Lanse's harsh words pierced through the air, landing squarely on Zino's heart. The sting of being called a fool reverberated within her, a painful reminder of her perceived failure. The weight of her past actions bore down on her, suffocating her in a blanket of terror.
Her trembling lips quivered, her pink eyes shimmering with unshed tears that threatened to spill over. In a torrential release, the tears cascaded down her cheeks, her hands instinctively covering her face as her shoulders heaved with sobs.
The room crackled with an air of tension, punctuated by Zack's outburst directed at Lanse, "What the hell is wrong with you?" his voice slicing through Zino's moans of distress.
Rising from his seat, Zack crossed the aisle with urgency, determined to offer solace to Zino. As Zack settled beside Zino, his presence offered a comforting anchor amidst the chaos.
With a gentle touch, he guided her to lean against him, a gesture of support and protection. The weight of her worries and fears seemed to dissipate, if only for a moment, as his reassuring words broke through the tumultuous air.
"Zino, it's over. Stop worrying about it," Zack's voice resonated with a soothing cadence, a balm to the wounds inflicted by their harrowing experiences. His words held a promise, a declaration that the immediate danger had passed. He implored her to release her anxieties, to relinquish the grip of worry that clung to her heart.
Amidst the emotional turmoil, Tess, still yearned for answers. "Keep talking. What happened next?" her voice quivered, urging Lanse to continue the narrative, as he seemed to be the only one willing to speak.
With a hand pressed against his forehead, Lanse collected his thoughts, summoning the details of what transpired next.
"Szedra was still held captive, her existence a cruel testament to the pain she endured—"
"I didn't want anyone else to die!"Zino's anguished cry interrupted him, her tearful moan echoing through the room.
Zack, ever the pillar of support, comforted her. "Hush, calm down," his hand soothingly patting her back as she continued to sob, seeking solace in his presence.
Refocusing on Tess's unwavering gaze, Lanse closed his eyes briefly, acknowledging her silent plea to proceed. He let out a heavy sigh, the weight of the narrative pressing upon him. Raising the makeshift cone to his mouth once more, he resumed the tale.
"The tall hooded one spoke again, his voice laced with malice. 'Anytime now would be great,' he sneered," Lanse recounted, lowering the cone. "And then, he cruelly yanked Szedra's hair, treating her like a mere doll in his sinister game.
"Zino's resolve ignited like a blazing inferno within her as she took a perilous leap onto the ground where danger stood tall. With one hand clasped protectively to her chest, she faced the looming figure, her eyes fixed on the unforgiving ground beneath her feet.
"The hooded figure's voice pierced the air, dripping with a venomous blend of anticipation and menace. 'Finally, someone comes forward,' he sneered. His piercing gaze bore into Zino, seeking the truth she possessed. 'Do you have the fragment?' he asked.
"Zino's head shook with defiant determination, her resolve unyielding. In response, the hooded figure's lips curled into a sinister smile, revealing a glimpse of his twisted satisfaction. 'Too bad,' he hissed, his voice dripping with sadistic pleasure. Those words were her death sentence.
"But unexpectedly, Zino mumbled, referring to his previous statement about not killing anyone else. Then he replied, 'Yes, but my friend here did not.' As the echoes of her plea got lost to the wind, a shift occurred—a movement from his so-called friend.
"The bandaged creature materialized behind Zino, its presence suffused with an otherworldly dread. Its arms, long and sharp like a blade's edge, poised like a predator ready to strike at her neck. See? Even if I had given up the fragment, none of us would be making it out there alive."
Lanse's words hung in the air, carrying the weight of undeniable truth. The room buzzed with anticipation, as if everyone held their breath, eager to hear the rest of the story—the part that brimmed with bravery and heroism.
Zack's voice sliced through the silence, his urgency palpable. "Don't stop there, Lanse," he urged. "Tell us the good part—the brave part."
Zino's eyes peeked out from behind strands of disheveled hair, her moaning subdued by the intrigue that enveloped the room. A hushed anticipation settled over them, amplifying every word that was about to be spoken.
Lanse's hand moved beneath his chin, a gesture of deep thought as he searched his memory for the sequence of events.
"I know what happened next," Szedra interjected, capturing their attention with her unexpected declaration.
Wide-eyed, they turned towards her, eager to uncover the missing piece of the puzzle.
