(Viewpoint: Chetan)
The water is still lapping against my shoulders when I come out.
Cold.
Too cold.
It clings to my skin and seeps into my clothes. I back away, swimming towards the shore, breathing harder than I'd like. My eyes burn. My throat, too.
– …tss…
I spit on the sand.
Behind me, Eugène is still hesitating at the edge. He doesn't take his eyes off me, as if he's waiting for an answer I won't give.
I took a deep breath.
I fix the horizon.
Nothing .
Calm.
Then-
A shape.
A movement beneath the surface.
Fast.
Net.
I squint.
And he leaves.
Roum .
He emerges silently, as calmly as if he had never left this place. The water glides over him. His black arm contrasts with the blue, unreal.
And in his hand
Something.
Things are still moving.
I frown to see better.
He moves towards the shore, not towards us, never towards us.
He maintains that distance. Always the same.
Like an invisible rule.
He stops, a few meters away, then lowers his eyes towards what he is holding.
A… body.
Elongate.
Smooth.
Silver.
It's still trembling faintly.
– …what is this…
Eugene whispers behind me.
I'm not answering.
I'm watching.
Roum doesn't think.
A murder.
Direct.
Without hesitation.
The sound is sharp.
Humid.
The flesh gives way.
A clear stream runs down her fingers.
Eugene takes a step back.
– …no… is it edible? …
I'm not moving, it makes me want to a little.
I'm watching.
Rome is moving.
Slowly.
Expressionless.
As if it were normal.
As if it were delicious.
As if… I want to try it too
A second one.
Two.
Then he takes another bite.
Still without looking at us.
Still far away.
The wind passes lightly between us.
Eugene turns my head towards him
– …we don't eat that.
His voice is dry.
Sharp.
I don't protest, but I watch again.
Then he turns his head away.
- …Yeah…
Silence.
I run a hand through my damp hair.
– We'll look for something else.
And walk far from temptation.
Without turning around.
Eugene is following me.
The sand gradually disappears beneath our feet. The vegetation returns. Dense. Thick. Green.
I slow down slightly.
My eyes scan the ground.
The stems.
The leaves.
I recognize some of the shapes.
Not exactly.
But enough.
- …That…
I crouch down.
A low-growing plant. Broad leaves. Visible veins.
I pinch one end.
Observe the sap.
Claire.
I think it's edible.
I sniffle.
– …possible.
Eugene approaches.
– Are you sure?
I shrug.
– I don't know anymore.
Silence.
He sighs.
– super.
I cut off a small part.
The guard.
– It's a test.
I get up and continue, for a long, long time.
But nothing.
Nothing is certain.
Nothing clean.
Nothing is simple.
Just some unknown plants.
Shapes that resemble each other without being identical.
I grit my teeth.
– …it's pointless.
Eugene nods.
- Yeah…
We'll be back.
Without speaking.
The sound of the waterfall returns before the view.
Stable.
Almost reassuring.
Then the white of the sand reappears.
And him.
Still here.
Had he followed us?
Roum .
Sitting this time.
A little further on.
The body he was holding was now nothing but a carcass.
Nothing .
Abandoned.
He doesn't move.
He's right here.
I'm stopping.
A second one.
Then, I could look for some too.
But carry on, as if nothing had happened.
I sit down slowly on the sand.
My legs are protesting.
My shoulders too.
I remove some of my equipment.
He drops it beside him.
Eugene does the same.
Without a word.
The sand is hot.
I slip my feet in.
Slowly.
It burns a little.
Then it calms down.
I breathe.
For a long time.
– …we can't make a fire.
Eugene lets out a tired little laugh.
– Are we serious here…?
I'm not answering.
Because yes.
We're serious.
I look at my hands.
Environmental.
– …we'll manage.
Silence.
The sun is rising.
The heat is settling in.
Gentle, very pleasant
I don't know how long it's been...but my body is relaxing.
A little.
Just a little.
I lie down.
On the side.
The sand supports my shoulder.
I stare at the sky.
Blue.
And I lay my head on him
– …
Eugene is next to him.
I'm not alone, that's already better
My eyes are sliding.
Against my will.
I struggle for a second.
Two.
– (…stay awake…)
I thought to myself
Nothing.
My body can't keep up anymore.
I'm switching.
Without warning.
My weight falls against him.
Nothing was calculated.
Just…
Too much.
Eugene doesn't move.
I believe.
I don't know.
Everything becomes blurry.
The sound of the water fades away.
The wind too.
Everything goes dark.
Finally.
Noir.
Silence.
Deep.
No dreams.
Without noise.
No mission.
Nothing.
Just… sleep.