Madoka stumbled through the streets of the town, following Nema's instructions as best he could while being chased by The grey creature that was hot on their heels. It's maniacal laughter echoed around them as they turned down an alleyway with stone walls on both sides.
What was it that this thing had against him? That caused it to chase him down with sheer abandon? Questions Madoka would never get answered. Unless he wanted to get caught by the creature whose soul aim seemed to be taking his life. Or some approximation of that.
He just hoped that he could get Nema somewhere safe. So that she didn't get hurt. That was, if he could get away from the creature.
Looking down at Nema. Whose face was warped from the pain. It was obvious that she was suffering from something that he couldn't see.
Something, that continued to add more questions into Madoka's already overwhelmed mind and body.
As he moved the intensity of the images playing through his mind lessened. Just enough for Madoka to pay attention to the directions that Nema had been giving him.
As Madoka managed to temporarily lose the creature by hiding inside of a small convenience store. Taking the small moment of solace to catch his breath. And come to try to work through the images running through his mind.
One such image that popped up was of him in front of Nema. Surrounded by what seemed like hundreds of cultist priests. Another, of her watching him with that same emotionlessly cold expression. As he was being torn apart by the grey creature that had been chasing him.
Now that he was slowly remembering more and more. This hadn't been the first time that he had been chased by the creature. Realizing that this wasn't the first time he had been chased by the grey creature. That he and Nema had interacted in some way.
It was all so overwhelming that he wasn't sure if he was just going crazy. Or if this was all reality.
But now wasn't the time to get those kinds of answers. Now was the time to run, and to find somewhere safe to hide. To survive.
Though, that thought didn't last long when a hand forced its way through the wall. Followed by that same hideous laughter.
"Iiiii ffouundd youuu~!" The creature laughed violently as Madoka let out a loud (and definitely manly) scream. Scrambling with Nema in his arms as the creature tore through the stores aisles. Trying its hardest to get Madoka in its clutches.
Something Madoka tried his absolute hardest to prevent. By running into multiple buildings, running through their halls, and through tight corridors, around equipment. Until finally they seemed to lose the creature. Reaching an alleyway behind two rather large trash bins, where he sat Nema with her back against the wall. Panting heavily as he struggled to steady his breath, and his heart. Fighting his spinning vision in an attempt to stay conscious.
"Why is this thing chasing us? What's doing this to you?" Madoka breathed. Even though he knew that she shouldn't respond.
"To kill…you." Nema croaked. Her voice sounding like it was being torn apart with each word. It made Madoka feel bad just for making her talk.
But he just needed to know. No, he wanted to know. Wanted to know why he was suddenly remembering things that had happened to him. Times he had been on the verge of being torn apart, and of times where he had been surrounded. Times where she just did nothing but watch. Like she was some kind of celestial observer.
"I…am suffering…because I…broke rules." Nema muttered weakly before having a coughing fit. One that forced her to cough a good amount of blood on the ground.
"Broke rules?" Madoka repeated, finding it hard to comprehend. The more he figured out or got a slight grasp on. The less he truly knew.
"Helloooo!" A familiar voice rang out drawing Madoka from his mind. Looking around, listening for any more sounds to follow. Only for silence to fill the air.
"Heh. I must be going crazy…I could've sworn I just heard yui-"
"Where did everyone go?!" Yuichi's voice called out from the other end of the alleyway. Followed by the sound of crashing.
The voice made Nema freeze as she remembered Yuichi. And their talks over the course of the last two months. Time she had spent catching him up to speed in an attempt to get his help in saving Madoka. A period of time where she tested the limits of what'd constitute as a breaking of the rules.
Which to their shared surprise. Was as long as she didn't try to say or do anything involving Madoka and what was going on in the world around them. Then it didn't count as she broke the rules.
"Yuichi?! Is that really you?" Madoka couldn't help but call out from the alleyway. Earning a scared look from Nema that he didn't see.
"Madoka?! What's going on here?!" Yuichi yelled back in response. "Everyone's gone and there's this grey thing hopping on its hands! And it's chasing meee!"
"That's definitely him…" Madoka muttered while attempting to steal a glance from behind the dumpster. He witnessed his blonde haired friend looking around confused, trying for the life of him to find where Madoka's words had come from. While dodging the grey creature who seemed to get aggravated over its inability to catch the blonde.
Before Madoka could wave Yuichi down. Nema weakly grabbed his arm, shaking her head right before the words left his mouth.
"I know calling him will draw it's attention… But I can't just leave him to be killed by the monster." Madoka said in a somewhat cold tone.
"Ask him…What is. Your sisters. Name." Nema muttered.
Madoka frowned at that, not really understanding why she seemed to distrust Yuichi. After all, he seemed like …well like Yuichi. He also didn't want to waste time playing twenty-questions. Not when blood continued to flow from her body.
"What's my sister's name Yuichi!?" Madoka yelled out begrudgingly. Flinching at how stupid the question sounded when he asked it.
