Ferrin rapidly flickered across the corridors, his aim was the staff room but his mind was preoccupied by the two girls, 'If what the Guardian said is true, then Ano and Seilo might very well be the unconscious one. They are dreaming things so everything that happens here will merely become a messed up memory which will have no effect on them.
But if such is the case... then mom is also dreaming! Which means in reality, she is fit as always! But... there's something missing in this story.' Ferrin sighed heavily.
'What happens when somebody dies in the nightmare? She didn't... I couldn't ask her. I didn't want her to be engulfed in such... anger!' Ferrin shook off these bitter feelings and concentrated on where he was going, he didn't know the consequences of somebody dying but that was all the more reason for him to not let his mother's even a hair strand get hurt.
As he flickered in front of the staff room, he desperately hoped there was somebody inside. But before knocking on the door, he morphed back into his human form.
He raised his hand and gently knocked the door twice.
There weren't any windows so he didn't know if there was somebody inside or not. All he could do was hope and that he did like a beggar asking for food.
Despite waiting for a while no body responded. Ferrin's eyebrows arched down slightly as he knocked again. Still no body responded.
Ferrin knocked the door again and again before his knocking turned into pounding.
"If somebody is in there open the door, please!" Ferrin shouted from outside, thankfully all the monkeys had already been disposed off by him and the Guardian otherwise they all would've came charging towards him.
"Yo-You fool! You will attract all those scary monkeys like this! Shut up already!" A meek voice sounded from behind the door. Instantly causing Ferrin to burst from joy.
"I-I will if you open the door!" Ferrin nodded his head crazily despite the other guy not being able to see his ecstatic expression.
"Wh-What do you even want? Why are you trying to get us all killed with your stupid antics?" The man behind the door sounded most displaced by Ferrin.
"I-I need your help! Please help me, my mom is injured! Help her! Please! Please!!" Ferrin gripped the door tightly, he wanted to smash this door wide open and grab the person behind and drag him to his mother.
"Huh? Your mom? Where is she? What happened to her?" The man sounded a little bit less enraged.
"She's inside the super-market. Please come with me! Hurry up! We can't waste time here!" Ferrin voice sounded calm but the veins in his forehead started bulging outwards, a little more and he would smash the door.
"What? She's at a supermarket? You need me to go there? No! No way! Get your mother over here boy! I am not going outside into the hell that has appeared." The man stepping back in fright was clear in Ferrin's ears.
"No! No! You must come! I... I can do anything, just come with me!" Ferrin's hazy eyes started boiling up in rage, he inched closer towards the door, his teeth grinding together, 'COME OUT ALREADY! I WILL KILL YOU IF MY MOTHER GETS HARMED BECAUSE OF YOUR DUMB SHIT! GET YOUR SORRY ASS OUT ALREADY!'
Ferrin's deformed face starved for blood, almost like the blood-thirsty monkeys that were roaming outside.
"Huh? You can do anything? Don't joke around! Can you protect me? Can you help me survive this hell, huh? Kid listen to me, just go back. Don't waste your time here!" The man scornful mocked Ferrin, not realising that his words unintentionally appeased Ferrin's anger.
"Yes! Yes! I can do that! I can protect you! Believe me, I can protect you! Cone with me, I will help you survive!" Ferrin's enraged eyes awoke a thick layer of hope. He stepped closer to the door, "Come out now!"
"Huh? Protect me? Don't jok-"
Ferrin's eyes turned dark, his figure starting morphing into that of a 6 feet plus monkey while sending put his leg. The boom and the dent inside the door could help to understand his morphing speed.
His figure returned to his human form instantly afterwards, there was a thick scent of blood coated in his words, "Do you believe me now?"
"Yo-You! Wha-What kind of monstrosity are you?" The man's face could be seen from the dented door. His face was constantly morphing into shock and horror. He hadn't seen Ferrin's monkey form but it was a wonder if he had been more calm if he actually had?
"A monstrosity who can protect you! So, are you coming? I highly doubt this wall can protect you from the monkeys any further though." Ferrin smiled, despite his hardest attempts to remain calm, he still felt confused, 'What did I do? How did I lose my temper so easily? This... Ferrin? Is this Ferrin?'
