There was absolute silence. That fact penetrated her brain, along with the counterpart: it had been silent for the past few minutes. Jenna froze, every muscle in her body tensing up as she ran through the possible reasons in her head.

1) They were dead. But that was too much to hope for.

2) They were seriously injured/unconscious. See above.

3) They weren’t here anymore. Possibly, but how would they get out? Jenna was the only one with the ability – after all, this damn place didn’t have entrances or exits. Fucking freaks.

4) They were planning something.

5) They’d done something.

It was one of the last two. Had to be. With a sigh, Jenna began a mental search of the area.

I am going to personally flay the skin from your backs, pull out a section of your spine and rape your asses with it. I will force you to drink boiling acid. I will feed you to the smallest flesh-eating insects I can find. I will chain you up and leave you naked in a desert to burn to death. I will –

Her threats were cut off when Michael yelled her name from down the corridor.

“Jenna, you sadistic slut, guess what? We found the artefacts room!”

“We’re supposed to be looking for a record of an ancient prophecy.”

“Yeah, but artefacts are more fun. Especially ones with a lot of pressable parts. And weapons that don’t look like weapons. That still work even after a few million years. And still appear to be quite dangerous…”

“Oh shit. Michael, where’s Nikki?”

“Probably rolling around the floor choking on her own blood by now. Wanna go watch and laugh?”

With a growl she pushed past him, moving in the direction he gestured. She muttered curses to his following form. “What the fucks the point in fetching me when you don't tell me straight away? If she’s dead I will-”

“Flaying, raping, boiling, ingesting, burning, yadda, yadda. I doubt she’s dead. Nikki’s too stupid to die.”

Jenna rolled her eyes and resisted the urge to stab him. She walked through a low arch, dimly aware of him moving into another untouched room. However, all her attention was on the prone body lying motionless on the ground. On a table next to her was a strange, complicated device with pointy things and a tonne of compartments.

Her stomach filled with tar, and her throat stuck with it. It ran into her eyes, burning them, and invaded her mind with terror. She felt too heavy to move, as if as long as she stayed still time would too. As if by denying it, she could prevent it. No, no, no, please, no, not Nikki…She’s needed, we need her, if she can’t fight, if she dies…it’s all over. Please, she has to be alright. Without her, the universe falls.

With that sobering thought, Jenna stumbled forward until she was steps away from that form. Then she halted. She didn’t want to know.

“Nikki?” Jenna hated herself then. Hated the fear that kept her from checking her friend. Hated the fact that she could still feel scared after everything she’d been through. Hated the waver in her voice that showed she was still weak. Would always be weak. Would always –

Laughter. So out of place in her self-condemnation that Jenna thought she was going insane. Then Nikki rolled over, and it was her that was laughing. “Shit, Jen, did you see that? Wooh, that was a mind fuck! Felt like I was dying for a second then. Hah. I wanna do it again. Hey, you okay? You like kinda pale. Wanna have a go? I think it's some type of wicked poison.”

Jenna stared at her. Then she smiled. Stupid, she thought to herself. Of course Nikki wasn’t dying. She ought to have more faith. After all, even Michael wouldn’t be so indifferent as to just leave her to die. Speaking of Michael…

“Hey! Jen, Nik, I found the prophecy! Who is the master of this shitting universe? Huh? Everyone worship me!”