Beyond, With a Yokai

Chapter 2: Your Name

"You've seen my real body, haven't you?"

"Mhm," he murmured.

"Is there any chance I can wake up... without your help? If I do wake up... will I leave this place?"

He tilted his head, like he was sizing up the weight of her question.

"In theory, yeah. If you woke up, you'd leave the astral."

For a moment, hope sparked in her chest.

But he crushed it in an instant.

"Don't get your hopes up. You reek of death."

The world tilted.

"W–what?" she whispered.

"You're dying, slowly but steadily. Your soul's fading. That fall—the one where you cracked your head on the rocks? It caused serious damage," he said, voice flat, emotionless.
"Even if by some miracle you do wake up... odds are, you'll be paralyzed."

The words hit like ice water down her spine.

Paralyzed...?

She couldn't imagine living like that.
Trapped. Dependent. Helpless.

What if he was right?
What if she never walked again?

But... he didn't know for sure.
He could be lying. Manipulating her.

What if it's just another trick to break me?

She clung to the thought like a lifeline—
but fear had already sunk its claws in deep.

"You said if I get out," Yesenia said quietly. "So there is a way, right?"

The fox didn't answer immediately. He stared at her, like he was weighing the seriousness of her question—or her chances.

"Well," he finally said. "If there's an entrance, there's a way out. That's just logic. You got in here somehow. There's always a loophole. But don't expect some noble savior

to show up and guide you out. Your only hope lies with the doctors working on your body—and from what I can tell, they're not doing a stellar job so far."

"What do you want to know?" she offered, leaning forward. "Ask me anything. I'll answer."

If he wouldn't help her willingly, she'd push him.

Get close.
Gain his trust.
Yesenia had always been good at reading people. Even if he wasn't exactly people, he still had a mind—and where there's thought, there's influence.

The fox laughed—really laughed—throwing his head back, the sound echoing across the small balcony.

"Adapting already? Not bad," he said with amusement. "For now, I've got no questions. I'm watching. Studying. Your body language tells me a hell of a lot more than that nasty little tongue of yours. But if I see anything weird, I'll press so hard you'll wish you told me everything upfront. If you've got secrets, now's the time to spill. Don't even think you can lie to me."

His tone wasn't threatening.
It was a promise.

Yesenia shivered.

"I wouldn't dream of it," she said quickly—but her voice faltered.

He studied her for a long moment, eyes narrowing as if he were scanning for any flicker of deceit.

Is he watching me like I'm a spy? Does he think someone sent me here?

"Tell me," she said slowly, "do you... feel a thirst when you're near me?"

That threw his.

He burst out laughing—nearly falling out of his beanbag chair. Yesenia shrank back, a little startled by the intensity of his reaction.