flinched. Turning around immediately, the girl stared at him in shock.
As she did Grub was able to see her clearly. His body tensed slightly, caught off guard.
She's beautiful.
It wasn't even just beautiful, she was unnatural. Her features were sharp yet soft at the same time, arranged so that she would stand out instantly. Her skin was fair, almost ivory, smooth, a sharp contrast from her environment. Her ears were long and pointed upward. Subtle markings rested along her cheeks, giving her face a unique, almost designed look. A blue dress that fit her body perfectly was shrouded over her. The fabric was soft and natural, ending just above her knees. Her blond hair fell neatly around her, braided slightly at the front and framing her face along with her bangs. Small blue flowers were woven into her hair, adding to the serenely peaceful image she gave off.
But that wasn't what caught Grub's attention.
Something is wrong. Very wrong.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he focused more carefully. The girl before him seemed to be covered in seams.
Thin, visible stitching ran along parts of her body. They weren't random, each seam had a purpose and seemed to keep her body attached neatly. Her arms didn't end in normal hands with fingers, but in mitten-like shapes that looked soft and unnatural at the same time. Her body itself didn't even look fully organic. It looked strangely constructed. Rather than being a person, it was like something made to resemble one.
And her eyes—They were too big.
Large yellow irises that took up most of the space, giving them a strange, almost doll-like appearance.
Grub stared at her with a blank expression on his face. She stared back at him completely confused.
For a moment, neither of them moved. Then she spoke.
"Who are you?"
Grub opened his mouth to respond, his mind already working through how he should answer, what tone he should take, what words would give him the best chance of not immediately being attacked.
But before he could say anything—Her expression and whole demeanor seemed to change almost instantly.
Her entire theme flipped so suddenly that it didn't make any sense. The softness to her and her peaceful appearance soon vanished. Her hair shifted along with it, changing into a more rough and unkept style and her hair added streaks of red in them. However, what was most noticeable was her eyes which had turned a shade of crimson red.
The same doll-like structure remained, the seams, the unnatural body, but everything else about her had changed completely. Her gaze locked onto him as her eyes slowly filled with anger.
She raised her hand sharply.
"NO," she snapped, her voice louder now, sharper, filled with hostility. "THIS ONE IS AN INTRUDER TOO."
Grub didn't even have time to react. Everything went dark.