Dr. Sunji, unfortunately, couldn't find a siphon pump or any other effective tool to simplify his task. He had already searched the house adjacent to the car where Yowaya was resting, but still, he found nothing of use. The only potentially helpful item he could locate was a hose on the opposite side of the house.
I really didn't want to put my mouth on the other end of this hose, but if it's necessary, I suppose I don't have another option. Technically, I could ask Yowaya if he'd be willing to do it, but considering his aversion to even getting out of the car, I doubt he'd agree to this...
With a sigh, Dr. Sunji grabbed the hose and checked its length, nodding in satisfaction when he determined it was sufficient. Thankfully, their car had broken down in front of the house rather than between two houses, which would have made the hose too short.
As the doctor approached the vehicle, he made sure to check his monster radar again. Still, no monsters were detected except for Harlow.
Upon reaching the vehicle, Dr. Sunji inserted the hose into the gas tank while glancing at Yowaya in the front seat. From what the doctor could see, Yowaya was clutching a photograph of himself and his girlfriend. As the doctor walked back around the side of the house to reach the other end of the hose, he began to ponder Yowaya's reluctance to leave the car.
Is he truly afraid of dying as an officer? No, it must be more complicated than that. He knew the risks when he chose that career path and started working at the District 3 Detention Center. This is just my speculation, but perhaps the poor man isn't afraid of dying itself, but rather the impact his death would have on his loved one. That seems to be the most plausible explanation.
Lost in thought, Dr. Sunji absently brought the other end of the hose to their vehicle. He shrugged, turned, and walked over to the other car parked in the road. He opened the gas tank and inserted the hose, ensuring it was deep enough to prevent it from slipping out easily.
Would it be inappropriate to make a joke about that? he thought with a wry smile.
Of course, it would be, but why was he feeling immature in such a dire situation? Perhaps it was due to exhaustion—exhaustion from all the recent events, especially his recent confrontation with an angry Harlow. Dr. Sunji continued to contemplate this as he walked back to their vehicle and knelt beside the gas tank.
What if Harlow had become angry enough to kill me? It's a slim possibility, but still a frightening one...
Dr. Sunji began sucking on the end of the hose until he felt the telltale vibration of gasoline flowing. At the last moment, he quickly removed the hose from his mouth and inserted it into the gas tank. It had worked—gas was flowing. Dr. Sunji stood up and stretched. Just then, Harlow appeared in front of him, causing the doctor to twitch in surprise.
Huh? When did he get there? I didn't even hear him approach...
"I want the second volume..." Harlow said in a childish voice.
Dr. Sunji raised his eyebrows.
"The second volume of that book you have?"
"Yes. The guy in the car promised me he'd get me a second volume. Do you know where I could find one?" Harlow asked. Dr. Sunji knew where he could easily obtain a second volume, but he hesitated. There were two options: the public library or the mall. Based on the doctor's knowledge, the mall was closer to a Green Zone than the public library.
Do I really want to take Harlow closer to a Green Zone? Eventually, we'll have to part ways... Given that the ODW is supposed to be arriving soon... If I take Harlow closer to a Green Zone, and they happen to arrive at that moment...
"Hey, are you even listening to me?" Harlow asked, snapping Dr. Sunji out of his thoughts.
Dr. Sunji walked to the other side of the vehicle.
"Once we're finished filling up on gas, I know a place where you'll be able to get all the volumes, not just one," Dr. Sunji said.
Harlow's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
"Yes."
Dr. Sunji glanced at the hose. Gas was still flowing, and presumably, it would continue for another minute or so.
"Hey, Harlow, why don't you get in the car and rest? When you wake up, we'll definitely be there."
"OH, REALLY! WELL, I BETTER GO TO SLEEP NOW!" Harlow exclaimed.
...
Yowaya woke up feeling sluggish. It was probably evening, and he had just felt someone open the car door. He glanced to his right and saw Dr. Sunji.
Oh, thank goodness.
He felt something soft on his chest—it was the picture of him and Fukui. He had been daydreaming about his last encounter with her. Had it really been that long ago? Slumped over the driver's seat, scared and uncertain, how could he not think of her? He also noticed that Harlow was asleep in the back.
I see...
Yowaya sighed, stretched, and put his hands on the steering wheel. He noticed that the doctor was checking the radar.
"No monsters nearby. I know I said this before, but it's just a checkup," Dr. Sunji reassured him.
Yowaya nodded.
"Well...now that we have gas, where do we go? Did Harlow get what he came here for?" Yowaya asked.
Dr. Sunji shook his head.
