Both inside and outside of the school building were in complete chaos and disaster. Screams filled the air, carrying with them intense pain and unending agony.
Blood spilled everywhere as students died. Those who didn't have the guts to defend themselves were slaughtered, massacred by the unknown monsters. Those who were still breathing could only watch in horror as the massacre continued.
It was a sight that one wouldn't be able to recover from, if they were somehow able to survive this terror.
_
Meanwhile, inside one of the classrooms, there were four students. Or perhaps three. Hitori, Phillip and Jenna were bewildered by the appearance of the female pale-faced student who stood unnaturally still before them, her eyes fixed and unblinking.
Although, they had already concluded that this wasn't a student anymore, instead... a monster. A monster wearing their school uniform—which was supposed to be impossible. But two theories were created. Either a monster turned into a student, or a student turned into a monster.
The latter wasn't considered, because it was impossible, and they didn't want to believe such a thing could ever happen.
However, right before their eyes, a voice echoed in the room, it was neither from the three normal students, but rather…
"Help… me… Hitori."
The words reached their ears, but didn't come out from the monster's mouth. More like there wasn't any mouth to speak. Its face was half disfigured, one of its eyes hanging out and its hands bent in an unusual manner.
They couldn't deceive themselves any longer. A student has indeed turned into a monster.
Meanwhile, Hitori who was called by the monster, was in complete shock. His eyes widened, as he recognized the familiar voice.
"A…Aurora?"
His voice trembled as he called the name of the girl who happened to be his childhood friend.
"Impossible."
A single tear ran down his eyes, while he clenched his fists. He needed someone to blame. But, didn't know who. He wanted to say something. But, didn't know how to say it. He was in a circle of rage and sadness, and couldn't do anything about it.
Jenna, who was looking at the monster, with her hand still covering her mouth, turned to Hitori and saw he was already devastated.
"We need to get out here."
Hitori said, as he cleaned his face. His expression already switched. He didn't look pitiful, but rather determined.
As he was about to make a move, the monster dashed at full speed forward and pushed him, slamming into the tables and chairs until they were on the ground— the monster on top of him.
Its teeth,ranting, trying to bite him.
"Hitori!!"
Both Jenna and Phillip shouted in sync as they saw the monster above him. Without hesitation, they tried to go and help even though they had no idea what they were going to do at the moment, however they were stopped by Hitori's voice.
"Go!" He yelled.
"Get out of here! Save yourselves, and others. I'll be fine!"
As he talked, the monster ranted its teeth, saliva dripping from its mouth as it was looking for every opportunity to take a bite from the meal before itself. However, Hitori wasn't about to let that happen. He held the monster's shoulder tightly upwards, creating a space between himself and the monster.
Then, he took a look at Phillip and Jenna, who were standing at a distance away from him, with a frightened expression.
"What are you doing?!" He yelled. "I said get out of here!"
Jenna's eyes were nearly filled with tears, as she saw him battling with a monster. She knew there was no hope of him surviving, but the thought couldn't just leave her head. After all, he was someone special to her.
"Let's go." Phillip said, while he held Jenna's hand, but she refused to move, still looking at D'lean.
Phillip halted, and gazed at Hitori. He stared at his best friend with a worried expression, one that said they were never going to see each other again. Then Hitori nodded, and instantly a drop of tear flowed down Phillip's face.
Without any word spoken, they had just communicated, and so Phillip held Jenna's hand once more and dragged her out of the classroom.
_
Now that they had left, Hitori was able to move freely without worrying about anyone's safety. Although, he didn't know how he was going to go about fighting the monster on top of him.
/rant!/
/rant!/
/rant!/
He noticed something from the beginning—the monster was on him. It had been uttering something, or perhaps whispering something. He couldn't hear it since there wasn't any mouth to put it into words.
But the echo of the tone was clear to know that it was trying to make out some words.
