Today was just like any other at first, but the arms started acting on their own and fed me. Such strange monstrous things they are, so thin and yet are feeding me so compassionately. Making sure I survive even though I cannot fathom why my survival is important to such beings. Alas, I cannot understand why the body that has taken over mine is using me without attacking any of the other people here but who am I to question the blessing of seeing another day? I didn’t think waking up was a blessing at all for a while, but as time goes on, I remember how talking with others and the warm smiles of appreciation they give me fill my life with a strange joy that I hadn’t experienced since the first day of the attacks. Seeing everyone huddled around the poem, discussing what it could mean, and trying to extract every piece of interpretation and information possible from each and every line is nostalgic in a sort of horrific way. It is like looking into a distorted mirror where I can remember each moment I spent trapped in my mind, trying to figure out what it meant without it going anywhere. It has been a week or so and there have been no solid plans to leave. A shame, I thought they would act sooner but I suppose this has been going on for so long that I cannot be too disappointed with their preparation time. Making sure every step is perfect so as to not all die horrifically is indeed important.

It is a shame this is all for naught. We were given three days to prove ourselves, and those three days are long since gone.

At least I can smile and continue eating while attached to the monster. I have moved onto actual food now – larger chunks of meat and potato with vegetables are an absolute delight. The combination of flavours and textures, it reminds me of… home? It reminds me of a long passageway filled with a smell that I cannot stop smiling at as it hits my nose. Such a smell would beckon me forward into a room with several chairs and a large, wooden table. My table at home. My family sitting there with me, talking about their days, complaining about their hardships; I would give away everything if it meant I could relive but a moment of those days. Yet here I am, smiling and enjoying but a moment of those days. Perhaps this life isn't too bad. Perhaps we could just stay here. Is humanity really worth saving over enjoying these moments? I should properly meet the others, and learn their names and stories – it has been long enough for us to become a family, so I should take some positive steps. Perhaps I can convince the body to let me take control for a little bit. I will take much better care of you if I can talk to others and learn about the people I am surrounded by.

The body shakes and shudders as I lift myself up, but eventually, I manage to sit up! It has been… well, I cannot remember the time when I was sitting up without pain before. The last time I properly stood was when I went to get more supplies. The monster's legs dangle off the bed. Thin things they are. Gaunt and weak. When I was a child and young adult, I would go hiking and play sports. I led an active life and had large, strong legs. I have large and strong legs. It is a shame the monster needs to challenge my mind so, but I know its tricks and can see through its feeble attempts at making me doubt my abilities and body state. Such thin legs would mean the body is just as gaunt, and one could not survive like that. No, only a monster could ever attempt life in such a state. It thinks me a fool, but I can… see though… its falsehoods. The feet touch the ground. It pushes my body up and the legs wobble and shake uncontrollably, not used to the weight on a human, it would seem. Another tell. How can I do anything but smile, knowing that soon I can beat this monster.

Slow steps are all that can be mustered. Slow but controlled – excellent, soon it will be walking at a normal speed and then I can continue pretending all is well so this moment never ends. Stumbling slowly, I make my way to the table everyone is leaning over.

“So, any new discoveries?”

“Gan!” a young boy looks at me with a large, toothy, and warm smile. “You are walking!”

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“Yes, yes I am.”

“Good to see ya up and around, Gan!” A large man with a gruff and gravelly voice beams in my direction.

“I am sorry in advance because we might have already done this, but could we properly introduce ourselves again? I… don’t remember all that much from lying in bed. As you know, I am Gan.” I bow to the best of my ability, but the monster cannot keep my body up very well. It catches me and steadies my center of gravity. Not a bad recovery, monster. “How about you all?”

My carer speaks up first with a smile “Well, no harm in that. My name is Melza, it is wonderful to make your acquaintance.”

“My name is Fae Fumewalker, ex-captain now survivor. A pleasure.” They are an androgynously dressed person leaning against the table. They give me a slight nod.

“And my name is El!” the young boy says with excitement thick in his voice.

“And I am Chz. Nowadays people be calling me C for some reason. Easier on the ol voice box, aye?” The large man lets out a hearty chuckle. “There are two others, but we will wait for em to get back. Good finders of foods, they are. We all do be taking shifts though, don’t get that messed up.” He goes to pat my back instinctually but stops himself. A shame, I was curious how the monster would deal with that.

I smile and nod along with each person. New people, excited people, people full of life and bright futures – this is what the world once was. The darkness is always there to extenuate the light, and vice versa. How can there be good without the bad? No, the fact that these cheerful people survived whatever they went through is a wonderful blessing I can only thank Fael and Wol’zarath for. I don’t know why my survival is important, but I suppose if I can be a stepping stone to their success and survival, I should do my best to fulfill such a role. My fate is already sealed, but theirs isn’t.

“Oh Gan, thank you for remembering the poem so accurately. We were really struggling to find the actual words and because there was so much chaos on the day, barely anyone actually wrote it down!” Melza gently rests her hand on the shoulder. It grows warm. Warm? No, I can’t feel it anymore. It is the monsters; my mind wishes it was warm. It wishes I was still one being, but alas, what can one do? Ghost pain, people called it. The pain an amputee feels when, for some reason, the limb that was removed begins to itch – or at least the space where the limb should be start to itch – “...Gan?”

“Yes? Sorry yes thank you sorry.”

“Are you okay?”

“Just… lost in thought. I am… happy to be standing with everyone after all this time. So, discover anything?”

“Well, there must be two additional lines, but even without, there is a pretty obvious message here,” Fae states plainly. “Whoever is sending this poem to us believed that humanity was dying. They wanted us to prove we were one big family that could work together and travel to the road – to Langnet’s road, most likely. Bind together, huh? How foolish, humanity only exists as it does because of wars and torment. Medicine, houses, happiness – it is all built off the back of those less fortunate.” Fae lets out a sad sigh, “I suppose we have become a family though. Perhaps we have a chance? No, we definitely have a chance.”

“We… could bind together then! Take on the challenge in Langnet’s road! We could take anything on together!” El hops on the table with an unbelievable amount of energy “I wanna get out! We’ve been in here for too long! We have a chance after all – if Fae says it, it must be true!”

C laughs, “You speak like Mum, well eventually we will – and it will be amazing! Remember the orchids? There are so many more trees to see and fruits to eat! This is just the beginning, El.” C turns to the rest of us, “Remember this feeling everyone – remember this hope. This perfectly obtainable hope is right in our grasp. Hope is what kept us going for so long, and the light at the end of the tunnel is rapidly approaching!”

Chatter and laughter fills the air once more. Fae just stares down at the poem, trying to figure out what the last lines were. I could end their suffering and tell them what the lines are, but that would… well, hope is powerful. I could never take that away from them. Their smiles give me hope. Their laughter reminds me that life is worth living. Their cheers and excitement makes me want to work harder for a task I know is pointless. Oh, how I envy these people. This family. My new family.

Three days is what you have to prove them wrong.

Three days is what you have to prove them wrong.