[A/N: Chapter soundtrack: The Cue From Hell - Marco Beltrami]
As it came Mai felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
The shriek was alive.
As if the abyss itself had found a voice.
A monstrous sound that should not exist, coming from the very depths of hell.
A banshee's wail couldn't even compare.
Like a sword, the sound sliced the air into pieces.
Mai gripped the glass hard, her fingers trembling from the effort.
The sound was not just heard; it was felt.
Long strands of her dark hair were whipped across her face by the powerful gust of wind, blowing it back and revealing her face.
Her eyes were shut and her teeth pressed together as the noise rang painfully in her ears.
Then, a sudden wave of nausea hit her.
The shriek carried with it the scent of decay.
A putrid stench, like rotting flesh left to fester in the sun, filled her nostrils.
The world around vibrated, the shards quivering in resonance with the noise.
Despite the shrill cry surrounding her, Mai forced her eyes open, squinting them to protect her vision from the sharp blasts of wind.
From the students who dangled above the dark abyss, to the ones who fell recklessly.
From those who wore the pristine uniforms of prestigious academies, to others who donned the blazers of local high schools.
Though her vision still somewhat blurred, it was clear to Mai; none were spared.
She watched as some students lost their grip... no, it was more like they chose to cover both their ears over holding on.
And for a terrifying moment, just as a passing thought of relief... Mai was tempted to follow their lead.
One at a time they dropped into the darkness below.
It was like watching some kind of silent film; their mouths were open yet no sound could be heard.
Casting a quick glance to Hio, she could see him wincing as the wind from the shrieking hit his face, his jaw clenched tightly as if trying to ignore the pain.
Then, Mai turned her gaze to Peter. Unlike the duo, he had the pleasure most didn't have.
His index fingers were pressed into his ears, trying to block out the noise.
However, that didn't seem to help much as his face was twisted into a nasty scowl, a vein popping in his temple as the shrieking continued on and on.
Peter glanced over to the pair, his lips moved as if he were speaking but Mai was deaf to the sound.
The shrieking seemed to be growing louder and louder.
So much so that Mai felt the wind ripping the hair off her scalp, strand by strand.
W-What is this? How are we supposed to deal with this?!
Unable to withstand the sound anymore, she began to cry.
Like the child she was her eyes closed as a stream of tears flowed down her cheeks.
She was ready to let go.
This was simply far too much.
As if in agreement, the shards of glass flickered with a strange glow. Webs of cracks began to form across each and every one.
And just when Mai was sure her ears were wet with blood, as suddenly as it began, the shriek ceased.
Silence took over.
A silence that felt alive. Oppressive.
In that silence, chests rose and fell.
No one screamed in fear.
Nor did they dare to sigh in relief.
It was as if the abyss itself was holding its breath.
Then it came.
This time it was not just a sound.
It was a force demanding their surrender.
A new wet sensation appeared across Mai's face. Tiny droplets of it dribbling from her chin.
She forced her eyes wide open. In that darkness, she realized what had happened.
Before the sound even hit, she had felt the impact.
The shards hadn't shattered with a bang.
All at once they just simply ceased to exist.
They withered into fine splinters that burst out like a million needles, slicing skin, too fast for the eyes to follow.
Barely aware she had lost all sense of up and down, Mai dropped through the air.
"Ma..." A voice called her name out. But it was far off, too faint and impossible to reach her ears.
Her body felt so weak, her mind foggy. She had trouble registering her surroundings.
The only sensation she felt was in her closed fists. Using the last bit of strength she could muster, Mai lifted her hands.
With half awake eyes she stared at them.
In her palms, she saw a clump of tiny shards sparkling like dust motes.
The golden glow bathed her face as she tried to focus her eyes on the silhouette falling alongside her.
But it was difficult for her to keep them open. The world around began to melt into shapes and colors.
And yet, by some miracle, she managed to make out a form.
Even in the darkness, her pale yellow hair stood out sharply, the light falling on it glowing like a halo.
Blown around by the wind, her cardigan was torn in places, and bloodstains soaked through the white uniform she wore underneath.
As Mai's consciousness slipped, the golden light from the shards in her hands dimmed, but not before casting a final glow on the girl's face.
Though her face was hard to see, the expression she held seemed oddly serene.
With how peaceful she looked, there was something else about her - something that sent a shiver down Mai's spine.
This girl... she shouldn't be here.
And then everything went black.
To Be Continued...