Ferrin's whole body shivered involuntarily, without realising it, the refrigerator he was staring at fell down, followed suit by trembles shaking the roots of the buildings.
'๐ท๐๐๐!' Ferrin wearily turned around, his whole body tensed up from the goosebumps going throughout him. His fur stood up like a cat's, acknowledging the scent of the hunter that had marked onto him.
Without thinking of anything else, he dashed outside. The first sight that greeted him was that of the Giant's shadow drowning everything into darkness. It didn't look like the middle of the day but that of the night instead.
'๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐... ๐ผ โ๐๐ฃ๐๐'๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐๐.' Ferrin's eyes kept going up and up, trying to see where the unreachable end of this monstrosity existed.
"Get yourself together Ferrin!" Ferrin slapped his monkey paw on his head, his eyes turned determined and started analysing things... something that Ferrin might not have been able to do.
'๐ผ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐๐ฆ. ๐ผ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ข๐๐ก๐, ๐ผ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก โ๐ข๐๐๐ฆ! ๐ด๐๐ ๐... ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐... ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐ข๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ง ๐๐จ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐ค๐ฃ๐ก๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ง๐๐ค๐ง๐๐ฉ๐ฎ!' Ferrin's eyes turned calm, he jumped backwards and started running.
The moment the stairs came into his vision, his eyes started glowing but before they could reach their apex, a stinging pain erupted throughout his body, causing it to slam head-first into the ground.
GGGRRRR!
'๐โ๐๐ก! ๐โ๐๐ก! ๐โ๐๐ก! ๐โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฆ! ๐ผ๐ก๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ค! ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐๐ก!' Ferrin gritted his teeth and morphed into a smaller form, all the while his tail grew longer, reaching a length higher than his body itself.
He jumped to his feet and dashed towards the stairs, as he was squirming through at a rapid pace, his eyes fell upon Seilo who was calmly looking at him.
But Ferrin failed to notice the conflicted look in her eyes and the subtle trembles of her clenched lips.
He pointed towards the door and roared loudly in his monkey voice, '๐ ๐ข๐! ๐ ๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ข๐! ๐ผ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐'๐ก... ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐๐!'
That was all he could do... or maybe that was all he wanted to do.
He lowered his burly legs before leaping upwards, reaching the second floor in one go.
He dashed towards the staff room and bashed the door wide open.
Awakening the dazed crowd inside as they gazed at the shade of their death looming closer.
He morphed into his human form and glanced at his mother.
"WE MUST RUN! SITTING AROUND WON'T SOLVE THINGS! WE NEED TO EVACUATE! THIS INSTANT!" Ferrin's eyes swept past everyone. His mind ran rapidly as he realised a major issue, '๐ผ ๐๐๐'๐ก ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐! ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐'๐ก ๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ ๐ผ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐กโ๐๐ โ๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ผ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐ข๐!'
Ferrin's eyes turned resolute, "SNAP BACK TO YOUR SENSES! THIS ISN'T THE FREAKING END! WE NEED TO RUN! WE MUST! BECAUSE THERE IS STILL HOPE! ITS STILL NOT AT OUR HEELS! SO DON'T JUST STARE AT IT LIKE CLOWNS AND START RUNNING! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!"
Ferrin jumped in Aria's direction, turning into a 6 feet tall monkey and lifted Aria in his embrace.
He dashed towards the door before turning around and glancing at everyone, his monkey eyes flickering in rage, "KEEEE!"
Aoci snapped back to her senses, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING? FOLLOW FERRIN OUTSIDE! WE CAN'T DIE HERE! WE NEED TO LIVE! GET MOVING! FICKO! ANO! RUN!"
'๐ ๐ข๐!' Paul muttered in his head before his dim eyes turned towards Ferrin, slowly but surely lightening up, '๐๐ช๐ฃ!'
He dashed towards Ferrin and glanced at the girls, "HURRY UP! EACH SECOND OS PRECIOUS!"
"HURRY!" Aoci shouted while taking the lead. Her eyes desperately clinging on to Ferrin, not wanting to let go of his sight.
'๐๐ข๐๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐... โ๐ขโ? ๐ท๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ก๐๐ข๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐ข๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐โ? ๐โ๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ค? ๐ฟ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐๐_' Ano tugged at Ficko's shirt, awakening her from her daze, "Lets go, Ficko!"
Ficko blinked her eyes in stupor, without knowing what to do, she just nodded her head.
"HURRY!" Aoci shouted towards the two in desperation.
"COMING!" Ano shouted loudly, a few tears falling from her eyes, her hand clasped tightly onto Ficko's not wanting to let go.
