Michael sighed in relief, finally tasting something good after everything he'd endured in the dungeon. The cold soda fizzed pleasantly in his mouth, washing away a bit of the lingering stress and grit. For a brief moment, the world outside faded away no tutors, no monsters, just a quiet hallway and the sweet reward of survival. He let his shoulders relax, savoring every sip and the comfort of simple food after so much chaos.
But his peace didn't last. A voice cut through the silence, sudden and unexpected.
"Hey, are you going to eat that?"
Startled, Michael snapped his head up and scanned the empty space around him. That's when he spotted her_a girl sitting at the far end of the bench, almost hidden in shadow. He was certain she hadn't been there a moment ago, but now she was hard to miss. Her gaze was locked onto the packet of chocolate chips in his hands with an intensity that bordered on desperate. Wisps of tousled hair fell loosely across her face, and though there was a fragile kind of beauty to her features, the look in her eyes was pure hunger. She seemed to be fighting the urge to leap across the bench for a taste, and as the seconds ticked by, Michael saw her lips part, almost drooling in anticipation.
Noticing her focus, Michael self-consciously shifted the snack away from her line of sight.
"Are… you talking to me?" he asked, glancing around as if hoping somebody else would answer. The hallway was as empty as before.
The girl only nodded, not taking her eyes off the chips. Before he had a chance to process what was happening, she darted forward and snatched the bag from his hand with surprising speed. Without a word, she tore it open and began wolfing down the sweets, stuffing mouthful after mouthful with single-minded determination. Michael opened his mouth to protest, but the sight stopped him cold; there was something almost pitiful about her, as if she hadn't eaten in days.
He watched, torn between annoyance and concern. Her chewing was frantic, crumbs falling onto her lap, and for a moment Michael thought she might actually choke from eating too quickly.
"Hey, are you okay?" he asked nervously, "Do you need something to drink? Slow down, you're going to choke!"
His words seemed to pass right through her, the only response the rustle of the plastic packet in her hands. She never even glanced his way; nothing existed in that moment except for the food she'd stolen.
Realizing how hungry she must truly be, Michael let out a sigh. He still had some change left. Without much thought, he stood up and walked back down the hallway to the nearest vending machine. He bought two cans of soda, a new bag of chips, and another pack of chocolate. Balancing the cold drinks and snacks in his arms, he returned to the bench.
The girl was still there, peering hopefully into the empty bag, fingers combing the inside for stray morsels. Michael couldn't help but smile at the sight.
He took a seat beside her, gently nudging a can of soda and a fresh snack toward her. The girl glanced up, suspicion flickering in her eyes as she looked him over. Michael felt a flash of confusion,had he done something wrong?
"Are you alright? You seemed really hungry," he offered, voice softening as he pushed the snacks closer.
For a moment, all she did was stare at him, unreadable and wary. Then, finally, her eyes darted from his face to the food. Slowly, cautiously, she reached for the soda and cracked it open, taking a long drink before glancing at him again but this time, with a faint hint of gratitude.
Michael grinned. "There's plenty, so help yourself. Don't worry, I don't bite."
A smile twitched at her lips brief, but genuine. As she started in on the new bag, the awkward silence grew a bit warmer, and Michael realized he didn't mind the company after all.
" So tell me, why are you this hungry?" Michael didn't know her and so he shouldn't be asking this question but he just had to
" My powers" she answered but due to her munching sound Michael couldn't hear her very well.
" Did you say your powers?" Michael asked her. She nodded and then went on to earn" when ever I over use my power it drains a lot of my energy making me hungry" she said.
The girl was quite friendly telling him about her powers " And what exactly is your power ?" Michael asked.
" I can absorb and erase anything " she said while she continued to eat.
Michael was shocked as her ability sounded very scary, Michael knew there were different class and abilities out there and some of them were just broken but he had to say her power sounds even more dangerous and Michael wouldn't want to fight with that kind of ability that could absorb or erase your attack.
" Your ability sounds very powerful" Michael said. The girl nodded and then said " she it is except for the hungry part, ooh am vesper by the way " she introduced herself after she was finally done with her snake.
" Am Michael, nice to meet you " Michael said
Absolutely, here's a completion for the chapter:
Vesper licked the last trace of chocolate from her fingers, a satisfied gleam finally returning to her eyes. She tossed the empty packet aside, stretching her arms over her head with a sigh.
"You've no idea how good that tasted," she murmured. "I really owe you one, Michael."
Michael chuckled, feeling a bit more at ease now that the tension had dissolved. "No worries. I figure anyone who survives this place deserves a treat."
Vesper tilted her head, her gaze studying him curiously for the first time instead of the food. "So, what about you?" she asked. "What's your power? Or are you just… normal?"
He hesitated, uncertain how much he wanted to give away. "Mine's not nearly as dramatic as yours," he admitted with a sheepish laugh. "I can, um, control lighting and shadows ."
Her eyes lit up with interest. "Hey, that's pretty cool! Bet you've picked up a few things down here, right?"
Michael nodded, remembering desperate moments and lucky escapes. "Enough to stay alive, I guess. Been down here not long enough?"
Vesper leaned back, hands behind her head. "Too long. Lost count. The world outside feels like a dream at this point." There was a wistful note in her voice, soft and distant.
For a while, they sat together in companionable silence, soda cans sweating between their hands. For the first time since entering the dungeon, Michael felt less alone, sharing this moment and his snacks with someone who understood the struggle.
"Thanks again, Michael," Vesper finally said, voice quiet but sincere. "If you ever need backup or a snack-stealing partner, you know where to find me." She flashed him a lopsided grin.
He smiled, feeling a rare warmth bloom in his chest. "Anytime." she then got up and left.
" I better start my with the dungeon and strategy assignment" Michael sighed " I better get a good ranking for this".