After leaving Jericho and Shehk, Malodore returned to the undead dormitories, to the room it had claimed for itself. It leaned heavily against the door as it closed itself in. The thought of going back to its own chamber still made its stomach twist into an unpleasant knot. It would have to eventually, of course, but... not yet. Not yet. It could hide away a little longer.

After a moment, it realized that the dust all over the floor was gone. Someone - maybe a gnome, maybe the janitor - had noticed that it had moved in to this room. A small assortment of furniture had been left in the corner - all temporary items, clearly meant to encourage it to move on as soon as it could. There was a folding cot, a folding chair, and a small folding table.

It would do.

With a sigh, Malodore set up the folding cot, sitting down on it and burying its face in its hands. The cot shook a bit as Luce jumped up onto it, leaning heavily against her master with a soft whine. "Mi dispiace," it whispered, lowering one arm to scratch behind her ears. "You don't understand, do you? I've changed your whole life, and you don't know why... but I don't know why either. We are alike, you and I. Changed by circumstances beyond our..."

It trailed off. Had this all truly been beyond its control? No, no - there had to have been something it could have done, some way in which it had failed. Some path it could have taken that would not have ended this way. It felt the guilt within it, a cold and heavy burden that ached like a fresh wound. "You are innocent, at least," it said, pulling Luce into its lap and wrapping its arms around the pup. She was so big now, not really a puppy any longer. Its sweet Luce...

... it would have to go back to Riley's room, wouldn't it? Her own puppy was probably still there, and all her things. It would not leave that task to another. The idea of gnomes cleaning out her room made its flesh crawl-

-and, quite suddenly, something in its sleeve beeped. Malodore jumped, then let Luce free. A bit of rummaging revealed its eyePhone, flashing a low battery warning on its screen. It had entirely forgotten about the device. A few taps revealed its text-messaging inbox...

Quote:
From: Riley Fri 4Oct 06
From: Riley Fri 4Oct 06
From: Riley Fri 4Oct 06
From: Riley Fri 4Oct 06
From: Riley Fri 4Oct 06
From: Riley Fri 4Oct 06


It stared at them, its grip on the phone tightening until the plastic case creaked; it relented then, afraid to do damage to the little device. Almost against its will, it selected the most recent message. The last one she had ever sent to it. They didn't text much, only when they were apart for an extended period, but...

Quote:
From: Riley Frightday, 6th Day of 4th October, 5:32pm
Buona fortuna, mia cara. I love you, so much.


The plague doctor slumped forward, shaking suddenly; the movement was too much for the folding cot, and it was dumped unceremoniously to the floor. Not that it cared. It clutched the phone to its chest, wishing it were her instead of a jumble of useless parts, this pathetic little thing that nevertheless had a bit of its tresorina inside of it.

Slowly, it pulled the phone away, tucking the device into its palm. It touched the screen, then began to tap slowly and methodically.

Quote:
To: Riley Frightday, 4th Day of 5th October
I miss you. Come back home, per favore?


Its thumb hovered over the send button before it pressed it in one convulsive movement. The phone beeped, and it stared at the screen as the familiar Sending... animation played.

-> Sent

-> Reply

Quote:
To: Riley Frightday, 4th Day of 5th October
I don't know why I'm doing this. But I miss you so much. I love you so much. I always will.


Sending...

-> Sent

-> Reply

Quote:
To: Riley Frightday, 4th Day of 5th October
I swear to you, I will find you and bring you home. I'll keep Jericho safe. I won't let them take him.


Sending...

-> Sent

-> Reply

Quote:
To: Riley Frightday, 4th Day of 5th October
I miss everything about you, mia cara. I miss your embrace. I miss the way you kiss me. I miss the way your skin feels. I miss your mind. I miss your voice. I miss every curve of you. I need you, please come home, please. I'm waiting for you.


Sending...

-> Sent

-> Reply

Quote:
To: Riley Frightday, 4th Day of 5th October
There will be cake. Per favore?


Sending...

-> Sent

!! Battery critically low !!

Shutting down...

The phone buzzed in its hand, then shut itself off, the screen going dim. Malodore stared at it through lenses blurred with tears. Its grip slackened, and the phone slipped free and fell the short distance to the floor. Luce whined. "Lo so, lo so. E 'stato stupido," the plague doctor moaned, scooping up the cwn pup again and burying its face in her fur. She twisted about to try and lick at its beak. "I don't know what I am doing either, piccolo..."

It was so tired. So tired. It let gravity take over, tilting to one side until it was laying curled on the floor again, Luce nestled against it. Perhaps it was insane after all, despite everything. After all, it was talking to itself. Sleeping on the floor instead of in a bed.

Texting a dead-

It ground its beak together, cutting off the thought, but not before its stomach twisted again. It shuddered, curled up a little tighter, and closed its eyes. It had to... sleep, yes. Surely sleep would help. It sighed, scratching weakly at Luce's ears before one hand snaked out and grabbed the phone, tucking the device up close to its silent heart.

It would have to charge it later.

Just in case.