[he climbs. his hands find purchase on the dirt, which crumbles away. he digs until his hands are raw, his limbs growing heavy and tired with each motion. but there's still that light above him. it's not blindingly bright, only the flicker of a lantern in the darkness, and it feels like hope. he feels as though he's been in darkness so long that even the dim glow of candlelight is brilliant to him. perhaps the person holding that light can shine some on him too, illuminate something for him that he feels he isn't able to do himself.
his hands find purchase on stone. they're so stiff, they feel numb. it's heavy, and difficult, but he can push away the slab of rock that's sealing him in here and, crawling despite the leadenness of all of his limbs, pull himself through the crack he's made.
but as he pulls through, it isn't quite what he expects. for a moment, he can see them there. ryunosuke with his lantern, susato by his side, peering through the darkness, investigating, there to find him. but instead of recognition, he hears a scream from susato, a terrified shout from ryunosuke, as they back away, frightened. they don't appear to recognize him. and the reason feels obvious, suddenly.
he's clawed himself out of a grave, scrabbling at the ground, his face frozen in a demonic scream of rage. but no one can see it behind the heavy iron mask.]
And in this final exhibit, we learn the strange story of the killer's ending.
[no, he can't see ryunosuke and susato there at all, can he? instead, suddenly, he can see out the archway. he can see, past the velvet ropes, the crowd gathered around, frozen in fear and terror, staring back at him, an exhibit on display.
his limbs are frozen, heavy, wax. he can't seem to move, not even to make a sound, not even to breath, and he's choking, soundlessly, without motion.]
no subject
his hands find purchase on stone. they're so stiff, they feel numb. it's heavy, and difficult, but he can push away the slab of rock that's sealing him in here and, crawling despite the leadenness of all of his limbs, pull himself through the crack he's made.
but as he pulls through, it isn't quite what he expects. for a moment, he can see them there. ryunosuke with his lantern, susato by his side, peering through the darkness, investigating, there to find him. but instead of recognition, he hears a scream from susato, a terrified shout from ryunosuke, as they back away, frightened. they don't appear to recognize him. and the reason feels obvious, suddenly.
he's clawed himself out of a grave, scrabbling at the ground, his face frozen in a demonic scream of rage. but no one can see it behind the heavy iron mask.]
And in this final exhibit, we learn the strange story of the killer's ending.
[no, he can't see ryunosuke and susato there at all, can he? instead, suddenly, he can see out the archway. he can see, past the velvet ropes, the crowd gathered around, frozen in fear and terror, staring back at him, an exhibit on display.
his limbs are frozen, heavy, wax. he can't seem to move, not even to make a sound, not even to breath, and he's choking, soundlessly, without motion.]