#zombie!ruby

Having these games and puzzles in these places was always a bit of a confusing concept to Leon. So many intricate mechanisms for things that could just have a…lock. It honestly sometimes feels as if someone is watching him through some hidden cameras and just wants to see him suffer through these veiled tasks. This was one of those tasks.

It seemed like he needed to insert the right gem into a slot in the wall, in order to open a door. He was able to find gems around the area, so that part was over. Now the problem was…he didn’t know which one to use. The only clue he had was a piece of paper that was as vague as words on paper could be. 

“The colors of fear and desire Her dream is his nightmare”

To say that these sentences mean absolutely nothing to him is putting it lightly. He looked around, nearly turned the whole office upside down trying to find something else but no…this the only clue he had.

As Leon suddenly hears loud breathing near his ear, he looks back to see…Ruby. God, she always sounded out of breath. He’s not sure if he should be creeped out or flattered at this point.

This monster was following him right as he entered the building. She seemed more aware than most but also more dangerous because of it. No sane person would choose this life willingly, but she decided that being controlled by immediate desires is better than…whatever she did before. She saw liberation in rotting and there are not a lot of things that can stop someone with nothing to lose.

This is the first time he was so close to her without being attacked. Ruby was genuinely curious about what he was doing, to the point of ignoring him as a target. Even when he looked back at her, she didn’t try to bite, just waited for his next move.

- Um…hi.

He said, a bit awkwardly, getting a rotten, sharp smile in return.

Leon still wasn’t sure if she would stay like this or suddenly lunge at him, but he couldn’t really do anything for now…only wait and see. Leon looked at the note in his hand again but reading suddenly became a bit harder, as he felt her get closer, bending down, trying to read it too. Her eyes darted around but it seemed like they weren’t really focusing on the words, as if she’s acting like she reads to fit in.

- Can you even read?

Leon asked in a slightly mocking tone. She shook her head which pushed a chuckle out of him. The unreadable scribbles on paper bored her pretty quickly and she approached the office table next to him to jump on it and sit down. 

He would still glance at her from time to time, making sure that she’s sitting in one place. Everytime she moved he would watch her closely only to see her do something dumb instead of attacking him. 

In the span of 10 minutes she managed to:

1) Start beef with the vending machine

As he was looking at the door, she suddenly came over and poked him in the shoulder. Leon shuddered but gave her the attention she was asking for.

- What?

Ruby points at the vending machine standing in the office and Leon doesn’t get what she wants to say until she makes the “money” motion with her fingers.

- I doubt it works

The machine had an obvious indent and the lights weren’t even working but it didn’t stop Ruby, as she let out a growl. Fearing for his life, Leon pulled out a coin out of his wallet and passed it to her.

He was right, the machine didn’t work. The coin just fell into the slot, without giving anything in return. Ruby was less than happy as she started shaking the thing, making Leon watch her again as there’s no way he’s getting anything done with all this noise.

2) Do circles on a chair with wheels that then fell over.

Leon tries to hold in a laugh as he sees Ruby smack her face against the floor.

- You alright?

He asked, mostly out of habit. He doubts that something so minor will have lasting damage on the already rotting body. She shows him the okay sign.

3) Hide a gem and watch Leon try to find it.

It ended up being on the highest shelf, of course.

- Don’t do this to me.

Leon sighs, dreading the moment he will have to stand on a chair to reach it. Ruby doesn’t say anything, only smiling in return.

4) Stand WAY TOO CLOSE.

The more ridiculous things she did, the more he became accustomed to her presence. Leon even got comfortable enough to sit down by the table and start writing down his own notes as he analyzed the clue and thought about where he found each gem. Ruby couldn’t stay in place for long but she would sit on the table he was working on to watch the man…in between doing dumb shit.

As she layed on the table and Leon glanced at her once again, something suddenly clicked.

- Wait…Is this about you?

He realized, looking up at her. Ruby sat up straight, with a widened eye, she was as surprised as he was. Leon got up and grabbed her face as she growled in response, trying to slightly move away but also not fighting it full on. 

- I need to see something.

She sat still with a confused look as he analyzed her eyes. He slightly opened her eyelids with his fingers, as her left eye was permanently squinting. Behind the rainbow glint of spilled oil he could see the blue sky peaking through. 

He picked up the shattuckite gem, the one that reminded of the ocean mixed with oil. As he puts it in place, he hears a click but…nothing happens. 

- Is it stuck?

Leon whispers to himself and approaches the door. He pulled on the handle, but nothing happened. He decided to try and push it with his shoulder, hoping that this will somehow trigger the mechanism to work.

Ruby silently watched him but then noticed that there’s another slot that Leon didn’t see. She approached the gems laid out on the table and glanced at him once again, trying to notice a glint of color in his detriment squint. She took the blue beryl in her hand and twisted it around, watching it glint under the ceiling lights. Ruby placed this gem into the slot, which triggered the door to open right away, causing Leon to fall onto the other side.