Arms

“Woah,” Aki gawked.

“Yeah… Magic is real. Who knew?” I asked breathlessly.

“…ha..h.a..” Ayano’s condition snapped us back to reality.

“Uh. L-let’s keep moving,” I said.

“Right.”

“..r.ight…”

The monster was tough. It had rammed itself at the sword with seemingly all of its current strength, and yet it was still alive. But for now it jumped back further, evidently shaken by the experience.

I tried to stab it through but was too slow.

I think I might have been able to direct the sword using only thoughts, but the hand motions made things easier. It was surprisingly intuitive. Considering my body hadn’t completely recovered either, it was nice that this power didn’t require much movement. I suppose this power was a gift, not something I learned. That may have come with the benefit of being more user-friendly.

“Y’know, I think we could actually use the flat side of the sword as a stretcher. It seems big enough.”

“..ke.ep… th.e…sw.or.d…r.e.a.dy…”

“R-right. Okay. Akira can you please keep me posted on where the creature is?”

“Sure thing Rin.”

“Thanks.”

This trek demanded vigilance, although I don’t know where we were heading. I suppose just away from the monster.

...But where was Evi?

“The monster is still following us right?”

“Yeah.”

Weirdly enough it seemed hesitant to approach.

“So… if it already knows where we are, I think we should call out for Evi. The only person we’d be giving our location away to would be her.”

So we did. Akira and I loudly shouted for Evi. Asking where she was. Letting her know where we were. Hoping for an answer.

The voice had given me a sword. 

That was real.

It told me Akira was magic. 

That was also real.

It told me Evi wouldn’t die. 

So she should be fine, right?

...

“I, uh, I didn’t ask because I figured you already would have tried if you could, but do either of you have cellphones on you so we could call someone?”

“Yaya-chan’s was in her bag. I actually do have my cellphone with me but it broke during the train crash.”

Ayano coughed up blood. She told us not to worry.

We worried.

“Yaya-chan, you know the sword that Rin’s using? It’s magic right?”

She nodded.

“So, I seem to have some sort of healing magic. I’m not really sure how to use it. And I’m not even sure it works on other people. But we wanted to try it with you.”

She nodded again.

“It doesn’t seem like we’re going to reach a place to stop, and you haven’t been doing very well… How about we try it here with Rin standing guard.”

And a third nod.

“Alright.”

We carefully lowered Ayano to the ground.

“Y-you’ve got this Akira.”

“…y.ou…ca..n….d.o..it…”

“Thanks guys.”

She seems nervous.

I am too.

I think we all are.

Even the idea of this is mostly based on guesswork.

Akira breathes deeply.

Ayano smiles, as much as she’s currently able.

I train my eyes on the horizon and ready the sword in case the creature nears.

There is noise in the distance.

I can’t see it yet, but… I think it’s the monster.

It’s started laughing.

Blazing out into the clearing, the monster giggles and sneers. But that’s not the surprise. There’s something else here too. Nearly as quick as its precursor. It’s running on all four- no, that’s more than four limbs. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Seven arms sprouting off from its shoulders as it paws at the earth.

There’s red. Is that blood? Yes, I think so, partially, but also— that’s the crown from Evi’s shirt. The minimalist design distorted in the darkness, ripped to tatters in whatever fight they’d been having, it was now a cavernous mouth with red fangs. She grabs the monster in her many arms, fingers diving into the gooey flesh of its eyeballs. She punches with arm after arm, puncturing its being.

It’s her.

It’s Evi.

Her horns are dyed with blood.

The creature carries a light blue backpack. My backpack. It tosses it in our direction, smiling.

Evi throws the creature back. Flinging it into the dirt.

She screams.

And charges at us.