TAWOG: Instinct

The Critical

The Critical 

It had gotten to the point that everyone who had been chanting felt like they might just start bleeding from their own voice box (except for Carrie, though she had similar feelings towards her voice box and her ectoplasm). However, just as the “non-ghostly” participants thought they might also pass out from exhaustion and asphyxiation, the familiar form of Penny rose up from the spiraling portal, cradling what appeared to be a mass of black smoke in her arms. Everyone gasped at the sight, the chanting ceasing, the portal vanishing instantly afterwards.

If one had looked closely through the portal before it disappeared they would have seen a brief glimpse of static.

The Fitzgeralds were abruptly taken aback at Penny's spontaneous return at first, but quickly became calmed by overwhelming relief, for she appeared unharmed, casually hovering in place above the spot where the portal had once been. The Wattersons, however, had a different reaction. After the shock of Penny's sudden return wore off they noticed that the conglomeration of black smoke she held in her hands, though the smoke quickly dissipated, leaving a very familiar individual, who lay limp and unmoving in Penny's arms.

“GUMBALL!” they all declared at once, moving closer frantically, almost completely overwhelmed by the sight of their lost family member.

The Fitzgeralds noticed Gumball as well, moving in behind the Wattersons, Carrie and Molly also following suit. While not involved through familial ties like the Wattersons and the Fitzgeralds, Carrie and Molly had been deeply concerned, for Gumball and Penny were really close friends and it would be very difficult for them to accept if anything horrible were to befall them. It would be even worse for Carrie, as she didn't want to imagine how Darwin would react if anything happened to Gumball.

But it looked like Penny had been successful in her mission, for now she hovered before them, cradling her lost boyfriend. However, his condition didn't instill confidence, in fact, his current state horrified all of them right to the core; possibly more than anything else that had happened thus far during this whole horrible experience. Gumball's clothes had reappeared upon his body upon returning to his normal appearance, however, his tattered sweater and pants were quickly becoming soaked with what could only be his blood, red splotches that seemed to triple in size every second spreading over the fabric of his sweater and pants around his chest, his side, as well as his arms and legs, and it wasn't long before it be began dripping from the cuffs and seams as well, pattering upon the floor of Carrie's basement in an almost rhythmic pattern as well.

And not just that, but, apart from some ragged breathing, he was completely motionless, as if unconscious.

Nichole threw her hands over her mouth, her eyes widening in horror and she keeled backwards at the sight of her son so injured, into Richard's arms, who looked just as horrified. Darwin turned completely pale at seeing Gumball bleeding so heavily. They had both gotten up to a lot of shenanigans in the past, some of which were dangerous, but never had either of them been hurt so bad as Gumball was now. Anais found herself either about to cry or throw up upon seeing the state of her brother. Sure, her and Gumball had their differences, and he'd been the source of her frustration more than once, but he was still her brother and she loved him. She'd never wish this upon him. She'd never wish this upon anyone.

The Fitzgeralds were just as horrified, Judith scooping up Polly, who had begun trembling with the beginning of sobs, and turning away from the gruesome sight in an attempt to shield her. She still cast a look over her shoulder though, her and Patrick looking at Gumball's wounded state with a sense of realization that was just as palpable as their horror. They had been emotionally affected when Gumball had done something so gallant as to give his life for those he cares about; which included their daughter, but, to realize it had resulted in this, to him being so hurt…it was almost too much to bear.