Hitori forcefully pushed the monster away and quickly stood up. At the same time, the monster clashed with a table, causing it to lose balance and fall, though it remained unaffected.
Hitori knew he had to act quickly, he needed something to defend himself. A weapon. And that was when the thought hit him. In a heartbeat, he snatched a chair, flipped it over, and removed one of the legs. It was made of iron that was removable and attachable in case one was broken.
Now, he had a weapon in his hand. The leg of a chair. It wasn't the best, but considering his situation, it was enough.
The monster began to rise, its body moving in an abnormal manner. Its hands bent backwards over its head, along with its legs as they supported its ascent, twisting its body, it rose to its feet, though unstable as it stood.
Hitori held the iron tightly with both hands. His gaze fixed, a bit frightened, yet determined. At this moment, he was thinking of the possible ways he could defeat a monster, when he hadn't ever fought anyone in his life before.
'Tsk... what should I do now?'
A drop of sweat rolled down his check as he held the iron tightly while cracking his brain.
However, the monster didn't give him any time to think.
/SWOOSH!/
In an instant, the monster vanished from sight.
"So fast!"
Hitori's eyes widened, but it was already too late. The monster had already appeared before him like a nightmare given form—giving him no time to raise his weapon in defense.
/CRACK!/
A devastating blow slammed into Hitori's waist, his body folding under the sheer force. The impact echoed like thunder.
He was sent flying, crashing into the ground with a bone-jarring thud.
/THUD!/
"Gah~! Cough... cough!"
Blood spat from his mouth as he clutched his side, the world spinning around him.
"Tsk.... What strength. Cough."
He held his left waist with his left hand, and tried to stand up, but fell back down to the ground.
"Damn."
He needed to get up. There was no time. The monster was right before him. Its teeth ranting as if telling him that there was no hope of survival.
Staring at its eyes, Hitori wondered.
'Is there still no part of Aurora left? Is she completely taken over by that monster?'
He got a hold of himself, and managed to rise to his feet once more, blood flowing down from his head.
'I have to survive.'
'I have to make it out alive. There's no way I'm dying here. Not when I haven't fully mastered my inner peace.'
With his rough stance, he stood. His eyes, a piercing gaze at the monster. His heart was racing. Without haste, he dashed to the monster.
"Argh!!"
He held the iron above his head, preparing for a strike, as he ran towards the monster with his voice in the air.
/Catch!/
Swiftly, the monster caught him with a single hand. It lifted him into the air as if he weighed nothing, its horrific face only inches away. Hitori froze, l fear overwhelming him.
There was no hope left. He knew he was going to die at this moment.
'Damn… what was I thinking? Charging at a monster head on? Give me a break, I haven't even fought anyone in my life before.'
Just as he was about to close his eyes to embrace his death, a voice echoed in his ear.
"H…Hitori!"
Instantly, Hitori's eyes opened and stared at the monster's eyes. It was clear as day, and familiar too.
"Aurora?" He mumbled.
/THUD!/
In an instant, the monster sent him flying, crashing into chairs and tables. Then, it began to scream with its hand on its head as though in pain.
Hitori quickly gained his balance and stared at the monster.
"Is that…"
The monster was fighting with itself, as if trying to resist itself from going berserk.
"Aurora?"
As if responding to his call. The monster stopped, turned, and stared at Hitori, its expression calm and soft. The monster dropped its hand from its head, as if it had already gotten its peace.
"Is that you… Aurora?"
Hitori tried to get up, realizing his childhood friend was still there somewhere.
Somehow, he managed to stand, and began approaching the monster like he had already conquered his fear. But why wouldn't he? Aurora was still there somewhere.
His hand found its way to the monster face, although trembling, he was able to get a hold of her face, with a slight smile on his face he said:
"You really are there."
Just when he thought his childhood friend had already overtaken the will of the monster.
The monster suddenly grabbed his hand, and with sheer force bit him, its teeth sinking into his veins as though injecting him with poison.