"A human like you can never hope to defeat us," sneered the man, his voice dripping with contempt. "You're nothing but an insect."
"Do you think she's even alive?" laughed the girl, floating effortlessly in the air.
"My guess?" replied the woman above her, a cruel smile on her lips. "No! She was hit pretty hard, after all."
The three of them laughed, their voices echoing over the deep sea, as if what had just transpired was the best entertainment they had ever seen. Nearby, the fourth of them continued munching on human bodies with its grotesque mouth embedded in its stomach, while the fifth stared down into the sea from above.
Meanwhile, Akai was sinking into the depths of the sea.
"I... can't... breathe," she thought, panic clawing at her mind. "I hate water... Why am I here? Why did I dig my own grave?" She managed to open her eyes, but everything was a blurry haze. "Why didn't I run instead? The last thing I wanted was a watery grave. I knew I would die. Then why did I come? WHY? Why is it always me who gets in trouble and gets all the blame? Why not someone else? Why me? Why do I suffer the most?" Her tears mingled with the saltwater, invisible in the vast, deep blue.
"Remember why you started," said an unknown voice.
"What?"
"Remember!"
In a small and peaceful town...
The school bus pulled into the parking lot. Students filed out one by one, juniors first and then seniors. The last to step off was Akai, a senior with a confident air.
The school wasn't large, but Akai had to walk to the other side to reach her class. Crossing the auditorium, she finally arrived.
"May I come in, sir?" she asked, halfway through the door.
"Late as usual, Akai," the teacher said without looking up.
"Yes, sir," she replied with a confident smile that didn't reach her eyes. "My bus was late."
"The same excuse," he muttered. "You should have a word with your driver."
"Of course, I will," she said.
"As the class representative, you must be a model student. Try to be on time."
"Yes, sir," she forced a smile, thinking, "It's not my fault. Why don't you talk to the driver, baldy?"
Akai sat in the far corner of the class, her outward boredom masking her inner turmoil. She thought, "Why am I here today? I don't want to get scolded again. I got zero on yesterday's test. She might throw me out today. I wanna RUN!"
But soon her thoughts shifted, "Anyway, I can't wait for the next chapter of 'My Best Friend is Actually the Ruthless Villain.'"
While lost in thought, her homeroom teacher announced, "There will be two days off for the whole school." The students cheered.
Snapped back to reality, Akai stammered, "Wha-what happened, Lily?"
"Weren't you listening? We have two days off. Let's plan something," Lily, one of Akai's best friends, replied.
"Sure, let's ask Kiara and Rose too."
Akai kicked the chair in front of her. "Yo, Kia, you listening? Let's meet up tomorrow at the usual place."
"Excellent idea! What are we gonna do?" Kiara responded.
"We'll visit 'The Smart City', Dubai. Inform Rosy."
"Alright, sounds great! But she's concentrating hard," Kiara pointed at Rose, who was engrossed in her studies.
Akai sighed tiredly at her.
"You guys are leaving me out," Lily pouted.
"You're the one not joining in," Akai teased.
"I hate you."
"I hate you too," Akai smirked.
"Come on, you know we were joking, right?"
"Of course, I'm not stupid."
As they were planning, the school's emergency alarm went off, followed by an announcement:
"Attention all teachers and students, the school is under strict lockdown. Stay in your current location. Do not come out under any circumstances. I repeat, DO NOT COME OUT!"
"What's that all about, sir?" Ali asked.
"Yeah, what's going on?" another student echoed.
The class buzzed with curiosity and speculation.
"SILENCE!" the teacher roared. The room fell silent.
"The announcement was made to keep us safe. It's serious. Be quiet."
That was all they needed to hear to be silent. The bald teacher was very strict and they very unlucky to have him as their class teacher this year.
The silence was soon broken by terrifying screams from outside the classroom. Heads turned toward the door as the screams grew louder and more horrifying, clearly belonging to children.
The teacher stood up, pushing his chair back. "Stay in your seats and do not make any noise."
The students saw this as an opportunity and started buzzing like bees, dismissing the whole matter of 'screaming' even if they were still going on.
They continued their talk about the daily life.
Until, something burst through the door and hit the wall as hard as possible, splashing red fluid all over the students who were near it, and the wall, and the window was now painted in Red color.
"I-I-t-it-s b-bb-blo-od…" the girl stammered "its-BLOOD!!"
Cold shivers ran through everyone's body.
The thing that burst through the door was the disfigured body of their teacher, who had just left the classroom.
It was very clear; he was wearing the same clothes just like their teacher was.
