The howling sound is replaced by the gust of wind. This time, stronger. It breaches through us sending its army of sand that is trying to enter every ditch in our bodies.
We looked away from the tower. Trying to shield our eyes, we used our free hand to block the light it might emit as well as the flowing sand.
As if trying to be realistic, the sound of the wind deafens us. It is like that from the first activation of the tower in this stage, still, I could hear a muffled sound coming from Urick's direction. I don't know what he is saying. Though when I tried to process it, most of what Urick said sounded like profanity.
Well, I understand.
I don't know if I have or haven't said it before but, it's like being inside an ongoing sandstorm, and it feels real. Though as the sand covers us, some disappear on the ground preventing us from being submerged. Our bodies, on the other hand, aren't safe from the sands as they still try to find every crevice to fill.
It lasted a few minutes before the gust of wind felt feeble. Soon as we realized it growing weaker, Finnley spoke.
"Be ready to use a gas bomb."
"Wait, whose turn is it?" Aran asked.
To be fair to Aran, I'm also a bit lost. At first, I tracked every use of a bomb. But, with the chaos that occurred and some of us need to use a bomb out of the order, I lost track.
Finnley told us to do a count of our remaining bombs when the wind halted. He also said that when the wind stops he will use the last poison gas bomb that he previously set.
Not including Siti, we decided to set four of our bombs into poison gas bombs at the start of the stage. The bombs aren't permanently set to the kind of bomb you once set it to. You have the choice to set it to a timer or a gas bomb anytime and as long as you like.
As soon as the gust of wind halted, Finnley dropped his poison gas bomb on the ground. From it, came the green poison gas that does not harm us and gave us an area of safety against the croaks.
Though the wind stopped, the croaks still stares at the tower and not moving. Maybe we should just attack them? I thought. With them standing still, it gave us time to count our remaining bombs.
Aran, Urick, Fionn, and Jin used two, which leaves them six bombs each. Amelka and I used three of the eight bombs. And Finnley has four after using all of the poison gas bombs he set at the start.
At first, Siti refused to tell us how many bombs she has left. Maybe because of peer pressure and since everyone is staring at her after saying their inventory, she folded.
She said she has three remaining bombs.
Urick laughed and scratched his head. "Bro. Stop the cap, I didn't even see you use yours," he said.
With a soft voice and still an expressionless face, "Don't lie." Amelka said.
Annoyed, Siti couldn't hold it in, "Bitch! I'm not lying!" she said aloud.
Amelka just stared at her, there is still no change in her facial expression yet for some reason I imagined her being pissed at what Siti said.
"Are you really telling the truth?" I asked. "I only saw you use one of your bombs."
And it is the truth. Amidst the chaos, we only managed to correctly follow the order in a single sequence. I am also certain that she only used one of her bombs. Though, I could understand if she was lying.
She just joined the group and does not trust us completely. But we feel the same towards her. Also, I could say the same for everyone else in the group, but at the moment, their counts make sense.
Siti replied with a glare. Used to it, her scowl became far from intimidating. I had the urge to chuckle but managed to hold it in.
Waiting for Siti to say something instead of just looking daggers at me, my eyes transferred to everyone in quick succession. It is a habit I unconsciously do, looking at everyone, observing, and thinking to myself, "What are they thinking?"
Fionn seems to mind his business. Urick didn't care and is chuckling. Aran's face is filled with worries, I guess he doesn't want any scuffle within the group. Amelka, Jin and Finnley are just listening. They look ready to join the conversation. Then there's Siti's face of resentment.
"I… I used most of it earlier. Against the zombies," Siti said. She spoke in a soft voice that I didn't know she was capable of.
A loud sigh of disappointment came from someone unexpected. Amelka's sigh is even louder than her normal speaking voice. Still, her expression remains the same.
Everyone was astonished to witness something new from Amelka. In the month that I knew her, I never even caught her sigh and just realize it after minutes of processing it in my head.
Hearing Amelka's sigh, Urick began laughing aloud. While I saw Finnley holding in a chuckle.
Siti turned to her, "What?!" she said in a loud voice.
"Stop being angry. Just speak and explain briefly."
Urick's laugh became exaggerated. He held his stomach with both of his hands. And as if to properly mock Siti, he faced her direction. I notice Siti's face turning red. Her eyes began blinking a lot more as she tightens both of her hands beside her legs.
"Dude! She said, stop being extra, and stop the cap!" Urick said in between his laughter. "Why you always angry, anyway?".
Then, Urick used one of his bombs as Finnley signals him to do so, "I got five now," he said while still chuckling.
Amelka who was looking at Siti, turned her head away and just looked straight. When I saw her do it with the same facial expression, I almost burst out with laughter.
It made me remember a particular internet joke or meme as people call them, that was popular a few decades ago. It looks like Amelka just murdered Siti using a few words, then show ignorance as if nothing happened.
Aran looked at Amelka and said something in a soft voice. I didn't hear most of it but could tell that it is along the lines of "I know she's a rude little bitch but you hurt her feelings," or something like that. Though I guess Aran wouldn't use the B-word. Amelka just gave him a little nod, then he turned his face to Siti and smiled.
He looks like a father trying to sort out conflict between his daughters.
Siti's lips also started to shake. She looks so irritated to the point of crying. Is she about to cry? I thought. It appears so, but she managed to hold it in.
A rude woman who is almost about to cry when confronted. How did someone like her end up in such a place? The fact that she might've really used five of her bombs on the waves that we didn't even need to use a single one added weight to that question. My curiosity towards her heightens.
Finnley cleared his throat. I noticed a bit of a chuckle came out of him.
"So, you have three. Don't worry, it's all good."
Urick's face became serious all of a sudden. "Bro… It ain't good. She just got murdered!" He said followed by another hysterical laughter. He looked at Amelka, "Oh no, you'll get punished for killing someone."
Finnley looked at Urick, he managed to calm himself and try to have a serious expression, "Urick," he said.
Still chuckling, "Yeah, yeah. I get it. My bad," Urick said. He proceeds in trying to stop himself from laughing.
"So, Siti. You used five of your bombs against the zombies? How about the second wave? Ah, I mean against those cursed players?" Finnley asked.
I didn't know when it happened but Siti's hostile face turned to a sad one. Though she still maintained a little of her glare. I guess she wanted to appear fearsome.
"I… I was alone, okay? I thought I can complete this stage alone so I didn't join any group. When I joined one, a lot of them became monsters so I ran and joined the previous one before following yours."
Finnley nodded, "Ah. Okay, that's fine."
"The gas is about to get depleted again," I said.
"I know, but Amelka only has five remaining. So, let's change the order." Finnley said. "Jin, can you use yours first?" he asked.
Jin nodded, pulled out a bomb, and use it without question. He just listened to the conversation earlier with his arms crossed. Occasionally, I could see his shoulders shake as he let out a short chuckle.
"So, Jin now has five," Finnley said.
After Jin used his bomb, Finnley told Aran to use his next and Fionn after him. Aran answered yes with a smile, while Fionn nodded.
It has been almost ten minutes since the croaks stopped moving and just stared at the tower. I wish they would stay like that till the end.
Look at us, having a funny conversation in the middle of an event that could very well end our life. Maybe, we're getting used to being in a life or death situation and could find fun or happiness in the shortest break and because of the smallest things. Thinking about this is bittersweet.
Though, I feel like I've forgotten something important to tell them.