6

"What's going on? How long had I been asleep?" I asked as I sat up straight, immediately noticing that my boyfriend isn't by my side. Had it all just been a dream? Why have we stopped? Jess was still visiting dreamland, but dad was hovering outside the car. "What's giving? Why had we stopped?" I asked mom. She was still sitting in her seat. "Traffic jam!" I looked around me. It seems that we might be about 10 kilometers out, on the outskirts of the city. "So what's the holdup?" I asked my father as he took his stand outside mom's open window. "I have no idea kitten; Toki went to check it out about twenty minutes ago," he answered. Apparently mom already knew about this, so why did she feel like withholding it? At least it means that I haven't been dreaming- wait? What am I thinking? Twenty minutes....? What if something happened to him? "What!? And neither of you thought that it was worth looking into? What if it's serious? What if he got hurt-?" I panicked. Or worse, lost? I added to myself in secret. At that moment he returned covered in blood. I put a hand to my mouth in a moment of utter shock. He gave me a weak but sad smile and said: "Don't worry, love. It's not mine." He assured me. He rotated his attention towards my dad and continued, "I'm afraid that it's bad. The road up ahead gave way and it took a few cars along with it. I've managed to rescue a few civilians, but unfortunately one of them died in my arms." I feel like I have to console him. He can really need a hug right about now. I was just about to climb out when he stopped me. "It's better if you don't retrieve from your safety. I'll feel much better if I knew that no harm would come to you. It's best to stay put!" Again he turned his attention away from me to speak to my father. "Sir, I don't think that this incident was a coincidence. There's no way around it without putting our lives at risk." Could it be? Is it even a possibility that the low life scum that's been targeting our academy, is in fact, a nuisance throughout Japan? My father nodded at something that Toki said, as the both of them climbed back into the car. He pointed dad into the safest direction.

Holy shit! Toki haven't been over reacting. The sinkhole is gigantic! Slowly and steadily dad drove around it. Just around the time I thought that we've succeeded, I was proofed wrong. Something monstrous jumped up and blocked our way. It's hideous. A cloak of fur with red and purple spots decorates it. Black beady eyes parades in the center of its face. Awkwardly out of place. This is nothing like the lizards from campus. It looks like a satyr with horns that somewhat resembles Satan's. I'm so grateful that Jess ain't awake, she'd been scarred for life.

The vile beast' weight was the reason for the ground giving way. I must have lost consciousness, 'cause when I came to; the thing was on the car's roof. Trying to squash us to death. In a mixture of fear and anger, I used a water impact attack which blew the roof clear off. The creature, to my astonishment, exploded into smithereens. Purple goo splashed over everything, enveloping nature in an uncanny void. There's no coming back from that, or so I should hope. I'm not very keen on going up there, alone. I need some assistance, but Toki is out for the count. I can't just sit here doing nothing. As I stand up, in the now roofless car, the pounding ache against my scull throws me off balance. There's no time to contemplate. I need to get them all out of this hole. Quickly, if possible.

Firstly, I took Jess to higher ground and laid her down on the road. A heap of bystanders surrounding the scene. An elderly man rushed towards my side and offered me his assistance. With gratitude I excepted. He gave me a rare splinter of a smile as I went down to retrieve another member of my family. One by one I helped them out of the dark madness. Laying them abreast in the middle of the road. Toki woke from his slumber just as the ambulance arrived. I have minor cuts and bruises, and a concussion, but that's just me. When I caught hold of Toki's eyes, I lost all my self control and wept like a toddler.

Jess and dad were both in critical conditions, but mom.... she never made it to the hospital. My heart's broken. Toki held me in his embrace, telling me without words to let it all out.

Unfortunately, his hugs- no matter how great they might be, won't bring my mother back to me. Even in our broken conditions, Toki and I, combined our abilities to make a safe passage for the people at both ends. At the hospital both family members had been admitted. As a young intern attended my injuries in the E.R, I took my phone from my hoodie' pocket and dialed my brother's number.