More intuition, Surviving through burns

The hands came down. Between them and their destination. Through shelves.

The pump of adrenaline and the rush that was dulling the pain served to put me straight into cape-thinking mode. There was a logic or a rhythm to how it went on the offense. We just hadn't figured it out. There was a good chance we wouldn't, still.

But we could try.

"Hey!" I bellowed. I banged my hand against metal shelves. "Here!"

It loomed over me, hands plunging down to support its weight.

*****

The hands came down. Three of them. I had to turn my face away.

It was like Cradle anticipated it. Or he understands how it works. He-

And I could connect some of the dots. Why Cradle was safe, why the others hadn't been attacked and why the many-handed thing had drifted our way instead.

I drew in a deep breath, the skin of my chest cracking and oozing.

"It isn't avoiding just Cradle!" I called out, with every bit of volume I could manage. "It's avoiding killing anyone that's in their own room!"

Meaning if they could get to their own rooms, they'd be safe. By leaving our boundaries, we invited attack. And here- in the room with the empty shelves and displays-

It kept hesitating. Avoiding striking home. Waiting.

Snag's influence at work. Maybe he was here, in a fashion. There was some other logic at work too, maybe a desire to emulate Cradle and maim or corner us to torment us as much as possible. But for right now, this knowledge of the safe spaces was all we needed.

"Get closer to Cradle!" I called out, my voice straining around attempted coughs. "Try to kick him out of his room!"

- From Within 16.10