Numinous
[adj] being both fearful and awed by what is before you
𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑪𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑪𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒔: 𝑴𝒆 :)
𝑨𝒓𝒕 𝑪𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒕: 𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒔 (𝑶𝒏 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒕𝑨𝒓𝒕) 𝑩𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒄�...
I decided to simply choose my leftover musubi from yesterday. After warming the musubi up, I sat next to Thomas at the dining table. So far, EJ and Thomas were the only ones I was comfortable approaching.
"Is this everyone?" I inquired aloud.
"Oh, some of us don't consume normal human food, so not everyone is here," EJ explained. "I'm also guessing you don't know this but, only the specialists and proxies stay here in The Manor. The Pastas remain in hideouts scattered around the world. In this Manor, there's a place called the "Pasta Hall" where portals to their hideouts remain. As a whole, we're called Underealmers. Only we can access the portals," EJ added.
"How do they get back?" I tilted my head.
"There are wells located near their hideouts. It turns into a portal going here when a Pasta goes through. If a normal human goes down, they'll die from the height."
"Pretty smart," I nod.
Eventually, Toby enters the scene. Seeing I had really nothing to do, I decided to watch him. He opened the top left cabinet and carried out a waffle-maker. He then proceeded to make the waffle batter. He then began pouring the mix when his entire body twitched making the batter splatter around the maker.
"Fuck-" he swore under his breath. He proceeded to clean the area with a nearby towel.
But, then I noticed that he had his bare hand resting against the top iron of the waffle maker. It was still on, and that was evident when smoke visibly appeared around his jacket's sleeve.
"Woah woah Toby- hold on-" I rushed over to him, immediately removing his arm away from the waffle maker. I gripped his hand rather tightly in my grasp. I gaze down to his hand where layers of skin were burnt and sizzled. I cringed at the sight.
"EJ, we need your help here," I called over.
"Oh, again Toby?" EJ questioned in a tone that made it obvious this was a recurring issue.
"Yeah yeah just heal me up already," Toby rushed off to the infirmary's direction, EJ following behind. The poor guy looked embarrassed.
[Time-skip brought to you by Jeff flipping you off]
The evening had approached meaning it was time for us to retreat back to our temporary dorms. Toby had returned and proceeded to escort me back to my room. He enwrapped his hand around my arm, securing my body next to him ensuring I wouldn't escape. We were rather close. I could feel the heat from his body next to me. I peered down to his hand relieved as I noticed his hand was alleviated from his injuries.
Entering my dorm, I immediately plopped down on my bed, exhausted from the last few days. It seemed Toby was also exhausted as he did the same, only in the corner of the room against the wall.
Toby broke the silence, "Y-you did really well these past few days."
"Yeah, I'm honestly surprised. I thought I'd be dead meat," I responded, sitting up from the bed and facing his direction. I was glad he was open to a conversation. Staring at a ceiling in silence with a random murderer in your presence isn't exactly therapeutic.
"You might b-become dead-meat if you become a proxy," he mumbled, barely enough for me to register.
"What do you mean?" I inquire
"Well, that's if you even passed the starter tests. Once you do, you're assigned a position. Specialist, Pasta, or a Proxy. If you're chosen to be a Proxy, you have to endure...extremely in-humane tests," he explained, ending with a wary tone.
"Like?"
"Starvation. Battling insanity. Fighting against a few Pastas," he casually stated, head hanging low.
I found my body walking toward him, sitting about a foot or two away from him.
"But...why?" I inquire.
"Uh well, think of us as former humans with a second chance. Sorta. Our position has pretty good benefits."
"Which are?"
"We're basically like- superhumans? We're practically immune to poison...torture...and such. We're also immune to most injuries."
"No offense to Masky but, I made him bleed quite easily..." I chuckled reminiscing back on that moment.
"Well, that immunity sorta has an on and off? We can use it for about three hours which is way more than enough time for a fight. He underestimated your abilities so he obviously left it off," he chuckled as well
"Haha, that's hilarious."
"Yeah, it honestly was. He had to call for backup from me AND Jeff," he joked.
"Call? He was unconscious for a while," my brows furrowed downward with concern as I doubted the past events.
"He wasn't actually. He wanted you to go back to your house where you were alone and most vulnerable. He used telepathic communication with The Master," he explained.
"Smart bastard," I mumbled under my breath.
"Indeed. He's definitely someone you don't wanna f-fuck with. Speaking from experience..."
"Mmm..." I began worrying for myself. Deciding to alter the subject in my head, I ask, "how's your hand by the way? You're immune to pain aren't you?"
"Yea-yea, I am. I usually wear these gloves," Toby raised his hands to reveal black tactile gloves, "but, at that moment I wasn't wearing them so...I didn't even know my hand was burning. Thank you for actually giving a damn," he mumbled the last part.
"Guessing no one looks out for you huh?"
"Yeah. If anything, they purposefully make me get hurt. Well, except for Sally, EJ, and Hoodie...and you're a new addition to that now," I could tell he was smiling under his ski mask.
"Sally and Hoodie?..haven't met them yet."
"You'll probably meet Hoodie soon for the next test. He's also a Proxy."
"Let me guess, he wears a hoodie doesn't he," I joked.
"Yup," he popped the 'p'
"Of-fucking-course," I rolled my eyes.
We continued conversing which eventually ended when something was brought to my attention, "say- am I allowed to shower in my bathroom?-"
𝑻𝒐𝒃𝒚 >> 20% Was rather shocked you reached out to help him when his hand was-literally-burning. He appreciated the conversation both of you had. It had been a while since he genuinely conversed with a person.
