Meryn's smile was small and unsteady as Lily spoke soothing nonsense to her. Reaching up, she grabbed the offered cloth and pressed it to the side that'd started bleeding again. She eventually bent to pick up her bag, though she left her jacket untouched on the ground. Her nametag was still pinned to her undershirt.

A hand was suddenly curled around her skinny wrist in an iron grip, and Meryn jumped to attention. Spook's face was bare, crystals on display to the world as grey eyes found green. The weight of his stare stopped the breath in her throat. A mask was pushed into her hand. His mask. Meryn's eyes widened as realization dawned on her, and her gaze darted from the mask back to Spook. But then he broke contact, releasing her, and the moment was gone. But not the new weight in her hand, or in her throat.

She watched as Spook moved on to the other two, giving each their own parting gifts. It became difficult to swallow. Her eyes began to sting. Her head started to shake in denial, lips parting. More voices were coming from the robot, doling out clipped instructions, but Meryn wasn't listening. She was watching their guide push himself to his feet and turn to face the forest, as though he alone could keep the nightmares at bay. As though he could survive them.

Maybe he could.

Clinging to that small, frightened hope, Meryn watched Lily and Emma both tear themselves away, following after the robot towards the town. Meryn looked down at the mask she'd taken as his identity, eyebrows furrowed together. He was trusting her with his mask. Maybe she could trust him with this. Meryn bit her lip, and turned to look at him one last time, his figure small but solid against the shuddering tree line. 

Meryn forced herself to look away and dashed to catch up with her two remaining companions.