But, he was dead, lying on his own blood; moreover headless.
Someone or something must have done that to him.
Just as everyone was about to scream, a loud bang came from the door; it was Akai! she pushed the teacher's desk to shut the door, to block whatever was out there to come inside.
She was so fast at moving to the point that nobody noticed her pass by.
"If you want to live, keep your mouth shut and don't move a muscle until I say so."
Akai glared through the narrow door window, her face pale by what she was looking at.
A creature stood outside, a horrifying blend of human and mantis, it had no face only mouth which stretched in a grotesque smile, an eye stuck between its sharp teeth.
It was covered in blood.
The creature stood face to face with her.
'what is that?'
She didn't dare move. Everyone followed her lead, waiting for her next words. After twenty minutes, she finally exhaled, "It's gone. It's finally gone."
Akai fell to her knees in relief but signaled for silence. The students, relieved, fell to the ground, some crying, others in shock.
"Hey, you boys, block the door with the tables," she ordered. They hesitated. "Stop standing there!" Furious, her eyes conveyed the urgency.
The boys complied, blocking the door with tables and chairs.
Akai ran to the window, scanning the path outside. Her class was near the school walls, a typically deserted area.
"The path is wide enough for ten of those creatures. But they don't have brains..no i meant eyes, eyes. What if they come? Think, Akai, Think how? how?"
"Akai? What happened?" a student asked.
A girl screamed, her face twisted in fear. "No, it can't be happening. We're all going to die!"
Before she could cause more panic, Akai covered the girl's mouth. "I told you to shut up! One more word and I'll throw you out there."
The girl's tears flowed, Akai's threat silencing everyone.
The students had no choice but to be completely silent. What can they do now? It was a miracle that Akai was still rational and somehow calm.
"Then what are we gonna do? Wait for help?" Sky, a blue-haired boy, asked, worried.
He is one of those daring back benchers in her class.
'Mentally unstable' thought Akai, although, now he was shaking.
"We can't wait. Those things will come back. We'll escape through the window," Akai said. "The coast is clear. We have to leave the school."
"What's the plan?" Semai, the class's most intelligent student, asked.
"We'll build stairs with the tables and chairs to cross the wall."
"I suppose we are using the tables and chairs for that; right Akai?" said a voice from behind.
"Shit, I am dead" Akai mumbled.
"Stop shitting, Akai; I know you forgot about the most important person here" said Kiara.
"Really who might that person be? I don't see anyone like that here"
"It's me off course" Kiara pointed at herself.
"Yes. Yes. Yes, I know, common, let's get out of here"
Akai smiled in relief and continued discussing the plan.
"Just like Kiara said we are using the tables and chairs to build a stair that's all. I have explained the plan and now it's time to begin. I want everyone here who can stand to help; I don't want any flaws in the plan because one small mistake could kill all of us. Got that?"
Everyone replied together "yes!"
Akai made Kiara in charge of the boys due to her connections with them.
Kiara was friends with Akai for eight years now. She had good skills in these matters of fights and defenses.
They worked silently, building the makeshift stairs.
"i am just running on Adrenalin right now. i let my body rest even for a second" Akai thought. "But...They're doing a good job,Now, I need someone to console the others."
While thinking to herself Akai started to scan the classroom looking for that "someone" the one who can sweet talk people. And she called out her name.
"Lily! Where are you?"
"Here. You finally called me. What do you want me to do?"
"I am here and do you know how long I have been waiting for you to call me. It pissed me off when you GAVE the most and the toughest work to Kiara. Huh?" Lily asked fiercely.
"I know I know. I did give the most of the works to her, but it's not the toughest one. I left the toughest one for you, since you like tough things hahah…" she laughed nervously "why do I have crazy friends? I suppose that's why I like them"
"Console them," Akai pointed to the shocked students. "They need reassurance."
"Your wish is my command," Lily replied confidently.
"That's why you're my bestie," Akai laughed.
Lily tapped Akai's shoulder. "Don't hold back when we're safe," she said with painful eyes.
For a moment there Akai almost cried at her words, but she had to hold back, "Now's not the time for that," Akai smirked. "Get going."
Lily smiled angelically at the students, while Akai and Kiara continued blocking the entrance. However, the tables and chairs from her class weren't enough.
"If we can't get more, let's take care of the broken ones first," Akai decided.
"Why do you call them 'the broken ones'?" Kiara asked.
"Because they're mentally broken."
"Good point. Congratulations, Akai, you invented a new term," Sky commented.
term" said Sky.
