Joseph "Get down!"
He commands. Suddenly, a large deer comes running out of the bushes in the dark and charges at them. Joseph snaps his fingers as a green flame appears around his hands then onto his gun. The group drops to the floor as he fires and blasts the large deer charging them. It falls back as it squeals and thrashes on the ground. The group stares at it in shock as Shiori's eyes widen.
Shiori "What is that?.."
She says with a quiet but slightly frightened tone as the deer props itself back up but now its head is hanging off to the side in a broken, unnatural way and its body now looking wrongly put together with large front legs and short back ones as blood pours from the wound in its chest. It stands up on his hind legs as its hooves turn into human hands. It grabs at them before screeching and charging them on its two legs. Sugawara screams as Touma steps in front of them and delivers a heavy punch to its body. Bones crunch under his impact as blood pools from its mouth. Touma pulls back as it reels from the attack.
Joseph "All of you, inside now!"
He shouts as two more deer come from the darkness. Haru picks up Sugawara and begins to run back towards their rooms as the others follow. Joseph fires again and again as they run. The rest of the class all comes out of their rooms with worried looks as Piper steps out of the main house.
Piper "Kids, come inside, hurry!"
She yells as they all do. Haru, Touma and Sugawara get ahead as Shiori looks at Hikigaya.
Shiori "Should we just do it?"
Hikigaya "Yeah. Whatever happens after doesn't matter."
She nods with a determined look as they both stop and turn, prepared to fight with their powers and revealing to the others who they are but before they can, Vanessa leaps off the roof of the house as her fist glows with the same green fire. She yells as she slams her fist into the ground between Joseph and the creatures causing a small shockwave and crater. Hikigaya and Shiori are startled before their wrists are grabbed by Vanessa and Joseph and are pulled into the house with the rest of them. As soon as Joseph slams the door shut behind him, there is loud banging on the door and walls.
Milo "What is going on??"
Airi "What are those things??"
Tsuki "What was that scream?"
The class gets worried and erratic in the situation they're now in. Piper shushes them with a concerned look and tries to calm them down.
Piper "It's okay kids, we've got you. There's no need to panic."
She says calmly but obviously worried. She looks at Joseph who gets a frustrated look before turning to look at Sugawara.
Joseph "We told you to stay inside, didn't we?"
He asks without raising his tone but obviously quite upset. Sugawara looks upset and regretful with his actions.
Riley "Don't you speak to my Sugawara that way!"
Sugawara "No, he's right… I-I'm sorry.. I just thought that maybe you were gonna… eat us so I wanted to find proof and protect my friends…"
He says softly. Joseph gets a surprised look and looks at his daughter and wife. They too are quite surprised.
Joseph "Eat you? What on Sol are you talking about, boy?"
Sugawara "Well, all day I've been seeing and hearing you do things that were weird and kinda… cannibalistic?.."
Joseph "Name one thing."
Sugawara "First I saw that room with the bloody hooks and hanging body."
Piper "Kiddo, that room is where we hang the animals we harvest when it's time and the bag was filled with parts we can't leave hanging. We try not to show that place to the kids since it can be a bit much."
Vanessa "Just a part of farm life."
Sugawara "But I heard you talking to Joseph about doing it tonight instead of tomorrow!"
Vanessa "That was about the fleshrovers. My family has been fighting them for decades so we were gonna stop them while you slept instead of tomorrow since you were obviously getting suspicious about our actions. Apparently it wasn't about what we thought though."
Sugawara gets embarrassed as he sweats before remembering something else.
Sugawara "Well what about earlier when Mr. Joseph was dragging the body into the cellar??"
He asks. Piper and Vanessa look at Joseph who gets surprised. He stares at them for a moment before looking away guiltily.
Joseph "We'll talk about that later."
Vanessa shakes her head before crouching down before Sugawara.
Vanessa "I'm sure we could spend all night explaining everything to you but right now we have bigger problems."
Joseph "Thanks to that scream of yours, all the fleshrovers in the area are comin' our way. What was that about, anyway?"
Sugawara "When I was outside, I found a shed and inside I thought I saw human heads on a shelf but I guess that probably has a reasonable explanation too…"
He says while looking down with a doubtful look. Vanessa looks at him confused.
Vanessa "No, that doesn't actually."
Sugawara looks at her confused. Joseph turns away as Piper looks at him angrily.
Piper "Joseph! I told you to throw those damned heads away! Trophies from the fleshrovers you've killed is gross!"
He sweats and looks nervously before deflecting.
Joseph "We've got more important issues."
