The brief moment in which his attacker was illuminated was enough for the Once-ler's eyes to widen in surprise. He had not expected the shadow creature to resemble the spiky-haired boy he'd spoken with right before dinner. Before he could react further, however, it fled into the darkness, the Once-ler staring after it.

His hand was shaking slightly. Now that the threat was gone, the fear from the moment was catching up to him. Taking a few slow breaths, the Once-ler struggled to compose himself. "Good thing I explained flashlights, huh," he replied as nonchalantly as possible, but the quiver in his voice and the nervous laugh that followed betrayed him.

The man straightened up, wincing as his back injury flared in protest. "Although, compared to what happened last night, I think I got off easy." He tried craning his head around to get a glimpse of the cut, but found it to be a fruitless endeavor. "It doesn't feel too bad. I can still move, it just hurts."

The Once-ler's eyes were still locked on the darkness that the Sora-like shadow had escaped to. He'd only met Sora twice, and the first time had been hectic, but the resemblance had been uncanny. One didn't forget a kid with hair that spiky.

Breaking his stare down the hall, the Once-ler glanced at his roommate. "That thing," he started, his voice a bit softer. "Was... was that Sora?"