"Alright, new plan is that you guys will be keep the 'The broken ones' safe. And help them climb the stairs. Got that?"
"Yes" all the boys replied at the same time.
"Oh my god, you actually agreed on that" Akai mumbled "Anyway does anybody have a duct tape?"
"Why do you need that?" asked Jack
"To shut them up, I don't like any flaws in my plans."
"Wow, you are so ruthless"
"Thanks, my dude, so does anyone have it or not?"
"I do, here"
"Thank you, amm.... Yue?"
"Sure as long as you keep us safe", he said.
"I can't guaranty that. It depends on your actions, that is", she responded seriously.
Yue is a new student, who joined their school this year. His hair was deep purple with lavender shade and dark eyes.
Akai borrowed duct tape from Yue, a new student, to keep the broken ones quiet. "You'll be alright. Trust me, we'll make it back home."
"You promise?"
"Yes, in the name of the almighty."
Encouraged and fearful, the students followed her plan. One by one, they climbed the makeshift stairs and crossed the wall. Akai went last to ensure nothing went wrong.
But then, they heard a desperate cry for help.
It was the school janitor, backing away from something unseen. He smiled crookedly at them, fear in his eyes.
"Move FAST!" Akai shouted. "It's here!"
The students hurried. The janitor stumbled towards them, pleading, "Please, don't leave me."
Behind him, the creature appeared, smiling grotesquely. Akai's legs froze.
"Please save m—ah!" the janitor cried as the beast's claw pierced his back, killing him instantly.
The man was dead in an instant, only his bloody corps remained.
Someone screamed, drawing the creature's attention. Akai lifted her skirt, tying it up, and ordered, "Chi! Kiara! Code red!"
Both ran towards the lashing beast. Kiara was running on the wall and Chi on the ground, they ran with such speed.
Akai followed behind, grabbing a thick metal chain found on the ground.
Chi went faster than Kiara to reach it first. As he was few meters close, he leaped onto the window panel and used it to leap even higher than the monster could reach him with its long claw like hands.
Chi took out a small cylinder like device from his side pocket which when pressed the button turned into knife like wipe.
He used to tie the monster's claws, all from when he was in the air and he landed on its back to hold it in its place.
Akai caught up to Kiara's speed. She passed the metal chain she had to her. And Kiara too, passed something similar to what Chi had to her.
"Hang him!" Akai commanded Kaira.
"On it" replied Kiara
Kiara went ahead as per Akai's command. When reached the struggling beast. She smirked and proceeds to rap each of the creature's leg with the chain.
Finally when she was done, Kiara threw the long end of the chain over the tree brunch above. She jumped to catch it because it didn't reach her.
After she caught the chain; with all her might she pulled it down causing the humanoid mantas upside-down, which left it immobile.
"Kai!" shouted Kiara to Akai who coming with full force to them.
Akai pushed a button on the device which Kiara had given her. It extended into a practice sword with pointed tip.
She jumped in the monster's abdomen and used it thrust full into its torso. The thing roared in agony and pain. Seeing that the sword was inside the monster, both Chi and Kiara released the monster.
Suddenly the monster exploded from the inside; apparently it was the work of the sword. It acted like an explosive.
The sword exploded without making any sound. All three moved away from the thing but not far enough for all the blood splashed on them. Now the monster was dead.
Blood splattered them, but the monster was dead.
The students, in awe, bombarded them with questions.
Who are they? Or what were they? How could they fight like a professional fighter? All three of them had no reaction on their face after the blast.
Akai went to get the training sword back.
Only limbs hanging on the tree remained of the monster. She casually picked the sword from the ground and came back.
Chi wiped his wipe in the ground making because of this it turned back into a small cylinder. He put the small device in his pocket.
Same went with Akai's sword and she gave it to Kiara.
"It's just a hobby," they replied in unison.
"You three are even saying that together" said Sky
"You asked to each of us the same thing" replied Akai "now isn't the time to talk, get going all of you"
"I never thought those two would show off their skills like this and at a time like this" lily thought, crossing her arms "well nothing stays in dark for long"
"Now's not the time to talk. Get going," Akai ordered.
As they climbed, some hesitated. Akai noticed and sighed. "Is there something you want to say?"
A boy raised his hand. "I have a younger sister in kindergarten. I'm worried about her."
"Yes, we all have siblings to worry about," another student added.
Akai glanced at a window above her class, sighed, and began throwing stones to get an answer. Five minutes passed with no response. Frustrated, she threw one hard enough to break the glass.