With her thoughts in a mess, she desperately tried to gather them. Moments of terror slowly crept over her, it was almost as if she was being suffocated. The few seconds she was on the ground felt like hours, time was contorted.

What should I do, or, what can I do?

Mia punched the ground, a tear falling down her cheek... A drop, a single droplet falling slowly, time felt stiff. In that moment all of her pent-up anger and sadness flowed out. Confidence forced its way to the front of her mind and she shot up to her feet. She believed that she could do something, anything. Aira saved her once, now it was her turn to save her. She began running towards the culprits, her face screaming rage.

WAM!

The backhand of the unknown boy flew back, hitting Mia across the face.

Mobo, Ebrin, and Oozua turned around, caught off guard by the event.

Mia fell to the ground a few feet away, blood gushing from her nose at an accelerated rate.

The unknown boy walked over, smiling maniacally. "Yo. So you're the girl this piece of garbage these guys have been talking about". He took a few steps over her, visibly enjoying the moment.

Mia slowly began to get up only to receive a powerful kick to the stomach.

I can't breathe, every breath I try to take burns. Mia grasped her neck, trying to soothe her burning throat.

The boy stood tall, "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA", He laughed maniacally and took a deep breath. He then pointed over to Oozua, "You see, my little brother over there was beaten by this insect lying on the ground". He laughed once again. "Don't you think it's fair? An eye for an eye?" He walked back over to Aira and knelt. "She's kinda cute eh?"

Still unable to talk, Mia shot him a death stare. It seems his interest was now solely on Aira,

Mia was a complete afterthought.

The boy grabbed Aira by the hair, pulling her up to her feet.

"GYAAAAAAAA!" Aira screamed as tears came down her face.

"We're gonna have some fun aren't we insect".

Now in full view, Mia could see Aira completely. Her kimono was ripped and she was covered in cuts and bruises.

Mia managed to get a breath in, "Who-who are you", she coughed between each word.

The boy looked over and arched his head to the side. "Who am I?" He snickered, "My name is Yondo, though, after tonight, you probably won't even remember that". He turned back to Aira, focusing his intent once more. "Now, Mobo, you were attacked by her first right?"

Mobo nodded and met his gaze.

"Then you'll get to decide what happens to this pest"

His eyes lit up with malicious sight. He took a step forward and stroked Aira's face. "Hmmmm", he stood in thought, "Let me see, let me see".

Mia stared at him, hoping a miracle would happen. In her eyes the walls around her seemed like a prison, she felt as if there was no escape.

These four bullies had no morals, no feelings, they see her and Aira as nothing but toys. It took a year for Mobo, Ebrin, and Oozua to get their revenge and they were surely going to savor it. With the addition of Yondo who embodied sadism, they were without a doubt going to inflict as much pain on Mia and Aira as possible.

Mia sat watching Oozua and the others torturing Aira, her screams echoed throughout the streets. She grasped the ground, tears still falling down her face, I have to do something. Aira gave me this life... I refuse to let these assholes take it away from me. She tried to stand yet again. Mia's determination and her love for Aira was all she had

"STOP IT!" Mia screamed, Her anger pouring out.

The boys ignored her and continued their play.

She thrust forward, pain shot through her body with each step. Mia grabbed Mobo, who was bending Aira's fingers back with the intent of breaking them.

"I SAID STOP YOU ASSHOLES".

Mobo, still taller than her, pushed her aside causing her to fall back.

Mia, at only fourteen years old, didn't have the strength to deal with them. She looked down, balling her fists and biting her lip.

"Dammit, DAMMIT", she yelled.

--

Within the minutes that followed, Aira's screams increased, her pain and torment radiating around the area.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

--

Everything seemed lost, Mia's world seemed to be drifting back. The last year seemed like a dream, a dream that she'd cherish.

She looked up, looking directly at Aira.

Her breath was heavy, blood was coming from her mouth, and how she was able to stay conscious is a mystery.

--

Everything fell silent, and then... "EAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Screams came from outside the alley. People came running past at full speed, their faces showing the peak of fear. Shrieks and roars echoed. Howls, screams and other beastly voices came from the western side of the village.

The boys paused their torture momentarily, "what the hell is happening??"

Ebrin stood in a panic. With his eyes darting back and forth, he seemed heavily worried.

"Is the village being attacked by bandits?" Yondo dropped Aira and ran over to the outside of the alley. He gripped the corner of the entrance and peeked out into the street.

"Yondo, what's happening out there?" Oozua asked.

Yondo looked to be shaking. Breathing heavily, he turned back into the alley, his face looked flush. "What are those things?", he shivered.

