ᵗʰᵉ ᵐᵃˢᵏ ᵗʰᵃᵗ ˢᵉᵖᵉʳᵃᵗᵉᵈ ᵘˢ | ᶜʰⁱˢʰⁱʸᵃ ᶠᵃⁿᶠⁱᶜᵗⁱᵒⁿ

Chapter 10 - A Second Blow to the Head: An Unforeseen Twist

The sight sends a jolt of terror through me, and our instincts kick in.

We take off running, the fear driving us forward.

We're running desperately, the sound of water and the rumble of the exploding turn behind us. I can feel the panic welling up inside me, my heart pounding in my chest, my breaths coming in short, panicked gasps.

The fast-approaching wall of water is gaining on us, a massive current threatening to engulf us. My mind is only fear and adrenaline, my thoughts focusing on one single thing.

Running.

Run Leah.

Run until you die.

Our legs are burning, our lungs screaming for air, but we push on, driven by the panic and adrenaline.

Elyan's voice breaks through the chaos:

"I can't run anymore!" he gasps.

Usagi's response is firm, her voice cutting through the noise:

"Yes, you can!"

I chime in, desperately trying to keep everyone moving.

"Don't look back!"

We're running desperately, my mind fixed on helping our struggling comrade when suddenly, I hear Elyan's footsteps falter and stop. My heart sinks.

He can't die.

He needs to survive.

For Elentya.

The urge to stop and help him, to ensure his survival, is almost overwhelming. But there's no time, no chance. Usagi and I keep running, our own fates intertwined with his.

And then, we hear Elyan's scream. It cuts through the chaos like a knife, a chilling sound that galvanizes my resolve.

We run, the water's roar growing louder and louder. Suddenly, the sound of a blaring horn shatters the tension, and we hear Arisu's voice calling our names. He managed to start the bus.

Usagi is slightly ahead of me, her speed giving her a few precious moments' advantage. As we draw closer, Arisu quickly pulls her onto the bus.

I push myself harder, my muscles straining, as I feel water starting to reach my back. With a final burst of strength, I jump and grasp Arisu's hand, and he pulls me into the bus.

The water floods the bus in a torrent, its force knocking me off balance. My head hits the hard wall of the bus, sending a sharp pain through my skull. As everything around me goes dark, I slip into unconsciousness.

I flutter my eyes open, feeling small drops of water land on my cheek. The sound of water splattering against the bus's surface is all around me. Groggily, I sit up, only then realizing the intensity of the headache pulsing through my skull.

As my vision clears, I notice Arisu, Usagi, and Takuma unconscious around me. The bus is on its side, the angle making everything feel oddly disoriented.

"Usagi," I softly call out, my voice a hoarse whisper. I gently shake her shoulder, trying to rouse her from her unconscious state. Once she stirs, she does the same for Arisu.

With a pained groan, I gingerly get to my feet, my legs protesting with each movement.

"Oh fuuuuck."

I hiss through clenched teeth. I can feel the ache deep within my muscles.

"You okay?"

Usagi asks as she too rises to her feet.