Date: September 11
Place: Nagoya, Japan
[Shin]
"Close your eyes and cover your ears," her next words were heard loud and clear. I could feel the two loosening their grip on me as I saw them following her instructions in my peripheral vision.
In those moments, my head produced too many possibilities that it could go wrong.
I doubted her despite her actions, where she didn't hesitate to save us many times. Who is to say that she'd do the same in this crisis? We were clearly surrounded.
She could just be using us as bait so she could go through here easily.
She might've already given up too and—
"Shin! Trust me!" Her shout echoed in the whole area, my mind stopped along with everything around me as I slowly lifted my arms to cover my ears and followed by my eyes that started to shut.
The place started to dim before I could fully close my eyes. And not a second later, the whole place started to rumble.
The ground was shaking, too many sounds to tell what was what, and liquids splattering on us and everywhere.
I found myself slowly kicking my feet to move behind after I felt a little push and shoving until my back hit the other two who were shivering and crying as loudly as the groans and shrieks of the monsters.
I let go of my ears and wrapped them around Akira and Mei as my mind was trying to picture the ongoing fight based on the things I heard. Bodies are being slammed on the stands inside this shop, the clashing of metals and objects, while numerous growls start to thin down.
And just a few more minutes, only our cries were being heard along with a high-pitched panting.
My heart raced, anxious about the outcome as I clenched their shoulders tighter.
Please— her against all of those, she couldn't have—
I hoped for our safety and hers, grasping for air as my chest began to tighten.
Then a hand landed on my shoulder. "Are you guys alright?" My eyes fluttered open as my neck ached from turning around too fast.
My eyes flinched at the sudden bright light as my voice betrayed me when I saw her smiling widely despite her exhaustion and sweat that looked green due to it mixing with the monster's blood.
The two started to sprint and shower her with their tears and hugs. "Sister Rei," they repeated over and over as their snot made her dirtier.
"Yes, I'm here," she assured them, patting their heads with awe in her eyes.
Whereas I only stood up, stunned at the sight behind her where every monster that came rushing in earlier was now on the floor, unmoving.
"I'm sorry," I bit my lower lip and crumpled the end of my shirt. I feel guilty for doubting her genuine intentions and will to get us out of here.
"Don't worry about it," she said, walking towards me and ruffling my hair. "There's nothing to be sorry for," her words gave me comfort as my silent tears rolled down to be wiped by her hands in an instant.
But there was no time to waste. "We should get going," she commented at a roar that was enough to shake the whole place like an earthquake.
We followed her, sticking close while holding hands to keep us from separating. Half running and half walking as Rei suddenly talked to herself.
"Where are you? You're taking too long," she mumbled, the two focused on the road while I stared at her back which looked too small for a capability that strong.
She started turning her head left and right as if she was trying to find something rather than being alert to the potential danger more, that's when I noticed something black plugged deep in her ear.
It was similar to the device that my mother used to call my father...
My parents...
[Rei]
"The map says you're on the other side," Cedrick's tone sounded confused as I checked my map to verify his location.
I looked both ways to try and spot him, and surely he was on the other side of the floor. "Cedrick," a breathy murmur escaped along with a relieved silent chuckle.
[Cedrick]
Her stiff posture and serious tone earlier melted as I saw her exhale my name breathily and lightly, as if just saying it released the weight she'd been holding in her chest.
I was on the left side of the third floor where I could see them clearly from the wide hallway. I started waving my hands as I ran towards them now.
Although, just momentarily, the silent hallways were filled with someone whispering inaudible things. I started to pinpoint where it was coming from.
But that whisper gradually became an ear-piercing scream that made everyone flinch, drop to the ground, and kneel as we covered our ears in desperation to block the horrifying sound.
"Suffocate in my flames," was their last speech that we could comprehend.
And as I was looking for any danger that might be near, the speaker burst with classical music that drowned every other sound.
"What was that?" I commented along with Noel and Kikoe who were just as confused as I was.
"That sounded like an unOrdinary and human at the same time," Rei groaned as the kid's sniffles were heard through our communication.
But as we were discussing, the ground shook once again and I was greeted by a horrifying look on Rei's expression that was looking back the way they came. There were walls for me to ever know what she looked at, to look that pale.
"Cedrick, stop this music," her voice was collected and calm and I was stopped in my tracks.
"But—" I tried to retaliate, getting uneasy as I saw her grab the kids and run forward. Their figures long gone from my vision while I only hear her ragged breathing along with the children through the comms.
"Go!" I was contemplating as I hastily ran backwards to her shout.