Madoka yelped diving to the ground as the creature lunged at him, sending a wave of sand flying into the air with the force of its movement.
In a moment that felt like time was moving slower than intended. Madoka found himself holding his breath as the creature moved over his body. A twisted yellow teethed smile forming on its lips the moment it was evenly above Madoka. Making whatever small sense of safety he had felt in that moment. Vanish when the creatures shot its hand out in a sharp jabbing motion. Piercing through the sand with such intense strength, Madoka felt the heat from the attack wash over his skin from the impact hole. Right next to his head.
His breath caught in his chest as fear shot through his whole body. Leaving him paralyzed where he lay. As he watched its other hand become straightened and pointed as it aimed it right for Madoka's chest.
Madoka wanted to move, wanted to do anything but to be right where he was at this moment. Especially as it moved with its supernatural speed sending its hand flying through the air right at Madoka.
Only it never connected. Instead the creature was suddenly no longer right above Madoka ready to take his life. It was right back where it had been before it lunged.
"What is…going on here?" Madoka breathed as the creature tilted its head. Its muscles seemingly growing relaxed as it seemed to look around. Seemingly as lost as Madoka seemed.
As he tried to quickly rationalize what was going on, he noticed that the greyish creature had burst out into a twisted laugh seemingly grabbing its side with one of the hands it used to stand on.
Not only was the sight of it creepy and demonic. It also gave off a presence that filled him with unrelenting fear. Silently urging Madoka's body to run.
It was a feeling that was further enhanced once the grey creature suddenly launched itself kicking up sand as it flew through the air right at Madoka. But it again just flew over him. This time flying right passed him as if aiming for some mystery target that he couldn't see.
The creature crashed right into the swing set that Madoka had just been recently sitting on. Getting tangled in the chains. Giving him time to get up and run. Which he didn't hesitate taking advantage of.
Madoka ran as fast as his legs would let him. His feet slamming into the concrete as he ran through the sparsely populated streets. The sounds of trash cans being knocked down behind him was the only thing that alerted him that he was being chased by the creature.
He didn't know what it was, or why it was chasing him. All he had to depend on at that moment was instinct. Pure instinct. It was the only reason it hadn't caught him yet. Well that and dumb luck.
Yet even after going through a route full of things that would slow it down. He could feel it catching up to him. Getting closer and closer with every move it made. With every step that Madoka took.
Trying his hardest to push ahead of the creature. Madoka couldn't help but turn to look behind him as it lunged forward, hopping off of the wall of a nearby shop then to a trash can before flying forward with a balled fist which was used to focus the momentum in Madoka's direction. It would've connected if he hadn't tumbled over a bench. Falling to the ground, as it once again soared past him. Slamming into a shop sign, completely taking it out with its sheer strength alone.
Quickly, he got back up on his feet and continued to run. Turning into an alleyway, with the wall that was closest to Madoka soon being reduced to rubble as the creature struck it hard.
Running, Madoka felt his lungs burning in his chest. Each step became slower and slower the longer he pushed himself. But yet, he somehow managed to make it to the train station. Hoping to lose it in the tight corridors that led to the higher and lower levels of the station.
Looking around, he tried to find someone who could help him with the situation he was in. But all he saw were other gray skinned creatures wearing similarly black robes with a black silken mask that hung loosely in front of their faces. All moving throughout the station as if they were normal people. Going about their normal lives.
It was in that moment of having slowed down that Madoka realized that the train station had somehow changed in some way. Where there should've been the usual colorful signs and vending machines. Were now twisted black metal obelisks that seemed to radiate a cold bleak sensation. One that the other grey figures seemed to avoid.
Just what exactly was going on? Madoka thought to himself as he continued to move. Attempting to make a berth around the creatures, only to realize none of them seemed to pay Madoka any mind as he continued to move through the station. Moreover, it felt like they were intentionally moving to avoid him.
Madoka continued to look around, watching as the number of these creatures steadily grew as they moved around him. Until they took up most of the available space in the station.
