Adventure of Aries 1

Aries eases the front door open and slips back into the quiet house. The reinforced spear stays in his hands, its paired blades catching the dim light.

The gathered supplies remain organized beside the open crawlspace hatch: water, batteries, medical items, tools, and food arranged in small, reachable groups.

Outside, the neighboring house gives a muffled crash. Silence follows, thick enough that the refrigerator's dead stillness and Aries's breathing seem suddenly loud.

Dust hangs undisturbed in the hallway. No one has entered while Aries was gone, and no movement appears beyond the drawn curtains or the dark bedroom doors.

The open hatch waits at his feet, revealing the cramped crawlspace and packed earth below. The damaged rug remains trapped beneath the wardrobe.

For the moment, Aries is alone inside the shelter, with the street behind him and the neighboring house silent again.

Aries retrieves the disinfectant and pain reliever from the organized supplies, keeping the first-aid kit open beside the hatch.

He unwraps the gauze from his knee and applies disinfectant over the scrape. The sharp sting fades as the cleaned skin dries.

Aries takes the recommended dose of pain reliever with a swallow from one sealed water bottle, then caps both containers and stores them within reach.

He places fresh gauze over the disinfected scrape and secures it firmly. The knee remains tender, but its movement is steadier and the sting is reduced.

The refrigerator stays silent. Beyond the drawn curtains, the neighboring house offers no new crash or dragging sound, leaving the shelter quiet around him.

Aries gathers the water, medical supplies, tools, food, batteries, and remaining household items from beside the hatch, then stores everything in his invisible inventory.

He searches the kitchen and bedrooms methodically, opening cupboards, closets, and drawers for rigid surfaces, padding, straps, and anything that can cover his limbs.

A cabinet door tears loose with a sharp crack. Aries finds a sturdy metal baking sheet, a thick winter coat, two couch cushions, and several lengths of clothing.

He fastens the baking sheet over the cabinet door with clothing strips, then wraps the handle area for a firmer grip. The result is broad, light, and usable.

Aries layers the winter coat beneath the couch cushions, securing padding around his chest, shoulders, and forearms with more torn fabric. The makeshift armor restricts movement but protects the vulnerable areas.

The construction succeeds, but the cabinet crash has carried through the house and into the street. Dust settles as Aries stands equipped beside the open hatch, listening.

Aries lowers the shield and padded armor onto the floor, catching each piece before it can knock against the boards. The cabinet fragments go into the crawlspace.

He folds the torn clothing around the loose tools, secures the baking sheet against the wall, and drags the cushions onto the rug to soften every remaining contact point.

The open hatch receives the broken cabinet door and scattered hardware. Aries replaces the organized supplies inside his invisible inventory, leaving only the first-aid kit and water within reach.

He closes the hatch carefully, then presses the trapped rug flat as far as the wardrobe allows. The hallway settles into darkness, with no fresh creak from the floor.

Aries moves behind the drawn curtains and listens. Outside, the neighboring house gives no impact or scrape; only a faint wind shifts weeds along the empty street.