DEMON HUNT

Chapter 53: Peace in violence.

The shockwave travels across the area, Omero exhaling sharply as Mari falls to his chest. He supports him, holding him in his arms. Mario's eyes become entirely fixed on Omero, as he slowly becomes hit by an epiphany. His jaw begins to shudder, as he tries to speak. As if his nerve cells were going berserk, he inadvertently lets out a brief smile, before speaking calmly, disbelief etched on his rough face.

Mario: Hey...Mari.

Mario doesn't get a response. All he sees is Omero's gloom look. He lets out another weird smile, his entire body trembling and his eyes widened, so as to give a freakish look.

Mario: Say something, Mari.

Mario bites his lower lip unrelentingly, giving a jaded look to Omero. His eyes light up in rage, the resentment that needs no explanation. Omero, looking shaken himself, doesn't give a vocal response to any of this. He stares at Mario, shaking his head slowly; as if to whisper 'no'.

Mario's bleeding lip leaves a trail of blood dripping down his chin, the well of fury not allowing him to pay any mind to it. He takes a sudden gasp of air one moment, appearing midair the next, dark nemesis in hand, on cue to plant the blade into Omero's skull. Omero mutters to himself, seemingly deep in regret.

Omero: The world he built. A world erected on a soil of hatred.

As Mario falls freely, a projection spatter of blood suddenly lands on one side of Omero's face. A large mouthed creature with multiple rows of flesh tearing teeth had attacked Mario midair, planting its teeth in the lower part of his torso, before landing on all fours. The force of the impact forced Mario to let go of his weapon. Elora, who suddenly disappeared out of sight during Mari's violent rage, appears at the scene as she takes a look at Mario. This hideous three eyed creature is her doing. Mario's entire lower body is out of view, stuffed in the mouth of the creature, a large amount of blood just pouring out, as the creature's mouth begins to move. Mario screams out in immeasurable agony. He knows it...his legs are gone. He summons dark nemesis, intending to attempt to free himself, but Elora immediately appears in front of him, grabbing his left arm with a sadistic smile, as has been her nature. Mark walks out of his hiding place, reaching the scene and just watches on, as do Dlamini and Omero, albeit some distance apart.

Elora forces one of Mario's fingers out of his hand's clenched position, looking Mario in the face as she snaps the finger out of position. Mario's mouth opens wide, revealing an oral cavity completely covered in blood, his teeth already coloured red, but he's unable to vocalize. He shudders as his shaky eyes watch Elora break three other fingers, causing dark nemesis to once again roll freely from his grasp, landing on the ground.

Elora's monster doesn't seem to be in a hurry, probably her doing, but it just holds Mario in the same helpless position, whilst Elora goes for Mario's thumb. She holds the finger in delight, looking Mario in the eye, just smiling uncontrollably. Just as she was about to give his thumb the same fate, she feels an aggressive pull on her shoulder, prompting her to stop. On turning to look over her shoulder, she finds Omero looking at her with Mari up on his shoulders, not looking impressed. She places her hand on Omero's, rolling her eyes as she gives a response.

Elora: I was just about done anyway.

Mario is unable to direct his focus into hearing what anyone is saying. He just fixes his sight on Mari's body, lost in thought.

Mario: The pain stopped. I no longer feel its teeth piercing my flesh. It's stopped? No...it's still happening. The overwhelming pain probably just made my brain shut out the signals.

Omero and Elora continue to converse, but Mario can't hear anything they're saying. He inhales sharply, obviously having laboured breathing.

Mario: I couldn't save him. I couldn't...I could not save...