There was a loud echoing click that sounded out as one of the massive gear-powered clocks in the station struck seven on the dot. But it did something more than just telling the time.
For in that instance, all of the creatures seemed to stand stock still. As if it were some kind of queue they were waiting for.
Taking the chance to catch his breath from within the crowd of figures. In that time he noticed that the creatures were akin to something like fleshy mannequins. Moving with awkward stationary motions, almost as if their joints weren't used to standing still. Like their physical forms were uncomfortable.
It was while Madoka was studying the creatures physical appearances. He noticed that they were making a wide six foot circle around him. Almost like there was some kind of sphere of influence around him that kept him protected from the seemingly unending sea of these creatures.
Though protected wasn't the right feeling Madoka felt in this instance of unease. The more he thought about it and tried to understand what was going on. The more he realized that these creatures around him didn't pose any real threat to him at all.
Slowly as he walked they closed in on the parts where he used to be, and avoided him when he moved forward. Almost like ants avoiding water. The more he walked, the more he began to notice a similar circle deeper inside the train station. One thing he realized as he moved through the station was how much larger it seemed to be on the inside.
Once he entered the second circle that was about double the size of his own. He looked at the girl who stood in the middle of the circle, holding a white cloth in her hand, her arms held loosely on her sides. With how the light struck her, she reminded him of some kind of actress from a horror soap opera.
As Madoka closed the distance, he quickly grew to realize that it was Nema standing directly across from him. Her eyes holding that same emotionless look they had. Though in some way feeling much colder. Like she wasn't the same person.
What was she doing in the train station?
That was the first sensible question that entered his mind as he processed the overload of information of the events of the last 30 minutes.
"You should've. Gone home." Nema said once he was close enough to hear her over the footsteps that were drowning out the world around them. The roar of them sounded akin to a stampede.
"W-what do you mean Nema? What's going on here?" Madoka stammered gesturing to the sea of creatures that surrounded the two.
"It's getting. Worse." Nema said as she slowly moved closer to Madoka. Just by giving him a quick once over, she was able to read just how on edge he was. Not like she could blame him for what he was undoubtedly experiencing again for the first time.
"What's getting worse? Why aren't you answering my question?" Madoka demanded reaching out for her. Only to have her drawback, building some distance between the two once more.
"You can't. Touch me. Madoka." Nema said sternly. Her voice grew tense. "It would. Put your. Life in. Even more. Danger."
Those words were enough to strike a chord within Madoka. He was in danger. There was nothing about what was going on that was normal or safe. And deep down it made sense. Especially when he thought about how odd and how all over the place his day had seemed. Was she the cause?
Had there been a part of him that was trying to warn him about what was going on? About what was going to happen?
Before he could finish his thoughts, there was a loud shrill that rang out throughout the large room. Causing him to look away from Nema, and towards the source of the sound.
Nema paled at the sound. Hearing that it was finally starting to get closer.
She picked up her pace once she saw the creature hopping off of the heads of the creatures that crowded the train station. Moving closer and closer to the two with blinding speed. If she didn't get Madoka to sleep soon, there was no telling what would happen if it caught him, and she wasn't too excited to find out.
Running with her own seemingly supernatural speed. She closed the distance between them. Forcing the white cloth against Madoka's nose and mouth, wrapping her legs around his body as the two fell to the ground in a struggle.
A sweet odor filled his nose and mouth as he struggled to get out of Nema's constrictor-like grip. Fighting to breathe in something other than the fumes that were filling his lungs. Sending a light headed calm feeling through his body. As he grew weaker in her grip.
Did she intend on killing him?
That was the last question that swam through his head. As he was struck with a wave of dizziness, his vision blurring to the point he could barely make out the figures around them as shapes. Even then, he could barely tell that they were getting closer and closer around them. Until he fell into unconsciousness. The last thing he saw in that moment. Was the pain on Nema's face. Then nothing as the world fell to black