Page 62 of Eat Me Alive
Fear crawls up my spine, coating my body in gooseflesh that refuses to leave.
Softly, Sunny snores, succumbing to the exhaustion. I can’t believe that it’s still fucking dark again. It feels like I haven’t seen the sun in ages. I slowly untangle her arms off me to find Datu. I don’t dare wander into the woods without him. The starfly hovers, flying in circles above my head.
“Xiaoyu.”
“Hey, where are you?”
Out of nowhere, Datu materializes in front of me. There’s a rigid way he’s moving right now, and unlike with Sunny, I know what he needs. I awkwardly wrap my arms around him, laying my cheek against his ribs.
“I’m sorry about what happened. Was he your friend?”
“My brother.”
I had to physically hold my jaw so it doesn’t drop. “Brotherbrother?”
“He has been dead for so long.”His voice hitches. The incredulity in his voice makes me uncomfortable.
I’m afraid that he isn’t in control of everything like I first thought he’d been.
“He’d been a Provider. He provided several sprouts that did not survive.”
Cold sweat escapes my skin as I shake. There’s a chill in the air that makes my bones rankle and my heart thrum a fast, terrified beat.
“They’re coming alive,” My voice is barely a whisper. I am about to ask a question about the other girls when we hear a rustle behind us. A branch breaks.
“Chow-you?”
It’s Sunny.
“Hey, we’re here.” I call to her, and as she walks toward me, her eyes sweep around the place.
“We? Who are you talking to?”
My heart drops, and I can’t feel my limbs. I turn to Datu, and he watches us with wary focus. He’s told me that only select people can hear him, so it makes sense she’d ask. Sunny cannot hear him, but surely, she can see him, right?
“Datu,” I gesture at him. “He’s the one who helped us with the…creatureearlier.”
Sunny starts to tremble, rubbing her arms up and down. She’s not looking at me the same way she did before. The warmth is gone, and it slowly trickles to her face—that look of someone who just realized they’d trusted the wrong person.
“Nobody’s here, Xiaoyu.” Her wide eyes hold a sheen of tears. “Are we all just fucking insane here?” Sunny backs away, hysteria taking over.
I’m looking at her then at Datu. HE’S THERE! I want to scream, but his gaze tells me it won’t help. Something is terribly wrong here.
There’s a punch in my gut, and I tumble back to grab Sunny. I’m growing increasingly upset as I shake her by her arms.
“Look, fucking look! He’s there!” I’m in my own state of panic when I hold her head and force her eyes open to watch where Datu clearly stands—solemnly judging us.
In his Tower of Babel again.
Sunny makes a low groaning sound before she screams, ripping my hands away from her.
“Nononono, please, I don’t want this! I just want to go home! Exit simulation, exit simulation!”
I feel like needles have embedded themselves into my brain. The crushing headache hits like a tidal wave, but my vision is clear. I can’t tell why I can still see when there is no sun, no starfly anymore. I stumble back when Sunny stiffens. Her eyes roll back as she grits her teeth. Hard enough I see her teeth crack. Before she falls over, Datu catches her, laying her on the ground gently.
I have no idea what to feel as I stand there, frozen in horror. My lungs are struggling to suck in air on time to keep up with my heart.
Sunny is convulsing, foaming at the mouth. It’s quick, but it feels like forever waiting for a person to finally stop seizing.
