The harsh green glare of the ancient CRT monitor cut through the absolute dark of the Red Room. That sickly light reflected off a thick pool of coagulated blood. The dark sludge completely coated the heavy plastic keyboard resting on the metal desk.
Elizabeth did not sit down. She leaned over the terminal and set her hands on the ruined hardware. The physical machinery was a complete wreck. She had to hit the keys with bruising force just to break the dried human fluids holding them in place. A sharp snap echoed across the tile as the spacebar cracked in half under her palm.
"This keyboard is glued together with old blood." She peeled her index finger off the plastic with a wet, sticky tear. "I'm breaking half the keys just pressing them down."
Will stepped into the green light. He watched her bleed magic into the machine. "Need a knife to pry them up?"
"I need you to stand between me and the hallway. I don't want to get eaten while I smother the ward."
