GTS syndrome Vol 2 Ch 14: A Reckless Advance, Shine Brightly Red Eyes Of Madness!

The heat was unreal. Like being roasted alive inside an oven made of sunlight. I had my back pressed against the side of Penelope's neck, hiding under the curtain of her thick brown hair like it was my personal tarp. My shirt was already soaked through, my legs stuck to each other, and I swear my lips were starting to taste like dried salt.

Meanwhile, Penelope? Just casually stomping across the desert like we weren't two steps away from becoming beef jerky. Not a single complaint, not even a wince. Just that  focused look on her face, jaw tight, her massive strides eating up the golden dunes beneath us.

I peeked around the curtain of her hair. Sand stretched on forever in every direction. Glittering, endless, evil sand.

"How much longer do we gotta keep marching through this sparkling wasteland?" I asked, way more sarcasm than I had energy for.

She chuckled, her voice soft enough that it didn't rattle my ribs this time. "Just one more day in this direction and we should see the city gates. You're lucky. We made good time."

"Lucky," I muttered. "Right."

My head lolled against her warm skin again. Her heartbeat was steady beneath me, strong like a distant drum. Even with the dry air and relentless sun, it was weirdly comforting to be so close to her. Weirdly... safe.

Still, the heat was killing me.

"Why do they even call this place an oasis?" I grumbled. "It's a sauna made out of glitter. There's no water, no trees, just rocks and regret."

That made her giggle again, which helped. A little.

"The desert has many treasures," she said, voice bright like she was telling a bedtime story. "Minerals buried deep in the ground—some with effects that can boost your strength or heal your wounds. Real oases too. Some say the waters here have magical properties. You just have to know where to look."

"Yeah? Well right now I'm looking for shade and a tall glass of cold disappointment," I muttered, melting further against her neck.

She smiled. "It'll get colder once the sun goes down. You might even start missing the heat."

I scoffed, already imagining my tongue shriveling up and falling out of my mouth. But I didn't complain—too much, anyway. After all, I wasn't the one hauling someone else across a blazing desert the size of a continent.

Hours passed. The sun finally started dipping low in the sky, and just like she said, the heat faded. A little too fast, honestly.

"Ugh," I shivered, hugging my arms tight against my chest. "Okay, now I'm cold."

Penelope giggled softly, the sound carried by the cooling wind. "You were just complaining about the heat."

"Yeah, well, consistency was never my strong suit," I said through chattering teeth. "Let me live."

We shared a laugh, and for a moment I forgot about how miserable I felt. But then, I caught something—just a single bead of sweat, slowly trailing down her neck.

Wait... what?

She hadn't been sweating all day. Not one drop, not even during the hottest part of the afternoon. And now, when the sun was setting and the air was actually getting cold, she was sweating?

My stomach sank.

I leaned up and tapped her neck. "Penelope..."

"I'm fine," she said before I could even finish.

Yeah. That was definitely a lie.

She didn't say another word after that. Just kept walking.

But I started noticing more things. Her breathing—faster, more labored. Her steps started to lose that solid rhythm. Sometimes her body would tremble, like her knees were buckling under her own weight. It was subtle at first, but it got worse.

Then everything jerked.

"Penelope?!" I yelped, grabbing fistfuls of hair as her whole body lurched. She hit the ground hard, knees slamming into the sand with a deep THUD that nearly shook me loose.

"Penelope! What's happening?!"

She didn't answer right away. She lowered herself down until she was lying on her side, long limbs curled slightly. Her huge eyes found me—warm brown and glossy, and filled with something I didn't like at all.

"Stay away," she mumbled, voice sleepy, trembling.

My blood went cold.

And then it started.

She moaned—loudly—like she was in pain... or something else. My face lit up bright red as the sounds got faster, heavier. Her fingers dug into the sand, her toes curled into the earth, and all I could do was stand there like an idiot, face hot and heart pounding.

"Okay, uh... I'm just gonna... look over here now," I muttered, turning around and trying not to combust.

And then—

Silence.

The world held its breath.

The ground began to rumble again as Penelope rose. Sand poured off her arms and legs like falling water. Her massive frame loomed over me, casting a shadow that swallowed me whole.

I looked up at her... and felt my stomach flip.

"Penelope...?"

Her eyes locked onto mine.

They weren't brown anymore.

They were glowing red.

"...Uh oh."