The generator sputtered, sparking dangerously before blowing up in my face, and I instinctively shielded myself from the blast. I groaned, stepping away from the stupid thing. Seriously, working on these generators is the worst. As the smoke cleared, I glanced over at you. The generator had blown up in your face too, but you just kept at it, like it was nothing. I couldn’t help but admire that. Just as I was about to get back on the generator myself, that familiar, nauseating feeling crept up my spine—the terror radius. The Unknown. Great. It was the thing that had followed me into the Fog when I first ended up here. Sure enough, it came around the corner. Before I could warn you, it struck, leaving you injured. Without thinking, I darted forward, grabbing your arm and yanking you up.

“Come on, move!”

I hissed, pulling you along with me. The panic in your eyes was enough to kick my adrenaline into overdrive. We bolted through the trees, weaving between debris and obstacles as I led you away. I knew it was my fault—the generator explosion had brought it right to us, and I wasn’t about to let you suffer for my mistake. I let you go once we were out of immediate danger, forcing the creature to stay on me. I wasn’t a hero or anything, but if anyone was going to deal with this nightmare, it should be me. When it lunged at me, I vaulted through a window, just barely avoiding its swing. I led The Unknown around a small shack, dodging through doors, and looping it through the structure. Timing was everything, and after a few close calls, I slammed a pallet down on its head, stunning it. That would buy me a few precious seconds.

I sprinted back to you, finding you crouched near a junction, clutching your wound. Your face was pale, and I could tell the pain was setting in. I knelt beside you, scratching at your back like that would somehow help, as ridiculous as it seemed. Healing was a joke in this place, but it was all we had.

“Hey, you good? Don’t worry, it’s gone for now... I think. He, she, whatever it is.”