Puella Magi Hunger Games

Chapter 16

"How can this be?" Homura sighed. She and Madoka were sitting next to each other, on an old log, facing the barrier, "Does that mean we can't get out?" Homura asked, more to herself than Madoka. Madoka nodded absently to Homura's words, her thoughts somewhere else.

"Looks like they failed." Kirika laughed. Oriko was next to her, silent and poised.

"They should know better by now that the barrier would not be so easy to break." Oriko murmured. Kirika stopped laughing.

"Did you know about the barrier?" Kirika asked in surprise. Oriko nodded.

"I saw it in a vision." She replied.

"What did you see this time?" Kirika asked gravely, fearing the worst. Oriko raised her light blue eyes, to look at Kirika's face.

"I saw this same place," Oriko replied, "One which had no difference, and no change, but..."

"But what?" Kirika asked softly. Oriko's mouth tightened.

"A dark rift was in the barrier, but I couldn't see anything in it." Kirika sat back, staring up at the cloudy sky.

"What would that mean I wonder."

"Maybe we should go back?" Madoka whispered tentatively to Homura.
The two of them still sat on the log, facing the barrier. The sun was setting, and Homura had done nothing, but sit there, a calculating, faraway look on her face.
There was no response from Homura, who still stared at the barrier, with a fixated expression.
"Um, Homura-chan?" Madoka asked, waving an uncertain hand in front of Homura's face. Homura blinked, and seemed to jolt out of her daze.
"Yes, Madoka?" Homura asked, looking finally at Madoka.
"Maybe we should go back." Madoka suggested. Homura frowned, thinking, about something Madoka could not interpret. Finally she shook her head.
"No, it's okay, we can camp here tonight. I have to break the barrier." Madoka knew there was no point in arguing, and settled back resignedly.
Little did they know, that two pairs of eyes watched their every move, as they settled to make camp.
"We can attack now." Kirika hissed to Oriko, her claws itching to cut. Oriko shook her head.
"We can't take out Madoka Kaname just yet." Kirika's eyes widened in surprise.
"Why not?" Oriko's answer was cold and calculating.
"If we try to kill Madoka Kaname while Homura Akemi is close by, we will have to attack Homura to get to Madoka. I cannot guarantee that we can defeat Homura though, because she has time on her side. No doubt the incubators will use that as a chance to force Madoka to contract, without Homura able to stop her." Oriko didn't mention that she had a feeling that, by killing her right away, she might turn the incubator's anger and attention on her.

"Madoka, wait here." Homura's serious voice snapped Madoka out of her gentle slide into sleep. Madoka sat up, rubbing her eyes.
"What's going on?" Homura didn't reply at first. Finally she spoke, her voice calm.
"I thought I could find something to eat." Madoka wasn't sure if she believed Homura, something about the way her purple eyes were wary, glancing this way and that, made her think there was something astray.
"I'll come with you." Madoka offered, getting up, but Homura shooed her down.
"It's okay," Homura replied, "I can go alone. I need you to guard camp."
"Okay." Madoka replied. Ever since the games started, Homura seemed to be trying to not let her do anything, it was almost as though she didn't trust her.
"Homura-chan?" Madoka asked through the darkness, Homura turned to look back at her, "Do you trust me?" Homura's eyes flashed with something. Sadness maybe? Or maybe regret.
"Of course I do," Homura's voice was husky, "You're my best friend."

Homura stood in the growing darkness, every single nerve in her body alert. She didn't have much light left. Whatever enemy was out there, she had to find them, or she would be up all night, on guard.
She stared hard through the darkness, making out the shapes and figures of the ruins. With all these crumbled buildings and collapsed structures, it was hard to make out anyone who could be hiding in there.

A slight breeze alerted Homura to danger, especially after she saw fog begin rolling in, towards her. The fog was deep,and high, and before she could react, it had surrounded her, engulfing her like a smokey veil.
She could hear something that sounded like laughter, and turned, looking for the source.
The labryinth surprised her. She couldn't understand the witch. She couldn't understand the nature of this witch, her weaknesses or strengths. It was almost as though...

There is more than one witch.