He says while looking out a window with a worried look.
Joseph "Thanks to Sugawara's scream, the seal wasn't able to be finished. And knowing him, he'll definitely show up tonight."
Shiori "What are they?"
Joseph pauses for a moment before explaining.
Joseph "They are Fleshrovers. Humans from long ago who lost their minds long ago and began consuming human flesh turning them into these flesh morphing monsters. Their skin is thick and their morphing abilities make it hard to actually kill them but our family has created an enchantment that can put them down for good. We can enchant any weapon or tool with it."
He lifts his shotgun up with a determined look.
Joseph "Tonight's the night we drive them off our ranch for good."
He turns to Piper.
Joseph "Stay here and protect the kids."
Shiori steps up with Hikigaya behind her.
Shiori "Wait, we can help."
Touma stands up too. Haru holds Sugawara in his arms and tightens his grip around Sugawara's shoulder subconsciously. Sugawara notices and looks at Haru, noticing the look on his face, wanting to join them but knowing there is nothing he could do.
Haru 'I want to go with them..!'
Joseph "No way, you kids should stay here where it's safe. We can handle it."
Shiori "You have no idea how many are out there and from the sound of it, tonight there may be more than ever. You're going to need the help."
Vanessa "Touma did hurt one of them with only his bare fist. That's got to be enough to at least slow them down for us. And I know you won't admit it but, your enchantment isn't as strong as it used to be."
She gives him a sympathetic look as he looks down slightly frustrated.
Joseph "I suppose my energy is fading in my old age…"
He looks at the three of them before sighing.
Joseph "Fine, you three can come but the rest of you stay here and stay safe with Piper."
He gives a commanding point to the group as they stay together low to the ground.
Joseph "Let's go."
He leads them downstairs as they follow close. They go into a freezer room down below the house where Sugawara had seen him drag the body into but from the inside.
Joseph "Alright, listen up. These things are tough and can only be killed by the enchantment or removing their heads. Since you don't have the enchantment and probably can't remove their heads, just focus on body shots and limiting their movement so one of us can come in the follow up."
Hikigaya "Mr. Joseph, if you don't mind me asking, why are they here and why build a farm here if you knew they were here?"
Joseph "When our family made the ranch, we had no idea of the curse that befell on those poor victims but once we did learn, our ancestors were far too bold to give up land so easily. So they stayed and fought as we will do tonight but this time will be different. We will bring down their alpha and stop them from ever coming back."
Shiori listens intently but suddenly stops. The others notice her stopping and look at her confused.
Hikigaya "Everything okay?"
Shiori "I sense one. A monster is in here with us."
Suddenly, a shadow of a figure steps out from behind a shelf towards the outside entrance. Hikigaya, Touma and Shiori stance up, ready for battle before Joseph opens his palm at them.
Joseph "Wait, he's a friend."
Phil "Hey guys, why'd you call me a monster?"
A tall, slightly misformed man steps into the light with his hand open and a slightly hurt look from the name.
Vanessa "Guys, this is Philip, he's a friend of the family."
He smiles and waves at them as they look confused by his appearance.
Hikigaya "Is he okay?.."
Shiori "Yeah, why does he look like that?"
Phil is shot and turned to stone by the words as Vanessa smiles and shakes her head.
Vanessa "He's technically a fleshrover. That's why he looks a little different."
Phil turns back to normal with a smile.
Phil "Yes sir! A long time ago, after Joseph had hurt me some, Vanessa found me wounded but I was too weak to get away. But instead of striking me down, she bopped me on the head with her enchantment and somehow I'm not crazy no more!"
He says happily.
Vanessa 'He was only a boy when that happened. I just couldn't bring myself to hurt him any more than he was already…'
She thinks to herself.
Shiori "So why not do that to the others?"
Joseph "It's hard enough to defeat them let alone do that but I have tried and it doesn't seem to work."
He looks at his hand in disappointment.
Vanessa "Since I've been gone, I'm sure things have been harder but I'm here now. So let's do this!"
Shiori "Ms. Vanessa, could you show me the enchantment?"
Vanessa nods, a little surprised by her request before igniting her hand with a snap. Shiori looks at it for a moment before closing her eyes and hovering her hands over the flame. After a moment, she opens her eyes as the flame jumps onto her hands. She steps back as the others stare in surprise. She closes her fists, deactivating the enchantment for a moment before reactivating it at will when opening her hands.
Shiori "Nice."
She says with a proud smile.
Joseph "Well alright then. Everyone ready?"
They get determined looks before opening the door to the outside.
Joseph "Let's go."