[ The maneuvering through the mall was done in a haze, familiar to the haze he was in when he had exited the mall. Luckily, for Noct, Ignis was the one leading him rather than some unknown beckoning from some malevolent source. It had to be, Noct concluded, what else would bring people outside other than a trap? A false sense of security only to have it rip someone in half before your very eyes and taunt you with it?

No, stop thinking about that. Yet, that was a joke. How could he ever not think about it? This whole situation was a living nightmare. He’s had those kinds of dreams before where he was just a small insignificant child facing against behemoths. He had nothing between him and them to protect himself. He had no fighting chance. “Survive..” he could endure that concept but there was nothing here he had to survive with.

Save for Iggy.

Noct focused his eyes on his friend and stared at him as if the other was his lifeline; perhaps he was all that kept him tethered in reality (and that word is used lightly) and not off in the darkest recesses of his mind. He exhaled and the request was played over and over in his mind before he found himself responding. ]

I just.. woke up … and I walked out here, with all of them.. it was like… it was like I was made to just go out those doors.