MAKE US WHOLE.

Who's there?

Who are you? What are you doing in my house?

Please put the lamp down. I mean you no harm.

Show yourself!

What are you talking about? Who are you?

I am a ghost. I am a ghost. I am a ghost.

You can't leave the room abruptly without closing off with me.

Can you repeat to me what we are doing?

I'm dead. I was murdered in this room.

Murdered by whom?

A demon. It had a look of utter malevolence on its face.

An evil hell-bent on killing me, staring at me from two dark caverns.

I am the medium to the family that owns this house.

You are a ghost and you are haunting their house

You are a ghost and you're haunting my own house.

[Name], how long have I been dead?

I can't tell you that, [name].

So, I am a ghost. And you're trying to get rid of me.

Why can't I see you?

I remember meeting you for the first time. I thought you were a ghost.

I remember you asking me how I died.

That's usually where the story ends.

Can the family see me? Are there any children?

I'm the only one who can communicate with you.

Are they adversely affected by my presence?

They still feel your presence, [name].

That's what the family witnesses. That's why they hired me.

I was about to clean and now I'm dead.

Do you see how this is perplexing to me?

What did you do before you came in here?

Hauntings are nothing more than emotional imprints in time.

Well, if haunting is nothing more than imprints in time, shouldn't the living be able to haunt a house, as well?

I just don't know how to answer that question.

I feel like I just woke up from a dream in which I was alive.

You can't leave this room without closing off with me.

Before you leave, you have to walk through me.

It's different for every spirit. Every soul has a different solution.

Have you banished many spirits?

I wouldn't call it banishing, I'm guiding you into the next place.

I've guided every spirit I've met.

I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

I still feel like I'm waking up from a dream.

You used that the last time to calm me down.

What is it about that song?

I told you that the only way for me to jog your memory is if I repeat something that you specifically taught me.

Don't apologize. I'm used to it.

My family left me in this house, you know. To die,

Are you sure I can't just leave this house?

You're just passing through a memory.

What if I would open that door and leave this house, never to come back?

I've never done that or allowed any of the spirits to do that.

Perhaps I'll be like one of those legends in which a lady haunts the roads and lakes.

You don't really want that, do you?

I don't expect you to believe this, but I'm more concerned with guiding you to where you have to be than the well being of this family.

What's the worst that can happen, [name], honestly? I'm a ghost.

No spirit has ever told me that it was unpleasant.

People are often afraid of what they don't understand.

What's that noise?

Shh. It's just the machine getting warm.

Please! I'm scared!

I died. I died right here in a pool of my own blood.

I can't. The pain is too strong.

My mother used to tell me that I had a demon inside of me and that I needed to be exorcised.

I don't know. I would black out and before I knew it, 10 minutes would've passed. And terrible things happened.

I remember waking up from a blackout and my hand was wounded and bleeding.

My father wanted to take me to the doctor, but my mother just wanted to throw me in a lake.

It didn't dawn on me until three days later that they weren't coming back.

They left me here to die. They left me here to die.

I understand what it's like to be different. Believe me.

You and I are not unlike each other. You have to trust me.

I'm pretty sure that I trust you.

What should be happening right now?

Usually, you see a light and I guide you into it.

I see no light. And I can still hear you.

I know you're not ready to walk into the light.

In my experience, after spirits close off with me, they can freely walk about without any memory loss.

I just don't know if it's a good idea.

I screamed. I screamed out of fear.

I'm often terrified of night myself.

I've seen night and I've seen blackness.

This was nothing, and I've never experienced anything more frightening.

You become tremendously conscious, you can see each of your memories as they've been imprinted in time.

I'm in my bedroom and there's no one here.

Have I no memories implanted here?

Are you telling me that these are all nothing more than reflections of myself?

One of them looked right at me and another one heard me, I think.

It… it was pure horror staring at myself.

I'm scared to see what happens in this room.

I don't… I was murdered in this room. I don't know if I can handle seeing that.

You were not stabbed repeatedly by a man nor a monster.

You weren't killed by a man. You killed yourself.

You stabbed yourself repeatedly on that rug in this room.

I was killed by a man in this room. I know what I saw and I know what I felt!

You saw yourself in every room in this house except this one.

You're talking to a disembodied voice, and I converse with dead people.

I can see myself in every room in this house but this one.

I don't know why any of this is happening.

When you killed yourself in this room, you released not one soul, but two into this house.

You may have released two souls when you died, but they are still two halves of the person who lived.

I can't guide you into the light without your other half.

If I released two souls into this house, why haven't I seen him?

Why do you think you blacked out when you were alive?

How long has it been since you've spoken with me?

I have no memory of what may have frightened me here.

I never went there. I'll never go there.

This is a house for the living, not the dead.

Seek the light. Go to where you belong.

I've lived in your body for my entire life, living your insipid existence, hearing your futile pleas for answers…

I had to answer to your stupid name as it was called, lashing out whenever I could.

