Chapter 10: White Light 6

There Akuto felt it, his AAS senses tingling. The image of the rock heading toward his head was transmitted to his brain. The brain transmits messages to the body and the body respond accordingly. Akuto swiftly tilts his head backward.

The rock hit the edge of Akuto's bandage on the left eye. The rock hit the bandage and tear it off Akuto's left eye. The rock and the bandage flew over Akuto's face and drop a few distances behind him. Silence ensues a few seconds after the rock drops on the floor. Maria was sweating bullets.

"A-Akuto, a-are you okay?" (Maria)

Maria asks timidly to Akuto. Akuto is still frozen in the same position.

"I-I think I just pulled a muscle. M-my back" (Akuto)

"Phew… Sorry Akuto…I didn't mean to. I didn't know the rock will go through the invisible wall" (Maria)

Maria bows her head towards Akuto repeatedly in apology. Akuto looks toward Maria and rubs his aching back.

"It's okay, I know it's my fault for provoking you" (Akuto)

Akuto smiles apologetically toward Maria. Maria lifts her head and was startled by what she saw. There, Maria saw Akuto's bandage-less left eye. There was a black scar around his left eye. The eye was black and crusty like an injury that was still healing.

"Hm?" (Akuto)

Akuto looks towards Maria who was in shock.

"What's wrong?" (Akuto)

Akuto then realise that Maria was looking at his face. No, more accurately, at his left eye.

"Sigh… sorry you have to see this. It's -" (Akuto)

"N-no, it's okay. I am the one at fault. Sorry for staring." (Maria)

Maria bowed by putting both the palm of her hand and her head on the floor.

(Sigh, what a good kid. Most people would just pretend nothing happens when I saw them staring at my eye) (Akuto)

"Get up Maria. You can apologize to me later. We don't have much time." (Akuto)

"Y-yes!" (Maria)

Maria was startled and raised her body quickly. Akuto starts to analyse the situations that happened a few moments ago.

(Okay, first off, Maria was able to get out of the circle without any problem. Next, after getting out of the circle, she can't come back in. She said there is an invisible wall that blocks her from coming back in. Lastly, Maria throws a rock at me and it was able to go into the circle. How come the rock can come through the invisible wall and Maria can't? Is it because..? Wait, I have to try this hypothesis first) (Akuto)

Akuto's eye lit up and he look toward Maria. Maria noticed Akuto's determined gaze.

"Maria!" (Akuto)

"What is it, Akuto? Do you have an idea?" (Maria)

"A bit, but I need your help" (Akuto)

Maria's face turns bright.

"Okay! Tell me what to do" (Maria)

"Alright. Pick another rock, Maria, and try to throw it inside the circle." (Akuto)

"Got it!" (Maria)

Maria quickly picks up another rock near her. She then throws the rock lightly toward the circle. The rock flies up and drops inside the circle. Akuto crosses his hands and smiles at Maria confidently.

"Good Maria! As I predicted, my second theory is right! " (Akuto)

"What! What! What is it Akuto?!" (Maria)

"Your actions of throwing the rock towards my face before had broken the invisible wall Maria! Right now the invisible wall is no more Maria, thanks to you!" (Akuto)

"What?! Really?!" (Maria)

Maria was shocked by Akuto's statement.

"Yes, Maria! Now come inside, quick!" Akuto)

Maria walks enthusiastically towards the circle.

*Thump!*

A subtle sound of Maria's head hitting the invisible wall reverberate around the living room.

"*chuckle*-Eherm! Eherm!" (Akuto)

Akuto's subtle chuckle followed by his cough can be heard across the living room

"Akuto...care to… explain?" (Maria)

Maria's tone was dark and gloomy. Maria's head was still on the wall and her face was getting dark. The lights from the circle were not helping either. It just makes the shadows on her face get darker. Akuto crosses his hands and shakes his head in defeat.

" I'm sorry Maria, my second theory is wrong." (Akuto)

Akuto nodded confidently. Akuto points his right hand towards Maria energetically and speak confidently.

