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She could do this.

She could do this.

...Couldn't she?

Left alone in the rift, within the citadel, Sailor Eos shivered and cowered against one of the walls in the long corridor. Down the end of the corridor were the dramatic wooden doors leading into the war room, the only place she was currently familiar with in this huge expanse of building with numerous snaking corridors. She'd had a chance to wash her face and sort herself out a little, although she was still at a complete and utter loss at what to do with her hair. There was just so much of it! For the time being it was still loose, tucked neatly behind her ears as she waited.

She wasn't sure what for. For someone to tell her what to do, where to go. Naomi Watts, that was who she was now. But in order to be her new person she had to leave, and for that Zinkenite had said she'd need an...an escort? What did that even mean? The sob that had become caught in her throat escaped before she had the chance to catch it, and her shaking hands clasped each other tightly.

Pursing her lips together, Eos' sea-blue eyes searched the corridor. In any other circumstances she'd be looking for a familiar face, someone she could trust. But such things were luxuries now, her mind scrambled with few memories that weren't a blurry mess, and so right now she'd have been grateful for just about anyone. She shivered again.

Correction: Anyone friendly.

She heard the cautious footsteps before she saw him, eyes wide like a deer caught in headlights. The boy who appeared was fairly well dressed, in a strange blue-military outfit. There was a distinctive pink streak in his hair where her eyes lingered, before lowering to his face which seemed considerably less-than-impressed. Had she done something wrong? He certainly didn't look very friendly.

Any attempt made by Eos to try and look confident failed miserably, her whole body shaking in fright as he stopped, still watching her. Words left his mouth and it was rude not to respond but she couldn't help it, petrified and rooted to the spot. What should she do now? She was a traitor - that was what Zinkenite had said. Did that mean everyone hated her? What about the us he'd talked about, the family? Was this person part of that?

"I'm sorry," she finally choked out, eyes darting everywhere, a trapped rabbit desperate for a way out. "I'm lost."

Lost didn't even begin to describe it.

The snappy answer caused her to visibly shrink back against the wall, and she cowered away from his hand when offered, wide blue eyes trained on his face. Her gaze watched as he spoke, searching for any sign of ill-meaning or intent, eyes then following his hand as it made it's way through his hair. The pink streak...she liked it. It was a pretty colour. Eos' eyes returned to his face, whilst her mind conceded that what he was saying made sense on some level. The same mind that felt scrambled and exhausted, but still somehow managed to connect with the words he was saying, as if they were long-forgotten friends. Suddenly it all seemed obvious.

Coming away from the wall as he stepped forwards, she very slowly reached out a slender hand, sliding it shyly into his. Eos wasn't sure whether he was going to shake it, or lead her somewhere, or what, but the physical contact was warming and without realizing the blonde closed her hand around the boy's, squeezing it softly. She needed comforting, she needed to feel safe, and this felt like the first step on this journey. She was like a small child, clinging to her mother's hand, desperate to be shown the right direction. Her grip only tightened, though still not uncomfortably so, as he agreed to help her.

"Really?" Her voice was barely more than a whisper, eyes shining. His kind words and familiarity reassured her to the point where her shaking lessened, Eos standing up to her full height and taking a step forwards to meet with Labyrinthite. She swallowed, trying to hold in further tears - happy tears, tears of relief and gratitude. Her face had been wet enough today. "Thank you."

He still offered more, an escort and safe passage out of these dark halls. "Eos," she replied, the corners of her lips even twitching in a possible smile, "I'm Sailor Eos."

She'd thought the hand was more for reassurance and support, so the blonde gasped slightly as the boy pulled her along, apparently planning to lead her...somewhere. Catching herself, Eos pulled her feet up so she was walking properly, eventually matching Labyrinthite's pace so her hand was merely resting in his rather than being tugged by it. His promises did offer support, however, and the blonde allowed herself a tiny smile as she squeezed his hand a second time, unable to quite articulate her gratitude. Her head still felt as if it had been put through the tumble dryer.

Any comfort she felt quickly dissipated, however, as she was lead towards the entrance of the rift. At first she was merely in awe at the height and darkness of the large hallway, her gaze looking up to see if she could see the ceiling. But then it started, with a knarled youma reached out to snatch at her, Eos catching the movement out of the corner of her eye. She jumped, screaming as her eyes widened in horror and tears spontaneously sprung out, her grip on Labyrinthite's hand tightening to a near death-like grip as she dashed closer to him. Her other hand reached out to cling to his uniform, feeling slightly better once it clasped around the fabric as she quietly began to sob. "Please," she gasped, forcing out breaths between the tears, "Please don't let them get me."