'๐ผ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐! ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐... ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฆ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐๐!' Ano bit her lips and glanced back at Ficko, her timid eyes trembling in fear, "I am sorry Ficko, but I don't want to let you go and survive on my on! So just come, I beg you! I need you!"
Ficko's eyes slowly widened in mixed emotions, '๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐... โ๐ขโ?'
Among the four girls, Ficko could be said to be the one with the plainest looks, coupled with her slightly overweight body, she wasn't the one who shone the brightest and neither did she wish for it, she just lived her life in silence. Going with the flow, kinda person... she could be said to be the least bothered about what happened to her. She actually expected that man to kill her after he was done, well, he had other plans.
As the days passed by, she kept feeling empty and more useless by the minute. She ridiculed herself for having to rely on a boy younger than herself. Each passing day the fire she wanted to push herself inside grew larger.
But today... Ano just came to her with a bucket of cold water and threw it on her fire, giving her what she was scourging for all throughout her life... a reason!
Ficko's grip on Ano's hand tightened, her eyes lit up with brand new light as she spoke in a resolute voice, "Lets go, Ano!"
"KEK!" Ferrin let out a shout in relief and started running outside. Unbeknownst to him, Aria was gazing at him in a daze, a silly smile on her face, '๐ป๐'๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐คโ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐, โ๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐ ... ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐!'
Aria felt relieved, she now knew, her son was still struggling. Even in the mess he had found himself in, her heart told her, Ferrin was still there. He was clinging on... not wanting to let go and fall into the pit filled with the mud of blood.
'๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ก, ๐ผ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ก ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ก๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐ก๐ข๐... ๐ผ ๐๐๐'๐ก ๐ค๐๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐กโ๐๐. ๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐คโ๐๐ โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐... โ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ โ๐๐.
'๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐! ๐๐ ๐ผ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐คโ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐โ๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐๐กโ๐๐๐ . ๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ก๐๐ โ๐๐ค ๐๐ข๐โ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ฆ ๐ก๐ข๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐... ๐ผ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ก ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐ก๐ ๐โ๐๐๐๐ โ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ก ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐๐! ๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ ๐๐, ๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐!
'๐๐ค๐ช ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐จ๐ค๐ฃ ๐ค๐ ๐ผ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ง๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ก๐!' Aria smiled sweetly. Her whole body washing in the relief of having her son near her.
"KEK!" Ferrin shouted in disbelief seeing Seilo still standing at the same spot.
"SEILO! RUN! WE NEED TO RUN!" Aoci shouted loudly while descending the stairs. She didn't look towards her nor dod she have the time too.
But the moment she got to the first floor, she clasped Seilo's hand in her's and started rushing towards the door, under Ferrin's shadow.
Ferrin smashed through the glass door and jumped outside, his eyes wearily glancing in the Giant's direction.
๐ง๐๐จ๐!
The moment he raised his head, a terrifying gust of wind blew towards him from merely the pressure of the Giant's step, trying to sweep him away along with it.
He ducked down, shielding Aria behind him.
WHOOSH!
The wind rushed from behind him, messing up the fur on his back. The terrifying wind created a pressure next to his back akin to a person pushing him forward.
He gulped nervously before looking back, his eyes wandered upon the Giant's face. Merely the size of the Giant's eye was equal to his whole body.
As he gazed deep inside the gigantic pupils of the Giant, he strangely felt as if... the Giant was actually looking towards him.
Ferrin's fur stood up in fright, '๐โ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐! ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐กโ๐๐๐? ๐พ๐๐๐ ๐๐ก? ๐๐? ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ฆ! ๐ผ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ !' This was the first time that Ferrin openly acknowledged it, the fact that he was helpless under the might of this behemoth!
He got himself together and jumped to his feet, he turned towards the others and screeched loudly, "KEEE!"
Ficko's eyes regained their light, "LETS GO! EVERYONE!"
The rest snapped back to their senses and dashed outside, the group of 6 ran as if there was no tomorrow and that much was very true if they didn't continue running.
'๐บ๐๐๐! ๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐! ๐โ๐๐ก ๐บ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐! ๐ผ๐ก ๐๐๐'๐ก ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก! ๐ป๐! ๐ผ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐๐ก๐๐! ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ โ๐๐๐! ๐พ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐! ๐ท๐๐'๐ก ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ข๐... ๐๐๐ก ๐ข๐๐ก๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ ๐๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก ๐๐ โ๐๐๐'๐ ๐ค๐๐ฆ.' Ferrin grinned widely, he turned around and peeked at the Giant who was still in the process of taking its second step in contempt.
