The team's pace quickened as Gibbous spotted the demon holding the woman further from the broken railing.
As they closed the distance, the demon swung its blade-like hand toward the woman's throat.
Blood sprayed from the wound onto the demon's hand, and it let out a low, chilling chuckle.
The sight sent a jolt of panic through everyone, hastening them even more.
Gibbous cursed under her breath, her jaw tightening.
"QUILL!" she shouted as she felt the others follow behind her. "ARROW! ARM!"
"BUT THE WOMAN!"
"JUST DO IT!"
Quill slowed down, drawing his bow of light with precision as he aimed for the demon's arm that held the woman.
With a swift release, the arrow flew through, striking the demon's limb. The creature hissed in pain, its grip loosening momentarily.
The woman almost fell out of its clasp, and Gibbous did not waste a second as she conjured a ribbon, a rope of light, and lassoed the woman's hand with accuracy. With a strong tug, she managed to pull her back from the demon's reach.
Quill dashed and lunged at the demon, immediately pinning it down with his weight, as Gibbous laid the woman gently on the floor.
Crescent and Arc rushed to the woman's aid.
"Go, we'll take care of her," Crescent said as she kneeled in front of the civilian. Gibbous gave a nod and left the woman in their care.
Without hesitation, Crescent pressed her hands against the woman's neck to stop the bleeding.
"How can I help?" Arc asked, kneeling across from her.
"I need something to put more pressure."
"Will this do?" Arc took off his jacket and handed it to her.
"Something softer."
Arc immediately took off his shirt and handed it over.
She hesitated for a moment before grabbing it with one hand, supporting the bleeding neck with it, and applying more pressure. While she did so, Arc called for Bryan to inform responders that a civilian had been hurt.
Quill and Gibbous continued to battle the demon.
The demon's left hand had a bone protruding out of its arm, forming a sharp blade. It swung at Quill with deadly intent, making him leap backward, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow.
Standing straight, it was now surrounded by the two. They circled it as it released a deep growl.
"It's fast. Stay focused," Gibbous warned Quill, her gaze piercing as she kept her eyes on the demon.
The demon let out a loud cry, howling, a deafening sound that made everyone cover their ears.
Crescent, whose hands were busy with the bleeding, put her other hand on the woman's ears as she used her knee for the other.
Arc instantly put his hand on Crescent's ears to block out the cry. A few agonizing seconds of it and Arc's ears were bleeding. Crescent looked at him worriedly as he held out in pain, trying to stay conscious.
After the cry, the demon's body convulsed once more, its feet transforming into thick muscular legs with large and heavy hind paws.
The skin on its hands shed, revealing flat elongated bones with remaining wet pink flesh, sharpened on the ends.
The demon laughed.
And Gibbous did the same. "That was a dang ugly cry!" She glanced at Quill and shouted, "Prepare to seal!"
"Copy!"
Gibbous lassoed the demon's hand, and it was caught by the arm. Quill stepped back and released more arrows as he prepared to seal, the demon avoiding them with ease.
It yanked Gibbous closer through her rope of light, and it swiped its hands. She leaped back from the slice, releasing her lasso.
Another swing of the hand blades, and she ducked, her feet sweeping to its hind paws, making it lose its footing. It pierced the blades into the floor, regaining its balance with a snarl.
The demon only noticed the ribbon that wrapped around its blades when Gibbous pulled both ends from the floor. It tightened, and its blade hands collided with each other.
"QUILL! NOW!" She shouted as she kept on pulling on the rope with all her strength.
Quill jumped on it, his right hand glowing with intense light as he moved forward. He pushed his hand straight to its nape, as the demon's chuckle turned into a wail of agony.
It convulsed violently, but Gibbous kept the lasso taut, preventing it from escaping.
They all listened to its wails as it thrashed around... until there was only silence.
Gibbous released the lasso, letting out a sigh of relief. The two lay down on the floor, catching their breaths.
"Good job, Quill," she said, her tone softer now.
"Good work as well," replied Quill in ragged breaths.
Responders arrived, quickly assessing the situation and tending to the injured woman.
They carefully lifted her out on a stretcher, Crescent watching them closely.
"I'll meet you guys in a bit." Crescent, who was worried, followed the woman out.
Arc nodded to what he knew were words, but failed to hear. There was only ringing... every sound was muffled and distant.
As the responders left, Arc stood up to check on the others, but the room suddenly swirled. He felt dizzy, disoriented, and fell back to the floor.
"What's wrong..." He stared at his hands as they trembled uncontrollably.
A strong heartbeat echoed through and overtook him. His vision darkened as he stared at his seemingly doubling, tripling, blurring hands. It was that familiar presence once more.
"Has the time come?"
The words echoed inside him as he tried to keep himself together. Blinking hard, balling his hands into fists, steadying his breathing as much as he could... not giving in to whatever felt like taking over.
"Arc!" A voice called in from behind, distant and worried. He looked back slowly, finding Quill a few steps from him.
"Are you okay?"
The sound registered, deadened, like his head was underwater.
"Arc!" Another call was stifled, and he shook his head.
A few moments of slow breathing, and his eyesight sharpened.
"Arc, are you okay?" Gibbous asked this time.
He nodded. "I can't stand up..."