"No, but he mentioned you promised to get him the second volume of some comic book. It would be wise for you to live up to that promise," Dr. Sunji said, giving him a sidelong glance. Yowaya understood, but everything was happening too fast. He was exhausted.
"And where would that be?" Yowaya started, but Dr. Sunji quickly interjected, "The mall—the nearest one to the Green Zone."
...
Kyoufu squinted, her vision tinged with an unsettling red hue. Something was amiss. A salty taste lingered in her mouth, and tears streamed down her face. She attempted to clear her throat, but the gesture was futile, as was any attempt to move her limbs. A wave of despair washed over her.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Wait...where am I? What is this place?
Recognition dawned. The mall...it had to be. The familiar storefronts lining the corridor, the kiosks scattered throughout the concourse—unmistakably the mall. But why? She tried to clutch her head in confusion, only to realize she lacked the physical means to do so.
I...I can't remember anything. Why does my mouth taste like salt?
The frustrating inability to move persisted. On the verge of surrender, she envisioned herself strolling through the mall, and to her astonishment, it worked. She was moving—not by walking, but by gliding effortlessly, as if suspended in mid-air.
It's like I can go anywhere I want...there's no limit to the places I can explore here...at least within this mall...
As she continued her ethereal journey down the hall, an excruciating pain pierced her mind. She screamed internally, begging for the agony to cease. When it didn't, she came to a sudden halt, hoping that stillness would bring relief. The pain persisted, though its intensity lessened.
It hurts so much...
Her gaze swept across the familiar stores until it landed upon a macabre sight. In front of one shop, a grotesque egg lay on the floor, seemingly on the verge of hatching. Its black shell oozed green pus, and a sticky substance adhered it to the wall.
What...what is that?
Fear paralyzed her. Moving closer meant risking a worsening headache, but an irresistible curiosity drew her towards the unsettling object. Summoning her courage, she inched forward, hoping the minimal movement wouldn't exacerbate the pain. As she neared the egg, an unseen force propelled her onward, robbing her of control.
Hey, what's going on?!
She braced for impact, squeezing her eyes shut. Yet, when she reopened them, she was enveloped in a sea of green pus. Had she somehow phased through the egg?
No...it doesn't make sense. Where's my body? It's like my mind is wandering through the mall without my body...
Controlling her movements remained a challenge, but gradually, she adapted. The sensation was less like hovering and more like traversing the mall as a disembodied consciousness.
Bodies...no, no, why are there so many...
Tears welled up again, accompanied by a fleeting image of a young girl with vibrant red hair and dark, fathomless eyes. It was a mere flash, a fragment of a memory that vanished as quickly as it appeared. Before she could dwell on it, a torrent of images flooded her mind, intensifying her headache.
Ahh...I can't...I simply can't...
A scream caught in her throat, trapped by an invisible force. The relentless onslaught of images continued, and the young girl's identity remained elusive.
I can't take this anymore. I can't...I just want to...
Her heart skipped a beat. Something was approaching the mall—no, multiple entities were closing in. Her omnipresence within the mall granted her an uncanny awareness of their approach.
No...no more danger...no more hurt.
...
Night had fallen. Harlow's eyes flickered open to the sight of a sprawling building in the distance, bathed in the moon's silvery glow. "The mall," he murmured, the familiar term surfacing from the depths of his memory. How could he have forgotten, even for a moment?
He sat up, his gaze falling upon the slightly dusty manga volume in his lap. A mental note to clean it later flitted through his mind, quickly overshadowed by a more pressing thought.
"Kid, we're getting close," Dr. Sunji's voice announced, accompanied by the telltale beep of the monster radar.
Harlow stifled a yawn.
"Finally, I can practically taste that second volume." Harlow said. A sudden, thrilling thought struck him.
What if the mall held more than just one additional volume? The possibility of completing his collection in one fell swoop ignited a spark of excitement.
"Hey, Doc! There should be more volumes there, right?"Harlow said, leaning forward.
Dr. Sunji winced, covering his ears against the sudden outburst.
"Yes, of course, there are. What goes through your head, kid?" Dr. Sunji said.
"Huh?" Harlow replied as he blinked, momentarily confused.
"Nothing." Dr. Sunji sighed, shaking his head.
In the front seat, Yowaya fidgeted nervously, his gaze darting around for potential threats. Harlow, oblivious to his companion's anxiety, grinned as the mall loomed larger in the windshield.
"Oh, I'm so excited," he squealed, his voice a childish singsong.
Dr. Sunji rolled his eyes.
As Yowaya steered the car off the main road and onto a side street, the path to the mall was abruptly blocked by a closed gate. A thick, crimson substance, glistening ominously in the moonlight, sealed the bars together.
