Heartache

"Puah! Stay away! You disgusting bum."

…

"Ha, ha! Look at him go, he's eating it from the ground. Bua, ha, ha, ha!"

…

"Why are useless hobos like him allowed in our city? All they do is spread stench and diseases."

"The only stench here is your disgusting mouth. Hearing you all talk makes me sick"

"Huh!? What's your damage? This has nothing to do with you."

"Wait, I recognize this kid. He's the son of that dirty conman."

…

"It's not like I did it for you. I just had to punch some sense into their ugly mugs." "What? You wanna follow me? The fuck do you mean?" "Whatever, do as you please, er… what was your name? Toki?"

…

"Nii! You finally brought back a friend!" "Nice to meet you, my name is…"

༻──⋆༺𓆩⋆𓆪༻⋆──༺

Gurumi keeps her orders short and concise.

They follow from the greatest possible distance, waiting for the right moment to act.

Whatever they do, they must not get discovered. Even if they have to stand idle as others get murdered.

Apparently, the two monsters are searching for something, and they are going through the whole chain of command in their interrogation.

They threaten guards, then high class citizens, and finally an elder from a big mansion, perhaps one of the heads of the clan.

They leave no survivors.

Worst of all, they don't take off their helmets. As long as they're fully armored, there's nothing Gurumi and Tokei can do. Their wand can't take them down in a single shot, and a direct confrontation would mean instant defeat.

If only we had a cane like theirs capable of producing lightning.

The woman shoots two more thunderbolts, followed by two thuds on the ground.

They enter a small underground passage.

Inside, the walls seem to be… made of metal.

༻──⋆༺𓆩⋆𓆪༻⋆──༺

Gurumi and Tokei follow the two armored enemies inside the subterranean cave. The place is full of so many unexplainable things Gurumi could ask questions for days, if not for the current situation.

After some wandering, they arrive at a massive room, brighter and heavier with runic markings than any they've seen so far. Gurumi and Tokei hang back at the entrance, peeking cautiously around the doorframe.

"Finally! The core room." The leader says. "Now let's set the course downwards and get the hell out of this shithole."

Wait, what!? Does he mean the course of the god? Is this how they move theirs? And they want to set it downwards…

Are they planning to kill everyone on the island!?

If so, Gurumi and Tokei must act now. She must come up with a plan before it's too late.

But what can she do? They are two nigh invincible elites who kill as easily as they breathe.

Once again, a comfortable weight rests on her shoulder, and a wide, trusting smile reassures her.

Then, like a miracle in times of need…

"Ugh, can't see shit with this thing on."

"Sir, I don't recommend taking off your helmet."

"Shut up, I didn't ask you. Let's see… umm… fuck, how can those nerds learn this shit? Ey, you're good with puzzles, right?"

"I believe so, yes."

"Take out your helmet and help me figure out which of the symbols in this apparatus are the same as the ones written in my paper."

It's now or never. Gurumi whispers her plan to Tokei and hands him one of the small sacks she always carries around, as well as her wand.

"Ready?" Tokei nods. "Go."

Tokei throws the sack farther than Gurumi's eyes can see.

If he manages to land it anywhere near them, it should explode in a cloud of the pollen she has been cultivating for months.

Why did she cultivate such a thing? Because she's a coward and wanted a means to defend herself.

"What the fuck is… gah!" She hears the man cough and wheeze. Tokei lifts his weapon and starts shooting non-stop.

His aim isn't good enough to guarantee headshots, but thanks to the enemies being stunned by the pollen, he should have enough time to—

A shot pierces Tokei's shoulder, making him drop the wand. Before Gurumi can take this in, a shadow appears and grabs her neck.

It's the female murderer. "Nice try. But your friend should work on his aim."

Tokei leans on the wall, blood dripping down his arm. "Sorry, Frienda, I messed up."

"What did you two throw at us?"

"I-it's a small mixture I've made, composed of grinded leaves of various poisonous…" After buying enough time to take out her other pollen sack, Gurumi spreads its contents towards the woman.

"Agh!"

Gurumi'll get affected as well, given the distance.

Coughing, eye irritation and nausea.

"Tokei!" She coughs. "Go!"

"No, you don't!" The woman shouts, and Gurumi hears another shot…

Then the sound of something heavy hitting the ground. Gurumi can't open her eyes because of the irritation. Two other voices are still coughing, which can only mean…

Her eyes get wet, and not because of the pollen.

"Sakitto, ugh! Break her fingers one by one until…" He pauses to cough. "Until she tells us what's the remedy for this shit."

"You heard the sir. Speak now or…"

"Bleh." Gurumi sticks out her tongue.

There is no remedy other than water and rest.

If she says that they'll kill her.

"You asked for this."

An indescribable pain fills her hand along with a crack. She cannot contain a scream.

"Go fuck yourselves!" she shouts at the top of her lungs. "Aahh!" Another crack.

"Is the boy alive?" the man asks.

"Yes, sir."

"Brat, if you don't speak we are killing him."

"I-I…"

Once again, someone will die because of my fault.

But we are both as good as dead. They'll kill us either way once I give them the answers they seek.

