LII
Soma
We found the Vajra's body halfway through the abandoned residential area.
Tatsumi approached it cautiously. Even though its body was starting to disintegrate, it didn't seem to be…dead. There were no wounds on its body that I could see. It looked almost as if it had simply fallen there and stopped moving, a statue burdened by the rain.
He used his Short Blade to flip the body. I noticed some blood on its quickly-rotting teeth — as much as I hated to say it, it had to be Song's. A single fang jutted from its chest.
"A straight shot to its core." Brendan wolf-whistled. "That takes guts and some crazy luck."
"It means Song's alive." I growled. "So we should spend more time looking for her than admiring what she did."
"Right!" Kanon chirped, happy despite the mood. "The rain washed away any blood. It's a cold rain, though, so she was probably freezing. She would go for shelter. So unless a path looks like it would lead to some place to hide in, don't bother following it."
Without another word, we split up.
Where would Song have headed? She'd already run as far from the Ghetto as she could. Would she be satisfied with the distance she'd managed?
No, she wouldn't. She was bleeding badly. She would be worried about attracting more Aragami by the scent of blood. So she'd try to find shelter, but find it as far from the habited Ghetto as possible.
North, then.
X
Song
Cold.
It was so cold.
I came to slowly. The first thing I was aware of was the rain: big, heavy, chilling droplets that splattered my face and arms. Completely different than before, when it had been a pleasant thing to dance in.
Next came this overwhelming pressure on my lower body. It hurt, especially my left leg. I remembered a vague sensation of teeth. The pressure was squeezing the air from my lungs, making my breaths shallow and painful.
I managed to open eyes. My exhaustion made it so that I couldn't even scream when I saw the Vajra's face inches from mine.
Then I realised it was dead. That explained why my arm was beneath it, warm against its body.
Stop. Breathe. Think. Doc Sakaki had told me that. I needed to know how badly I was hurt.
One deep breath. Obviously I was pinned underneath the Vajra. Why…? My hand was clenched around something. A fang. Yes, I'd managed to stab the Vajra in its core. That's why it was dead and on top of me.
Another deep breath. My leg was definitely broken. It hurt like hell, being crushed by a Vajra. I remembered it managing to grab me after it saw through my disguising scent. Below the knee, on the left side. I could feel the puncture of Aragami teeth.
And one more deep breath. It was cold. My teeth were chattering and I was shivering. I needed to get out of this rain, before the combination of blood loss and chills brought me down.
I struggled a little, crying out in pain when my leg brushed up against one its claws. Small chunks of dead Cells were falling, little black bits that felt like pieces of slime against my arms. I managed a couple inches before I collapsed again, exhausted and in pain.
I need to get out of here! I thought of all sorts of Aragami that could be attracted by my scream and by the scent of blood. Maybe the rain would actually help out a little — if it had washed away my disguising scent so easily, maybe my normal one wouldn't carry far.
Three deep breaths, then I try again. I counted, this time using my hands to push against the Vajra. It shifted a little, the sudden break from pressure making me slide through mud. I wiggled a bit more, gritting my teeth, and managed to completely free myself.
The sudden lack of warmth — however slight — from the Vajra made me shudder. Cold water poured into my wound and I considered crawling back under the Aragami again. It would be like some kind of monstrous blanket.
Ten seconds. I told myself. Then I stand.
Those seconds passed too quickly. I took a deep breath. A promise was a promise. With all the force I could muster, I managed to push myself to my feet, using the Vajra as leverage. For a moment I paused there, gasping for air, water running down my face and into my mouth. My fingers and lips were numb and my teeth chattered. I needed to find shelter before I froze to death.
I took slow steps towards the balcony first. Bits of ash fell on my head as I used the wall for support, the looming threat of it all coming down keeping me moving. Breaking free of its cover was just as bad. The rain soaked into my clothes, weighing me down and chilling me to the bone.
I eventually found myself inside a building, completely lost as to how I got there. I must have blacked out for a moment. I remembered bits and patches: small stones or strange grooves in brick, but mostly I remembered cold and pain.
Some place to hide. That's what I needed.
I looked desperately around the house. Under the table? In the cupboard? Behind the couch?
In my panic, I barely noticed the footsteps. But suddenly they were there: slow, quiet, determined.
My breath came in ragged gasps. An Aragami. It had to be.
I took a step and stumbled, reaching out desperately for something to break my fall. My hand found the corner of the table, but instead of steadying me I took it down with me. Plates shattered as they hit the floor. A metal cup nearly hit me. The rest of the table set followed: old utensils too rusted to be useable, dust and rocks that must have come from the ceiling.
The footsteps paused, listening. Then they started again, quicker and heading right for me. Suddenly they were heavier, doubled. Vajra, not human.
I struggled to my feet, grabbing an old steak knife along the way. It wouldn't do any good against the Aragami and it was rusted to the point of bluntness, but should I be desperate enough…I could always use it on myself.
I headed for the first place I set my eyes on: the couch. With a struggle that left me gasping in pain and breathless, I managed to push myself over it. The small space between couch and wall was warm, though not by much.
The door I'd so recently come through opened. Blearily, I realized my mistake. By stepping out of the rain, my bleeding leg would leave a perfect trail.
I clutched the knife, wondering if Lindow had felt this way. Trapped, with no possible escape. Had he decided to end if then and there, by God Arc rather than being devoured?
"Song?" Soma asked softly.
I very nearly cried out in relief. I was such an idiot. Why would an Aragami open a door? Since when did Aragami footsteps sound human?
I tried to stand, but couldn't. Still, it was enough. A moment later Soma was there, eyes quickly turning from cautious to relieved.
What happened next was as blurry and indistinct as my walk in the rain. I remember Soma helping me to the couch. His voice was quiet as he spoke into his cellphone. I must have gone unconscious because next thing I knew his face came into focus, close to mine, his hands warm on either side of my face, saying "Don't fall asleep." And then I was gone again, only to reawaken with his jacket laid on top of me, his hands on mine as he tried to warm me up. I don't know how long it was until Tatsumi arrived, then Brendan, then Kanon, then a whole crew that led me out on a stretcher to a helicopter.
The blades had just begun to spin when I lost consciousness, for good this time.
Weekly update! (/ o w o)/