Until Madoka noticed the sheer silence that followed after that question was asked. The question wasn't so stupid after-all.
"Ru-"
"It's Naomi!" Yuichi's voice called out cutting off Nema as she started to speak. Turning her words into a slow nod when Madoka turned to confirm if he was in the clear or not.
"Yuichi over here!" Madoka yelled. Hurriedly standing so that Yuichi could see them. Bracing himself for the inevitable charge in his direction. Before launching himself forward, closing the distance between the two and Yuichi. And unfortunately closer to the creature as well.
"What's going o- what happened to her?!" Yuichi yelled out in shock. His gaze locking with Nema's as some silent understanding was shared between them.
"I think she had an extreme reaction to something." Madoka guessed, not really sure how to define what happened. While it did happen out of nowhere, he didn't really know what exactly caused it or what to call it. An act of god maybe?
"I don't remember learning about any reactions this bad. It looks like someone beat the tar out of her." Yuichi said, running alongside the two. Obviously trying to figure out what was going on.
"It happened so suddenly, and before I could try to figure it out. We got attacked by the creature in grey. It was after that when she got worse, and every time she talks, or if I touch her, her pain seems to grow. We've been running from it since then." Madoka explained, reminding himself of the creature that was currently chasing them.
"The thing on its hands didn't really seem to notice me. Well until I started yelling a whole lot." Yuichi said, looking at Madoka. "Were you taking her to the hospital?"
"I honestly don't know. I'm being given directions from Nema. Could be her home, could be an alleyway where I'll be axe murdered. Won't really know till we get there." Madoka said.
"You're taking this all really well aren't you?" Yuichi asked, noticing the seeming nonchalance.
"Oh I'm freaking out." Madoka admitted. Giving an unconvincing smile. "Just trying to keep it all together the best I can."
Yuichi didn't look convinced but he also didn't really say anything else. Mainly because, what was there to say in a moment like this?
"Let's get going." Madoka said. Looking at Nema who was already pointing down the street. Which he began to follow.
Alas they made good time as they followed Nema's weak directions. Eventually right as the color of the sky changed from the bright blue, to the painted colors of sunset. They had stopped in front of a large four story apartment complex, with several different stairs for multiple ways of getting up and down.
"What floor is yours?" Madoka questioned between heavy breaths. Adjusting his hold on Nema so she was no longer barely holding on.
"304." Nema managed weakly, her voice barely audible to his ears. Followed by more coughs and sounds of suffering.
"We're almost there. Just a little bit more." Yuichi said with small words of encouragement. "Just gotta climb a few more steps."
Though it felt more like an eternity to get up the steps than it had for them to actually get to the apartment complex. Maybe it was the time delay that they all felt, or it was just the sheer exhaustion from being chased down by the creature until they somehow managed to lose it again; All while carrying someone. Yet even so, their small group made it into Nema's apartment. Away from the outside world, and the creature that was chasing them.
Though the relief was only temporary when the two boys looked and saw just what kind of state Nema's home was in. With pieces of paper littering the floor, a portion of it being dedicated solely to instant ramen and t.v. dinners. The two looked at each other with concerned expressions written all over their faces.
"How do you live like this?" Madoka muttered in complete horror. Earning a pained groan from Nema. "Right, now's not the time for this." He continued moving through the small apartment before heading for the only room that already had its light on.
The bathroom.
Madoka set Nema down on the floor gently, guaranteeing her that he was going to be right back. Before heading out searching for clothes for her to wear. As he looked through her room, which was filled with even more paper. With her precious garments scattered about random pieces of furniture that really had no purpose in being a bedroom.
Yet, he found what he hoped were a pair of shorts and a tank top and a hoodie. The only pieces of clothing he hesitated grabbing were the girls underwear.
Which after a while, he too eventually picked up with the help of a chopstick Yuichi found in the kitchen.
Nema lay on the cold tile of the bathroom, the sensation did wonders for the pain that pulsed through her entire body. She could feel every heartbeat ripping through her body sending electric jolts of pain racing through her nerves. Feeling almost like she was being fried alive with each beat of her heart.
It was a miracle she had managed to remain conscious for as long as she had. Though for how much pain it was, there was a trace momentary thought that swam through the fog of her mind.
The only sensible reason was that it was part of her punishment to feel every ounce of pain. To suffer for every uttered word that broke the rules that were set upon her. For everything she had done to jump start the process to save Madoka's life.
From himself.
Though those weren't thoughts that she continued to have. As she slowly looked around the room that somehow felt unfamiliar. That was until she paid close attention to the tile floor she had recently befriended a few days before.
She was in her bathroom. And the water was running?
Nema tried to move, only for pain to erupt through her body. The feeling of another blood vessel somewhere breaking. As everything seemed to betray her.
Consequences for your actions. Always paid in full. Up front. Her patrons voice echoed through Nema's mind, further intensifying the pain she felt. Finally bringing her one step closer to the utter bliss of unconsciousness.
Only, she wasn't that lucky.