#vent 3

As if the last few days haven't already been bad enough, tonight my dog killed a possum. I think it was a baby too. And I cant help but blame myself.

I should have had him inside. And I should have reacted quicker when I heard him barking. And I should have done something to help make that poor creatures last minutes on earth more comfortable. But I panicked. I saw it laying there dying and I didnt know what to do. I think I watched it take its last breaths and it looked so scared. I wish I had a way to comfort it.

I feel useless. I feel bad for that animal and I feel bad because I've been rotting in bed crying for days and I've let the world around me slip past. I even feel bad for my dog who was just following his hunting instincts and is now wondering why hes in trouble.

They didn't really expect you to wake up. They just stopped any bleeding. They... don't really know what to do for your head except hope you don't have a concussion or fractured skull or anything.

They make their way to the console, but not before checking if they can salvage the scrap metal. Judging by the fact that the blood spilling from the wound has melted a hole in the concrete floor, they don't think they should try.

They check the screen. It now reads:

LINKED ORGANISM DEACTIVATED. CONTROLS UNLOCKED.

Escc doesn't think it meant for them to KILL it, but it still worked, at least. They press a green button. A door on the tube hisses open. They press a pink button. A pink glow comes from inside the tube.

TELEPORTER READY.

Huh. Weird luck that they got that first try. Though, the action felt familiar...

They carry you in a makeshift hammock of their robes and step in. With a pink flash, both of you are back in the Hub with the five vents, with some new changes.

Escc shakes their head. "I don't know if we can. The drop down here was too far for us to jump and grab the ledge, and we can't really climb smooth metal."

"...No. Who're you? I don't recognize you."

"I'm fine!" they call up. You follow them down. It isn't a far drop, but you can't climb back up. Escc creeps to the grate, lifts it, and peeks out, glancing in both directions down the new hallway. It's similar to the first, but there are dried bloodstains scattered around the floor. Whatever happened here, it was a while ago.

"...I don't like this." Escc remarks, putting the metal object down with a loud clang.

"Sure."

They step into the vent, then suddenly drop with a shout of surprise.