Explosivus (Part 3)

Part 3: ...

Back at the market, but this time we were walking together much calmer. Luty seemed to have vented and was back to his cheerful state, holding my hand and taking me to see the different shops that caught his attention. I'm definitely a good sister! Although maybe I shouldn't say that myself hahaha.

We went to where the kind lady who sold wooden sculptures was, she was talking to the only guard in the Market (and the village). A very tall man in full metal armor except for his helmet, he had a sheath with his sword tied to his waist and, although he was usually very serious, he had started to look out for us when he saw us walking around. We approached to greet them.

"Kids! It's been a while since I saw you. How have you been?"

"Again without your parents? Seriously... I wouldn't want to have to go talk to your parents about that."

Despite the guard's words, both seemed happy to see us. Luty ran over to them to see the figures and stayed talking to the lady about one of the figures, it was a rather strange Owl... Somehow it reminded me more of a person with wings.

"So you like that one, Lutero? You see, I didn't make it... My husband gave it to me, apparently it was a gift from one of his business partners. He mentioned something about it coming from the Beast Continent... Seriously, he's too old to believe in those things."

"Actually, Beast People do exist, Margaret... They are strange beings, but quite interesting."

"You too? Don't tell me you believe in those children's tales..."

"They exist. I haven't been there, it's very difficult to get to... But I've seen the Beast People in person and I can assure you they are very real."

Luty didn't seem interested in what he was saying, but I was delighted... People who look like animals? So that old man with Owl wings really exists? How funny! Hahaha I'd like to see one!!

They kept talking, Luty will be with the guard so there's no problem if I walk around looking at the rest of the shops... I'd like to bring mom a gift, maybe that way she'll cheer up and not get mad that we left without permission. I moved away from them a bit, checking out the neighboring shops, I watched a middle-aged man selling jewels of different colors and sizes, mom would surely love them, but I don't think I have enough money... Would it be better to give her food? Yes, something sweet! The food shops are a little further away, so I go up to them and start observing each of the appetizing desserts carefully. Just looking at them makes me hungry... No no! They're for mom! If I bought one for myself I wouldn't have enough money left, it's already bad enough that what I brought isn't enough for dad too, though I don't think they'd mind sharing.

"Have you decided yet, miss?"

"Uh... Yes"

The man was looking at me with a rather serious face, surely because I was taking too long to decide. In the end I bought a kind of cake, that man said it was filled with chocolate and mom loves chocolate, I'm sure she'll be happy when I get home.

I turned around hurriedly to go to Luty and be able to go home soon, I can't forget that we left without permission. Our parents must be worried by now... But when I turned around, I bumped into a man causing the dessert to fall to the ground.

"Ouch... I'm sorry, I didn't see you..."

That person responded by pushing me with his body to continue on his way without saying anything, when I bumped into him I hurt my hand and I could see the cloth covering my cut starting to bleed again... However, it didn't hurt anymore and now I'm upset! How can he treat me like that after I apologized?! I ran after that man, he was wearing a kind of robe in rather poor condition, which covered his whole body and head thanks to a hood. I stood in front of him to complain.

"Hey! Why did you push me if I apologized?"

When I saw his face, I could see that he seemed downcast... Almost like Luty when he was sad or upset... He had a curious eye color, a rather soft red. Also; he seemed to be sick, as he had spots of this same color on his face, reminding me a bit of the color of the blood that came from my cut.

"Sir...?"

"..."

He stayed terrifyingly still...

"Freyja? Who is that man? Get away from him." The guard had stood by my side, I decided it was best to listen to him and I ran to the sculpture shop with my brother. Soon we were both watching as the guard spoke to that man.

"Take off your cloak, in this village it's forbidden to hide your identity. It's regulated in the continental laws, section on merchant villages. Anyone attempting to hide their identity in a merchant village will automatically be judged as a bandit and, therefore, must be expelled or confirm their residence permit."

Seeing that the man did not respond, the guard drew his sword and, while holding it with his right hand, used his left hand to forcibly remove the man's robe.

After doing so, you could see how the veins of that man were marked in a strong red color on his clearly malnourished body. I hadn't noticed before, but now that I was observing him better, his eyes didn't seem to have any awareness at all while they were becoming increasingly bloodshot... He wasn't looking at the guard, he didn't seem to be looking at anything at all, he simply raised his head up and raised his arms in the same way, his bony and clearly injured hands were chained.

He put on a smile that made my skin crawl... It wasn't like the friendly smiles I was used to... It was something else.

"At last I am free..."

Immediately his body began to deform in a horrific way, his face becoming unrecognizable and his body swelling more and more, like a balloon... The guard seemed to know what was happening and ran away from there while shouting at everyone to get away, he seemed desperate...

"IT'S AN EXPLOSIVUS!! EVERYONE RUN AWAY!!"

Panic spread everywhere, people crashing into each other as they ran... I can see the guard running towards us while telling us to flee, but why? That man is not sick, is he...?

Isn't anyone going to help him?

Suddenly my thoughts were interrupted when a blinding light began to emanate from that now unrecognizable man, causing my eyes to shut and my hands to cover my face instinctively. What's happening? I open my eyes as best I can only to see the guard taking my brother in his arms and running in the opposite direction from where that light originated...

Wait... Are they leaving me behind...?

They can't leave me alone!!! I'm scared!!! I need to follow them... I run as fast as I can, but it's impossible for me to catch up, I keep running with all my might despite running out of breath and despite seeing them moving further and further away.

A deafening noise... I can't hear anything but that dreadful and sudden sound that's hurting my ears...

Everything feels so slow now, as if time were freezing...

For some reason I'm going too fast now... I'm catching up to the guard, who has my brother in his arms.

However, something doesn't feel right... I don't feel like I'm running and I've never been able to run that fast... It's more like I'm flying, the dust hits my face at such speed that I can feel it cutting me and I've completely lost control over my body... My back starts to burn, as if I'm being burned.

Why? Why is this happening to us?

I don't like it... Dad... Mom... I don't like it, please help me... I'm so scared...

I look at my little brother, the guard is covering Luty with his whole body, they're also flying and I can see part of my brother's arm seems to be burning, the color of the guard's armor is becoming more and more like the color of metal when it's put in the fire...

Now I'm looking ahead...

A wall... A wall... That wall is approaching way too fast... This... Is very bad, isn't it? No... It can't be...

NO NO NO NO NO! IT'S GOING TO HURT!

IF I CRASH INTO THAT IT'S GOING TO HURT A LOT!

PLEASE NO! I DON'T WANT TO FEEL MORE PAIN!

I DON'T WANT TO! MOM!!!

Someone, anyone, please help... Luty... Luty is almost within reach of my hand... I have to try to reach him... Little brother, please... save me-.