The sounds of orderly, marching steps reached Homura's ears, and she could hear low and distant chanting, through the fog. Some giggling could also be heard, and something flew past her head. Homura frowned, keeping her eyes and ears alert for whatever it was that had flown past.

Familiars came into view then, strange toy-like beings, in vehicles that changed into cars, buses, planes, and back, as they flew around Homura's head. Homura instinctively reached behind her shield, looking for the familiar, and reassuring feel of a gun.

Pulling it out, she aimed at each one of them, shooting them in quick succession. The shots echoed through the fog, as the familiars disappeared. The giggling was louder now, until finally, the familiar that flew past earlier appeared in front of Homura. It was the same as the earlier familiars, a toy, in a vehicle, which, as Homura watched, changed from a car, into a train, into a plane.

Remembering what it was, Homura aimed her gun at the familiar, preparing to shoot, but this familiar was different to the others, and it whizzed away, giggling hysterically.
Homura gritted her teeth, anticipating the familiar's next appearance. The fog was empty and silent, as it clung to her clothes and hair.
It attached her to everything around her, Homura realised, her time stopping abilities would have no effect here, not with the fog acting as a connection to her.
Something suddenly shoved Homura from behind, knocking her over. Turning over, she saw the giggling, distorted and scribbled face of the familiar, Anja.
"Ahhhhh!" Homura cried out in shock and pain, as she felt her body getting lifted and...morphed? Desperately, she reached for her gun, and grabbed it, firing wildly, hoping for it to hit. Hearing a scream of pain, a fierce flood of joy surged through her, but it didn't last. She could feel her body getting curved into a ball, and her gun was knocked out of her hand, leaving her weaponless. Not, that she could do anything if she had a gun.
Reaching behind her shield again, Homura realised that her body was stuck in a curled up shape, so try as she might, she couldn't reach behind her shield, no matter what. She had to get out of this accursed shape though, she had to protect Madoka.
Gritting her teeth, Homura summoned her magic and energy, willing herself to break free of her curled up position. She could feel Anja's movement, as she began to bounce Homura on the ground.
Every time you lie.
A voice whispered in Homura's mind. Blocking it out, Homura tried again, feeling the bonds break, relief surged through her, as she felt the invisible force holding her begin to wear and fray. Finally, with one last effort, Homura burst out, startling Anja, who was just starting to bounce her new ball.
Breathing a silent sight, Homura sent out her magic, setting up multiple bombs to explode, so she could kill Anja.
As the bombs detonated, sending up blasts of energy and wind around, Homura though she could hear marching footsteps. Spinning around, Homura couldn't see anything except deep, thick, fog. The footsteps came closer, until suddenly, the faces of wùden familiars popped up, startling Homura. Their white, painted faces as dark empty eyes, staring hollow gazes at Homura, as they begin to march closer towards her, ready to another her, to smother the enemy. Homura stiffened, pulling out a pistol, and began rapidly firing in a circle, taking out wuden minions, one by one. Thy kept coming though, and more Anjas came, dancing around her happily, trying to turn her into a ball. Homura had no idea how long she could last. Finally, as one gleeful Anja finally succeeded in getting a hold on Homura, turning her into a ball, Homura felt her resolve disappear, as the Anja began bouncing her around.
I've lied so many times. I lied to protect Madoka. I lied every day to myself. I lied...
Every lie that Homura had ever made came rushing through her mind, as Anja began bouncing her, every times Homura realised a lie she had made, Anja bounced her again. Homura could feel her soul gem darkening, but she couldn't do anything.
BOOM! CRASH!
The Anja bouncing Homura around suddenly squealed and fled. Homura could feel herself returning to herself, no longer a ball.
Standing up, Homura looked around, confused, when a hand suddenly reached out of the fog to grasp her wrist.
"Don't be stupid," Homura could hear a voice, talking to her?"Just follow me." The hand holding her yanked at her wrist, and Homura had no choice but to follow.
As they ran, Homura realised that the fog was clearing, getting thinner, until she was almost breathing in fresh air. The person holding her stopped, and Homura had a chance to see her rescuer for the first time. The Puella Maho standing there was someone she had not expected in the least.