Death's embrace
Chapter 26
Eidolon's scream rang across the entire coliseum.
"M-my arm...!"
His voice cracked. "It hurts- it hurts like hell!"
Tears streamed down his face, mixing with snot as his body trembled uncontrollably. His chest heaved, breath coming in broken gasps.
"Pleas-"
A sound cut him off.
Crunch.
His pupils shrank.
Slowly-too slowly-his head turned.
And he saw it.
The chimera.
A monster born of pure terror, its massive jaws working lazily as it crunched, chewed, and savored the flesh in its mouth.
My... arm.
The beast tilted its head, almost pleased, as it munched on what remained of his severed limb.
A strangled sound crawled up Eidolon's throat.
"Help-"
Nothing came out.
Help... I'll die. I can't- please... I'm scared...
His body shook violently as he turned forward, desperate, ready to scream until his lungs collapsed-
But he froze.
There was no one.
The other children were gone-hidden behind shattered stone and broken walls, buried beneath the rubble the explosion had created. Not one stepped forward.
Not the talented.
Not the strong.
Not even the desperate.
They stayed where they were, petrified by mind-crushing fear.
Some pressed their faces into the dirt.
Some silently prayed.
Some begged for forgiveness without sound.
"H-HELP!" Eidolon screamed at the top of his lungs.
"Please! Help me!"
No one answered.
The chimera continued chewing.
Slow.
Wet.
Unhurried.
Eidolon felt it then.
I'm running out of time.
"Wh... why..." His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Why is it always like this...?"
His vision blurred.
"I don't want to die... I really don't want to die... Why won't anyone hear me...?"
A hollow laugh escaped his throat.
"This world really is shitty... isn't it...?"
Then-
"Hahahahahahaha!"
Laughter exploded across the coliseum.
Every black-hooded figure watching from above laughed openly, cruelly, their voices echoing like mockery itself.
"What a pathetic bastard!"
"Did you see how he screamed?"
"Haha- like a little girl!"
Their laughter layered over his pain, drowning it, crushing it.
Eidolon's head hung low.
Above them all-
"Hm."
A single voice cut through the noise.
"Tsk."
A sharp click of the tongue.
"How did my clone lose to something this pathetic...?"
Elder #2 watched silently, eyes narrowed-disappointment and anticipation mixing behind his gaze.
"You'd better show me something," he said softly.
"...or you'll die, brat."
---