The Binding Vow of Lazarus

Chapter 41

Sarah's dreams were a chaotic swirl of darkness and pain. She could feel the eyes on her, countless and unblinking, their gaze burning into her skin. The teeth—sharp and relentless—sank into her flesh, tearing and gnawing, and no matter how hard she fought, she couldn't escape. She screamed, but no sound came out. She ran, but her legs wouldn't move. The shadows closed in, suffocating her, and she woke with a start, her body drenched in sweat and her breath coming in ragged gasps.

She sat up quickly, her heart pounding as she looked down at her hands, turning them over as if to make sure they were still there. Her legs—she threw the blanket off and stared at her feet, wiggling her toes to confirm they were still attached. Her fingers, her arms, her legs—all still there. She let out a shaky breath, her chest heaving as she tried to calm herself. But the panic was still there, lingering at the edges of her mind, threatening to pull her back under.

The eyes. The teeth. She could still feel them. Still see them. Her breathing quickened, her hands trembling as she clutched the edge of the cot. Just as the panic began to crest, the door slammed open, the sound startling her out of her spiraling thoughts.

Satoru strutted in, his usual confident grin plastered on his face. He had something behind his back, and before Sarah could even process what was happening, he knelt down in front of her. "Ta-Da!" he said, presenting her with the glowing, fluffy puppy. It stood proudly on both of his hands, balanced on its little toes with its head cocked back proudly, its shining black eyes staring up at her with an almost comical sense of importance.

Sarah blinked, her mind still catching up with the sudden shift from nightmare to reality. She stared at the puppy, then at Satoru, then back at the puppy. Slowly, hesitantly, she reached out, and the little creature hopped into her lap, its tail wagging furiously as it nuzzled against her.

"What... what is this?" she asked, her voice soft and hoarse from sleep.

Satoru shrugged, leaning on the edge of her cot with his head resting on his hands. "Dunno," he said, his tone casual. "It's cute, though, huh? Followed me out of the woods like it owned the place."

Sarah's lips twitched into a small smile as she stroked the puppy's fur. It leaned into her touch, its glowing body warm and soft against her hands. She glanced over at Satoru, surprised to find him staring at her with an uncharacteristically soft expression.

"What?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Satoru shrugged again, his grin returning. "Just glad you're awake," he said simply.

Sarah nodded, her fingers still absently running through the puppy's fur. She didn't say anything more, her mind still caught between the lingering remnants of her nightmare and the strange comfort of the little creature in her lap.

Satoru watched her for a moment before breaking the silence. "Yaga said it's okay to keep the puppy," he said, his tone light. "It's been guarding your door. Guess it's got a thing for you."

Sarah looked down at the puppy again, her smile growing just a little as it stared up at her with its lolling tongue and shining eyes. Satoru's grin softened, and he reached out to pat her arm. "There's that smile," he said, his voice warm.

Sarah flinched slightly at his touch, and Satoru's expression faltered. "It's alright," he said quickly, pulling his hand back. "It's just me."

"I know," Sarah said, her voice trailing off as she looked away. She didn't elaborate, and Satoru didn't push. Instead, he leaned back, giving her space as the silence stretched between them.

After a moment, Satoru broke the quiet again, his usual playful tone returning. "Anyway, everyone's worried about you," he said, standing up and stretching. "You've gotta come out and show them you're okay. Can't have them thinking I'm hogging you all to myself."