Jay fidgeted in Granger's arms once in a while since the silence between them was a bit awkward.
Well, for her at least... Even though it seems that the male didn't mind the silence...
But she soon stopped moving when she felt the male's grip on her tighten a bit, noticing that she was either distressed or worried enough to make her fidget none stop in his arms.
"We're almost there... Just a little more..."
She nodded and kept an eye out for anything, not noticing the amused look the brunette had when he noticed what she was doing.
- I really hope that the situation outside has gotten better than earlier... Is Nana alright? Are the others safe? How many civilians died... Did they even die...? -
- I wonder what's going on in that little head of hers... Strangely enough, she also attracts attention... Maybe because she's different from the other women that I've encountered so far... -
Granger then stopped in his tracks when he heard heavy footsteps and a growl from the left hallway, his eyes narrowed into slits and took a step back when the footsteps got closer to where the two of them are, his eyes quickly snapping towards the raven-haired female in his arms when he felt her stiffen and tremble a bit when she, too, heard the footsteps.
- We need to go... Hide... -
Turning around, the brunette started running while trying not to make too much noise to attract the attention of the large demon but it didn't go as planned as the footsteps of the demon stopped at first then soon followed after him.
Jay bit her bottom lip to not let out any noise from the pain that came from her side and leg, her left hand clutching onto the male's jacket while her right hand held tightly onto the case to not let it fall from her grasp.
"When we get in... Hold your breath... And try on slowing your heart's beating..."
The girl nodded in fear as she tried on not losing her grip on his jacket and violin case.
Granger then phased through a cracked open door - thanks to his skill called by many, Rondo - and leaned onto the wall as Jay held her breath and closed her eyes while trying to calm her heart, his eyebrows then furrowed when he heard fast and heavy footsteps from outside that soon passed their hiding spot.
"..."
His eyes then moved to look at the girl who was looking at him with wide eyes and red puffed cheeks, asking if she can finally breathe again.
- ... Adorable... Wait for what... -
"You... Can breathe again..."
The girl quietly gasped as she started breathing again, trying to not pass out from the pain that she was feeling from her side and leg.
"I-is it gone...?"
"... Yes..."
"T-that thing... I-it was bigger than t-the last one that we saw... But slimmer in stature than the first one that we re-encountered..."
- Hmm... So we have an observant -
Jay whispered and stuttered as she kept on glancing at the door where the demon passed by while Granger fixed his hold on her.
"Hmm, it still can hear even if it's blind but... That one has a strong sense of smell..."
"So that's why..."
Nodding, the male peaked through the crack of the door only to immediately back away when a claw came crashing down against the door, immediately destroying it and exposing the two.
The demon roared in annoyance since it didn't hear any bones breaking so it started on swiping, making Granger dodge its attacks but with difficulty since he was trying not to step on the broken furniture and shattered glass that littered the floor that could give away their position but to also not move the injured girl too much as a thought struck him making him grit his teeth in annoyance for forgetting.
- Fuck... I forgot that she was bleeding gallons of blood... How could I forget about her wound...! That's how it managed to find us... If only I could reach my pistol... -
The marksman then looked at the girl in his arms only to blink in surprise when he saw her gripping his pistol and pointing it at the demon, hands shaking.
"What are you-"
B A N G!
B A N G!
B A N G!
Three loud gunshots rang through the room as a loud THUD followed, heavy breathing was then the only thing that could be heard.
Jay held the pistol in her shaking hands as the case was, strangely, secured in between her thighs, ignoring the pain from the pressure she was applying.
"I-I... I..."
The girl stuttered out as she kept her wide eyes focused on the disintegrating body before them, her breath going uneven, tears pooling in her eyes and a soft sob escaping her lips.
"Hey... Hey..."
Granger's voice managed to shake the girl out of her panicked state as he placed her on the bed, placing his bandaged hands on her shoulders as he threw the thought about cupping her cheeks out of the window.
Jay looked down with wide eyes, noticing how her hands were shaking more after giving the pistol back to its owner.
"I-I'm fine... J-just a bit shaken up... I-... I didn't know that... I had it in me... I-I mean..."
She blinked and looked at the male.
"I've never held a weapon... Nor used it to kill... I-I mean I just... I've n-never..."
"First time killing something..."
The raven-haired girl nodded as she rubbed her bandaged arm, her eyes avoiding his.
"It... I know that it was a demon but... Taking away life is..."
"... It's fine... You did what you deemed was right..."
- This isn't good... She'll be easily killed in the battlefield... For her hesitation... -
Granger bitterly thought to himself as he watched the girl try on calming herself down, his grip on his violin case tightening when, suddenly, a scene flashes before his very eyes.
- What the... -
Shaking his head, the brunette looked back at the girl who was looking at him with worried eyes.
"Are you alright...? You looked... As if something bad happened..."
- How did I... It couldn't be... That'll never happen... Not on my watch... -
"Nothing... Let's go... But this time I'll carry you on my back..."
Jay only nodded as she climbed on his back and held the violin case for him while the marksman held his pistol, his left arm hooked under the girl's leg to keep her from sliding off his back.
"Careful... The spikes on my shoulders might... Pierce you..."
"I'll be alright... Don't worry"
Nodding, the taller male started walking out of the room and back to where they were going.
Jay eyed some broken furniture, vases and windows, uneasiness crawling up her spine when she heard a roar from outside.
- How did the demons get in...? From what I heard... The kingdom's protected by the barrier... -
Her eyebrows furrowed as she thought about it then, deciding to test her theory, asked Granger something but not after hesitating a bit since she noticed how focused he was.
"Granger? Can I ask you a question...?"
- I want to tell her that she already did but now is not the time to joke around... She seems to be the type to like humorous people though... -
"Go ahead..."
"U-Uhm... The Moniyan empire is protected by the barrier, right...? From what the doctor said..."
"That's right..."
"Hmm... If no demon could get in from the outside by destroying the barrier... Do you think... Someone destroyed or nullified a small part of the barrier to let them in...?"
That made the marksman stop in his tracks as he thought about it, his eyebrows furrowing after thinking about her statement.
- That's true... We've tested the barrier to see if something could destroy a part of it from the outside but not even a small hole... But when we tried it from the inside... -
His eyes then widened as he started running.
The sudden action made the girl yelp and cling onto his back for dear life while her grip on the case tightened.
"What's wrong-"
"I cannot believe... That we forgot... How mediocre... What idiocy...!"
He hissed to himself.
"H-huh? What's w-wrong...?"
Granger grunted as he jumped out of a broken window and landed safely on the ground.
"We just tested... The barrier a week ago... And noticed that you could... Nullify a part of it from the inside..."
Jay blinked, her jaw-dropping when she got it right, almost dropping the case from the shock and surprise.
"S-so... That means"
"So there's either a spy or a traitor... That let those things in..."