I tried to escape you, but you kept me at bay.

I've been called a demon and a monster, and yet I'm the victim.

I hoped for release when I killed you.

I hoped for freedom and light and all I attained was a prison…

For this reason, I sought you. For your death, I yearn.

Your god is dead!

No, I don't want to die!

Are you doing it? Are you guiding us?

I'm frightened. I don't know what to do.

I'm scared. There's no light. Everything's going dark.

we need visuals and a status.

what sort of retrieval are we talking about?

we are under attack.

i'm looking at the thing now. or what's left of it.

you're still on a need-to-know basis.

i'm afraid that's classified.

what's that noise?

i need you to do exactly as i say.

you need an antidote. you've been exposed to a nerve agent.

what exactly am i looking for?

have a little rest and then get to somewhere safe. you've done great.

you just get out of the camp and sit tight.

i'll follow. see what i can do.

remember who you're up against.

now you start to worry about me.

what's the point, then? they're all going to die anyway.

i think some of the others are still alive.

you need to get out of the blast zone.

stand down. that's an order.

listen carefully. you have a less than one percent chance of success.

no time to hesitate. those people need my help.

that's where i'll find the captives.

hey, listen. we don't have much time, and we need to get you out of here.

what about the others? we can't leave without them.

you'll know when you see it.

i don't know how to drive this thing!

this should keep them busy.

you could have saved them if you had spoken up.

your friends died protecting nothing. what a waste.

listen. i already freed your friends. we don't have much time.

these guys mean business.

all right. time to bring the house down.

that should stir things up a bit.

what are you doing? come on! run!

light the place up! do not let them escape!

follow me this way. there's a way out.

what is this now? you want to blow us up?

i'm not MI6.

do you have an appointment?

you sound familiar.

gotta say you're healing fast.

so... i'm in trouble.

can i grab you for a second?

now let's not get carried away, [name].

you're really enjoying this, aren't you?

everything you need to know will be explained to you shortly.

i must say you're all taking this code of secrecy seriously.

you're very talkative, aren't you?

i do enjoy a quiet office. i'm sure we can limit the small talk.

i was unaware i was under MI6 command and i just chose not to take your advice.

i believe it's more a case of authority having issues with me.

look, i know where this is going.

do you mind telling me why i'm here?

i want to make you a spy.

i want you to join my training program.

it's unlikely you'll pass the test.

when do i start?

you're dismissed.

you have some catching up to do.

better get you up to speed.

judging from your profile i'm sure you'll get along splendidly.

your flight's waiting for you, so you'd better get a move on.

you're not here for sightseeing.

to do this, you need skill, discipline, and above all, dedication.

pure dumb luck will only get you so far.

i like what you've done with the place.

you really have a knack for stating the obvious.

i expect the list of things you don't know is quite extensive.

would you do the honors?

okay, show me what you've got.

i do love a challenge.

— — — "What the shit—!"

Her chest started to rapidly rise and fall as she sucked in air. The last thing she remembered was the viscera splatting against the window from when Chen was torn apart by that — thing.

She was stunned.

And then, they were running. Fast. Isaac had her by the wrist. The hall was dark. But it was not quiet. The screeching of metal vents being wrenched open followed them all the way down the hall. Words tried to form, but they were trapped in her throat. All she knew was to keep running towards the light at the end of the hall and—

WHAM!

Her shoulder collided with the back wall of the cargo lift as Isaac shoved her in. She didn't notice the pain, only her heart thundering in her ears. Whipping around, Sen's eyes widened under her helmet as she watched the engineer being pulled back into the dark, those grotesque arms wrapping around him.

"NO—Isaac!" She screamed after him, voice cracking and hand reaching out. Through the suit she felt her fingers grasp his arm, and she pulled, trying to help keep him on the right side of the door. Isaac's other hand hit the lift's button. The doors slammed shut with a visceral squish and he staggered back.

"I don't. Fucking. Know." Sen gasped between breaths. She realized she was still holding his arm and pulled her hand back, leaning forward as she fought down the panic. It was barely working. "This can't be happening. This can't be—the brief said nothing about—"

The cargo lift shuddered as it moved, her head snapping around looking for the next threat, but none came. Then, her gaze landed on Isaac and saw the dark splatter across him.

"Shit—are you—are you okay?" She stepped forward, scanning for any suit damage as the lift started to slow. "Th—that's not your blood, right?"

