Searching Rex's Room [Open Starter for streetartrat]
Aiko took a deep breath as she stood in front of the archaeologist's door. She remembered doing this once before another time when she was upset. Unfortunately, this time she knew warm arms wouldn't be welcoming her into a comforting hug. But she had made up her mind to come to this room after visiting him.
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She had visited Rex's hanging corpse in the cafeteria again after her conversation with Mai. It had been hard for her to see him still hanging there, it was so disrespectful. But she had stood in front of the boy and made a promise.
"Hey, Rex..." Her voice quivered as she looked at the boy and she had to bow her head to stop herself from bursting out in tears again.
"I'm so sorry... I couldn't... Save you... I panicked! I should've tried to help, but... I was so scared..." Tears began to form in her eyes but she shook her head and wiped them away. She looked down at her hand, she had attempted to make some coffee as an offering to the corpse.
"It might not be to your liking... but I was limited since the machine is still broken. I-I managed to find an instant coffee mix." She said as she placed the cup at his feet and stood back to face him again. His face was blue, his skin was pale, and Aiko wondered what caused her to do this. She swallowed the lump in her throat and continued talking to the boy.
"I... I hope you don't mind, but... I'm going to search your room. I... I want to keep Mini Rex. I'll keep him safe and warm for you. And... I'll protect your things. The scroll... Anything else I find." She felt it would've been wrong if she just searched his room without telling him. She knew it was stupid, but part of her still wished to see him twitch or move and tell her to get him down from there. She knew that wouldn't happen though. He was like her other friends now...
"I know we had made that promise... And I'm sorry it didn't come true but... I'll do my best to survive and get out of here! I won't let the world forget you!" She held her hands in fists as she looked up at the boy briefly before looking back down at her feet and gritting her teeth. "I won't let the world forget the others too... That bear... This means war, Rex." She could feel herself become angrier as she thought about the bear laughing and saying he deserved it.
"Love and War. That will be my game. And this will be the last promise I make... I will make it out of here... for you. B-But..." Aiko looked up with angry hot tears in her eyes again as she stepped towards the corpse, reaching out towards it but withdrawing her hand quickly. She knew she wouldn't be able to control herself if she felt his cold stiff skin. "I need your spirit Rex... I kn-know you'll be with me... To give me strength..." Her voice grew soft as she looked at the boy for the last time and turned around to head towards the cafeteria doors.
"I... Love You." She said finally, knowing it would be the last time she'd ever utter those words to anyone romantically. She pulled the key she had taken from his pocket the other day and looked at it in her hands. Taking a deep breath, she quoted Rex and shouted, "TO ADVENTURE!" as she quickly hurried out of the cafeteria and went to his room. She had to preserve his things. She had to preserve his memory.
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Taking out the key to his room she unlocked the door and entered. She quickly turned on the lights and saw the stuffed animal on the bed. Leaving the door opened a crack, she quickly rushed to it. She picked it up and hugged it, acting similar to Rex did when he saw the plush dinosaur. His scent overwhelmed her as she fell onto his bed hugging the toy. Opening her eyes she noticed the painting on the wall. Seeing the image of the two of them she lost all of the strength she had before and broke down crying, hugging the stuff toy and curling into a ball on the bed. "Rex..."