" At least, your head hitting the walls has solidified my first theory Maria!" (Akuto)

"What is… the first theory?" (Maria)

Maria asks the questions while gritting her teeth.

"People cannot enter the circle and only objects can!" (Akuto)

Akuto smiles confidently.

"Then… why didn't you tell me to test… the first theory, and skip to testing the second? … I could've just proved the first theory… by touching using my hand" (Maria)

Akuto looks towards Maria and put his right hand behind his head. Akuto tilts his head to the right and smiles cutely towards Maria.

"Cause~ testing theory one wouldn't be funny ~" (Akuto)

"GET BENT YOU B*TCH!!!" (Maria)

Maria picks up and throws a lot of rocks towards Akuto.

"Ahahahaha" (Akuto)

Akuto dodges all the rocks expertly while laughing playfully.

"Hugh!…Hugh!"

Maria was tired after throwing all that rock.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, You should conserve your energy Maria"

Akuto crosses his hand and shakes his head in disappointment.

"WHOSE FAULT IS THAT !!" (Maria)

"Enough Maria! Focus! Now, throw me the machine gun" (Akuto)

Akuto smiles towards Maria while making a receiving gesture. Maria looks toward Akuto annoyingly. Maria picks up the light machine and throws it to Akuto. The light machine gun flew into the circle without any obstruction from the invisible wall whatsoever. Akuto catches the machine with his left hand and smiles at Maria.

"Let's get out of this place and give you, your happy ending" (Akuto)

Maria was startled by what Akuto said. She starts to turn red and looks towards Akuto bashfully.

"Y-Yes!" (Maria)

Maria nodded.

"What are you going to do?" (Maria)

Akuto strapped the machine gun around his left shoulder and aim the machine gun toward the string.

"I am going to shoot these strings. Get ready, Maria!" (Akuto)

Maria looks confused.

"!!?? R-ready for what?" (Maria)

" I'm going to lift Hiro and throws him towards you. You have to catch him" (Akuto)

"W-what?! Why are you throwing him?! Can't you just drag him?!" (Maria)

"You've had to! If I drag him, the strings will surely grab him again. The bullet in this machine gun is not limitless! Throwing him is the fastest way!" (Akuto)

"What if the strings caught him mid-air?" (Maria)

"Don't worry! I noticed that the strings are not that long. If the strings were long, It should have wrapped Hiro's hands or torso instead of his legs in the first place. Next, the strings were also able to wrap around Hiro's waist because the strings pulled Hiro's down towards the floor. Based on this, I am 100 percent sure that the string can only stretch as tall as our knees." (Akuto)

"O-okay, but,I-I'm scared. What if I can't catch him safely!?" (Maria)

Akuto start to shoot at all the strings. The power of the light machine gun is lower than the revolver, so a lot of bullet was needed to tear the strings apart. Maria saw Akuto starts to shoot.

(W-wait! What should I do?) (Maria)

Maria starts panicking and starts to look around clumsily .A few seconds after the strings being rain by bullets, the strings on Hiro's waist was torn apart and started to disintegrate. Akuto then aim the machine gun toward the strings at the left leg and shoot it.

(That's it! The sofa!) (Maria)

Maria saw the sofa and started to run towards it.

The string at Hiro's left leg was torn off and disintegrate. Akuto next aims the machine gun at the last string which is at Hiro's right leg. Akuto shoot at the strings and shouted towards Maria.

"MARIA!!!" (Akuto)

"I'M COMING!!" (Maria)

Maria pushes the sofa with all her might towards a spot which Maria deemed to be the closest for Akuto to throw Hiro.

The last strings disintegrate and Akuto stop his shooting. Akuto then grab Hiro's right hand and right leg. Akuto started to lift Hiro off from the ground. Akuto then starts to spin Hiro around in a circle to create a momentum.

"THE SOFA!! AIM TOWARDS THE SOFA!!" (Maria)

Maria pointed the sofa towards Akuto.

