They keep shouting and I wriggle around until I'm lying on my side facing towards the desk that holds my bed box. I can just see the vicious yellow legs and pincer butt thrashing around destroying my box. Those claws are sharp.
[Rising Hill Dew Petal Consumed]
[Karma Granted: 100]
[Current Karma: 9810/13050]
The man grabs a large thick piece of fabric off of the clothes rack. It stands out against his entire vibe. Dark hair slicked back. Dark clothes that cover up everything but his hands and face. He's even got a high collar! Lean and dark and now he's got a puffy white thing on his arm.
[Rising Hill Dew Petal Consumed]
[Karma Granted: 100]
[Current Karma: 9910/13050]
That is now slowly blackening and turning to ash. That scary bug really is red hot. Tch. Probably dried out the soil in the box. So now we've got murder bug and a fire to worry about. Ooh! And it looks like whatever that thing he used as a shield was important. She's mad.
[Rising Hill Dew Petal Consumed]
[Karma Granted: 100]
[Current Karma: 10010/13050]
This really deserves some popcorn. I pause, mouth poised over a petal, as the murder bug rears up and looks around. Part of me wonders how long it was scrabbling at the bottom trying to find my very plump and tender self before it noticed I wasn't there any more, and another part of me tells that part of me to shut up, we're about to die.
It shrieks, more of a high pitched hiss, and charges down the side of the table at me. No solicitors! I flex my body and splat against the wall, sticking in place.
[Leap Successful]
[Karma Granted: 250]
[Current Karma: 10260/13050]
[Rising Hill Dew Petal Consumed]
[Karma Granted: 100]
[Current Karma: 10360/13050]
Apparently it didn't notice. Now it's circling the area I was just in, antenna writhing around as it tries to find my trail. Hopefully it can't-- of course it smells me.
I sigh, put out, as it raises its head and broken steam whistles at me. If it keeps this up I might show it what a real scream is! When I'm screaming in terror! This thing is a nightmare!
This time it keeps its focus on me and blindly scrabbles in my direction. What are the two people doing? Don't they see I'm in danger? Oh, right. The fire. Ooh, it's spreading. Looks like I'm not dying alone.
[Rising Hill Dew Petal Consumed]
[Karma Granted: 100]
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
[Current Karma: 10460/13050]
I drop the flower, needing my hands, and proceed to groom myself. I'm not full yet but a little self-care is most important when you're stressed. Not sure how good my corpse is gonna look barbecued but I feel better after a bath. Until I see the murder bug again.
I yelp, a quick squeak, and launch myself. I'd hoped to make it across the room and near the dirt box, for what that's worth, but come up horribly short. I end up skidding under the desk, which is not ideal seeing how it limits my movement options, and the murder bug pauses halfway up the wall to my previous spot while looking dead at me.
[Leap Successful]
[Karma Granted: 250]
[Current Karma: 10710/13050]
[Resonating Cry Successful]
[Karma Granted: 20]
[Current Karma: 10730/13050]
I wasn't trying to hide under here on purpose. Why am I embarrassed? My pride won't hurt half as much as the rest of me if that thing gets any closer. Speaking of hurt, it's a little warm and the parts of me that aren't wrapped up are starting to dry out. Not this again.
The murder bug makes its way back to the ground and just waits. If they could my eyes would widen slowly in realization that the bug knows I'm trapped and it doesn't even have to attempt to try hard. How arrogant! Fine then. I shall die singing the song of my people!
[Resonating Cry Successful]
[Karma Granted: 20]
[Current Karma: 10750/13050]
I continue to scream in terror. Terror at my imminent death by being eaten alive. Terror at the horrible future of being burnt alive. Terror at the horrible future of drying out slowly before being burnt alive. A pure song with so much depth.
[Resonating Cry Successful]
[Karma Granted: 20]
[Current Karma: 10770/13050]
And now a song of triumph! I'd thought those points were from a misguided attempt at the brat to save me before succumbing to the reckoning that is his comeuppance for being an irritating brat, but behold!
[Resonating Cry Successful]
[Karma Granted: 20]
[Current Karma: 10790/13050]
See how the mighty beast crumbles! See how it flails before my might! See how it -- my throat feels dry. I slam my mouth shut. Oh, no.
The murder bug is now just slowly rolling lengthwise along the ground. Apparently I did some real damage. Unfortunately I must now conserve my ammunition for ruining its meal when it gets too close. Let them come, if they will, although I'd prefer if they stayed away!
How refreshing! Someone comes in with buckets of water and weird orange sized glass balls that slowly form ice wherever they aim. I squeal, waving my arms and wriggling. The heroes have arrived! Now someone kill that bug!
One of the sphere wielding uniformed men rushes over to me and I panic. Not this bug! That one! The red one is the one that started the fire! Go freeze its legs off! I have six and even I think it has too many! Spare me!
I curl up and attempt to scream but no luck. I guess it's a good thing I didn't have to use my last huzzah. I would have been devastated to find out I'd run out when the murder bug was looming over me! About to die with no witty one-liner. How tragic.
I'm scooped up and hurried out of the room before being dumped in Madame Director's arms. Is it the same day or is she just wearing the same outfit? Either way I'm on my back as she cradles me and I can't help but wonder what roasted Rising Hill Dew petals taste like. That bastard had interrupted my dinner. The least it can do is try to make it up to me.