A wry smile played on Lanse's lips as he acknowledged Szedra's statement. "Yeah," he conceded, lowering his hand. "You were still alive, weren't you?" He reclined on his arms, relinquishing the spotlight. "Tell us what happened. My perspective is boring."
Szedra's voice carried a sense of authority as she began to recount the events. "From what I could see," she started, her words laced with a mixture of awe and disbelief, "the tip of a sword appeared near Zino's feet. In a blur of motion, she spun around on the tip of one foot. The next instant, white shreds of bandages fell from the air accompanied by an ear-piercing shriek."
Tess gasped, her disbelief transforming into admiration. "Wow," she exclaimed, her perception of Zino forever altered. The girl who seemed meek and fragile had revealed an unforeseen strength—an enigma Tess was determined to unravel. But before she could dwell further on her thoughts, Szedra's sudden outburst startled her.
"Never try to defend me again!" Szedra's voice rang out, her eyes blazing with fury as they fixed on Zino, who remained in the bed beside Zack. She abruptly turned her head away, a curtain of black hair obscuring her face. "I never asked for it."
Zack stared at Szedra, his expression mirroring Zino's stunned disbelief. Zino's head found its resting place on his shoulder once more, while a low howl filled the room, a haunting reminder of the imminent danger they all faced.
Lanse continued his narrative, his voice tinged with awe. "She spun around so fast," he recounted, his eyes squinting in concentration. "She became like a razor disc, or rather, the edge of a chainsaw—mercilessly striking her sword against the creature that stood behind her. The bandaged figure fell backward, black smoke surged from its body like a tire set ablaze. Then, just when we thought she was gone, Zino fell to the ground and rolled, as if struck by an invisible force. I swore she was dead. But then, against all odds, she rose again."
Lanse's face contorted with confusion as he struggled to comprehend the inexplicable. "You summoned a sword so the blade formed inside of you," he mused, his voice filled with equal parts astonishment and disbelief. "Then you pulled it so it ripped out your insides."
"You killed yourself," Zack's words landed like a heavy blow, resonating through the room as he looked down at Zino's head resting on his shoulder. The weight of his statement hung in the air, sending shivers down everyone's spines.
Tess's jaw dropped, a disturbing image flooding her mind, trying to make sense of Zino's actions. Why would she do something so drastic?
Zino leaned up from Zack, her voice stuttering as she protested, "I-I-I didn't."
Lanse interjected, the full memory now crystal clear in his mind. "You're right," he acknowledged. "After you fell to the ground, black smoke rose from every inch of your body and transformed into a blackbird. It perched upon the shoulder of the one with..."
His gaze shifted to Tess, a knowing look in his eyes that she dismissed with folded arms. Suppressing a smirk, Lanse cleared his throat and continued. "Really white hair."
"That must have been the entity controlling her. Zino would never willingly do something like that." Zack nodded in confirmation, his voice laced with concern.
"The one with the creepy voice let go of Szedra's hair and extended both arms, asking, 'Who will die next?' What happened next was a blur, but correct me if I'm wrong, Szedra."
Szedra, hands covering her ears and eyes squeezed shut, remained unresponsive. Taking the cue to continue, Lanse forged ahead.
"I believe Szedra, still on her knees, bit his hand the moment it descended to his side. He screamed, yanking his hand away, tearing it free. A piece of black flesh remained lodged between Szedra's teeth. You bit him, didn't you?"
Lanse glanced up, only to find Szedra still lost in her own world. He shrugged and nonchalantly remarked, "I guess she didn't hear a word I just said."
Tess interjected, urging him to keep speaking. "Just keep talking, Lanse."
Lanse sighed, picking up where he left off. "Right. As his hand tore free, a jet-black liquid oozed out, splattering onto the grass. Sizzles and smoke rose from the spots it touched. The flesh on Szedra's face sizzled and burnt away, revealing bone underneath. His blood seemed like lava, scorching everything in its path. It was just like..." His eyes widened, and he abruptly halted his words.
Curiosity piqued, Tess pressed him for an explanation. "Just like what, Lanse?"
Lanse hesitated for a moment before blurting out, "Nothing. That's when he yelled out, 'You pestilence!' and raised his hand to strike her. The next thing I saw, her body was flung into a nearby tree, the impact matching being hit by a bulldozer. The hooded figure stood, hand still raised in the air, but it never touched you," he addressed Szedra.
Confusion etched on Szedra's face as she echoed, "Huh?"