But maybe... he shouldn't have done that. The moment he gazed at the Giant, the Giant also gazed at him. As if noticing the contempt sealed in Ferrin's eyes, the Giant's bloody eyes lit up ominously.
'๐โ ๐ โ๐๐ก!' Ferrin clicked his tongue, he had a bad feeling.
As if the Giant just swallowed some steroids, its slow paced feet suddenly struck the ground akin to it being run by thunder.
WHOOSH!
A terrifying gust of wind blew past the group. Leaving them frozen in their steps.
'Damn! Now this is getting difficult!' Ferrin clenched his teeth and took a step back in horror of what was to come, "KEEEE!"
Without doing anything else, Ferrin turned around and started running for his life.
"RUUNN!" Ficko screamed like all the ropes of hope had been cut and she started running frantically, her hand dragging along the stupefied Ano with her.
"Lets go!" Aoci felt a weak voice whisper in her ears before a tight force gipped her hand and started to drag her along. Her bewildered eyes stared in front of her in surprise, '๐๐๐๐๐?'
'๐ป๐ข๐๐๐ฆ! ๐ผ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ โ๐ข๐๐๐ฆ!' Paul wiped the sweat from his forehead and started to desperately charge towards Ferrin.
Ferrin turned around his head, marking the beginning of the sound that would soon haunt the group of six.
๐ง๐๐จ๐!
'๐ผ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐!' Ferrin slowed down, before continuing to run. '๐ฟ๐ผ๐พ๐ธ ๐ป๐ธ๐ฟ๐ฟ! ๐ผ'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐ผ๐๐บ ๐๐ ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ท๐ผ๐ธ ๐ป๐ธ๐ ๐ธ! ๐ผ๐น ๐ผ ๐ป๐ด๐๐ธ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ ๐ธ๐ด๐ท๐ ๐ต๐ธ๐ถ๐๐๐ธ ๐ด ๐ต๐ธ๐ด๐๐, ๐๐ป๐ธ๐ ๐๐ ๐ต๐ธ ๐ผ๐! ๐ผ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฟ ๐บ๐ฟ๐ด๐ท๐ฟ๐ ๐ต๐ธ๐ถ๐๐๐ธ ๐๐ป๐ธ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐ ๐ ๐ผ๐น๐๐ผ๐๐บ! ๐ต๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ด๐๐๐ธ๐ ๐๐ป๐ด๐! ๐ผ ๐ด๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฟ๐ธ๐๐๐ผ๐๐บ ๐๐๐ ๐ท๐ผ๐ธ ๐ป๐ธ๐ ๐ธ, ๐๐๐!'
"KEE!" Newfound strength burst throughout Ferrin's body. He bellowed out furiously and started running like he had snapped all the ropes tying him down.
Like a sign and akin to a beacon giving hope mixed in with burning vigour, the others, influenced by Ferrin started running crazily as well.
'๐น๐ด๐๐๐ธ๐ ! ๐น๐ด๐๐๐ธ๐ ... ๐๐ผ๐๐๐๐!!!' The thought echoed in their heads in unison. Each had different names and varying desires but right now, more than anything, they just... wanted to live!
"UGHHH!" Spit flew out of Paul's mouth as be screamed like a barbarian.
The wind started howling around him and circle him in a strange notion, some kind of foreign strength seemed to ignite inside him and he burst forth with newfound strength. His speed shot through the roof and he started to race right behind Ferrin.
As if Paul was the signal, the girls also burst out in desperate screams for survival and one thing that would surprise most was... Seilo was the one taking the lead.
In their hearts that beat timidly, afraid of losing their light, something drilled inside. Granting them the strength to struggle... to fight on for their lives!
'๐พ๐ธ๐ธ๐ ๐๐ ๐บ๐๐ผ๐๐บ! ๐บ๐! ๐บ๐๐!' Ferrin screamed at himself, his desperate eyes affixed at the land free from the oppression of the shadow. The one gifting despair, he was about to escape it!
'๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ผ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐!!!' A vibrant smile formed across his face. He grabbed the rope of hope and jumped, his heart beat more and more faster, his eyes grew more and more delighted as he crossed the doom-land and neared the land which shone in hope.
But... ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ๐ป'๐ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ. ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ต๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ ๐บ๐ฎ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ต๐๐ด๐ฒ... ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฟ... ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป'๐ ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ถ๐.
Thud!
It was the sound that pierced into the hearts of the six.
That drilled through their pores and tore their hopes to shreds.
๐ง๐๐จ๐! ๐ง๐๐จ๐! ๐ง๐๐จ๐! ๐ง๐๐จ๐! ๐ง๐๐จ๐!
The land of hope was drowned... ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ด๐ถ๐ณ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฟ!