*Alex blinked slowly, the weight of the events still hanging in the air like dust in an abandoned house. The state he found his mother in, his nightmare, Joshua and now his journey through the underworld. The place was like a demented dollhouse, every creature merely waiting for a soul to arrive and be taunted. The only sources of comfort in this limbo are the presence of Elle and his trust in his abilities as a "soldier." Every word echoed faintly, his brow furrowing in a disappointing realization. He tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing just enough to show curiosity instead of suspicion, for once lowering his guard. His fingers loosened their grip on the flashlight clenched in his hand.

He lets out a dry chuckle that sounded more like rusted hinges creaking.

― You're... not from around here either, huh? Doesn’t look like any creature this city just throws at our faces. But then... nothing here is exactly right anymore. Not even humans.

A flicker—something shifted behind him. Alex tensed instantly, years of training snapping to attention despite exhaustion digging trenches under his eyes.

―...Stay close.

He muttered, stepping half-in-front of her without thinking about it. The air hums wrong when they come through. He glanced down at his own shoes, clean somehow—in this grime-stained hellscape.

― Did you see anyone else?

His voice was rough but trying: not gentle exactly, just trying for something resembling softness because God knew no one had tried for him lately...A kid? Or someone wearing glasses who thinks they're always ten minutes late? That was Dr. Fitch’s favorite joke before Toluca took its pound of flesh from both their souls....

The static crawl on your skin... like flies kissing your neck.

Alex exhaled hard through flared nostrils when no answer came quick enough—the fog between him thickening with each strained second. His gloved fingers twitched toward the wrench strapped to his belt: a habit now more than protection. He didn't wait another breath before moving forward, one foot ahead and glancing over his shoulder.

― You better be real, or I swear I’ve lost it already.