Ethan: "Ya… we're escaping."
Dylan looked at him.
Dylan: "You sure?"
Ethan: "Nope... It's reckless but.. I don't want to sit here hands crossed waiting for someone saves us—wondering every day if today's the day we die, until it's too late to even escape."
Dylan: "Sure. I trust you."
Then he placed a hand on Ethan's head.
Dylan: "We'll get through this."
Ethan looked back.
Ethan: "You're damn right we will."
He stood.
Ethan: "I need to talk to Elin first."
Ethan left the cafeteria.
Behind him, Dylan clenched his fist.
Dylan: (I won't lose him. No matter what.)
The hallways felt quieter than usual—too quiet.
Ethan climbed to the second floor.
Ethan: (Let's hope this is the right choice.)
Before he realized it, he was standing in front of Elin's room. He took a deep breath and knocked.
Ethan: "Elin, it's me."
Elin: "Just a sec."
The door opened.
Ethan: "Can I come in?"
Elin: "Sure."
Her room was a disaster—clothes scattered everywhere, empty cup noodles piled on the table.
Ethan carefully stepped inside and sat on the bed, avoiding the mess.
Elin: "Sorry… it's a little messy."
Ethan: "A little?"
Elin: "What do you need?"
Ethan hesitated.
Ethan: "First… thank you. For helping us."
Elin: "It really wasn't a big deal."
Ethan paused, then spoke firmly.
Ethan: "We've decided. We're escaping Enoshima."
Elin stiffened.
Elin: "That's too dangerous. There are goblins everywhere—"
Ethan: "The decision's final."
He looked at her.
Ethan: "Will you come with us?"
Elin gripped her arm, avoiding his eyes.
Ethan already knew the answer—but hoped otherwise.
Elin: "…I'm sorry. I can't."
Ethan exhaled slowly.
Ethan: "I see. Can you tell me why?"
Elin: "It's personal."
After a moment—
Ethan: "Can I ask a few questions."
Elin nodded in approval.
Ethan: "When is it safe to go out?"
Elin: "They usually sleep around midnight and wake up around seven. I play it safe—leave at one, return by six. I was bit late today… that's why we met."
Ethan: "You said they're heavy sleepers—but wake up if you get close. Isn't that contradictory?"
Elin: "I don't fully understand it either. They have some kind of sixth sense. Even in sleep, they know when someone's nearby."
Ethan: "Any weak spots or weaknesses?"
Elin: "None that I know of. You can consider their frenzy as one."
Ethan: "Is there anything else?"
Elin: "You probably know this but once they spot you, they don't stop, regardless of their injuries. It's like they can't feel pain."
Elin went into deep thought and seemed like she remembered something
Elin: "I don't know if it's related but every night there is some sort of lights, I think. It's hard to describe."
Ethan: "A light?"
Elin: "They appear at around 5am near the shrine. I don't know what it is so I just avoid going near it."
Ethan: "I'll keep that in mind."
Ethan: (Another reason to escape.)
Ethan: "You sure know a lot, you must have had your fair share of encounters."
Elin: "I had help."
A tear slipped down her cheek.
Elin quickly wiped it away.
Elin: "Sorry. Dust."
Ethan saw through her obvious lie but stayed silent pretending to not notice.
After some thought—
Ethan: "What about guns?"
Elin: "Guns?"
Ethan: "The goblins are strong but I doubt they can tank a bullet."
Elin: "I've never tried it. The area around the police station's practicaly surrounded by goblins, getting one is nearly impossible. But… I don't see why they wouldn't."
Ethan: "There is a manga I read, that made the monsters immune to modern weaponry."
Elin: "You're basing this on manga?"
Ethan: "Monsters appered out of nowhere, I have super powers. Is monsters being immune to modern weponary that far—fetched?"
Elin thought for a moment.
Elin: "You might be right."
Ethan stood.
Ethan: "That's all I needed."
Elin: "So… when are you leaving?"
Ethan: "Tommorow. First, we're going back to our house tonight to grab our belongings."
Elin silently nodded.
Without another word Ethan left the room, deep in thought.
Ethan: (As long as we avoid fighting multiple goblins at once, then we can probably reach the police station.)
After a while Ethan finally realised, he had walked past his room. Embracingly he turned around.
Ethan walked back and his room.
Dylan: "How did it go?"
Ethan: "Fine.. but she's not coming."
Dylan: "You invited her?"
Ethan: "Well Ya, obviously. The more the merrier."
Dylan: "When are we leaving?"
Ethan: "I don't know when we will return next time so we will make a trip to our house and leave tommorow night."