A Tragic Creation 3: At Pepperland's End

Chapter 29: The Time has Come

"Randel, get up!"

Taking in a sharp breath, Randel quickly got up on his feet, hearing the loud sound in the distance coming closer.

The creature chuckled again as it pointed at the large wave coming towards them.

"You two are really in trouble now!"

Ringo grabbed Randel's hand, breaking him out of his daze.

"Come on!"

Without a second's hesitation, the pair quickly ran up the hill, hearing the wave coming closer and closer.

The pair stopped in front of the bandstand, and Randel turned around.

"W-we're not safe up here!" he yelled as tears of fear started to form in his eyes.

The wave was large enough to reach the top of the hill, and it would flood the bandstand easily.

"W-what do we do?!"

Ringo, still facing the bandstand, slowly raised his head up to stare at the roof.

Face going white, he turned back to stare at Randel, seeing that the wave was moments away from reaching them.

There was only one thing he could do.

Quickly, he pulled Randel back, holding him bridal style.

"Ringo?"

"Just get up there!"

Ringo raised Randel up as high as he could, and Randel understood what he meant.

Hearing the wave come even closer, Randel climbed up onto the roof, but before he could turn around...

Splash

"AAAHHH!"

Ringo's scream as the liquid came rushing into him made Randel snap his head back.

"N-No!"

Randel knelt down on the edge of the roof, grabbing Ringo's hand that was still grabbing it.

With all the strength he could muster, Randel moved back, but Ringo didn't move an inch.

Tears flowing freely from his eyes, Ringo stared up at Randel, half of his body and his other arm stuck in the goo.

"R-Randel-"

"N-no! Please!"

Randel screamed as Ringo began to turn grey, and he still continued to pull back, tears flowing down his face as well.

Once Ringo had turned entirely grey, he coughed, some of the black liquid coming out of his mouth.

Randel stopped pulling back as he knelt down as far as he could, both of his hands still hanging onto Ringo's.

"No... No, t-this can't be-"

"R-Randel..."

Ringo stared up at him as he slowly began to sink in the deep liquid, not feeling anything below his rib cage.

His other arm hung limp next to him.

"I-it's okay... D-don't worry about m-me..."

He coughed.

"I-it's u-up to you now..."

Staring wide eyed at Ringo, Randel slowly moved one of his hands off of Ringo's, his body now starting to lose colour as well.

His body shook as he tried to comprehend what was happening.

"R-Ringo..."

Ringo, the liquid now at the bottom of his chest, smiled up at Randel, tears still sliding down his cheeks.

Weakly, he spoke.

"D-don't..."

He took in a breath.

"G-give..."

He sunk down a little further.

"U-up..."

A moment after the liquid has consumed his chest, Ringo took in a breath, his head lowering down.

Randel, tears running down his cheeks, felt Ringo's hand go limp.

"R-Ringo?"

No response.

"Ringo!?"

Randel lost all of his colour.

"...no..."

Whimpering, Randel watched as Ringo's head went under the liquid, his arm moving down with it.

Randel let go of his hand, watching as the last he could see of Ringo sunk under the liquid.

The creature broke out laughing.

"I told you that I knew what your weakness was!"

Randel sat back on the roof, eyes wide as tears still streamed from them.

His whole body shook as he took in what had just happened.

He closed his eyes and clenched his teeth together, hoping that this was just a nightmare.

It had to be.

He would wake up and find that Ringo was fine.

He would be there for him.

He would...

Heaving, Randel opened his eyes, reality crashing down on him.

He closed his eyes and screamed in anguish.