The man gulped excitedly, his eyes shinning like stars, "I have found it! My ticket of survival!" The man held back his excitement and nodded his head, "Yea, I will come with you. But in addition to my protection, I will need food and water for my survival as well."
Ferrin massaged his forehead tiredly, "Of course, I am not planning on leaving you to find your own food and water."
"Great boy! Now tell me, what happened to your mother? What's her injury like?" The man finally put on his doctor face and started asking questions which eased Ferrin's pensive mood.
"She was struck deeply by a bat on the head last night. She hasn't woken up since then. A lot of bleeding has occurred as well." Ferrin worriedly explained.
"I see! Wait I will get my bag ready and... do something about this door but don't attract all the monkeys by creating too much noise." The man cautioned Ferrin while walking back and started to search for all the useful things.
Ferrin turned into his monkey form behind the man and kicked the door loudly while breaking it into oblivion while swiftly turning back into his human form, he was so quick that the man only saw Ferrin and the broken door.
"I told you not to make noise!" The man's face turned ashen.
"Don't worry, I and another have already killed them all." Ferrin waved his hand dismissively, "Hurry up!"
The man took some time to clean up every worthy thing and nodded his head in satisfaction, "Now then, grab this bag boy!"
"I can't. You do it." Ferrin denied swiftly and started walking off.
"Huh? Bu- Wait! It makes sense since he will be fighting! What if they get destroyed? He's smart and strong!" The man felt pleased, sure of his survival.
Ferrin first walked to the second floor and took the two girls who didn't ask any questions other then if the man was a doctor and started following him quietly. The man had enough shame to not ask the girls to carry the bag and even if he didn't, he still wouldn't be able to ask them since they were walking far away from him like he was some kind of filthy thing.
Seeing no monkey in their way, the three except Ferrin wondered just how the latter managed to deal with all the monkeys.
Ferrin was lost in his own thoughts about himself and kept walking silently until he reached the bath-room.
The Guardian was outside, caressing her beautiful spear while leaning against the wall. Seeing Ferrin and the others, her brow raised high in wonder, "Quite something you are, how did you manage it?"
"Believe me or not, its mostly due to you!" Ferrin chuckled to himself, feeling the heavy rock on his heart easing up.
"What are you up to now?" The Guardian placed the spear beside her and asked.
"I will be heading to my mom's location." Ferrin gaze turned gentle without even him knowing it.
"Hmm! Are you taking them along as well, that will put them in harm's way." A frown appeared on her face as she contemplated something.
Having made up her mind, she gazed at Ferrin, "Very well! I will accompany you!"
Ferrin smiled brightly, "I'm glad you tagged along!"
The Guardian stared at his smiling face with a strange gaze before her face turned grim. She grabbed her spear and started walking. "Lead the way!"
Ferrin nodded his head and the whole group started walking behind him.
Ferrin wanted to walk away from all the monkeys that they found on the street, but most of the monkeys they found were either sleeping after they finished their food which was in abundance till now or were roaming around cluelessly.
This called for a fight when the Guardian and the monkey met, the doctor was scared and slightly apprehensive at first but seeing the Guardian's swift way of dispatching the monkeys eased his heart and he praised his great foresight with no shame.
In an easy manner and one far more quicker than Ferrin's careful one when they were coming in the morning, the group reached the super market. Ferrin's little trip lasted for 7 hours, a time enough to cause Aoci and Ficko to worry themselves to the sky.
Ferrin hurriedly led the doctor to the second floor and opened the door with the key he had taken from the butchered man.
The first thing Ferrin did after opening the door was grab the doctor's hand and hurry him towards his mother's direction. Seeing her safe and sound eased his heart. The doctor shook off his hand and started examining Aria calmly.
In contrast to Ferrin's vigour, the first thing the Guardian did was stare at the dead corpse on the ground. Her eyes flickered as she stared at the way he had been killed and she inevitably turned her gaze towards Ferrin.
Aoci rushed towards Ano and Seilo and hugged them both tightly. She gazed at both the doctor and the Guardian wearily before dragging them both to a corner and started bombarding them with questions, which only Ano bothered answering.
After the doctor opened the bandage and applied something on her had, he bandaged her anew and asked, "Did you feed her anything?"
