I took my other hand and placed it into the glass box grabbing another handful of mouldy popcorn, but she raised her other hand and held on to my arm. This time, she gripped even harder on to it.

I swiftly pulled away and shouted, "Hey!!! what are you doing!? Leave. ME. Alone!!!"

"*Huff* Don't... *Huff* eat that..." she continued. "It's for your own good."

I couldn't understand her. Why did she care so much? I just want to eat!

"I'm hungry! Now leave me alone!!!" I shouted pushing her away.

She fell backwards and I ran around the front counter towards the kitchen door. She got up and followed me.

As I pushed the door open, she caught up with me and the door swung back smacking her in the face.

I peeked through the circular windows of the kitchen door and saw her lying on the ground, again.

"How many times had it been?" I thought but she wasn't moving this time. She was out cold.

It didn't feel right to keep her out in the open. I opened the door and dragged her in.

After dragging her into the kitchen, I munched down on the food left in the fridge and some chocolate bars stored in boxes inside the storage room but I saw something glowing.

Peeking through the gaps, the light seeped through and I leaned against the wall. Suddenly, it started to creak and spun. I fell through it and on to my knees placing my hand on the floor while still holding the half-eaten chocolate bar.

My hunger faded away little by little. I was thinking straight again. Looking up, I saw the elevator doors with a display on top of it.

I stood up and thought for a moment then moved the girl into this secluded area. Dragging her by her armpit, I said, "Ugh... she's a bit heavy... maybe I should just leave her here..."

I looked back beyond the kitchen into the abyss. It was dark. The place was entirely covered in darkness. It was like the shadows would pop out and consume me at any time. I needed something for self-defence.

Over at the wall, there were some utility knives hung up with brown leather sheath. It had weird engravements on it. Wavy flame-like patterns with a bold 'N' centred in the middle encompassed by two thin circles.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"The strange patterns..." I said. "Whatever."

I grabbed the medium-sized one and shoved it into my back pocket.

* * *

I slowly approached her as she was sitting against the table leg holding a knife in my hand. It was a knife I brought with me from the kitchen above. I removed the sheath slowly and placed it back into my pocket.

In front of me, the girl blinked slowly opening her eyes. Turning her head, she faced me. A few seconds later, I could see the girl shaking. Her eyes wavering showing signs of fear.

"Why was that?" I thought to myself.

"Hey..." I slowly whispered.

"Umm... umm..." She started to sob a little, her face turning green.

"Don't move," I muttered sternly raising the knife into a throwing position.

She extended her arms a bit and shook her hands. "Please... please... don't-"

I threw it.

The knife slipped out of my hand smoothly and accelerated forward. It began to rotate and gained more momentum as it spun like a fidget spinner.

The girl held her breath.

The knife flew pass the girl's face cutting the side of her hair a little.

*Thonk*

A loud plastic noise echoed in the room as the girl's pupils shrunk. She released her breath and her arms flopped falling to the ground. She slowly turned her head towards the knife on the side, behind her head.

A slimy sensation fell on to the girls head. She trembled.

"Gotcha," I said enthusiastically. Stepping forward, I took the sheath and open it. I pulled the knife out of the wedge and the slimy blob still stuck on it.

"Ew..." I swung the knife and the blob flew away on to the other side of the room.

The girl, who was still shaking, dropped down on to her hands and relievingly sighed. Her senses completely distorted as if she experienced a life or death situation.

I turned around and walked away from her. Slowly, I placed the knife back into my pocket, but suddenly, she spoke up.

"Hey... hey!!! Are you..." she muttered.

I turned around facing her once again.

"Are you okay...?"

"What is this?" I wondered to myself. I was confused. "Why is she asking this? What's wrong with her?"

"You're..."

"I'm...?" I questioned.

"That... lady from before...?"

"What?" I said.

"What is she talking about? What lady? Is she crazy?" I thought but then my head began to spin. My eyes blurred as I raised my hand holding my head. I stumbled and dragged my legs to the closest table. The headache pulsated from the front to the back of my head and I could feel the blood boiling. "Am I getting a fever?"

"Hey.." I heard.

"Hey!!!" I heard it again.

I felt my waist shaking a little as I opened my eyes. The girl held on to me shaking me a little.

"Who is she? What... does she want?" I thought but my headache got worse as I tried to dig deeper into my memories. It was as if there's something I shouldn't recall... what was it?

I stopped thinking.

Gradually, the pain retreated. I could feel my senses coming back. My eyes focused on what was in front of me - a girl; she was collapsed and hanging on to me.

"Hey..." I slowly murmured. "Are you alright?"

She looked up at me with a slightly confused expression.

She breathed deeply and regained her composure and then she said something.

"Claire."