Luna chucked a metal pipe right at the monster's head.
Riko could barely get a breath in. The monster squeezed him harder, like it was trying to pop him. His ribs felt like they were about to snap with razor. He kicked, trying to get away, but the boss just dug its fingers in deeper. He couldn't really see anything. His heart hammered. Every part of him wanted to just be somewhere else.
The boss raised him up, getting ready for the final move.
Riko's brain went into panic mode.
This is it. I'm gonna die like this? Squeezed to death by a trash monster?
Then he heard a CLANG!
The boss's head snapped to the side.
Riko's brain short-circuited. Huh?
Another clang. This one sounded meaner.
Then a voice, loud and ticked off. He knew that voice.
RIKO, YOU IDIOT!
He looked over as much as he could. It was Luna standing on a delivery truck, hair going crazy in the wind, eyes burning like fire. She had another pipe and looked ready to beat something up with it.
Luna.
Riko almost didn't breathe. Luna?! What are you even doing HERE?!
Instead of answering, she hurled another pipe right at its face.
The boss snarled, sounded more annoyed than hurt.
Riko blinked. Why are you—
WHY are YOU fighting a huge monster by yourself?! Luna yelled back. Who does that?! Who decides to fight a trash monster alone?!
Riko tried to shrug, but just coughed. I didn't... it sort of... found ME.
This is the dumbest thing you've ever done! And you do a lot of dumb things!
The monster huffed. Its claws squeezed Riko's ribs, and he made a painful noise.
Luna saw it and got angry. She grabbed a piece of rebar and hit it against the truck, trying to get the boss to notice her.
HEY! TRASH CAN! LET HIM GO!
Riko just wanted to disappear. Don't call it names! You're gonna make it angry!
Oh, REALLY? Luna shouted. Because it already looks angry!
The boss growled loudly, shaking the street.
Riko gasped, Luna, get OUT of here! Run!
No! I'm not leaving you! She stomped her foot. Someone needs to watch over you because you clearly can't!
I CAN take care of myself! Riko said.
You're being squeezed by a monster RIGHT NOW!
...Okay, good point.
The boss turned towards Luna. Its attention was split between Riko and the annoying person yelling at it.
Luna grabbed a hubcap and threw it without thinking. It bounced off the monster's shoulder, but she kept standing there.
Put him down, trash-face!
Riko groaned. PLEASE stop calling it that!
NO! I'm not being polite to the thing that's HURTING YOU!
The boss rumbled. The grip tightened for a second, reminding everyone that it was very strong.
Luna didn't move.
She looked really mad. Like she was ready to beat up anything with whatever she could find.
Riko's chest hurt. He wasn't sure if it was from being squeezed or something else.
Luna, he whispered, please... just go. Run.
No, she said. If you're dumb enough to fight this thing, then I'm dumb enough to help.
That doesn't make sense!
It does now!
The boss turned its head, shoulders moving like rocks grinding. It looked at Luna, checking her out.
Riko felt it adjust its grip. Not looser, not tighter. It was like he wasn't as big of a deal anymore.
That scared him more than being squeezed.
Wait—hey! Don't look at her! Riko screamed.
Luna smashed a tire against the truck. HEY! LOOK OVER HERE! COME AT ME, JUNKPILE!
Riko yelled, STOP IT!
WHAT ELSE AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?!
RUN!
NO!
YES!
The boss rumbled again. It felt like the ground was shaking.
Then it made up its mind.
Its head turned all the way around.
It looked right at Luna.
And then it moved toward her.