Ferrin's eyes darted towards Ficko who was staring at the doctor with apprehension.
Noticing Ferrin's gaze, she gulped worriedly while frowning slightly in confusion.
"Did you feed mom anything?" Ferrin asked, noticing her apprehension, 'Staying with them made me think that nothing had happened but the effect is evident.... They were probably putting up with me because they saw me kill him.'
"Ho-How could we!?" Ficko shook her head with a bitter smile.
"I see. So she didn't wake up at all." The doctor nodded his head while taking out a drip. He levied the plastic bag with the handle of one of the drawer's and attached the drip onto Aria's hand. "Hmm! Don't worry boy, your mother will wake up and is out of harm's way."
Ferrin's eyes lit up with warmth that could melt ice, "Thank you doctor!"
"Don't mention it!" He waved his hand dismissively while smiling.
Ferrin crawled towards Aria, his eyes welling up slightly, seeing her face, "Wake up soon, mom!" He reached down and gently kissed her forehead.
The Guardian who was leaning against the wall peacefully abruptly opened her eyes, 'They are finally here!'
Her eyes lingered upon Ferrin's face which was blooming beautifully like a flower.
Ferrin blinked his eyes cutely and stared up, coming eye-to-eye with the Guardian. Seeing her expression, his heart tightened. He got up, followed by the Guardian walking outside.
As he closed the door, his eyes fell on the Guardian who was standing on the reeling, her spear was tightly clenched in her left hand. Her clothes fluttered lightly in the wind, hearing the noise behind her, she turned her head.
"Are you leaving?" Ferrin asked, the mere thought of it caused his heart to come to his throat.
"Indeed! The first meeting will commence soon." The Guardian's fiery eyes squinted slightly, with her back turned to Ferrin, she asked, "Did you kill that man inside?"
Ferrin's eyes widened slightly, he could feel his heart throbbing maddeningly. But in front of her inquiring gaze, he replied truthfully.
The guardian sighed, her eyes trembling in surprise at his honesty, "I won't ask you why, just know, you can't kill the unconscious ones. You need to protect them, no matter what they do or intend too. In dreams, human being's worst sides appear casually in front of us, you need to tolerate that... and protect them. You can sever their limbs and make them immobile or whatever, just don't kill them."
Ferrin silently stared at her, his heart drenched in mixed emotions.
The silence continued for a while, before the Guardian peeked one last time and bent down her legs.
"Wait!" Ferrin's feet slid forward, "I remember, you haven't told me your name yet!"
The Guardian's eyes widened slightly, her lips parted as she scourged for words, something desperately throbbed inside her chest.
Something screamed loudly, telling her that this wasn't right, 'You are not him. So why has my heart starte-' She stared at Ferrin with a saddened and miserable look. "I will tell you my name,"
Ferrin felt that something was off as he allowed himself to be drenched in her gaze.
"The next time we meet!"
Ferrin's eyes dimmed down, something wanted to tear out of his chest and scream loudly. But he bit his lip... and glanced above.
The guardian jumped down but before gravity could start pulling, her hand raised up and held on to the reeking tightly, "Hey, monkey! You haven't told me your name either!"
Ferrin's eyes shot open, his lips trembled as he sought out words, his feet moved on its own as he reached the reeling and stared down at her face, into her eyes, "M-My, my name is..."
Something flickered across Ferrin's eyes, a smile crept atop his face, "I will tell you my name, the next time we meet!"
The Guardian stared up at his dazzlingly face, her heart beat crazily inside her chest, "Hehe!"
A cute giggle escaped her lips, she raised her hand and waved towards him, "I will take that as a promise!"
Her hand let go of the reeling, her figure crashed into the ground but remained unharmed. She stood there for a while before dashing outside without turning her head.
As Ferrin stared at her departing figure, his eyes turned strange, "Hahahaha!" An elegant and humble laugh escaped his mouth. One that seemed ancient... like the universe itself!
A dazzlingly smile bloomed on his face, he placed his elbow on the reeling and held his face, his lips moved and words lubricated in love burst forth, "Until we meet again... my dear Asura!"
Ferrin himself didn't seem to know or realise what he had just said, but maybe, for now, it was best that he didn't.