"What can you tell us about this thing?" Han pointed at the tracks. He carefully studied Abigail's expression, hoping to gain clues to how much of a threat the monsters were.
Though they would be able to restart from the beginning if they were to die, during the battle due to a lack of information, Abigail wouldn't be able to do the same. He mentally dismissed the idea of interfering and bringing her back from death. There wouldn't be a way to explain why the girl was able to be saved.
Breathing in to settle her nerves, "My friend, Helen, had left with others to scout out the location. They had run into creatures able to mimic the animals we've seen on this level." Her eyes shifted to look at deers grazing off in the distance, as though distrustful of their innocent behavior. "Helen explained what had happened and was worried we'd be under attack. The group had rushed back."
"You mentioned how something worse had arrived, instead of what your friend found?" Jennifer cautiously tried to pry information.
Abigail nodded. "Shortly after she had finished reporting to us, the light originating from the ceiling of whatever this place is dimmed and night fell on us..." She closed her eyes, trying not to remember what had happened. "One of the people belonging to PentaSoft. It was the building we'd entered and found the portal. She had stepped away from the group and was snatched." Her jaw clenched as she tried to control her quivering voice.
Everyone concentrated on Abigail's words, their breathing slowing as the story unfolded.
"We only had seconds to reach for our weapons before something matching those prints emerged out of the dark." Tears formed in her eyes. "Helen pushed me... Yelled for me to run when... Several of the members of the special unit were eaten alive." Abigail's words came in spurts as she cried. "I ran away," Abigail looked at Han as though hoping for forgiveness for her actions, her eyes overflowing with tears and emotion.
Jennifer walked over to Abigail and embraced the girl. With their experience from that night, Jennifer was well aware of how it felt. None of them would forget about that night at the police station. Running away from the screams of the police officers who were being eaten.
Turning his gaze towards his mother, Han saw his mother looking at him. Her eyes concerned about his own mental being. It was apparent that she was also thinking of that night. Abandoning her husband and everything else just to make sure her children would survive.
"Julia, do you know if these tracks were made during the night?" Han wondered if the creatures only moved when the light above dimmed. If the things only moved in the night, then they may be able to move more cautiously until they were able to locate Abigail's group.
Julia's avatar pressed her lips together, mimicking the look of a human trying to deliberate on the evidence provided. "It's hard to say. The tracks are definitely old, indicating time had passed..." She tilted her head. "I'm just not sure whether this was limited to when the lights dimmed."
Han clicked his tongue, not expecting such an answer.
"If your plan is to save whoever is still alive, I think we should continue." Ji-Min surprisingly spoke out to them of her own volition. Even more surprising was how she had removed her helmet, exposing her face to them.
Several of the members in his group looked in surprise at the ice woman. Ruby and Ivy both had their eyes widened in shock, not expecting Ji-Min to take part in what was happening.
Ji-Min's eyes tracked each of the people looking at her, frowning slightly. "I'm also curious about this girl's group. They may have answers to questions I have, especially for betting understanding this place and how it involves The Facility."
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Feeling himself grin at her defensive remark, "I agree. Abigail's group likely has valuable information."
"Wait!" Ruby smacked her hands together, as though stumbling upon something in her mind. She looked at Abigail, "You mentioned PentaSoft, right?" Her eyes drilled into the girl.
Stepping back from Ruby's intense expression, Abigail hesitantly said, "Yes. Why?" She clearly didn't understand why Ruby behaved in such a manner.
Ruby turned to Han. "PentaSoft is a major rival to Star and Moon!"
Han widened his eyes.
The others took a bit longer to connect Ruby's words with her question to Abigail. They were the same as Abigail, not knowing what Ruby was referring to with her statement.
"Holy shit!" Jackie snapped her fingers. Her head looked at everyone, shocked by what she realized. Turning her head back and forth, disbelief written on her face, "Do you not understand?"
Han stayed silent, waiting for Jackie to explain.
When Jackie realized the others didn't understand the significance, she tilted her head back. Sighing in frustration, she ran her hands through her hair. Her fingers massaging her scalp.
"Just spit it out!" Ji-Min sneered.
Jackie tilted her head forward and rolled her eyes. "PentaSoft is a competitor to Star and Moon. Even if you haven't heard of the company before, the fact that they compete against Star and Moon means that PentaSoft is somewhere in this world!"
As though glass shattered in everyone's minds, they halted in their movements. It was apparent they had made the connection, though the revelation disturbed some.
"How can they be from our world? This makes no sense?" Ji-min raised a hand as though sweeping the evidence away from her. "You're telling me they somehow discovered some device and happen to be sent to where we are?" Ji-Min scoffed at the thought, not wanting to entertain it any longer.
Ivy turned towards her friend. "Are you sure this might not just be a coincidence? Maybe they had a company similar to one in our world?"
Before Ruby could rebut Ivy's words, Abigail stepped in, "I don't know how this happened, but we do have a Star and Moon in our world, too." Abigail looked hesitant as though her words may spark a similar reaction to pouring gasoline on an open flame.
Mouth hanging open, Ivy stared at the girl.
Ruby looked vindicated by Abigail's reveal, nodding her head and chest puffed out. Raising her hand towards Abigail, "See! Somehow, Abigail and her group must have been transported to where we are?" As though on a roll, she continued, "If this world is a different one, then it still makes sense that her group could have shown up here."
Han didn't point out the obvious flaw in the logic, especially the odds of randomly showing up on the same world they were located in.
The others also looked equally unconvinced, not willing to blindly accept such a coincidence.
"Considering this isn't something we should be trying to figure out now, I think we should keep going. Han, what do you think?" Grace interrupted the flow of mystery generated by the former cheerleader.
Harmony chimed in, "I agree. Though I'm curious..." She paused, "I think it's more important we find out what happened to Abigail's friends. They may be injured and in need of medical help. We don't know if they'll be able to respawn like we're able to."
Grace and Harmony's words were sufficient at bringing the group back to reality. However, Ji-Min looked impatient about reaching the survivors. It was evident she was determined to find out about something, a secret she didn't seem to be willing to share with the others.