Demise Game

33. ...pumpkin eater

The last couple of times you ran, you had previously thought 'I've never ran so fast in my life'.  They had all been in life-threatening situations; but none of them compared to how you ran now.  Images of Hanami's room flashed in your head, each step reminding you of the looming threat ahead of you and the consequences should you fail.

        You couldn't afford to lose Hanami.  Not her.

        You ran as fast as physically possible.  Your legs and lungs burned, but you paid them no mind.  Some people stared at you.  It was later in the day, so people were out and about.  No doubt they were wondering why you looked so frantic, but they wouldn't understand.  And if you tried to explain to them, they'd only be met with certain death.

        No.  You were completely on your own for this.

        The thought made you want to cry.  You were stressed beyond belief, but you kept yourself trekking forward, knowing Hanami's fate lied in your hands.

        The entire time, you felt eyes on you.

        You were sure it was just the passerby, but it didn't stop the chills that danced up and down your spine, reminding you of your own predicament.  Hanami wasn't the only one with a game to worry about; you still had yours, and no game plan to defeat it yet.

        One thing at a time.

        Hanami lived in a nicer neighborhood.  The house was large, and had once been traditionally Japanese before her parents renovated it a couple years back to have a more westernized look.  The door was locked; Hanami's parents were often out of town traveling ("just for the heck of it" Hanami's dad had once said), so she had locked the door behind her.  No problem.  You knew the code by heart and punched the numbers in, waiting impatiently as the door's lock slowly receded into itself.

        As soon as the door was unlocked, you were shooting into her house, not even bothering to close the door behind you as you ran up her stairs, skipping multiple steps at a time.  It was a miracle you didn't trip and fall.

        Hanami's room looked just as it did in the photos.  It was a mess, red paint (not blood; you could smell the freshness of the paint still) scribbled all over her walls.  '𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑', over and over and over again, proclaiming Hanami's fate.  As if you guys knew that having Shiki help would count as cheating!  Nowhere in the rules did it say anything about it!

        But Shuuen clearly didn't care about the damn rules.

        In the middle of the mess of blankets and shattered trinkets, Hanami laid collapsed on the ground.  For a moment, you figured the worst.  She was deathly pale, and still.

        "Hanami!"

        You ran over to her, and it was then you noticed the shallow rise and fall of her chest.  She was still alive.  She was still alive.  You could have cried in relief, and almost attempted to shake her awake before realizing that she may very well be playing her game.  Her eyebrows were knitted together, her skin cold and clammy, her fists curled up tightly.

        You wished you could have been in there with her, especially considering what had happened the first time.

        It was on you to make sure nothing interrupted her dream.

        Pulling out your phone, you shot a quick text to Isora, updating him on the situation.  No text back, unsurprisingly.  Isora seemed to have gone ghost, and you hoped he was alright.  If it were any other situation, you'd be more inclined to check up on Isora, but that meant leaving Hanami alone, and no way in hell were you doing that.