Jin woke up with a sudden gasp, in ice cold water that soaked them through to the bone. It hurt like hell and they’d probably pay for it later. But aside from that, the rest of their pain was gone. Weird. They wondered what happened as they went down the river with Spindle and all of the others.

Soon they came up to a very fancy looking hotel building, the kind that didn’t allow people like them anywhere near. “Well, that was a long and strange journey.” Sneezing once, they climbed out and stayed quiet, looking around for more enemies. Already they were paranoid. They padded toward the snack bar, and quickly picked out several muffins. Coffee always made them jittery, so they managed to find a half-chilled bottle of water. Then they devoured it all, barely stopping to breathe. Who knew mortal danger could make one so hungry?

As soon as there was a break in Spinde’s lengthy and strange explanation, they raised their hand. “I- I don’t think I’m the type of person who saves the world, y’know? If I want out – for real – is there a way out, or will I have to fight my way with the rest of you all?” They looked weighted down and depressed. That thing, in the jail from before. It had their eyes, their bearing. But a hatred that bore down bone deep in a way Jin was deeply uncomfortable with.

“Um. I’m Jin, by the way.”