Max stood at the edge of the room, a sweat going down his neck. On the other side of the room, amidst the rubble and smoke, stood the Samurai. He was in a green yukata, and had a blindfold on him. With a twig in his mouth, he still looked menacing. He appeared to be also humming, to an unfamiliar song. He also carried a huge Victorian style blade, complete with a red gem in the middle of the handle. And terrifyingly enough, the sword was unsheathed and in his hand.
Max: Umm....is there any way we can talk this out??
Max asked this question, knowing that he might not get an answer. For some reason, he could sense the bloodlust in him. The Samurai was brimming with rage, and looked ready to kill. He had a terrifying aura around him, and Max could see it.
Maybe Max could try to sort this out, by acting innocent. And it made no sense for him to act, as he was in fact, innocent. But he had no way to prove it, when he had no idea what his crime was. Whatever that the Samurai was after, was not him, and it could be Melissa and Lin. Max arrived at the conclusion, and he figured if he just pointed at them, he might survive.
Samurai: Where are the two..?? Have you seen them?
When the Samurai literally asked for co operation from Max, he felt relieved. So there was a chance for him to stay alive. All he needed to do was point at them. That's all he need to do.
But no....
Every fiber in Max's body didn't accept it. There was no way in hell Max could snitch on someone. Max hated snitches and considered them the worst kind of people. And with just a few minutes that he had spent with the other two, he knew that they are good people. The Samurai guy might be the bad one, he believed. And anyway, even if the two abandoned him and ran away, he didn't find it in his heart to give them up. Even though all he knew was their names.
Max: I don't know who you are talking about.
Max lied through his teeth, knowing that there will be terrible consequences for his actions. He probably would die right here. But it was better than living as a snitch, atleast to him.
Samurai: Well, it doesn't matter....even if they are far, I can find them..
Max raised his eyes and looked at the Samurai. He just pointed to the ceiling, which made Max feel like an idiot. It was so obvious, and due to him being frozen with fear, his brain wasn't functioning at the same level. The Samurai could easily go and find them, through the massive hole. But Max was okay with it, cause he felt like he bought them some time, by stalling the Samurai. He didn't know if they would survive against him, but he knew that he helped them live longer.
Before Max could blink, the Samurai had made a move and his sword was right next to his belly. It was very instantaneous, that Max brain wouldn't keep up anyway. All Max could do was close his eyes, knowing that it was all over. Max gave a thin smile, remembering all his memories he had and realised he wouldn't remember them soon.
But before the blade cut open his stomach, something tugged on Max. On his shoulders were thin strings, still capable of lifting an entire human. He had no idea how it attached itself onto him, but in a millisecond it pulled him away from the swords path. He looked upward to see Melissa using her strange power to attach her strings and Lin pulling it with all his force to lift Max up. Max was so genuinely relieved that they actually came back for him, but also scared that they didn't escape.
Max fell down right next to a kneeling Melissa. Lin was tired by just lifting him. Max was bewildered with their actions, but he was happy. Someone made the time to actually help him, even though they were strangers. This was unprecedented in his life.
Melissa: Are you okay..??
Max: Ya...thanks... you guys actually helped me...I'm so honore-
But before he could continue Lin snapped back.
Lin: You can thank us later, we need to run. Quick...on your feet!!
Lin was angry, just as always. And even though Max was annoyed that he didn't let him finish, there was some truth to his words. If they stayed there for long, the Samurai would be behind them.
Max and the gang quickly started running in the opposite side of the hole. They didn't even bother to look down and see what the Samurai was up to. They knew that all they had to do was run, like their lives depended on it, cause it actually did.
The trio appeared to be in a hallway of sorts which felt unending, even though they had run a few meters. There were walls on both sides, making it seem like an over-glorified air vent.
When they had almost run about fifteen meters, Max had the courage to turn and look back if someone was following. And much to his dismay, the Samurai leaped onto the hallway, easily jumping the three meter high jump. He landed on the solid ground near the hole, with a sword in one of his hands and the other hand holding his hat, probably to keep it from flying away.
Max: You gotta be kidding me...!!
Max started running faster seeing that the Samurai was here. He faced forward to notice that Melissa wasn't turning back, and she was just focused on running. But Lin, on the other hand, who was beside him, kept glancing back, checking on the Samurai. And unfortunately the Samurai was chasing them as fast as he can. And he was faster as he seemed to be catching up quite easily.
Lin: Damn I got no choice! I gotta do this! Melissa keep running!!
Lin exclaimed and for a second Melissa turned back to look at him. But Lin wasn't seeing her. Instead he stopped in his tracks and unsheathed his blade and immediately turned towards the Samurai who was already in the air swinging his sword to meet Lin's blade. The clash was so loud that it echoed throughout the hallway and cracks even appeared on the ground.
But Lin being scared of the Samurai was justifiable because Lin couldn't stop him that easily and was knocked far away as he landed on his back. But the Samurai instead of attacking the fallen Lin, went for Melissa. She wasn't looking back and kept running. And Lin was too far away to help her.
Lin: Noooo. Melissa...runnnnn!!!
Lin shouted on top of his lungs, trying to protect his companion, but he failed in moving. Melissa turned to see the Samurai already there about to slice her. But before he could succeed his blade met something else.
In the confusion Max had positioned himself in between them to take the hit for her, but instead, the blade had tried to cut through his left arm, that looked the night sky. The sword was unsuccessful in even putting a single cut on his arm. The left arm, dubbed as the Universe by Max, was extremely durable. Even the mighty sword attack was nullified by his arm.
Suddenly it looked like Max had a chance against the Samurai....