"YONDO!" Oozua screamed at him demanding an answer.

It seemed that Yondo couldn't even reply.

Mia sat there in confusion, What could be out there to scare someone like him?

Taking advantage of the situation, Aira began to move.

"Mia.... Mia..." She whispered.

Aira slowly crept along the ground trying to get to her sister.

Mia turned her head back towards Aira, a giant childish smile across her face. "Aira... I'm so sorry, this is all my fault". Tears fell down her face and formed a small puddle.

Aira reached out her hand, cradling Mia's face and wiping her tears. She gave a smile, "Don't worry about it, I said when we met that I'd protect you didn't I". She paused, "what's going on?" A concerned look on her face.

Mia looked back towards the boys, who were standing motionless at the alleyway entry.

"I'm not sure", she said with a rather puzzled but relieved look.

In both their minds it seemed like a miracle, some outside force had saved them from the fate they would've suffered at the hands of Yondo. To this end, they were grateful but also worried. The possibilities that lay beyond these two girls were inexplicable.

--

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Loud footsteps echoed throughout the alleyway. Mia and Aira were frozen, as were the boys in front of them.

The footsteps got closer, and closer, "BOOM!" It stopped, all six of them looked up at once, their white faces struck with fear.

Each of them could barely move, their eyes locked with the entity staring down at them.

The beast was covered in black fur, and protruding from its head were two long horns. It was at least fourteen feet tall, with two hairy legs and two lanky arms, each forearm was considerably large.

It looked down, staring intently.

As it gradually got closer it slowly opened its mouth, its menacing teeth clattered against each other. This creature, this beast, whatever it was, it wanted them.

"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Yondo and the other boys screamed in unison. With scattered movements, they pushed and shoved to get away from the beast. Their only option was to rush it and get past it.

The beast stood still, keeping its gaze focused.

"RYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" it roared ferociously, shattering any hope of escape.

The boys weren't thinking, they were too scared to think.

The beast took a step back, seemingly allowing them to escape.

Mia, still frozen, What is it doing? Will it let us go? She looked back to Aira, who was now shivering. She's in bad shape. There was a slight chance that they could get away but the situation seemed off.

--

Yondo and the others began to move, hopeful that they may be able to escape. Their faces depicted several emotions; sadness, terror, stress, the complete opposite of what they felt minutes before as they tortured the girls.

A sliver of hope opened up to them. Well, they thought that at that moment, but not for long.

As they moved, Yondo, who was in front, looked back. His eyes, while filled with hope, now turned to terror. What was once one was now many.

Multiple beasts were in hot pursuit. In varying sizes, they charged. Some were covered in fur and some covered in scales, none were identical.

Yondo kept running, seconds later, he stopped. His thoughts were a mess, his brain screamed at him to move but his legs wouldn't respond, it's as if his body had given in.

He sighed and turned around.

Mobo, who had tripped a few feet after exiting the alley, was having his limbs ripped off by a bunch of smaller beasts resembling demonic children.

"NO STOP PLEASE!" His screams of agony echoed in Yondo's ears but stopped quickly as his life came to an end.

Ebrin thought himself to be lucky. He passed Mobo thanking him for being caught, and continued running. It wasn't long till another beast, maybe half the size of the one who stood in front of the alleyway, grabbed him. This beast resembled a bipedal humanoid with the head of a goat.

CRAC-CRAC-CRACK! The sounds that came from Ebrin's bones being crushed between the beast's teeth were horrible.

Oozua was the luckiest out of the three. As he neared his brother he smiled, tears running down his face.

"BROTHER!" He yelled.

But in an instant, SMASH! A giant foot came crashing down crushing Oozua and killing him instantly, his blood painting the area around him.

Yondo looked down at his hands, which were covered in blood.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" He laughed, his mind unable to process everything that had transpired in the last minute.

Around him, blood had pooled into the cracks of the stone road, making a caged visual, exactly as Yondo felt.

"There's no way, this can't be happening", he turned, resuming his escape, the thoughts of his brother and friends dying in such a gruesome way haunted him.

It all seemed perfect, with those three dead, he could make his escape.

Woooooooooos- SMAAASH!

The first beast came from the sky and and landed directly in front of him, bits of rock and debris flying off everywhere in the process.

It looked down at him and awkwardly cracked a smile.

"HEH HEH HEH". It was unknown whether it laughed or if that was just a noise it made, but it was horrifying nonetheless.

The beast edged closer and closer.

Is this what I get? Is this what I get for playing around with two pieces of trash?

The beast picked him up and dangled him above its mouth.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHhhhhh...." His scream drifted away as he fell into its throat, his death imminent.