⠀⠀⠀The doors slowly opened, the engineer sitting up and returning to his feet as they did. Gingerly, he took a step out of the elevator, turning to the blonde behind him and gesturing for her to go slow with his hand. His other hand came up to his helmet, index finger urging her to keep quiet as they slowly entered the dark room. ⠀⠀⠀The ship groaned and creaked, as if it was aware of the infestation crawling around its bowels and its systems. It sounded like it was in pain. Isaac noticed a workbench to one side, walking over to it and finding the remnants of engineering and mining tools. He reached down onto the table, pulling a plasma cutter into his vision and inspecting it for a few moments, before turning back to Sen. ⠀⠀⠀"Check this out. Think it still works?" He pulled the heat clip out of the top, noticing it hadn't been spent yet. "Might come in handy." Before turning back to the bench, he noticed a splatter of blood across the wall behind it - someone had written instructions, or a warning. Eyes narrowed as he read it out loud. ⠀⠀⠀"Cut off their limbs..." His voice was soft. "Looks like someone used their last breath to give us a warning..." He turned to the empty, dark room, unsure of what to think. "...But where's the body?" ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Except that was far from the truth. She was a softie - someone who cared. She had friends, family, people she loved and cared about. She cared for strangers, even if she acted otherwise...

To leave someone behind was not her. Isaac was proof of that. She went out of her way to help others, but it was never enough.

She stayed silent as he spoke, slowly lowering herself into the seat next to him and letting him take control for a moment. Ellie let out a rather shaky sigh, her fingernails anxiously drumming against the armrest of the chair.

"You're right... You're right... I just... Feel so guilty," she replied, biting the inside of her cheek to keep from crying. "The way that baby's face twisted in pain. I don't think I'll ever be able to get it out of my head."

The hum of the ship calmed her down, her shoulders relaxing as she let the low rumble of the engine soothe her. They were safe. They were alive. They would be fine.

"It hurts a lot..." she finally said after a few moments of silence. "It hurts so much. We've been through too much, and I don't know how much more I can handle, Isaac."

Ellie lifted her hands up, pressing her palms to her eyes. "I don't know how you can do it. You're like a superhero," she added with a small chuckle. "I wish I could be as strong as you when it comes to this shit."

⠀⠀⠀Another few presses of a few buttons on the dash, a plot being chartered for their ship. Isaac's head turned to look at Ellie once more, a small smile forming on his lips. ⠀⠀⠀"If I'm the superhero... Does that make you my side-kick? Heheh." A chuckle slipped through his ilps as he leaned back in his seat. "I suppose you would look pretty good in the little tights." A grin spread across his lips, his words carrying a teasing, playful tone to them. He supposed they deserved a little bit of light-heartedness every now and then, given the shit they face on a daily basis at this point. It made him feel more human again. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

› prompts from rachel gillig's novel the knight and the moth (2025). feel free to tweak as you see fit , bartholomew.

❛ you don’t have to be good, or useful, for someone to care about you. ❜

❛ when you do the right thing for the wrong reason, no one praises you. ❜

❛ we all want to be special.”

❛ what is right and wrong depends entirely on the story you’re living in. ❜

❛ which is more intricate? the designs of men, trying to reach gods, or that of gods, trying to reach men? ❜

❛ people who love you for your usefulness don't love you at all. ❜

❛ you want to throw me down. ❜

❛ i, prideful, disdainful, godless. ❜

❛ i want to drag you into the dirt with me. ❜

❛ you know this story, (name,) though you do not remember it. ❜

❛ to tell a story is in part to tell a lie, isn't it? ❜

❛ it's hard to see who i am when i am lost in what's expected of me. ❜

❛ fear not, (name!) every day has its dog. ❜

❛ if you only ever look up at something, can you ever see it clearly? ❜

❛ it is easier, swearing ourselves to someone else's cause than to sit with who we are without one. ❜

❛ take my hand, you strange little creature. ❜

❛ it sounds awful when i say it out loud. ❜

❛ you are more special than you realize. ❜

❛ i would do anything for you. ❜

❛ i cannot decide which i like best. the sunrise, or the sunset. ❜

❛ i was losing my faith in everything. ❜

❛ the two of us meeting… it felt almost divine. ❜

❛ i think her quite the bitch. ❜

❛ how undignified. ❜

❛ did anyone see me fall? ❜

❛ i want someone to see me. ❜

❛ i want it to be you. ❜

❛ no honor among thieves, and even less among gods. ❜

❛ i’ll do anything you ask of me. ❜

❛ if i were beside myself, there would be two of me ❜

❛ oh, (name.) he's dreamy. ❜

❛ do you want to know how it ends? ❜

❛ does it end? ❜

❛ it ends when you kiss me. ❜

❛ why do we do these things to ourselves? ❜

❛ you’re an incomparable fiend, (name.) a truly accomplished asshole. ❜

❛ i’d like you better if you were on your back again. ❜

❛ it is not like me to be the bearer of bad tidings. ❜

❛ am i all that you imagined? ❜

❛ your hands are marked by the blood of my metamorphosis. ❜

❛ whatever my soul was made of was frail. ❜

❛ violence is a craft. so is compassion. ❜

❛ no is a sufficient answer. ❜

❛ anger is a fine weapon. ❜

❛ now have some soup. ❜

❛ i will shoulder any weight you give me. ❜

❛ would that things were different. ❜

❛ i think i would like to stop promising myself away, or else there will be nothing left of me to give. ❜