Abandonment and the start of a tiring battle

“...That just about sums it up!”

“You’re telling me something that messed up took place in this old school building!”

“Is Now Really The Time To Be Talking About This!”

Nina told me the entire backstory of Leaky Lewey, meanwhile the star himself is currently chasing us down the hallway. After hearing his story I couldn’t help but feel bad for him, he’s not a bad guy, he was just an innocent kid that ended up losing his life. I honestly feel that those jerk jocks got what they deserved in the end, but at the same time…

...At the same time, something about this guy pisses me off. Why do I feel so angry, oh yeah it’s because this bastard-

“Hey Moron! Focus on what’s ahead of you!”

I look in front of me and notice the obstacles Lewey set in my path. I started jumping over boxes and tables covered in slime, wait if he’s able to set things up in front of us then why would he be chasing us?

“Dammit, Idiot Boy Tom Focus! You’re the tough guy here so you gotta take initiative!”

“Easy for you to say, I’m running off half a tank right now!”

“WHAT!?!”

Nina was shocked, I can’t really blame her though. I look fine physically so she assumed I was okay, but in reality half my mana is burned out. I should’ve been smarter when I was dealing with Marcus. How do I even begin to deal with this guy? While trying to figure out how to handle the maneating slime chasing us, I hear a sharp scream coming from beside me.

****

You’re kidding me, Tom is at half his strength right now. How the hell is he gonna protect me then, wait what am I saying! The priority isn’t myself its-

There’s nothing wrong with that…

What?

You’re human, of course you’d be terrified right now. Of course if it meant saving yourself, you’d abandon this poor sap. Just like you did with your so-called “Friends”.

No! That’s a lie! I didn’t betray anyone!

Oh really, then why is your best friend here right now? Did you forget that she took your place after you erased the board?

That wasn’t intentional, I-

Your mistake got your friend killed.

!!!!

But it's alright, after all I got what I wanted in the end.

What the hell is going on! What’s with this voice in my head, and why does it feel cold all of-

*Grasp*

You came back to take her place, how sweet of you!

****

“NNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“Nina, what the hell is-”

“Get Away, GET AWAY FROM ME!”

“What?”

Nina started losing it beside me and stopped running. I ran to covered her from the impending assault, but that’s when I realized something. Lewey wasn’t chasing us, in fact he kept his distance.

“Please leave me alone, don’t hurt me. I don’t want to die!”

“Nina what’s-!”

I finally noticed it, there was a minor haze clouding Nina’s head. The haze’s color was the same red as the one that took Marcus. Wait a minute, Nina mentioned that she triggered one of the ghosts, don’t tell me!

“Nina, it’s a trap don’t fall for it!”

“Shut Up! You’re losing power, you can no longer protect me! I can’t trust you!”

Dammit, I fell for their trap. They pulled my attention away so I wouldn’t be able to notice Nina, now she’s lost it. What am I gonna do now?

“No I can’t, I can’t do this! I wanna go home, I wanna go home!”

“Nina-”

“I wanna go home, I wanna go home, I wanna go home, I wanna go home, I wanna go home, I wanna go home, I wanna go home, I wanna go home, I WANNA GO HOME!”

“NINA!”

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Just like that Nina began to run off. I tried to follow after her, but my chase was halted by a sheet of Lewey’s slime. Damn, this was their plan the whole time! Screw being safe, I have to save Nina before it's too late.

“Sorry Lewey, but I’m going to have to kick your ass.”

“...Y-You want to hurt me?”

I ignited some mana in my right hand and closed the distance between us. I then landed a solid punch at the center of the slime, but that’s when it happened. The mana in my hand dissipated, as if I didn’t concentrate mana into my fist.