…
"We're dead… should I, use it?" she murmured to herself, feeling conflicted. Looking at her side, El still muttering, "C'mon, c'mon, c'mon," under his breath.
…
Kneeling to be at the eye level of Glam, Sill with his eyebrows up then said, "Hihihhihi, look at this guy. Seems to be impatient to suffer, I see. But..." he then turned his gaze to the direction of Gill who was trying to look as brave as possible.
"You little prick. I still remember when you swore at me in that building. But don't worry, as I am a magnificent, compassionate being, I'll skin and kill you first, so you won't suffer when seeing the others being treated that way. I hope the quality of your skull will be good and big enough to be our bowl," Sill said irately, glowering at Gill who turned even paler instantly.
But then, an unexpected reaction comes from Gill who bravely eyed him with a contemptuous stare as he then mocks Sill by saying, "Ha, you must have such interest in skinning someone and used it, because of your ugliness right? You indeed look disgusting, no matter which side or which way someone looks at you!!! Even a rat in the street is way prettier than you!!!"
"…"
"How dare you. How dare you insult us who were born from our mother's ashes. We are the children of the great goddess, Kaylessa. The one who protects nature itself. Our beauty and perfection are something you humans who destroy nature itself can never understand!!!" the transformed Leo gritted his teeth as he barked that statement with his whole heart, driven predominantly by his belief in his goddess.
Zeke also shows anger across his face after being called ugly by Gill, that was – except, Sill who looks at Gill with interest instead. His anger was gone, replaced by a smile and a glimmer of curiosity, if only blood and saliva had stopped falling from his mouth, surely, it would be less scary for the poor Gill – who braved himself once more to use his flair and dexterity in his mouth in this 'battle of spite and insult' against these three creatures, while eyeing Ran occasionally who was across him to do something.
"Kaylessa? What Kaylessa? Not one across the four empires anyone had ever heard about such a goddess name. Maybe you remember it wrong."
"Wrong? How could we Shifter didn't remember our own mother's name?" Leo replied.
"Uh, uh, everyone makes mistakes dude. Besides. Your definition of beauty is very wrong. What kind of beauty looks like you all? Look at that blood!!!" taunt Sill, directing his gaze at the blood dripping from their mouth, while holding his urge to puke – because the unbearable smell was similar to someone who hadn't taken any bath for a whole week in a hot, humid temperature.
"Raaawwwrrr. You understand nothing, human. We were cursed all because of your race's greed. Now what is left of us… uckkk…"
"Enough…" Sill interjected.
Still with his sight remained at Gill, Sill spoke while smiling insidiously. "I change my mind. We won't kill you for now. But you will become a perfect sacrifice to our queen."
"Don't take it on him. Take it on me, you devil. Let me go right now and fight me. Let's see how I'm going to bash your head…"
*Crunch*
Ran and Gill left stupefied as the two saw Sill's finger lengthen, and then like a knife, used that hand to pierce Glam's head with a single strike, killing him immediately.
The two breaths became shallow as they sweated purposefully while watching the horror unfold before them. Ran tightened her lips as her hand then reached into her neck, precisely at her necklace.
"Mother…" he whispered to herself.
"Damn it, I can't find it. How do I do it that time?" El suddenly broke the tense silence as he complained to himself. He tried to dig into his memories, but what he found was only those annoying incessant rambling about wanting him to die. 'Can that thing be more creative though?'
What he wanted to reach was something that perhaps could save them this time. Just as he noticed how he and Ran, struggled to fight back against the net that had trapped them easily, it made him understand instantly in that short period, the severity of the situation they were in, especially seeing those gory splitting cheeks of theirs.
It was bad. It was really-really bad.
So, he subsequently tried to reach something that he recalled once saved him in a way he didn't even understand any parts of it as to how. But well, beggars couldn't be choosers, could they?
So, he took the gamble. Trying to recall that sensation that saved him and the whole villagers from bandits, yet he didn't even remember anything about what happened that night.
And that gamble – proved he was out of luck. 'Goddamnit, my luck is such a damned when it's finally time to matters…"
El then opened his eyes.
Yet, what his sight found for the first time was Sill, who looked at him menacingly as the latter then pulled his hand back from the head of the tragic Glam, splashing blood and bits of flesh, with Glam's body fell to the ground with a thud.
The sudden fright prickled at his skin.
Widened his eyes. Suddenly from out of nowhere, his heart thumping faster and faster – with his consciousness starting to slip from his grasp. El clutched his chest in agony as his vision gradually blurred. Inside his mind, countless pieces akin to fragments of blurry scenes emerged, alternating to tell him vaguely about something important that he had lost.
Something he wasn't supposed to forget.
"Argh…" El clutched his chest even tighter. His nails dug into his skin, drawing blood. His mouth gaped, letting out uncontrollable drool as his head fell to the ground. Veins bulging on his forehead, arms, and neck. It was getting harder for him to draw air to his lungs from the torment incessantly attacking his heart.
Even the act of screaming in pain was something he found difficult to do.
And what he couldn't understand was that – this overwhelming ache was not caused by physical injury, but by something else entirely. Something far deeper than words can describe.
Something that made him choose to forget because it was too painful for him to even think about continuing to live. It was similar to the pain that made El cry in tears when he touched upon the emotions of 'that man' when he talked about his daughter. Just more transparent and unpretentious.
It was…
Sorrow.
But what he was grieving about? What kind of anguish is capable of tearing into his heart like this? What was this absence he felt right now?
…
"Wha – what's happened? El…" Ran exclaimed. Worry lines her forehead.
...