Radio Star [P3]

//Two Days Later~//

"Ahhh!!!"

"Daddy!"

"Papa! It hurts!"

The silence that surrounded Grim's farm was finally broken by loud screams of pain that were coming from Grim's farmhouse.

Laura, Jyn, Mary and Rick were on the dining room floor writhing in pain. The tables and chairs were turned over, spilled cereal and toast were all over the wooden floor.

It was so sudden as one minute they were having breakfast, the next they were crying out in agony. That pain was cripplingly immese as it felt like bugs were crawling under their skin and ripping them apart.

Grim was panicking as he held onto his wife and son. "Laura what's happening!?" He shouted anxiously as their bodies shook violently in his arms.

No reply came, only whimpers and groans. Their faces contorted in pain.

Unable to do anything, Grim felt helpless. Thoughts were running through his mind like flashes of lightning, an uneasy sweat dripped down his brow.

The words. "They'll be swallowed whole." Lingered in his mind. Grim bit his lip until it bled, his eyes flashing with resolve.

After a minute, he stood up and then carried his wife and son to the master bedroom placing them on the large bed gently.

Grim kissed their foreheads, Laura and Jyn were no longer in pain but the experience had been extremely taxing on the two making them fall asleep.

Walking back down the stairs, he picked up Rick and Mary and put them in the guest room.

With a firm look of determination, he grabbed the nearby shotgun and said. "I'll be back."

...

Several hours had now passed since Rick had succumbed to that unbearable pain. It felt as if someone had poured molten lead down his throat and then tipped the leftovers on his body. The pain had left such a deep impression on him that it was likely the cause of the constant shakes now ravaging his hands.

"That was the worst thing I've ever felt." Rick muttered weakly as he got up from the bed, he was still feeling pain but it was not as intense as before.

"The hell is that!?" To his shock he immediately noticed something strange. In the corner of his eye was a blurry figure he couldn't quite see, it was far away but it was slowly inching it's way towards him.

Rick turned his head to get a better look at it but as his eyes moved, so did the blurry figure.

"T-that can't be!" Rick kept moving his head but no matter how he tried, the blurry figure stayed locked in the corner of his eye.

As he moved his head frantically, Rick noticed that Mary was already awake and sitting up, fear creeping onto her face. Her eyes wide open as if she were staring at something.

Rick shuddered, he whispered to Mary. "C-can you see it too?"

She nodded her head. "P-papa, w-what is it?"

"I don't know but it's giving me a bad feeling. Let's go find Grim." Rick held Mary's hand and the two left the guest bedroom.

Even though they had left the room, the figure in the corner of the eye was still there inching towards them very slowly.

Seeing as he could do nothing about it, Rick tried his best to ignore the ominous being and search for the others.

Both Rick and Mary checked the rooms but they couldn't find any trace of Grim, Laura or Jyn.

"Papa! They're outside." Mary pointed out a nearby window.

Rick took a look and saw Grim. Laura and Jyn waiting beside the barn.

"Let's go." Rick and Mary quickly walked out into the main hallway and reached the exit. Leaving the farmhouse, they both walked towards Grim and his family.

"Papa, the thing is slowly getting closer!" Mary said in a fearful voice.

Rick nodded as he gaze was unconsciously drawn to the blurry figure.

"I know Mary, but it's still a ways away yet. Whatever it is, I won't let it get to you no matter what." He replied with a firm voice, trying to sound as confident as he could.

Mary nodded as her fearful expression eased a little.

The two reached the barn quickly at a steady pace, Grim was standing there as if he had been waiting for them for a while. His head was bandaged, a trickle of blood running down his cheek. Laura and Jyn were sitting beside the barn door hugging, their faces pale as if the blood had been drained from them.

"Come inside, I've got the cure ready." Grim said as he walked inside. Rick and Mary followed behind, both feeling bewildered.

The inside of the barn was dark, hay littered the floor and the air was musky. Although it was difficult to see. A few rays of light managed to make their way through the barn's looser planks.

As the three walked towards the center of the barn, a gasp of shock left Rick's mouth followed by Mary's scream.

In the center of the barn there lay 4 people, tied up and gagged. Three were adults, two men and a woman. The last was a teenage boy, no older then 14.

The two men had already been shot in the head, their brains splattered on the barn floor. Only the woman and the young man remained. They looked at Grim, Rick and Mary as their bodies shook in fear.

Grim turned towards Rick and handed him a revolver. "You know what to do right?"

"I-I can't..." Rick attempted to push the revolver away but Grim grabbed his hand and slapped the revolver into his palm.

"You must Rick! My wife and son have already killed." Grim pointed to the two dead men and growled. "After they did the deed, the pain and that monster in the corner of their eye disappeared. I was right Rick, if we want to survive we have to kill!" He turned around and walked towards the barn exit.

"Tell me boy, did yer wife and son do it willingly?" Rick shouted in frustration.

Grim shuddered, he stopped in place like a statue.

He sighed and with a hoarse voice, he replied. "No...I had to force them, it broke my heart but I had to do it."

Grim's hands balled into fists, he was gripping them so tight that his knuckles went white. "No matter what, I'll do everything in my power to keep them alive and safe. Will you do the same, Rick?" Grim gave a brief glance towards Mary before leaving the barn.

Rick stood silently in the barn, Mary clutching his arm tightly.

He stood still in a daze, the blurry figure in the corner of his eye looked to be still but it was inching closer every second and a sound had followed it. It was a distant buzzing sound that stuck in his ear, that was all he could make out but it terrified him.

Mary looked down at the woman and young man, they were both crying and whimpering through their gags.

"Papa I can't do it, I won't do it!" Tears had begun to leak from her eyes.

He gripped the revolver tightly. A firm resolve shone in his eyes. Turning towards Mary, he smiled painfully. "Don't worry Mary, you just need to hold the revolver and put your finger on the trigger, close your eyes and I'll do the rest."

"But.. " Mary sniffled.

Rick wiped away her tears. "I'll take on all the burden, I'll keep you safe."

Outside the barn, Grim was waiting. Laura and Jyn stood by his side, both were still a little shaky but color had returned to their pale faces.

Laura gripped Grim's shirt and asked. "Husband, will they do it?"

Grim's gaze was distant as he replied. "They have to, there is no other choice."

Laura opened her mouth to say something but two loud gunshots interrupted her. Turning her head towards the barn, she saw Rick walking out while carrying Mary who had fainted.

Rick looked visibly older as if he had aged many years. He stopped in front of Grim and then reached out to hand over the revolver.

Grim shook his head and said. "Keep it, you'll need it."

Rick put the revolver away and said. "We need supplies, Grim."

"A trip to the town then?" Grim suggested.

Rick Nodded. "It should be safer now. I saw some authorities heading towards the town on my way out. Maybe they've restored order?"

"Hopefully..." Grim muttered.