A desperate idea crosses her mind.

She reaches inside her pockets, to the last, smallest sack she has, one filled with liquid.

She pulls it toward her own face, and then the woman grabs her hand.

"What is this?" She snatches it.

"I-It's umm… poison, a very lethal one. It will kill you in five minutes with a… " She breaks off, coughing.

"Then why would you try to drink it?"

"N-no, I was… sorry, I was trying to throw it at you. I beg you…" She starts sobbing. "I won't do anything else. Please spare me." She performs the most insincere cry she can.

"Damn brat thinks we are retarded. Sakitto, bring it to me, it must be the antidote."

"What if it's real poison and she's trying to trick us?"

"You think these sub-humans are capable of such schemes? Don't make me laugh."

Gurumi bites the inside of her cheek and starts coughing, spitting some blood from her new wound.

"Sir, the girl is coughing up blood."

"Please." Gurumi begs, and tries to give them the eyes. "Give it back… I-I won't last much longer."

"The poison is killing her faster because she's a kid." The man walks to her companion, snatches the purse, and drinks most of its contents.

"No!" Gurumi screams. "Leave something for me! Please! I beg you!" Without sparing her a glance, the man gives the rest to her companion who, after some hesitation, drinks it as well.

"You had your chance to talk, brat. Now you die to your own poison." Gurumi's false tears flow easily given how much pain she's in.

The man coughs again. "How long does this shit take to heal us? Answer or we kill your friend."

"That reminds me." The woman goes to Tokei and takes the wand from the ground. "Let's make sure he doesn't try anything funny while we are distracted. I doubt he'll wake up, but it's good to be careful."

"Stop acting like such a smartass."

Gurumi drops on the ground, and makes her best agonizing motions. She only needs to pretend for a few more minutes.

The pollen came from her white flowers. Lovely on the outside, yet in truth, they were weak, twisted, and unworthy of their beauty.

However, the liquid poison comes from a different source: a mushroom growing on a parasitized tree. It had sapped all life from it, and around it lay the corpses of animals that had tried to eat it. The thing killed anything that got too close and fed on the remains.

Gurumi was terrified of it, yet couldn't resist the temptation. She was too much of a coward to leave behind something so powerful, even knowing how dangerous it would be to anyone unaware of its true nature.

For a long time, she regretted stooping so low as to even consider using it. But not anymore.

Using something like that against these people feels almost like justice. Now, a thing made only to kill will end up saving everyone on the island.

"Gah!" The man's cough worsens. "What the hell? Why am I feeling… weak…" He falls to the ground, coughing a few more times, until he stops making any sound.

The woman remains standing.

"Well, tough luck, sir. I could call this a rational decision. We couldn't risk both of us drinking it." She coughs. "But that would be a lie, hehe."

The woman now looks at Gurumi, and from her sleeve takes out a familiar diminutive sack.

"Don't you think it fair for you to share the same fate as the man you killed, little girl?"

"W-wait," Quick, there must still be something you can say that… "Thanks to me you managed to get rid of the boss you hated so much. Won't you spare me? Pleeease?"

"Hehe. It's true that I disliked him, but I also hate brats, particularly young girls who think themselves smarter than me."

"I can give you the antidote. I don't have it on me but I know the recipe."

"Stop insulting me. I bet the powder isn't even lethal, just a big annoyance that will wear out after time."

The woman grabs Gurumi by the chin, and forces her mouth open.

She tries to struggle.

The woman is too strong.

The purple liquid enters her mouth, and the woman lifts Gurumi's head to force her to swallow.

…

The countdown has begun.

No matter what happens from now on, she's doomed.

It's terrifying to think about what comes after.

Yet, knowing it is inevitable, a sense of strength fills her.

"Well, now that that's done, time for me to fulfill my mission. Don't be sad for leaving your loved one's behind, they will follow you soon after, hehehe."

She turns away from Gurumi, and goes back towards the lighted room.

Big mistake.

Having no longer anything to fear, she gets up, runs to the body of the man, and takes his cane.

The woman turns back hearing her steps. She almost manages to slap the cane away from Gurumi's hands, yet something catches the woman's foot, stopping her for a moment.

A stream of electricity bursts from the cane. The woman screams like the monster she is.

Gurumi's hands also get burned because of the proximity.

The murderer falls to her knees, still alive.

"D-damn brat! I'm going to…"

She presses the trigger again. Filling the room with another scream.

Then again. Her hands feel like they are melting.

There are no more screams.

She presses the trigger again. She must make sure these monsters cannot hurt anyone else.

Unable to feel her hands, all she can see are blurry shadows.

A strong, dry pain fills her chest, and she falls to the ground.

Her heart is struggling to beat.

Everything is dark.

It's terrifying.

I'm going to die all alone.

…

I don't want to.

…

Through the darkness, she can see small movement, something nearing her.

A familiar weight rests upon her wet cheek.

She cannot see nor hear anything.

Yet she is now at peace.

At least she won't go alone.

And she also saved everyone… everyone except Tokei and Nii.

But they'll all meet back soon.

And then, she'll ask Nii to make his stew again.

I miss you so much, I can't wait to see you, to see everything once again.