Sirens screeched through the skies, matching the screams of the people in the streets.
A blanket of dust and debris suffocated the air around them, causing him to cough and wheeze with every breath.
A loud, constant ringing drilled into Leo's head as he had begun to process his surroundings.
Any attempt at opening his eyes was met with an intense burning sensation in them.
He vigorously rubbed his eyes with a sleeve, trying to wipe the ash out of them.
Finally, he managed to open his eyes. He could still hardly see due to the debris in the air.
Fierce ribbons of orange flames raging and whipping from the fallen wreckage of buildings.
The dust had begun to settle, making things a bit more clear.
Another cough scorched Leo's throat as he struggled to get up on his feet.
With desperation in his voice, he called out for his loved ones.
"Rachel! Desmond! Where are you?!"
He looked around frantically, sweat running down his face and mixing with the ash.
A voice came out from beside him, towards the building. A young voice that let out a loud curse of pain.
Leo scanned the area and saw the upper half of Desmond pinned under the ruins of the Bistro.
He felt a surge of adrenaline hit his system as he jolted to his side and ripped the bricks from above him.
He took Desmond's hand and dragged him out. Fortunately, he wasn't as injured as Leo was.
This sense of relief was killed as he heard a silent cry from another direction.
He whipped around, urgently trying to find Rachel. She had been the second closest to him before the explosion, which Leo didn't have time to question.
Finally, he found her.
Her legs were completely destroyed under a slab of reinforced concrete.
Pikes of rebar stuck from her abdomen.
She was trying her best to breathe, but the pain was just too much.
Each cry caused her body to constrict, making the wounds from the rebar worsen.
Leo dropped to her side and took off his coat, using it to clear her face.
He gripped her hand.
"Rachel! Rachel! Listen to me, I'm right here!"
With tears streaking down her face, she managed to open her eyes.
She was dazed, unable to process much of her surroundings.
Her eyes locked onto Leo, which seemed to make her calm down slightly.
"Where… am I? Is that you, Leo?" Rachel spoke softly, too quiet for Leo to clearly hear over the surrounding disaster.
He shook his head. An expression of pure fear across his usual stoic face.
"Don't waste your energy. I'll get you out of here. We just need to wait for help. Just hold on, Rachel!"
Desmond had run up ahead to scout the situation. Leo had kept a subconscious note of this upon hearing his steps pass him.
He looked up to where Desmond would've been, finding him in the middle of the street.
"Desmond! Do you see any other Reveurs?"
He didn't respond.
"Desmond! Answer me! What do you see?!" Leo barked out.
His body was rigid and still, unable to move. His clenched jaw clattered and trembled as he tried his best to react.
A ways down the street, walking towards him slowly, was the figure of a little girl.
Crystalline and blackened in appearance. An older school uniform. Unnatural toy-like movement.
It was as if a burnt glass doll had come to life.
Pure chaos followed the little girl. With each step, a shockwave of heat melted the surrounding buildings and gave birth to vibrant flames.
Black rain fell from the sky, sizzling anything it touched.
Those unfortunate enough to be too close to the doll immediately evaporated, turning into shadows on the floor.
Fear trampled through Desmond's mind as he thought to himself.
` Supernatural heat, acidic rain, people turned into shadows… I've never heard of such a thing! An unknown Cryptid? Here and now? Why?! Why did it have to be now?! `
After much effort, he tore his eyes from the Cryptid and gazed over to Leo.
He saw Rachel. Rusted metal bars sticking from her body. There was no chance she could safely move, even with Leo there to help.
Turning back to the Cryptid, he tried his best to solidify his spirit.
An uncharacteristic scream of desperation and fear came from Leo.
"Run, Desmond! Run!"
His breath hastened as he heard Leo yell for him to run.
This gave the opposite result of what was demanded.
With a fierce look in his eyes, Desmond dug deep into his Eidcore, pouring his dreams and ambitions out.
Hands out and flexing with great strain towards the Cryptid, he activated his Art.
Massive, inky-black whips emerged from the dark spots of the rubble.
They wrapped around the glass doll several times with great strength.
This had managed to slow it down for a while.
That was before Desmond had noticed his hands and forearms charring.
He released the tendrils and stumbled back.
Desmond's momentary rush of courage had been replaced with fear and childlike terror. Tears falling down his face.
"Leo! I… I can't stop it! I'm… I'm scared, Dad! What do I do?!"
He yelled out across the street, fear overtaking his scratched voice.
Leo quickly looked around, trying to see any sign of backup or assistance. It was far too soon to expect any.
The doll had stepped closer and closer.
Instinctively, Leo had begun to use Channeling. With his body reinforced, he could withstand the Cryptid's heat.
He slowly looked down in horror.
Rachel couldn't.
He barked out one more time.
"Desmond! Run and find Caspian!"
Desmond, with a few hesitant steps back, had turned and sprinted away.
Leo, with no choice left, squinted his eyes and ripped the rebar from Rachel's stomach.
She cried out, gripping him for security.
This would surely lead to her bleeding out faster, but there was no better alternative for them right now.
He tried to pull her up, but the slab of concrete was still left over her legs.
"Leo, you... have to run..."
His eyes turned and met hers. A sad expression of calm acceptance over her face, which was now beginning to sear with burn marks.
"N-no! No, Rachel! I'll get you out of here! Please, just hold on!"
Her grip was faltering. She tried to speak again, but nothing came.
Her face had begun to lose its shape. Her features danced and smeared together.
The doll was now only several yards away from them as it walked.
With no hope left, he simply curled down and held her hands in his.
Each step seemed to contort Rachel in a different way.
He shut his eyes and quietly sobbed into her hands.
Finally, as the doll passed by, leaving Rachel motionless.