THE UNEXPECTED HORROR

Trapped

Nii-Jima Island.

Somewhere in the forest.

Kazuto's p.o.v.

"We both might die today." I let out tears of frustration. I buried my nose into Asuna's hair more as my trembling arms tightened around her upper body. Asuna was covered in scratches and had swell marks. I could tell that her back would be worse, and heavily swollen now. Her back was the first thing to make contact with a hard branch of a tree. She smacked into many trees from everywhere before falling to the ground with a hard thump. My upper body was completely secure in her arms. Yet my legs were exposed so I had gotten some scratches from the branches as well as swells on my legs. But mine weren't as bad as hers. She was completely dusty from rolling on the ground. I'm not sure if she has broken a rib or two. To which I beg that she hasn't. I won't be able to see her hurt. She has hurt enough.

"Why?....W-Why did you protect me when I should be the one protecting you...!" I whimpered as the gurgling sound of the infected got higher and higher. And the bird was also trying its best to get to us. It would try to reach us but back away as the thick trees would stop it. Yet, it started destroying trees with its claws. It would either jab into the highest trees around us or use its claws to grab the tree and pluck it from its roots. However, the trees were thick so it was a bit hard for it to easily destroy them. Many branches were falling around me, shaking the world with their intense force, but I didn't care, couldn't care. I was slowly losing hope, thinking that the time was up. The falling branches were creating loud noises. And the infected were targeting this place. I had my eyes closed, teeth clutched, and face buried in the head of the unconscious girl in my arms. I didn't want to look. I didn't want to move. I just sat there with the destruction around me. I was gonna die and I was gonna take her along with me. Because of me, she was going to lose her life too. I needed to run. But, where could I? No one knows how dangerous it will be everywhere. So, if I was gonna die, I might as well die holding her close to me, breathing in her scent, feeling her presence close to me.

'So, this is your first mission. Be careful and return home in one piece.' The anxious words uttered by my father rang into my ears.

'We can do this!' Eugeo's determined look flashed through my mind. I instantly opened my eyes as I felt senses coming into me again.

'I can't lose! Not yet!' I yelled inwardly. Eyes as sharp as an aggressive cat's, teeth clenched like a lion's.

"Mr.Shouzou! I'm not going back on my promise to protect your daughter!" I uttered while holding Asuna close to me and using every ounce of strength in my body to slowly stand up as a huge branch of a tree fell on my right, jerking the ground, filled with the annoying shrieks and murmurs of the infected.

"Arrghhhh!" I hissed with frustration while trying to balance myself and holding Asuna's bridal style. I pulled her near me and managed to fully stand. A sting of pain passed through my right leg, the cut on my calf bleeding, causing me to flinch but I instantly brought myself together. Without a second thought, I started sprinting forward, all while avoiding hitting trees or tripping over branches, putting my adrenaline to use. That thing above us wasn't gonna stop any moment. So, we gotta get rid of it first. With that in mind, I started running toward the thick trees. Hoping to hide inside the forest all while avoiding running into an infected. If, even by mistake, I ran into an infected, it's over, for me and Asuna. So, I have to be careful. Using my senses as best as I could, trying to avoid loud noises as I ran. The thick forest would hide us and that bird would have no choice but to retreat. I kept dashing with Asuna in my arms, ignoring the pain in my body, especially my legs. My breathing was getting heavier with each passing second. But the sound of the infected wasn't getting lesser. I didn't know where I was or where I would reach; I just needed to find a good, temporary hiding spot. While running, I looked into my arms, toward the unconscious girl, entirely leaning into my hold, hoping she would wake up soon. Determination washed over me again as I picked up speed. Thankfully, the forest was getting thicker, making it possible for the bird to lose sight of me.