"Are you down for not sleeping at all tonight?"

"Definitely."

While the boys were gone, you and Lithy had unanimously agreed not to sleep, because the dark was terrifying and by this time, you were too tired to sleep. So, after taking a few minutes to remain calm, you both stayed up and memed as you waited for Thom and Henry to return.

"What's the rarest pepe you've ever seen?" You asked them.

"Hmmm..." They thought for a moment. "You."

You made a weird sound in gibberish, which they reciprocated.

"We should probably set up our sleeping bags," you suggested.

"True," they agreed. "I wish they made sleeping bags big enough for two people."

"I think they do, actually," you said. "I wouldn't expect to see them anywhere near here, though, because of the city."

"Mm." They nodded, cuddling you closer. It felt nice to be held, even if they were shorter than you. Height difference didn't make cuddling any less enjoyable. And besides, they were like a big, warm teddy bear. After all, what better way for friends to protect each other from the dark?

You were content to never move again, but of course, the boys returned with someone new.

"Security tapes've been modified," Thom announced quietly. He seemed careful not to flash his light in your eyes. "We never came in here."

"And neither did CG here," Henry added. "We found him hiding out. We think he's a demigod."

Everyone decided unanimously to figure things out in the morning, but you also agreed on taking CG along for the quest.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Wasn't it just your luck that the first museum employee to unlock the doors in the morning was a monster? You'd checked your phone periodically so that you and Lithy knew when to wake everyone else up, but exhaustion had eventually caught the both of you, and it was seven thirty and the sun was barely up and a janitor walked in--a janitor who happened to be a goddamn manticore.

With Lithy beside you, you took out your bow and shot an arrow into the monster's neck. Unfortunately you had somehow missed any sort of weak spot, but Thom was already stabbing its legs in an attempt to immobilize it, and Henry was trying to slice off its tail.

"How do we kill it?" You muttered to Lithy, who was trying to bash its head in wih their ball and chain.

"No clue," they grunted, swinging and missing.

"What about--," you cut yourself off by shooting another arrow, "--what about the usual ways you'd kill something?"

"Crushing its skull isn't working--shoot its eyeball."

Not questioning them, you aimed for its eye and shot. The arrow soared through the air and hit. For a moment, the beast reared, but then it took a moment to paw at the weapon. Lithy and Thom took this opportunity to smash and stab its head, finally killing it. After a moment, it disintigrated.

Chests heaving, you all took a moment to rest.

"Damn," Thom huffed, "that was one hell of a wakeup call."

"Yeah, well, it means we have to leave," Lithy decided, "now."

"What was that thing?" CG demanded, terrified, and all heads turned to look at him.

Henry just replied, "I'll tell you about it later. Everyone grab your stuff. Let's get out of here."