His attempt at small-talk passed straight over the top of her head, her attention far too preoccupied at staying as far away from the hands as possible, and as close to Labyrinthite as possible. He'd promised he'd protect her, and in her vulnerable state she was clinging to that promise as tightly as she was clinging to his uniform.

The contact was more than welcome, and Eos clung to Labyrinthite tightly as he pulled her towards him. She fit right in, and exhaled heavily as she shuddered against his side, turning her head inwards so that she didn't have to watch the horrible hands. They were reaching out, trying to grab her. She hadn't done anything, she hadn't wanted this, she didn't understand why. What had she done to deserve this horror? She returned his squeeze with an vice-like squeeze of her own, holding it for a few moments before realizing she might be hurting him and hurriedly releasing, letting out another sob as she did.

Labyrinthite was lovely. He definitely didn't seem to hate her, like Zinkenite had said some would, and his gentle words comforted her a little, though she didn't dare lift her head. "I-I know," she whispered, lifting her head enough so he could hear but making sure she still couldn't see. She coughed, still shuddering in his grip, but feeling more comfortable now she couldn't see - but she still knew they were there. They still wanted her, and reflexively she reached out a hand to try and hold her hair in and away from them.

"Labyrinthite?" She looked up to him, blue eyes shining like an innocent child's. "Are you my officer?" It made sense - why else would he be here, why else would he be protecting her like this?

The loss of warmth was a disappointment, and she stayed huddled close to him for a few moments until he stepped away. Her eyes were wide and wild as she quickly surveyed the surrounding area, making sure there were no more of the horrible, horrible hands. "W-What were they?" she asked quietly, shaking a little as she looked to the dark-haired captain. He didn't know? Oh, if he was her officer. How could he not know? Surely it was a case of either he was or he wasn't? He seemed confused about the whole situation himself.

Did she want him to? Eos swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry as she watched him watching her. Zinkenite had said he'd find someone, and she'd assumed that Labyrinthite had been it - he'd been so friendly and helped her out and through that terrible corridor. Why had he done that if she wasn't under his care? "I...I would like that, yes." She nodded shyly, her hands finding each other and gripping themselves tightly in the absence of anything else to hold. She was afraid, afraid that she otherwise might get someone horrible. She didn't want one of those people who held a grudge against senshi, chaos-aligned or otherwise.

"If it's okay with you."

Lost souls? Eos forced herself to look back, swallowing heavily - she was lost. Did that mean...would she turn into them? She shivered and turned away, unable to look any longer. She was out of that horrible corridor now, that was all that mattered.

As soon as the confirmation left his lips there was a change in the scared, confused blonde before him. A light seemed to flicker on behind her blue eyes as a tiny gasp of delight escaped her, the first look of genuine happiness crossing her face. The pat on his head was ignored, Eos going for a full on hug, wrapping her arms around his chest and squeezing tightly. "Thank you! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!" She barely had time to draw breath, and eventually was forced to take a step back and quieten when her lungs started screaming at her to breath.

A place to stay? Eyes wide and unsure, Eos gave a slow shake of her head. "I...I only know that I'm Naomi. The G-General King said he'd help me find a new identity." She was merely quoting what she'd been told, not entirely understanding it herself. But she nodded gratefully at the offer of a room, swallowing a lump in her throat as tears threatening to fall again, but for a different reason. "Thank you, Labyrinthite. Really, I just...thank you." She didn't know what to say. Zinkenite had given her this chance, and now Labyrinthite was giving her hope.

He seemed shocked by her sudden affection, and Eos felt her cheek stain darker still as embarrassment suddenly crept over her. Oh, was she making a fool of herself? Labyrinthite didn't seem a particularly touchy-feely sort of officer, and despite the fear and uncertainty currently coursing through her system she didn't want to make him uncomfortable at all. Perhaps she should reign it in a little, try to keep better control over her emotions. Was the Negaverse as a whole like this? Eos shivered a little at the thought and pushed it from her mind.

Oh, but he was smiling! She offered her own back, shy and scared but a smile none-the-less. Flexing her fingers, wishing for a moment that she had a hand to hold or squeeze for comfort, she looked around briefly before back to the captain again. "How do we get out?" His reassurances worked, and her tensed muscles relaxed just a little as her smile grew a tiny bit wider. He was being so nice, so friendly, and Eos found herself trusting his words with ease.