"Are you worried about them?"
Gina voice ringing right beside Stella ear. Before Stella could jump, Gina casually slipped her arm around her waist, pulling her back from whatever thought run in her head.
"Yeah"
Stella answer without looking at Gina, her voice seemed nonchalant, yet Gina can feel her hesitation.
"What is it?"
"I felt Chloe will make her move tonight" Stella said before taking a deep breath and adding more "So we need to save Rin chasity before Chloe coul"
*Smack.
"Ow! What was that for?" Stella hissed, rubbing her side where Gina's elbow had just connected.
"What are you even talking about?" Gina pinched the bridge of her nose, lost at whatever Stella was talking about. Her playful mood just gone and making her mood sour.
"Wait...wait I have a good reason, imagine two person alone in middle of night what will they do and in the same room"
"Huh"
"I said—"
"I heard you." She sigh. "I'm just wondering how your brain reached that conclusion."
"Call it intuition"
"I call it sleep deprivation"
"Just think about it"
"I don't want to think about it!"
"What... Chloe might makes the first move"
"I don't think that's your anxiety stem from"
"Anxiety.... no...no no" Stella make an exaggerated movement denying Gina accusation "It's a genuine worried, like worried if they get attacked or disaster struck them, no one knows right so it's better if we ready to help them at any time, right"
"Sure" Gina gives a small smile, she stay still holding Stella by her side.
For a moment they stood silent.
"My balls..." The boy sleep talking, his voice laced in pain, the pain inflicted on him probably going to become his nightmare from now to the future.
"You should take a rest with the kid, I will take care the night watch."
"But"
"It's okay"
Gina reassure Stella, her demeanor completely different from her usual gremlin like act. Her voice sounds gentle than usual as if coaxing Stella, which compelled Stella leaving her no room to argue. at the same time She can feel Gina getting had grown distant than usual.
Stella lying beside the children, wrapping her arm around them before closing her eyes.
Within minutes...
Soft snores filled the room.
Gina rested against the window frame, her gaze swept the room as she watches Stella and the kids sleeping.
Outside, the moon showed its pale mocking smile as heavy blanket of darkness covered the sky and accompanying it a chorus of roar and scream from all sort of creature.
Amid the chaotic noise, a certain roar stood out. it was the the same roar from this afternoon, an unknown, menacing cry that struck fear into their hearts. It felt incredibly close so close that Gina couldn't help but the peek out the window, to find nothing outside.
"I kinda miss cricket noise," Gina reminiscing, only to find another roar answered her "Actually, no both is annoying." She clicked her tongue.
Gina took a second look at the kids and Stella, a night and day difference, the creature outside wandering like ant patrolling waiting for food, endlessly circling the street with tattered body.
Behind her, the kids were huddling together in the pitch-dark, warming themselves against the biting cold night, pressing their bodies tightly just to get a little bit warmth, completely ignoring the fact that their clothes were sticky and smell from blood.
"Not very demure" Despite the remarks she makes, a small smile tug her lips. It was a serene moment that she don't want to miss.
But beneath her smile, an indecipherable mix of anxiety ran rampant through her mind. Gina swallowed the lump of fear in her throat, her hand shaking and tears welled in her eyes.
A small chuckle escape her lips "I'm Gina, number one ranker – the one who reach the highest MMR!" A bunch of corny line spilled from her as she reinforce her resolution.
The anxiety didn't completely disappear, but when she saw the silhouette down the street, a look full of determination paint her.
The night wasn't over yet.
Meanwhile, inside a certain shop where the girl use it as second base.
Alex hadn't slept for almost an entire day, the girls hasn't return yet, they had promised they would return before nightfall but now that the moon has hung high in the sky and the sky swallowed in darkness. With passing hours keep ticking and there still no sign of them.
Slowly he grow more restless, his hand tremble as he carry his broken rifle. It no longer work even a hunk of metal is a better weapon than this twisted rifle.
"What happen to them, did they got attacked, did the monster back... I...I'm sorry I can't help, I...I must protect this place"
Alex slowly losing his grip on reality, the strange echoes outside seems to grow louder and louder with each passing time, from distance crashes, frantic footsteps a low guttural growl. Every sound made his heart skip.
Cold sweat pour behind his back as he sit on the corner but unable to sit still, Alex paced the cramped shop over and over. He checked the front door once.
Then windows if it's properly barricade
The second floor
Restroom
Then again he repeat from the front door to restroom.
The again for the third time.
He tested every lock, check all the barricade, make sure every room and window properly closed. Even goes as far as closing toilet seat.
The moment he sit the silence inside the shop felt suffocating. He sit in the far corner of the shop. Clutching his broken rifle tightly.
His eyelids grew heavy, feeling the weight of a day's worth exhaustion, he grew desperate to stay awake.
He reach into his pocket pulling out a bullet, before popping the cold brass metal into his mouth and start chewing it.
He heard it from somewhere, is it real or just a supersition.
Still...
He needed any help he could get.
With his jaw clenched tightly, eyes locked on the door and rifle on his arm, forcing a grin that failed to hide the fear in his eyes.
"Bring it on" He declared with whisper.