For once, Soma was grateful her emotions didn't tend to show on her face. She managed not to look dubious as she nodded. If she were perfectly honest with herself, the Once-ler was probably safer running full tilt back to his room than going inside with her.

"If you want to come with me, you should probably take this," she said, pulling the katana free from a bedsheet loop and offering it to him hilt first. "It isn't a wood axe, but it's better than nothing. It belonged to one of my friends, so don't lose it."

And then all that was left to do was pull her handgun free from her belt, switch off the safety, and head inside.