The Diseased Heart

Chapter 9

The door slowly opened, and Olive poked her head out, looking around the ceiling before even looking at the floor. She scanned the ceiling, seeing nothing, then began looking around the rest of the room, her eyes locked with mine.

I was surprised to see them out, after ten ful minutes in there I had almost thought they'd never come out. Though, for it to be Olive made sense.

My Crawler legs were hidden, and I was still leaning back against the wall, keeping myself still and rigid. Hoping that I may be able to trick them to think I was frozen again. I may be able to scare Jack again.

She stared for a few seconds before pushing the door open fully and walking out, she came close to me, likely to see if I would move. I was barely breathing. I doubted I would fool them for long, if at all, but it was worth a shot.

She sighed, I would guess in relief. Turning back to the door, she spoke to the others, "It's okay guys, I think they're frozen again. Let's just make sure not to...trigger anything."

Jack stepped into the doorway, visibly shaking. Maple walked out and came a bit closer to me, kneeling down and looking me over about four feet away. Jack stared as he came closer, "You sure it's gone?"

"Well, she's still right here, but whatever was making her move, maybe? What do you think that was?"

He shook his head, back against the wall, "I don't know and I don't care. It was a ghost or a demon or something that I don't want to mess with!"

Olive looked over her shoulder, "If that's the case, you already were probably the one to piss it off and wake it up. But...I dunno, I don't think her body was possessed by something."

Maple stood up, stepping a bit closer, "you think it's a robot or something then?"

Jack shook his head aggressively, "Hell no, no robot could do that unless they were from the future. I'm not dealing with the Terminator after us."

I had to surpress a chuckle. Maple took a few steps closer to me, before slowly poking my shoulder. She poked a little too close to one of the sore spots from the bolts. Thankfully I was able to keep from growling, but my breathing hitched for a moment. She noticed and looked at my face, I couldn't keep from blinking anymore, and my eyes flicked closed for a second. She jumped backward, her eyes filling with fear.

"Guys, I don't think they're frozen."

Jack stared at her, speaking slowly, as if to make sure she heard him "What?"

"I think they're just...pretending. They must be...they must be waiting to attack us again! We have to get out of-"

Olive cut her off, "If they aren't frozen, wouldn't they have attacked us while we are this close, of that was the case? The plaque does say they might be the sane Crawler from Hidden Sanity."

Jack and Maple proceeded to throw aroubd every possible excuse for why Olive couldn't be correct. Neither were looking at me, but at Olive. I glanced at Olive, raising my eyebrow and twirling a finger at my temple. The sudden shock on her face quickly faded, and was replaced by a small grin.

"What the hell are you smiling about? There is no way that's a 300 year old Crawler!"

I sighed, "That would, actually, be quite correct."

Jack jumped and yelped, and Maple spun around so fast I thought she would fall over. Jack grabbed the flashlight from his pocket and whipped it to face me as he flicked it on, directly into my eyes.

I covered my eyes with a small snarl of pain and surprise, but amazingly I felt someone's hands go over my own afterwards, and Olive yelled at Jack, "Jack, stop it! You're hurting her! You think that will make her want to eat you less?!"