Chapter Text
The following nights were spent traveling as far as the eye could see. They tried to stay away from urban areas and keep their distance from the forest. Nadia was in no hurry; they were only prolonging the inevitable, still bound together at the waist. Each night offered a moment to rest, their fear of the dark dissipating amidst laughter and the faint glow of the campfire. They told stories and shared their thoughts about their pasts; Tim played guitar and Kate sang. Tim's temper softened, Brian and Tobias smiled again with genuine happiness, and for a moment they seemed normal. But then came the question: What would they do when they were free?
In truth, no one had anything to return to, no one to look for. All their friends were dead, their identities erased from existence, every record burned, collective memory now a mere mirage. The answer was always the same: "We'll figure it out when we're free." But no one bothered to give a concrete answer, and it was never him who answered, just as it was never him who asked the question. Doubt crept in among them all, and it wasn't until they had nothing left to say that they all knew it was time. They hunted their last rabbit, drank and bathed in the river one last time, got ready, and drove to the nearest urban area. They were going to call them, provoke them, and set a trap.
The car headed to the tunnel at the beginning; they knew it was a direct entrance to the Ark, but it was a busy area, and there didn't seem to be anything restricting access. Maybe it wouldn't work. The surveillance team didn't notice them until they reviewed the security footage and saw a large glitched image inside a vehicle that was identical to the one involved in the anomaly, but it was too late. Tim, Brian, Kate, and Tobias drove through the night until they found the location. They turned off the car and sat in silence, holding the rope around their waists and each other's hands, as if they didn't want to be separated. After a while, nothing happened. Had it worked? They started the car again and, to their surprise, they were in the middle of a forest. From the wounds on their bodies—Kate's face, Tobias's cheek, and Brian's eye—emanated that unnatural smoke that dispersed in the air like the smoke from the fire that was their minds. It had worked. And this forest was similar to the one in their native Alabama (thank goodness; they didn't know what would have happened if they'd ended up in County Bluff), so not only had they succeeded, they'd been brought here deliberately. That could mean a good or bad sign. But they couldn't stop. They started the engine and drove until, inexplicably, the car battery died. They all got out and continued on foot until they came to a cabin. The cabin of an old friend.
His corpse, consumed by the ROT, was unsettling to see, a real shame, since he had been a good guide for Brian when he first managed to escape the Ark. They took what they could; they didn't know how long they would be there. Brian still had Mary's computer, and his intention was to somehow link up with the Ark's core. He knew that the thing took many forms, all extensions of itself and with their own autonomy, like the Operator, but the infection was controlled by the space itself. Brian thought that by using this computer near the Ark's core, they could somehow detach themselves, disconnect, even if it meant death or not being able to escape afterward. After all, he had had to give up his eye to allow other creatures to fight their battles here as a favor in exchange for getting him out, but nothing meant this could happen again.
The rope was moderately long; there were about 3 meters between each person, but they obviously removed it when they had to attend to basic needs, like using the bathroom, washing, or simply sleeping. However, it wasn't long before they longed to return to the safety it provided, as if it were an anchor to sanity they would never let go of. Besides, if one was taken, the others could go with him, since being attached to the rope shouldn't be a problem. At least, that was the idea.
Tobias checked the bathroom, hoping to find something that would help him take care of his teeth in the long run. After all, it's not healthy to have your teeth exposed to the air all the time, especially if the face mask you're wearing hasn't been washed in years. But he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw that the mirror didn't reflect him, with his voluminous brown hair, his black turtleneck outfit, and his dark circles under his eyes… It showed him in a beige hoodie, a blue hood, orange glasses, a face mask, and covered in blood. It perfectly mimicked all his movements and gestures, even the little jump Tobias gave when he was startled by the reflection.
Brian turned on the computer and asked Tim to watch it while he went to check on Kate. The computer launched the *Arklistener* program on its own. Tim didn't understand what he had touched.
Tobias approached the mirror, confused, and reached out to see how his reflection would react. He didn't touch the surface, but when he withdrew his hand, his reflection moved forward.
Tim stared at the computer, not understanding what was happening, but soon noticed that the image on the screen was of the outside world; something was approaching them. He ran to warn everyone.
Ticci Toby stepped out of the reflection, put his hands on the sink, and started to reach Tobias. Horrified, the boy tried to get as far away as possible until he bumped into something soft behind him.
Tim went straight to Brian and Kate, but something was wrong with them. Brian's pills were scattered on the floor, as if they hadn't had time to take them. Both were having seizures, and when Tim looked where they were looking…
Tobias noticed something in the mirror, and he bumped into it. His tic attacks began; he hit himself to force himself to stop, but it was no use. He fell to the floor, terrified, motionless, his neck twisting and his muscles tense.
The Operator had arrived. And he wasn't alone.