Chapter 3: The One Friend She Have
Kazumi Katsuragi, 17 years old, sat cross-legged on the soft, sunlit grass of the park, surrounded by her closest friends—Akiko, Haruna, and Misa. After enjoying a hearty meal together, they decided to play a game.
What game? Just a classic spin the bottle but not without a twist. Akiko passed an empty bottle to Haruna, ready for the game to begin.
"Before we start, how should we decide who spins first?" Haruna asked, glancing around at her friends.
"Guess it has to be the ol' rock-paper-scissors shoot," Misa replied with a grin. The other three girls agreed, thinking that it's the easiest way to pick the first spinner.
As they readied themselves, the atmosphere shifted. Tension filled the air, even causing the nearby birds to pause in their chirping. It was no ordinary game; the stakes were high, and the possibility of teasing hung over them like a cloud.
The first round will set the tone of the game, and they all felt the weight of it.
Hands trembling slightly, they faced each other, palms sweaty with anticipation.
"On three!" Kazumi said, excitement bubbling. "Rock, Paper, Scissors, Shoot!"
The girls throw their choices in unison. Three rocks and a paper. Just like that, the winner is decided.
"Take that, you little fellas! In the game of luck, I can't ever lose!" Kazumi declared, a smug grin spreading across her face.
"Aughhhh!" Haruna groaned, rolling her eyes, but laughter erupted among them, blending with the sounds of nature.
Frustrated yet amused, Haruna handed the bottle to Kazumi, who took it with a triumphant smirk. The four girls formed a circle, the tension bubbling with excitement. Kazumi placed the empty bottle in the center, took a deep breath, and gave it a spin.
The bottle whirled, the world around them blurring until it slowed and pointed directly at Misa.
Kazumi's eyes lit up with mischief "Alright, Misa. Here's your question: We all know you are keeping a secret from us." The words uttered by Kazumi put the group locked onto Misa.
They know what Kazumi is referring to. They knew it, and yet, for the sake of teasing their good friend, they will show no mercy.
"Shinji from the other class - are the two of you seeing each other?" Kazumi continued
Misa's face turned bright red, eyes widening in shock. "No way! That's so unfair!" she protested, laughter bubbling from her lips despite her embarrassment.
"Come on, spill the tea!" Akiko urged, leaning in closer, clearly enjoying the moment.
...
As the game continued, time felt suspended, each moment stretching into a warm eternity. Kazumi felt a profound sense of belonging, as if nothing could disturb their happiness. They concocted a weekend camping trip, excitedly discussing what snacks to bring and which games to play under the stars - but surely, it will not be the same game they played today.
It was a good memory, yes, a memory right in the face of a more terrifying reality…
…
Kazumi jolted awake, the searing pain in her leg cutting through her exhaustion. Blinking in confusion, she struggled to process her surroundings. Staring down, she saw a rusty blade embedded deep in her leg, its cruel edge glistening in the dim light. Panic surged through her as her eyes darted to the perpetrator: a small, grotesque creature with mottled green skin, bulbous eyes, sharp teeth, and long, pointy ears—a goblin. Its sinister gaze met hers, taunting and gleeful, as it reveled in her agony.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!" The pain from the blade finally registered to her. It was an unbearable, piercing agony that shot through her leg like lightning, a vicious fire that spread with every heartbeat. The initial shock was swiftly replaced by a relentless throbbing, a searing pain. As if the wound itself were alive, pulsing with a fierce intensity. She felt a wave of nausea wash over her, the world around her spinning in and out of focus. Desperation clawing down at her chest. It was as if a dark fog had descended, threatening to suffocate her beneath the weight of sheer terror and pain.
The goblin, now joined by its companions, loomed over her, reveling in her suffering. Their grotesque faces twisted into grins, eyes gleaming with malice as they remembered the human who had murdered their comrade. They laughed, a cruel cacophony that echoed in the darkness, relishing every moment of her despair. Soon, they would feast on her.
Kazumi, on the other hand, was trapped in a spiral of panic. The searing pain in her leg clawed at her mind, leaving no room for calm. Every breath felt like a struggle, and no amount of willpower could silence the frantic thoughts racing through her head. She was consumed by the fear of dying, teetering on the edge of hopelessness, ready to surrender to the darkness closing in around her.
No one would come to help her.
No hero would arrive to save the day, for this is not a fantasy written for the epic.
She is by no means the protagonist, and the reality settling in like a cold ice weighing on her chest: dying was part of life, and giving up here would not change a thing. She closed her eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks as despair washed over her like a tidal wave.
"I guess... it's fine this way," she thought, her voice barely a whisper in the storm of her mind.
But deep within, a flicker of defiance stirred. The goblins laughter echoed around Kazumi, and for a fleeting moment, she saw the girl she had tried to save.
Blood sprayed everywhere, her eyes, no light to be seen, blankly staring at her, her insides displayed for everyone to witness. These demons in their little body toyed with her.
The same horrible fate likely waiting her.
It was unclear whether the overwhelming fear had driven her to insanity. Was she hallucinating, but it felt as though the lifeless girl was speaking directly to her, her mouth moving in silent agony. Kazumi felt a surge of defiance igniting within her - a fierce, unquenchable fire of survival. She will not allow herself to die a garbage death like that, discarded and forgotten, a mere footnote in the goblins twisted game.
The thought of such a fate sent shivers down her spine, and she clenched her fists, determination hardening her resolve. She wouldn't stand for it, not now, not ever. The darkness may have closed in on her, but she would fight against it with every breath, every ounce of strength she had left.
Yes, it is not a story written for its epic and glory.
It was not her story to tell.
But in her mind. "I will be the one to decide how this ends."
With her newfound determination to survive, she grabbed the blade that was stucked in her leg. The pain rushed to her like a river with all its false. Agony all written on her face, but she persevered. She has one goal, and one goal in mind only, 'Kill all these goblins' in front of her.
She grab one of the goblins, visibly shocked by the sudden shift in the situation. The prey they were taunting earlier was now a fierce predator pouncing on them.
Kazumi put herself on top of one of the goblins. It fiercely fights back but the bigger Kazumi is way heavier than him. She anchored her leg into the goblin's neck and without hesitation brought down the blade with so much force it easily penetrated its hard skull. The gore of the scene was unthinkable, but it didn't bother her. Even the pain from her leg, already lost in the moment.
Out of shock, the other goblins scrambled to pick up their weapons, panic replacing their earlier bravado. In that fleeting moment of chaos, Kazumi spotted her pistol lying beside her bag, a surge of adrenaline coursed through her as she rushed over, grabbing the firearm with trembling hands.
In that instant, she vowed that this weapon would be her lifeline. No matter what happens next, she will never let it out of her reach again. In this world, this pistol is her friend, her salvation.
The moment she lets this thing go...
Is the moment when she stops breathing.
With the pistol gripped tightly in her hand, she felt a renewed sense of purpose. It is her fight, and she plans to not backdown. The goblins were closing in, but she was ready. Let them come; she had a weapon now, and she intended to use it.
Kill all that threatens her life.
ALL.
Weekly Power Status
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