"OKAY!" (Akuto)

Akuto's speed started to picking up. Suddenly the circle started to get so bright and Akuto was unable to see clearly. Maria who was outside the circle saw the circle started to become a pillar of light reaching towards the ceiling. Maria's face started to pale.

"AKUTO!! HIRO!!" (Maria)

Akuto's senses started to give him warning that something is going to happen soon. Akuto starts to recall back the location of the sofa.

"HUGRHH!" (Akuto)

Akuto grit his teeth and throws Hiro towards the location that he believed to be where the sofa was at. Hiro's body started to fly in the direction towards the sofa. The white strings come out of the floor and try to reach Hiro.

The strings were unable to touch Hiro because he was flying out of reach of the strings. Hiro's flight wasn't stopped by anything whatsoever. Maria saw Hiro's body flew out from the pillar of light and landed safely on the sofa.

"Hiro!!!" (Hiro)

Maria quickly went towards Hiro and check on his conditions.

"Phew…Akuto! Hiro is safe. Get out quick!" (Maria)

"Alright!" (Akuto)

(Now that Hiro is outside, everything is settled. I only need to get out now.) (Akuto)

Akuto started to sprint towards the directions of Maria's voice when suddenly. A string wrap Akuto's left leg and he fell face first into the floor.

*THUP!*

"URGH!!" (Akuto)

Akuto raised up his head and notice the strings that was wrapping his left leg.

"Wha..?" (Akuto)

(What's going on? Why is it trying to catch me? I thought it was only trying to get Hiro!!) (Akuto)

Akuto tries to stand up when suddenly, other strings started to appear and wrapped around Akuto's hands. The strings start to pull him towards the floor.

"URGH! LET GO DAMMIT!" (Akuto)

Akuto tries to free himself when suddenly his right leg was wrapped by the other strings.

"AKUTO!!" (Maria)

Maria notice Akuto's panicked scream and started to bash the invisible wall with her fist.

Another string started to come out from the floor and wrapped Akuto's upper body. It pulled Akuto's body into the floor.

(Dammit, is this how it ends? ) (Akuto)

Akuto started to feel scared. He had experienced many scary things in life but the fear of the unknown is much scarier to him. He started to think weird things like being abducted by alien to be experimented on or being sucked into other dimensions.

"Urgh! Akuto! Urgh! " (Maria)

Akuto can hear Maria's scream and her fist slamming into the invisible wall to try and save him.

*BUMP* *BUMP* *BUMP*

Akuto started to calm down and took a deep breath.

"MARIAA!!" (Akuto)

"Akuto! Wait! I'll get you out!" (Maria)

"You can stop now." (Akuto) (Maria)

"..." (Maria)

".….." (Akuto)

Akuto and Maria both knew that they can't do anything about this situation. They are just waiting for the inevitable. Akuto can feel that his body is sinking deeper into the floor.

"*sob*…*sob*" (Maria)

"It's okay Maria. I've promised you and Hiro that you are going to have your happy ending, and I've finally did it. Meanwhile, my ending seems to be the opposite." (Akuto)

*hic*…*hic*

Maria started to sob and cry heavily while putting leaning her head on the invisible wall. Akuto started to sink deeper and deeper into the floor. His whole body feels numb and tired.

"Just… remember this Maria… it's not your fault… It's not Hiro's fault either… I did this. This is my choice… So, stop crying! Smile… and live happily Maria! " (Akuto)

Maria stop her sobbing forcefully. She wipes her tears and smiles.

"Okay...I will…" (Maria)

"Good… girl…" (Akuto)

Akuto start to feel calm and peace within himself. He decided to just accept his fate and face whatever is going to happen, head on.

"Goodbye… Maria…" (Akuto)

Akuto start to sink completely into the floor and the white light vanishes. After tonight, Akuto or infamously known as the poison killer, Violet, is no longer in this world.

Maria looks toward the spot where the white circle was previously at. There was nothing there. Just an empty floor.

"You're also… the same… as him. Thank you…and goodbye… hero…" (Maria)