@theyoungergrimm
It was cold.
Even through the artificial heating of the GRF, winter seemed to seep in through the walls. As always, Greta found some solace in her work, and in the bodies that Erasmus had been able to provide for her. She had taken some lengths to avoid her brother, not that that was at all uncommon, but ever since Christmas, Greta had kept a mindful distance between herself and her brother. Not to say she hadn’t been keeping an eye on Hans, he was her brother after all and he had a penchant for getting himself in difficult situations. Something they apparently had in common.
It was late.
Sleep had been difficult for her lately, as hard as she worked, Greta’s mind couldn’t stop firing. It had been weeks since she’d had a decent night’s rest, often she awoke with her head on her desk, or curled up under the sterile bright lights of her lab. Her chambers were too isolated, too cold, too… Unsafe. Here in her lab she was securely underground behind secured doors and surrounded by what could be considered no less than a shrine to her own brilliance.
She was afraid.
On some level, in a way that Greta couldn’t say out loud or even admit to herself. Arain had rattled her, the Krampus had taken her life, and by the grace of her own ingenuity – Greta yet lived, even if it was in fear. She’d resigned herself to stay within the walls of the facility, yet even in the place that had made her feel secure, Greta had been made vulnerable. Literally pulled from her bed by magick, Greta had been placed in some magical construct that had nearly killed her – more than once.
Nevertheless, she persisted.
Greta looked up at her creation, brushing the side of its face almost lovingly before Kharon informed her that Hans was roaming the halls again. She left her lab, taking a private elevator up to her office before she moved to sit at her desk, the wall of monitors that acted as a concealed doorway closed neatly behind her. From here, she watched her brother as his sleepwalking pulled him through the facility. He’d been doing this for some time now, disappearing on more than one occasion – Greta had considered putting a lock on his door, but somehow, she doubted Hans would agree. Besides, that would mean they’d have to have a conversation about this.
She watched his dark figure move in and out of frames, felt her own breathing hitch when he wandered to the courtyard. Greta felt frozen, not from the cold, not from personal fear, but for concern for Hans’ safety. After a moment, Greta was up and headed to ground level while she tightly pulled her jacket around herself. Greta was outside before she really had time to take a moment, but it was just that, because in the distance Hans was already moving through the gates and Greta was chasing after him, calling his name.