C5: Fighting to Survive
The claw hand slammed onto the hood of the van, making Mai cry out in fear. The van spun out of control taking with it Mai, Naru, and Lin. The force of the impact spun the van off the road and down the wood filled embankment. The van groaned as it came to rest on its top at the bottom of the embankment. Lin, being the only one belted in, looked to the back of the van. Laying there on the roof of the van was Naru and Mai. Naru pushed himself to sit.
"Mai! Mai!" Naru called he stroke her face.
Groaning in pain, Mai opened her eyes. Sitting up, she grabbed her head before asking, "what happen?"
"The demon attacked us." Lin said as he let himself down from his seat.
Mai looked out of the van windows into the dark woods. It was dark outside, and there was no telling where they were. Out in the woods a owl hooted, causing a moan of fear to escape from Mai's mouth. She scooted closer to Naru in fear. It was steadily getting cold outside and inside the van as well. Lin finally made it back to the two of them. "Are you guys hurt?" Lin asked.
"I'm not, but Mai hit her head hard," Naru said as Lin shined a pin light into Mai's face.
Jerking back from the painful light, Mai whimpered a little bit. "Mai, I have to check it out." Lin said as he felt the place where she hit her head. "Looks like you have a knot. You eye dilated. It is possible that you have a mild concussion." Lin declared.
"What are we going to do now?" Mai asked as she buried her head into Naru's shoulder. Her body shooked with her sobs. Mai was over came by the pain she was in, and the fact that the demon was still trying to kill her.
"It's okay, we will think of something. The church is just on the other side of this embankment. It's best if we get going." Naru said as he forced open the side door.
Backing away from the opening, Mai shook her head. "I can't go out there. That monster is out there!" Mai sobbed.
"We are sitting ducks in here. It would be best to get to the church as soon as possible." Lin said as he took her hand and gently pulled her out of the van. With Lin on one side and Naru on the other side of Mai, they made their way to the other side of the embankment.
The night's air was crisp with per-winter temperature. To the right of them hey could hear something moving, following them step for step. "Naru... I'm tired. Could we rest for a minute? I'm not feeling too well." Mai whimpered as she wrapped her arms around one of his. They took a few more steps before Mai clasped completely.
"Lin, let's take a short break. She can't continue like this." Naru said as he lead her to a fallen log.
Lin came over and placed one of his hand on Mai's forehead. "She had a fever; Mai won't last long out here in the cold," Lin stated as he lifted her up in his arms. Mai groaned as she curl up closer the warmth that came off of Lin's body. They slowly picked their way through the the woods. Each step seemed to cause Mai more and more discomfort. They were about to reach the other side of the embankment when a growl soundrd out from behind them. The demon lashed out at the group causing them to be tossed apart. Lin's grip on Mai was loosen, and Mai fallen from his arms. Mai gave a sharp cry of pain when she landed on the ground.
She hadn't moved since she had hit the ground. Fear and worry rose up in Naru as he tried to get to where Mai had fallen. "Mai! Mai answer me!" Naru cried as he crawled towards her. The demon could be seen standing over her motionless body. Lin let out a whistle calling his familiars to him. Out of nowhere, three white spirits emerged from the dark. The spirits attacked the demon pushing back away from Mai, allowing Naru to get to her.
Naru hurried and scooped up Mai in his arms and took off towards the light form the church, that they could see now. Naru allowed himself to steal a peek at Mai just to notice she was unconscious, and Mai had blood oozing down her face from a cut on her temple. "Oh Mai!" Naru thought as he ran on. After a few minutes, Lin caught up to him and they climbed the last hill that would get them to the church.
They cleared the top of the hill to find the rest of the group waiting for them; however, they couldn't stop running because they were not on holy ground yet. They ran for what they were worth, but when they were no more than a few feet away the demon slammed into Naru, knocking him down and Mai out of Naru's arms. This time when she hit the ground no sound came out. She laid there still unconscious. The demon gave a victories laugh as it picked Mai up in its arm.
Mai's head had fallen back to expose her pale blood soak face. Her arms, open wide, hung limply. The demon turned towards the group of people that was watching helplessly in horror and maliciously laughed before caring her away. "Mai! Give her back now!" Ayako screamed as the group chased after the demon.