What happened before her was a mass of blurrish objects. Of course, it wasn’t that they were moving very fast. It was just that she was starting to lose consciousness.

As she fainted out of shock, out of fear, out of all the crazy things happening around her, she saw the mass of blur take shape. It had those things, those black things, out again, and it was reaching out towards Castasia.

Her hand reached out to stop them, but it never fully stretched, and the cry building up in her throat never reached them.

.

It was something that he did in the spur of the moment.

He was always so drawn back, so passive, that he surprised even himself when he lurched forward, grabbing the tree branch that was nearby.

He swung it at the creature, but the branch just snapped in half upon hitting its skin.

Skin?

He doubted it could even be counted as skin.

It had a black, glossy sheen to it, but it still bent and contracted like skin.

It’s claw went straight for his face, and Castasia had only the time to bring his hand to his face when the claw made contact with his skin.

It stung, but he didn’t feel anything at the same time.

It was scary, having this feeling that you have been cut, knowing exactly where you have been cut, but not feeling anything.

He could already feel the blood creeping, clinging onto his torso.

He swung his fist forward, thumping it against its skin.

Gosh, it’s hard.

His fist hurt, but he kept thumping, till blood draped his other hand.

Its claws reached out, attempting to cut off his arm.

He retracted his arm sharply, dove to the left, and took a kick at the creature.

It fell straight on the floor, but didn’t startle.

In fact, it seemed to be even more agitated, getting up and swinging at Castasia with claws.

Castasia took a step back, yet another, and lost his footing.

And at that moment, he felt something he forgot to feel the few seconds he was facing off with the monstrosity that now reached its claws out at him- fear.

Not just any fear, but the one that galvanises your entire being to do something, anything, to escape whatever they were facing. It was fear, it was cowardice, at its fullest. It ripped from him the heroicness he felt when he thought he was going to protect his classmates, and most importantly, the girl that he liked. He felt none of the fiery spirit that coursed through him when he lunged forward.

And at that very moment, although he was embarrassed to say it, afraid to admit it, it occured within him to run.

To run. To run with his very being. To escape whatever it was that was in front of him. To ditch behind his classmates. To protect his own life.

He hesitated for a moment.

Then, shakily, unsteadily, hastily, his trembling fingers pushed him off the ground, launching him the direction opposite the beast.

The claw that seemed to have paused the few moments he was thinking unfroze, and came down on him.

He only managed to achieve a roll when the claw crashed down on where he once was, and he was on his feet in no time, stumbling, tumbling through the forest.

He shoved away shrubberies and branches alike, running from whatever he cared, from whatever responsibilities he held, running for his own life.

Was he far enough from the creature yet? Was he free yet? Was he safe yet? These self-centered questions swarmed his mind as he scampered deeper and deeper into the forest.

A ditch.

The gaping hole in the ground opened up to him as he raced into the forest, and he stopped to catch his breath.

How many minutes of running was that? Either way, he should be far away from it now. He should be far away from them now. He wondered if Lindsey and Eleanor fled too.

Either way, it was safe now, and he turned his head-

The black tip of it’s claw rose up to meet him.

He panicked.

His knees buckled.

And his feet gave way to the ditch.

Down and down he went, falling into emptiness. He did not know if there were shrubs or any of that like to break his fall. He didn’t care anymore. He felt he was falling to his death.

The monster, the very embodiment of death itself leapt up the air, its claws ready to pierce through his body.

And as he fell into the ditch, with it trailing behind him, pinning him to the ground, he can’t help but feel calm despite the severity of the security. Tears clouded his vision, and he couldn’t see anymore, he didn’t want to see anymore. His lips cracked into a smile, and from out his mouth he uttered:

“Lindsey, I love you.”

It stopped. He wiped away his tears and he found its claws inches away from his face.

“You… like Lindsey?”

And before he had the time to answer the question the creature croaked out, to ask why he knew about Lindsey, a piece of wood drove straight through where its heart was supposed to be.

He looked up, and saw Avan, bruised, scratched, mortally wounded, and holding a thick tree branch that went through its body.

He laughed.

Not the dry, cracked laugh that he let out of his mouth a few minutes ago, but a real, hearty one.

“HAHAHA!”

He laughed with all his might, with all his being.

The monster that stood before him was defeated! Dead!

“HAHAHAHA!!”

His laugh eased him from the half conscious state he was already in, into a dark oblivion that merifully engulfed his sorrows.

“HAHAHHAHA!!”

And everything went black.

N.1.29.18