I wasn't meant to be left on a shelf (2)

"Alright." I clap my hands together, psyching myself up. It's been some time since I've had to work without the leadership of Fueko; I'm mature enough to admit I'm nervous doing this again. Regardless, I've done this before, I can do it again."...It's selfish, but I figure we'd want to lure them out of the hotel for later. So, I'll use my chainsaw to try and attract their attention, and you can ambush them from behind. Got it?" Not exactly my best plan, but I'm rusty.

Mizuki scoffs playfully. "Last time we did that, Martel-chan got an express ticket to a monster Anxi's loving embrace. Is that something yer' secretly into, Seco-chan?" She teases, presumably grinning. "I won't judge, if so~"

I elbow her. "They're just beast Anxi. You always said they were just a bunch of feral goo dogs. Unless you want to powerwash their viscera off the walls before our cameraman arrives, I'd suggest we try to lure them out."

...

She... cackles to herself. "Ahhh, god-- I missed this so much, Seco-chan! You're so fun to tease."

*Snickersnicker*

"Heheh... yeah. I can't say I disagree." There's a part of me that feels nostalgic, I'll admit. It was a rocky time for the two of us, given Mizuki was still living with her parents, but it was still... nice.

Mizuki pats me on the back, giving a thumbs up as she walks off into position.

Let's do this.

Taking slow, measured steps, I approach the entrance of the hotel. They're starting to notice me, but haven't become aggressive yet; that's to come when I agitate them. They always say on the news that, like actual dogs, you're not supposed to run unless absolutely necessary. But I'm prepared. My confidence is returning, too. It really is like the old times.

I do a slow twirl to tease the Anxi. ...God, she really did rub off on me, didn't she. I push away the tinge of disgust, taking note of the gurgled growls that are forming from the beasts. Good, it's working. I rev my chainsaw, practically revving up the anger of the Anxi as well, before kicking my feet back, pushing myself away from the entrance to break into a sprint.

I can hear them running for me. I can't stop now. Just need to keep putting one boot in front of the other, until-

One of them screams out in pain as Mizuki swings into them, presumably pulling out their inorganic guts. That's my cue.

I skid, stopping my stride with one foot and pivoting, throwing my weight to swing my chainsaw around as I do. My blade's flaming teeth crash into the head of the one Anxi unfortunate enough to be in front, spraying pastel sludge everywhere as it struggles to break free. I power through, driving my chainsaw clean through the middle, slicing its head horizontally in half. Its jaw falls to the ground, yet... it's still trying to attack me? Fueko was right, these things are getting hardier by the day.

No matter, just means I need to keep pushing. If I keep applying the pressure, then it won't be able to reconstitute itself in time. I swing my chainsaw around again, slamming into its neck.

Oh right, there's still the other one-- the one neither me nor Mizuki were dealing with. Using the Anxi I'm presently decapitating as an anchor, I throw out my leg to kick away the third beast. It's not your time to die yet, so piss off.

I turn to Mizuki. "You need help?" I ask quickly.

"Nah, you?" She's wrestling her Anxi, digging her claws into its neck.

"This third one's a pain."

"On it, boss~" She slides off the Anxi, claws still embedded within it, before throwing it into the other, knocking them both on their sides, one on top of the other. Then, without needing me to ask, she throws herself on top, forcing her weight onto the two of them to prevent them both from moving.

Perfect timing too, as I'd finished with my Anxi. "Thank you kindly." With an overhead swing, I bring my chainsaw down on the poor creature's necks, one by one. Their screams of pain as their ichor sprays onto the two of us almost makes me feel bad for them.. almost. But, they're mindless creatures; I know better than to give these things sympathy.

Especially knowing who created them.

Sigh.

"There, done and dusted."

Mizuki gets back to her feet, brushing off her dress. "Better pace than I'd thought, I'd say."

"You have that little much faith in me? I'm hurt."

"N-now c'mon, don't be like that!" She stammers, guilt washing over like a wave. "I just meant-"

"I'm kidding." I flick her masked forehead. "You know, you're just as fun to tease, Wan-chan."

