Weirdly Wholesome Pick-Me

[Relax. The bloody lady probably just hasn't fully realized what's happening yet. Remember, no one has ever walked out of the elevator alive.]

"Ugh! I don't want…yours!"

The bloody lady tugged blankly at the tweed jacket I had draped over her shoulders.

She tilted her head and scraped her nails along the rusty elevator wall, screeching, "I want… my skin!"

I felt a pang of sympathy, then gently held her hand.

"Wow, your nails haven't been done in forever, have they? Lucky for you, I brought a few press-on nails from the 2025 New Year collection. Want me to put them on?"

I didn't wait for an answer. I just started pressing them on, one by one.

She stared at her newly polished nails in total disbelief.

I tried to calm her down. "Be patient, okay? Just wear my jacket for now. I can't have a gorgeous girl like you catching a cold. If you really want to find a skin to wear so badly, we can go hunt for one tomorrow."

She lifted her twisted, mangled face.

"Really?"

"Of course. I'd never lie to you." I lifted her chin and said, marveling, "By the way, that lipstick color is amazing! The second I saw it, I was hooked. You've got excellent taste."

[What the heck? The bloody lady just put away the hair she uses to twist heads off! And now, she's standing in the corner like a little girl. And… Is she blushing? Is she seriously shy right now?!]

[Good grief! Does that girl really not notice the monster's huge, bloody mouth? I have to say, she's such a pick-me, it's on a whole other level.]

The elevator climbed steadily and finally stopped on the 13th floor.

I walked out calmly while the bloody lady stayed inside.

"You're not coming? We could go explore together, bestie."

"I can only leave…when I find…my skin." Her huge, bloody mouth opened and closed slowly as she forced the words out.

I nodded. "It's really late. Don't worry. I'll help you find some skin to wear tomorrow."

She nodded like an obedient kid.

The livestream chat went dead silent.

After a while, someone finally typed, [What the heck is going on?]

[Nine people took the stairs, and four of them are already dead. And this girl rides the death elevator, babysits the freaking bloody lady, and survives?]

[Am I the only one impressed that she kept a straight face while calling a blood-soaked, skinless creature "gorgeous"?]

The 13th floor was the employee dorms.

Inside Room 1301, I found five teammates.

Counting me, six players remained in the dungeon: three men, three women.

"You're actually alive?"

A woman in a white tank top looked me up and down, clearly annoyed.

"You survived the elevator? Damn, your luck is insane. We honestly thought we'd have to drag your body out."

Hearing that, I quietly wiped a tear from my eye.

"Aww! Are you worried about me?" I asked softly.

"I wish I were as strong as you. You're all tough and solid, and I'm just this tiny, fragile thing who looks like she always needs someone to protect her…"

I sighed dramatically.

"I think I get it now! You don't wanna drag my body out because you care about me so much, and you want to keep me safe."

The woman rolled her eyes so hard that I thought they would pop out. "What are you even talking about? Who cares about protecting a pick-me like you? You're gross."

"Verda, don't say that. We all came into this horror dungeon together. That makes us partners."

A scholarly-looking guy in glasses and a dress shirt stepped forward, holding out his hand politely.

"Hi, I'm Lonnie Field. I've been through plenty of horror dungeons. I can handle cracking programs, systems, and locks. If you need help, just ask."