4338.206 · July 25, 2018 AD
You've Sentenced Us to Death
A frantic delivery—tents from a truck stolen while the driver uses the toilet—brings an unexpected arrival through the Portal. Henri. Jamie's joy is pure and immediate, the first uncomplicated happiness since imprisonment began. Then Luke steps through carrying Duke, and joy curdles into fury. The confrontation turns physical. Luke's shove lands directly on the wound Jamie's been hiding. What ruptures can't be unseen.
Some truths fester until they rupture.
The tent delivery is chaos—minutes to unload before the driver returns from the toilet, boxes thrown into dust without care. Jamie tries the Portal again; Clivilius responds with a threat colder than any before: Do not tempt me, or I will rescind the offer of new life. Paul finally sees the burn, the comfort of his embrace a brief anchor in the storm.
Then barking. Henri's barking, unmistakable, impossible, here. Jamie scoops up his dog with joy so pure it hurts—the first uncomplicated feeling since this nightmare began. But Luke steps through the Portal carrying Duke, and joy becomes something else entirely. Fury that their dogs have been condemned to the same exile. That Luke made this choice without asking.
Jamie shoves Luke. Luke shoves back—hands connecting directly with the wound between Jamie's pecs. The burn ruptures. Blood and pus seep through fabric that can no longer hide what's been festering beneath.
Two perspectives. One moment of horror. Luke seeing what his actions have revealed. Jamie delivering a verdict that hangs between them like a blade: You've sentenced us to death, Luke. Welcome to the fucking nightmare.