She makes a noise that, were I able to see her face, would probably be her sticking her tongue out.

"Let's make sure there's not anything we missed, before we change back."

She nods, and the two of us make our way into the hotel. It's as decrepit and abandoned as you'd expect it to be. A thick layer of dust blankets the torn up cushions and rotten wood tables, threatening to put me in a sneezing fit were I not presently wearing a mask.This place must've been abandoned for years, maybe even a decade or two.

"Right at home, huh?" I ask Mizuki, who nods with a chuckle. So far, the coast is clear. just need to do a once-over on the hallway, and-

Oh Jesus CHRIST--

As I turn the corner, I bump headfirst into the ass of a particularly tall monster Anxi. Goddamn glad my face is covered, eugh... Backing away defensively, I realize quickly that they aren't hostile-- or at least, not seeming to be? They turn to face me with a level of dignity I'd never seen in an Anxi, seeming to compose themselves shockingly formally. Yet, still, like any other monster, their face is a mangled snout with a vacant, dead-eyed expression. Their body seems to have taken the form of a formal dress, long arms held behind her as if to be passive and respectful.

"What's wron- Oh, fuck." Mizuki catches up to me, locking up at the sheer scale of this Anxi. Their neck curves against the ceiling as they seem to be too tall for the building in question. Mizuki enters a combative stance, before pausing as she becomes just as confused as I am at the lack of hostility in this one.

We freeze in anxious silence, trying to figure out our best course of action. None of these things have been able to speak before, though none of these have been as calm or as formal as this before, so forgive me for thinking it might say anything.

But, no, it instead wordlessly gestures a hand to the side as if to say "welcome, do come with me" before slithering off. ...I think that's the most appropriate way to describe it, given their dress-like form means that they don't actually seem to have legs. I look to Mizuki, as to ask what the hell we should do.

She shrugs her shoulders. "Let's... follow it? Doesn't seem ta' be malicious so far. Maybe we can lock it up in a closet 'till we're done shooting." She meekly laughs, trailing off.

I pull out my phone.

------------

Monster Anxi, fuck fuck fuck-- might want to come quick

Doesn't seem hostile yet (SOMEHOW) but that might change

Message failed to send.

------------

"Fuck. My signal's dead-- yours any better?"

"W-Why the hell would it be? We're on the same plan."

"Check anyway!"

"O-okay, jeez.........No, nothin'."

"Shit." I put my phone away. We could run away, but it might turn hostile and chase after if we do. After that last encounter the other day, I'm not the most confident we'd be able to outrun it. "Let's just play along. Maybe this one's more intelligent than the others."

She reluctantly nods, and the two of us catch up to follow the monster.

It seems to be leading us to... one of the rooms? Does it think it works here? Strange... It presents the door to us, as if to say 'Your room, madam.' This is so weird. It must've been an employee of the hotel, maybe someone who owned the place. I can't figure any other reason why they'd be here, walking people to their rooms like this.

...

I look to the doorknob. They nod in acknowledgement.

My heart skips a beat.

Nonono, no, no no, no wait. We're in an abandoned goddamn hotel, it's just going to be an empty room. We'll just play along, enter, then jump it as it tries to walk away. I don't need to worry about anything.

I reach for the doorknob, turning it and opening the door-

"W-what the FUCK?!"

...Jumping back in horror at what I see.

T-the entire room has become coated with the watercolor kaleidoscope of sludge that makes up an Anxi's form!! Was... was this where the dogs spawned then, or were they what made this one turn?! There's no fucking way I'm going in there, even for a moment! I'll turn into an Anxi if I do, for real! ...God, the smell. It's like a corpse was left out in the summer heat to fucking rot. Even my mask can't protect me from this one. I th-think... I think I'm going to vomit...

The Anxi looks at us expectantly, waiting for us to go in. ......I shake my head, preparing myself mentally for an upcoming fight.

It tilts its head, confused. Then... it tries... to gently push me into the room...!!