How did a person ever learn to deal with the very real and very frightening experience of having a true life horror happen before their eyes? Was there even a way to deal with it? Or did everyone react like Ritsuka was reacting? As Sechs' transformation progressed, Ritsuka could only stand, staring, shell-shocked. Pieces of him were literally falling off, hitting the ground with sounds that made Ritsuka think he'd never want to eat again. He was calling for help, but the sight of once living flesh curling back into rot and decay before his eyes was too frightening. Ritsuka couldn't move. He couldn't do anything but try to scream, his throat closing off so only choked sounds of fear came through.

Move. Move! You need to move!

It wasn't until the stacks of boxes came cascading down, crumbling towers bouncing here and there that Ritsuka snapped out of his trance. Whatever was happening to Sechs, it was painful and he had to help! Even if... Even if he knew this disease. He'd seen it in town. He'd seen in when...

One step forward, then another, fingers gripping the backpack so hard his knuckles were turning white. "...Sechs...?" He'd been screaming and now he was silent, rigid, barely breathing. Had he...died? Was he dying? "...Sechs? What..." What is going on? he wanted to say, but nothing more came out. His throat felt dry and thick and he took another step forward, reaching down with a trembling hand to try and push some of the boxes off his friend. "...Sechs?"