When the Universe Breaks- A Shred Squad Story

(11) One Down

                     Cory's POV
       As soon as DDawn ordered us to run after the Month emerged, you better believe I was out of there. I ran left without any hesitation, fear throbbing in my heart as adrenaline filled my veins. I assume the others did the same, because I heard several sets of quick footsteps, then the enraged roar of the Month. The brush behind me suddenly exploded, and I spared a look back, only to regret it as I saw the Month quickly moving after me, gears and steam moving quickly about it. I screamed and ran forward with a newfound speed and agility that I had no idea I could even possess.

        Of course it came after me! I mean, why wouldn't it? There was only like 10 other people to go after! I complained internally. My breath grew labored as the chase continued, the only sounds being my quick breathing, the crushing of the bramble and brush behind me, and the clanking of bronze metal only a few feet behind me. I weaved between trees in a pathetic attempt to lose it, but the bronze beast only crashed through the trees, gaining steadily on me.

      As my body began to weaken, and my legs began to slow, the real fear set it. The fear that I would cease to be, the fear that I would never see my parents again, or my friends, or Bri. Bri... I thought with intense sadness. All of our plans...She would be so lonely without me. And maybe I was thinking a little too deep, because that's when I tripped over a beaten log and fell. I didn't have time to get up, only to flip onto my back and witness my impending doom. The Month slowed to a stop before me, raising it's body with a furious hiss, ready to slam it's sword-sharp fangs into my fleshy soon-to-be corpse.

         And that's when it happened, just as I closed my eyes to accept my fate. A loud crashing clang filled the air, and a loud roar followed. I immediately covered my ears, as the series of loud clangs that followed made my ears ring with the intensity of the sound. The ground shook beneath me, and when I opened one of my eyes in confusion, I gasped in surprise. Another Month had appeared, and was now ramming the other in a vicious way. I could tell that it didn't even notice my existence, so I took no hesitation to get up and run, trying not to fall as the fight between the two beasts rattled the ground beneath me.

     I ran for a good 3 minutes before collapsing against a nearby tree, breathing heavily. I was so tired from all of the running, I felt like I was going to pass out. Sure, some people dedicate their whole lives to running, but I'm definitely not  one of those people, and I'm years out of practice. Just as I was getting my breath back, a hand grabbed my shoulder from the other side of the tree, and I helped, pulling away quickly. I tripped and fell again, immediately looking back to see who had grabbed me. "Dick? What the h-!?" I began, but he cut me off. "Where's Don!?" He all but yelled. He seemed slightly distressed, but was obviously trying not to show it. The bushes behind him shook, and three figures ran out, panting. "Dude, I told you to stay with us!" Ash panted. The other figures, Tommy and Ashlie, both nodded in agreement.

       Dick grumbled, "Look, I just really have to find D-" he began, "Why though? He's a tough boy, he'll be fine." Ashlie stated. "I don't care about his safety or anything! Duni will just kill me if he dies..." Dick snarled defensively. "Vright, vright...Totally." Tommy smirked. "Guys...? Where are you...?" A small voice suddenly called from within the trees. "Over here, Jon! Ash and Ashlie yelled in unison. "UGH! We don't have time for this!" Dick yelled just as Jon joined us by the tree. "I'll find him myself, you useless morons!" Dick growled, beginning to stomp away. Though he stopped as a scream filled the air "GUYS! HELP!"

                        Nick's POV
       I was walking aimlessly through the forest, trying to figure out where I might be. I had ran back through the Path of Future, but I hadn't stopped on the other side, I had instead gotten myself lost in the nearby forest. "Guys? Anybody out here?" I called, aimlessly walking around. The sound of quick footsteps running my way immediately grabbed my attention, and I stiffened in sudden fear. But the fear melted away as Funi and Fon burst from a bush. "Finally, we found someone." Fon sighed. "Yeah. I thought I was gonna be stuck out here alone." I chuckled in relief. "Let's try to find the others, now." Fon said, and Funi barked in agreement.

     As we walked through the forest, I noticed a bright red color through the trees. "I think I see Don!" I exclaimed, quickening my pace towards the small boy who became clearer the closer I came. Soon I was only a few meters behind him, "Don, you okay?" I asked, noticing his stiff posture and shaking hands. I noticed that he was standing right in front of the Forest of Repetition, and that observation led to a less calm one only a few seconds later.

       Thomas... I realized in horror, slowly walking to stand beside Don. He was stuck in a running loop, frames of himself following just like the others we'd seen stuck in the forest. "D-Duni, Duni can help! I-I'm sure!" I stuttered, vaguely aware of Funi and Fon on either side of Don and I. "GUYS! HELP!" Fon suddenly screamed in the loudest voice I'd ever heard him use. "T-This is horrible.." Don whispered hoarsely, his face contorted with that of horror. "I-I know.." I whispered, "But Duni will help...He has too..." I finished. Though deep down, I knew that there was no way to help him. Duni's words echoed in my head over and over again, "If you do anything worth being kept, or watched, then the forest will take you, and there's no way to get out. You will be forced to relive it eternally. But you will be completely conscious through it." And at the same time, in the deepest, darkest part of my mind a single phrase was being formed as we waited for the others to appear. One down...13 to go...

A/N, if anybody still exists here, sorry for the ridiculous wait. I hope you have a great day! And until next time, goodbye peeps!