I wasn't meant to be left on a shelf (3)

I push back, not wanting to know firsthand what it's like to be an Anxi. The monster stands there, confused, before growling at me. It looks just about ready to use more force to welcome me to my room.

"Hey!!" Mizuki quickly steps in, slashing at its legs. "She doesn't want yer' damn room!"

The Anxi screeches, causing the two of us to clutch our ears in immense pain. Then, it throws one arm into the air, curving and bending like a rubberhose cartoon, before taking a wide swing to try and throw us into the room.

Thinking quickly, I fight the ringing in my ears to bring up my chainsaw to block the attack. I dig my boots into the closest dirt I can find amidst the cracked tiles to stand my ground as the two of us clash. After a bit of struggle, the Anxi's arm comes clean off, falling helplessly to the ground. The monster recoils in pain, clutching the stump where its arm once was.

"Run, now!!" I shout with as much calmness as I can fake having, making a sprint for the entrance. The sooner we can get the others here, the better. Forget the music video, I'd rather not get my cameraman killed over-

!!

"Aaaaaaeegghh...!!!"

Its arm... which I had just severed... g-grabs onto my ankle and trips me to the ground!!

My chainsaw goes flying into the main hall. Shit... shit! I repeatedly slam my other foot into the disembodied hand, trying to break its hold on me before its owner can catch up.

Fueko kneels down beside me, attempting to pry open the hand with her claws.

"No!! Keep running, Wan-chan-- get in contact with the others, first."

"And leave ya to die? Like hell I will! If we die, we die together, remember?!" Her grip is tight. Her will is resolute. I'm not going to be changing her mind anytime soon-- she's stubborn like that.

But... the Anxi is getting closer. It's moving slowly and deliberately, dragging its neck against the ceiling. I don't know if she can free me in time. I could use some fire magic, but I'd rather not risk setting myself on fire. I've never been good at controlling my powers, it's why I'm glad we all rely on our summons, more than anything-- especially since I've been cursed to be a firebrand. Witches already have a poor rap for no good reason, I'm not about to give them one by causing needless fires.

Times are desperate, though... fuck it.

I hold out my hand, charging up my energy. Cinders emerge from nowhere, growing in intensity before forming a white hot ball, getting bigger and bigger in size as I concentrate.

"...W-wait, I've nearly got ya free! Ya don't need ta-"

I chuck the fireball at the Anxi like a grenade. In a blinding flash, the fireball erupts in a massive explosion, throwing the monster backwards and causing its snout to quickly melt away, falling to the floor with a dull splat.

Quickly, Mizuki uses this opportunity to finish prying open the severed hand. "G-got it-- let's go!"

As I rush to my feet, I realize something. The monster isn't... trying to attack us. Instead, It's trying to put out the fire. Maybe I was right about them being an employee of this hotel, after all.

"You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?"

I chuckle. "Of course."

Mizuki rushes for the Anxi, practically ready to dice it into a million pieces. Meanwhile, I take a bit of a detour-- rushing to the main hall to get my chainsaw back. "...Sorry, Tori." I whisper faintly to no one in particular as I pick up my weapon, revving it back up as I return to the hallway, carefully sidestepping the severed arm this time..

Like a wild wolverine, Mizuki's tearing into where the Anxi's stomach would be, all the while it tries in vain to pull her off. Those claws are damn sharp, after all-- I would know. It's already begun trying to regrow its lost limb, meaning we'll need to be quick. ...I can't take off its legs, since it doesn't have any. I'll just have to improvise.

I slam my chainsaw straight into its arm, taking advantage of the distraction to slice it off with minimal effort. The monster screams in pain, collapsing on the ground. There you go. Now I have my opening.

"I'm sorry." I whisper meekly into the Anxi's ear (or at least, where its ear would be), before driving the chainsaw through its neck. Mizuki holds them in place, preventing them from escaping.

Their head falls to the ground, rolling off and bumping into my foot.

...

...

...

I sigh.

"Never get used to it, huh?" Mizuki asks with a softness I've only heard her use around me.

"...They used to be like you or me."

"I know. ...I know." She huffs, leaning onto the wall, sliding down to sit on the floor. "Just means yer' still sane. I'm glad fer' that."

"You're right." I move to sit beside her.

"Keh keh keh... when aren't I?"

"Christmastime, last year."

"?" She sounds confused. " .......Oh, fuck off." There you go-- that elbow hitting my side means she realized what I was getting at.

Last year, when we all were having fried chicken together... She kept pouring tea all over her chicken-- thinking the gallon jug we'd bought was some sort of weird, liquidy sauce. I'd not noticed until it was too late-- she'd already eaten several drumsticks --meanwhile Fueko later confided in me that she had known the whole time and just didn't know how to break it to her.

"We should probably clean up before the cameraman arrives."

"Yea, true. Let's just wait here for a moment, first-- I still need ta catch my breath. ...You probably do, too."

I feel my heartbeat.

...

It's... fast, to say the least. Now that I think of it, I guess I never really take into consideration how I'm feeling after any of these encounters.

I lean my head onto her shoulder.

"Yeah, I guess I do, too."