Masque: Endtime

Light

I really must've lost my mind.

Who am I kidding? I'm not skilled in combat. I'm only good at melting and molding steel and hiding around places. These men are capable of... do I have to say anything more about the Keepers?

I mean, if only you can see them in this world of mine, they're not a group to mess with. Follows the orders of the Twelve. No questions asked. No conscience of bloodshed and destruction. They're not humans anymore. More like automated flesh machines who's only knowledge is to follow orders.

In other words, no one goes against the Twelve.

They all stopped running. Our distance was at least 20 feet. I breathed in deep, waiting for them to do what they do. Seconds after, they split into two groups. Three of them, a Cleanser and two Keepers, were running to the nearest alley. Only two Keepers were in front of me. I knew what they're going to do.

The group will kill Ain and Gil while I'm with the other group.

Well, I'm not letting that happen.

I have nothing to fight against them. They have rifles and sabers. They drew out their blades out of its sheaths. I look for anything that can count as a weapon. Around me where there's full of death, nothing. The two Keepers ran to me without making a sound with their voices. I just stood my ground, actually froze, not knowing what to do next.

If only I brought that rat with me, I could've used it to throw at one of them. That way, I would've had time to run with only one behind me and the other falling behind.

Guess I'll have to improvise without any tools. Besides, I can't hold anything with my left hand shooting pain to my brain.

I saw an opening between the two men. I was having second thoughts on what I'm about to do. Well, screw it.

As they were only a few feet near me, I charged at them. They looked unfazed, like they know what's going to happen. I ran, thinking this was a bad idea.

By the closest distance between me and possible death, I crash down the floor, the rest of my momentum hitting me hard along with the sharp pain of my hand. I hear the wind slashed by the blades. I got up from the floor, ignoring the pain all over my chest and face. The mask was no good at protecting me from pain. We were at least 7 feet away from each other. Without delaying, I ran to the alley where the Cleanser is.

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Running is no problem for me. Finding them is.

I haven't been in any of these areas. I passed more alleys than roads, all of which were dim and stenched with sewer water. Of all those, I couldn't find them or hear their footsteps. I can barely feel the pain in my palm everytime I gripped my fingers in frustration to every alley.

For the 13th time I passed through another alley was the time I stopped running. Gripping my knees, I gasped for air to my lungs. Where the hell are they?! I can't find them in this area that is just all the same... wait a minute!!

Same. Same. Same. That's why! All the alleys I passed through were all one same alley. I stepped on the shallow puddle in the middle of the path many times. Pile of junk was on the same right side every time I passed through. All of the things here, windows, bricks, old graffiti, are the same thing. But how is it possible for me to pass through the same alley 13 times?

There's something going on here. I would look around for a way to get out of the loop, but that takes precious time. They'll be killed if I don't find those mindless fleshwalkers first.

Who would've thought that looking up would be an answer? There was something odd indeed.

The edge of the buildings on one corner. They don't connect right. I mean, they're somehow crookedly connected. I wonder...