"Monster vomit. If I had some syringes, I could definitely make use of this opportunity." Dr. Sunji said.
Harlow's excitement deflated, replaced by a frown as he stared at the slimy barrier.
"Aw, man, why'd we have to stop now? We're so close. I'm just gonna get out and go to the mall. Hey, you: come with me and help me find the volumes." he said, turning to Yowaya.
Yowaya, lost in his own world of worry, didn't respond. It took a gentle tap on the shoulder from Dr. Sunji to bring him back to reality, his body shaking with a fresh wave of fear.
"Didn't you hear me, man? I want you to come with me." Harlow repeated, already opening the car door.
Yowaya's panic escalated.
"Wait, wait, there's no way I can go with you." Yowaya stammered.
Dr. Sunji placed a comforting hand on Yowaya's shoulder.
"I don't care." Harlow retorted.
"What do you mean?" Yowaya's voice rose in pitch.
Without another word, Harlow reached across the car, grabbed Yowaya by the collar, and unceremoniously dragged him out of the vehicle.
"Hey, Harlow, we can talk about this! You know me!" Yowaya pleaded.
"Huh? What are you whining about? We're just going to the mall, dude." Harlow replied, his tone nonchalant.
"Please! Don't bring me in there," Yowaya begged.
"You're such a whiny pants, bro," Harlow scoffed, pulling Yowaya across the road.
Meanwhile, Dr. Sunji remained in the car, lost in thought. He glanced at the monster radar and nearly jumped out of his skin. The device indicated a massive monster lurking within the mall, something far more dangerous than anything Harlow had faced before.
Red dots, representing smaller monsters, clustered around the larger one, painting a grim picture of the situation inside. Beads of sweat formed on Dr. Sunji's forehead.
"Even with Harlow, could he possibly defeat all those monsters?" he muttered to himself.
His internal debate was cut short by a sense of duty. He couldn't, in good conscience, let Harlow and Yowaya face the unknown alone. With a sigh, he opened the glove compartment, retrieved a flashlight, and exited the car.
By the time he caught up, Harlow had already dispatched the gate with a casual punch, leaving a gaping hole in the slimy barrier.
"Yay, now I don't know which direction to go, so you're going to help me." Harlow said, glancing at Yowaya, who still sat on the ground, a little traumatized.
"Uh, yes..." Yowaya said slowly. Harlow wasted no time, casually lifting Yowaya to his feet and gesturing for him to lead the way. Yowaya stepped in front of Harlow and started walking, fearful of what awaited them.
"Harlow, there is something you should know," Dr. Sunji called out.
Harlow and Yowaya halted and turned towards Dr. Sunji.
"There are a lot of monsters in there. Will you be able to handle them?" Dr. Sunji began, showing them the monster radar.
Harlow shrugged.
"Sure, but I couldn't really care about that right now. Monsters are monsters, whatever."
"Are you still not convinced that you're a monster too?"
"Hey, stop asking me those questions and let's go inside the mall." Harlow said, jogging towards the entrance. Yowaya and Dr. Sunji reluctantly followed.
...
The dim beam of Dr. Sunji's flashlight cut through the oppressive silence of the deserted mall.
"It's not ideal, but it will have to do." Dr. Sunji said. Beside him, Yowaya trembled. In contrast, Harlow and Dr. Sunji maintained an outward appearance of calm.
As they ventured deeper into the eerie quiet, they stumbled upon a mall directory kiosk, its screen dark and lifeless.
"Of course, the power's out." Dr. Sunji muttered, then, a thought came to mind.
Shouldn't the backup generators have kicked in? Surely a place like this would have them. Of course, the outbreak affected the power plants too. Maybe some of the engineers...
"There might be a physical map near the escalators," Dr. Sunji suggested, redirecting his flashlight beam.
It was then that he noticed the glistening substance dripping from the ceiling, a decoration that became more pronounced as they neared the escalators. The map, thankfully, was still clearly visible.
Harlow, his eyes scanning the map, exclaimed, "Oh-ho, yes! Now, tell me where to find the store..."
He glanced expectantly at Yowaya, who remained silent.
"The third floor. That's where we need to go." Dr. Sunji said, stepping in.
A sudden crash echoed through the desolate mall. Dr. Sunji and Yowaya whirled around, searching for the source of the noise. Harlow's reaction was a beat slower, and by the time he turned, his companions had vanished.
"Huh? Where'd you guys go?" Harlow called out, bewildered. He took a hesitant step forward, only to feel a pair of rough, cold hands clamp around his ankle, yanking him down through the floor.
"Hey, wait! I want to go to the third floor!" Harlow cried out, his voice swallowed by the darkness.