Arlene agreed, turned around. "I don't think Oscar can move."
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Before Oscar could reply, Ethan stood upright. "Let me do it. I'll try my best."
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"Don't worry, I can handle myself." Oscar seethed in gritted teeth but his leg betrayed him, nearly giving out.
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"Don't be stubborn." Eleanor slapped his shoulder and picked up her kit and other rations within her reach to her bag. "Let me cut up this torn cotton fabric on your pants first and donned you this loose jacket—"
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Howls heard beyond the hallway, and the three shuddered before moving fast.
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"Don't want to burden you."
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"Bro Oz, you aren't…" A forced smile came and ushered his arm to his nape. "Let's go somewhere safe."
.
Everyone grabbed whatever they needed— personal items like phones, food, water, and spare clothes— whatever fit their bag.
.
From the front, Damian trudged out of the room and with his signal, they followed in as silent tracks as they could.
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Eleanor checked her phone. Only to find out about neither internet connection nor signal. "I'm also on a low battery too!"
.
Fortunately, Oscar need not to worry about his going off anytime soon; yet still checked how not even a signal was there to call for help.
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"Emergency responses won't work and rescue teams are doing whatever they can at the moment."
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Ears of Ethan perked up as Oscar responded. "If this truly is like a game, I don't think even the military is enough to deal with the monsters."
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'I want to ask about their powers.' Yet he stole a glance at Arlene, who also looked ahead and to her palms, as she played with the flame— acute and wavering— before putting it out. 'Would I be one too?'
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"Then, brother Dee, Can't we go to the ground floor and hide somewhere safe?"
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"Are you for real?" Ethan scratched his head at the response of his twin. "There are so many monsters who know where and when they'd get us. Do you think everyone's safe?"
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"There is…"
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A scrunch on his brows came from the eldest brother's response. "And where is that?"
.
No response.
.
Perhaps stopped and held the hilt to unsheathe when another group of wolves emerged from the dimmed corners.
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The downstairs got blocked and it was the only way out.
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Soon enough, Arlene raised her arms as the wind swirled around and towards her fingertips.
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"Careful, Damian."
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"Don't worry, Sis. I can handle this."
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"I'll help you. I insist." The locks of her hair fluttered alongside her ripped knitted dress and cardigan.
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"Alright, if you insist."
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Only the glint from his sword came after he dashed and moved like a wisp dancing in the dark.
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"Sister! Shoot out your [Firebolt!]"
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"Wait! How'd you know—?!"
.
"Hurry!"
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Without delay, a stream of fire, erupting from her fingertips, went towards the dark hallway.
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In turn revealed three claws that pushed Damian's sword down to the floor.
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The wolves whimpered amidst the explosion with dust and smoke wafted back their nose.
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'That was crazy!' Ethan hacked his breath after covering his face from the impact.
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The twins gulped hard as they welcomed their sister's back. Her arms spread and ready to shoot another spell with her fingertips aglow to an ember.
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Roars came from time to time but not outmatched with the clangs that came with it as well.
.
"Bro Oz…"
.
"What?"
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"Brother Damian knows too much, don't you think?"
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Only a hum came then. "Weird. But not possible."
.
"Did we think the same thing?"
.
"Maybe… Like those popular tropes in games."
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For a while now, Eleanor checked her phone one last time before she tucked it to her black sweater pocket. "I may not know games, both of you, but it's also popular in movies too."
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"Could he really be, Elle?" Ethan took notice of the slight red bloomed on Oscar's leg.
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"Didn't we all talk about how he changed about two years ago?" She then crouched and got some dressing for another round. "With crazy things happening right now, everything's possible."
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At that moment, Oscar hummed with a nod at her response. With breath gone heavy, her fingers moved with swiftness.
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"I wish I can be a God at least so I can help."
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"You wish you were…" Before Ethan started fuming, she added, "Next time, can you be careful?"
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"What?! Why are you blaming me—? I am helping him!"
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"Whatever floats your boat."
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"You three, this isn't time to chit-chat!" Ariel stopped them; looked behind and back to what was happening in front of them. "Save your breaths. We'll talk later when things get better."
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They agreed in unison.
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The roars now shifted to whimpers as it died out.
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From the dustclouds, Damian emerged and sheathed his sword. "Let's go down. I'll help Oscar."
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"Is it already safe?"
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"I see no monsters down there." With his eyes gleamed once more. He leaned and grabbed the arm. "Thank you, Ethan."
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"Nothing much, I only want to help as much as I can."
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Damian ruffled his hair. "I know, you always will."
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After which, they moved to a lower floor. One more and it would be on the ground floor. At least the hallway had few lights dimmed, now turned rather low and flickering.
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'This is getting scary—' He hitched his breath as the air ran cold, and the smell of rust rushed his nose with few corpses and even wolf carcasses found ahead of them.
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Another round of churn came to his stomach before he gagged.
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Though he wasn't the only one who reacted the same.
.
Except for Damian.
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Yet they took a deep breath, shut their sight, to calm down.
.
"Say, brother…"
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"What is it, Oscar?"
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"Would I also be like you?"
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"What is?"
.
"You know…" Oscar looked beside him and to Arlene. "Both of you have some powers…"
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"Like an awakening one?" His gaze locked to his and lips curled to a smile. "Someday, yes."
.
"How certain are you?"
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"I just know…" He then pinched Eleanor's cheek all of a sudden and cooed at her, "Even this little chick here as well. But it will be much farther than you in the future."
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Listening to them had Ethan's ears perked up. Suddenly, he stood upright. "Brother, what about me? Will I also be?"
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Oscar noticed how he stopped and skipped a step but regained his composure.
.
"... You will be of help, in one way or another."