We stood at the intersection of the hallway, my breath ragged and cold sweat running down my face. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a large shadow creep across the darkness-the sharp, twisted beak of a bird monster emerging from the hallway behind us. My body instantly stiffened.
"WATCH OUT, KARIN!" Alan shouted loudly, pushing me aside until we fell to the floor. The pounding made me realize something worse: Fatimah! She was still in her wheelchair, unable to move.
The monster was getting closer, its steps heavy and ferocious. Fatimah stared with a pale face, fear nailing her body, while I could only stare. The giant beak tore through the air, tearing the distance between us, and I saw it clearly-Fatimah, my best friend, vanished into the bird monster's mouth.
"FATIMAHHHH!!!" My scream exploded, my body shaking violently. Tears streamed down my face as a deep sense of loss hit me. My best friend Fatimah had been eaten right in front of me.
"Karin, we have to go now!" Alan tugged on my hand, his voice tense, full of fear. His face was filled with worry like I had never seen before. "We have to run before the monster gets us!"
"NO!" I refused angrily, swatting his hand away. "We have to save Fatimah! We can't just leave her behind!"
Alan paused, looking at me sorrowfully, his eyes sparkling amongst the darkness. "Karin... Fatimah is gone. She... has been eaten. We can't do anything else. We must survive, or we too will become prey!"
Suddenly, a loud rumbling sound echoed out. I turned my head toward the bird monster, just as it tried to fly away, but hit the low ceiling above it. Huge debris began to fall, creating a tense dust storm all around us.
"AAAAHH!!!" I closed my eyes, my body shaking violently. This is the end, I thought. There's no way out.
But then, an unfamiliar voice broke through my fear, "WARNING!" Followed by the sound of an explosion that shook the room. I could feel large objects falling all around us, but none of them hit us.
I opened my eyes slowly, coughing from the dust that filled the air.
Alan coughed too, confused. "What... what just happened?" his voice was shaky, as confused as I was.
"Are you guys okay?" A soft voice came from the front.
I raised my head, and was startled by the figure standing between us.
"It's... you?!" I was surprised to see the man I had bumped into in the library a while ago standing in front of us. How could he be here, in the middle of this mess?
Alan looked at him with sparkling eyes. "You have superpowers, don't you?" asked Alan admiringly, as if forgetting how dangerous this situation was. Really, sometimes I don't understand how Alan's mind works.
The man, with a serious look, just nodded. "I'll explain everything later. Now we must quickly find a safe place before the monster returns."
We ran away from the ruins of the building, our steps fast and frantic, chased by the terrifying sound of bird monsters hunting us.
"Where should we hide?" I asked, sneaking carefully so as not to attract the creature's attention.
The man running in front of me, his face serious yet calm, answered quickly, "To the gymnasium. That's the farthest place from the monster. We should hide and wait for it to leave."
That's right, the gymnasium! Without thinking, we darted towards the building. Along the way, the sound of the bird monster could be heard destroying everything in its path, as if it was trying to find and annihilate us.
Arriving at the gymnasium, we headed straight for the changing rooms at the end of the hallway.
"Come in!" the man said as he opened the door.
I stopped for a moment in front of the locker room. "Wait! I can't go into the boys' locker room. I'm a girl, and I'm alone!" I protested.
Alan snorted in annoyance. "Geez, Karin, do you really want to be alone in the girls' locker room? Can't you read this situation?"
Anger spread through me. "Hey! How dare you say that! You're usually the one who can't read the situation!"
The man looked at both of us in confusion. "That's it, that's it, we don't have time! Get in now!" he said in a half-whisper.
Reluctantly, I relented. "Alright, just watch out if you guys mess up!" I muttered as I stepped inside.
Inside the changing room, Alan and the man propped up the door with the items in the room, the three of us trying not to make the slightest noise. The silence added to the tension, creating a tense atmosphere around us.
Alan turned to the man and asked in a whispered voice, "Oh yeah, what's your name?" asked Alan trying to break the tension.
The man smiled slightly. "My name is Noir."
"My name is Alan, and this is my most annoying friend, Karin. Oh, so you're new to this school?" Alan replied with a smile and teased me.
I poked his head.
"Ouch!" Alan complained with pain.
"Yes, I'm a new student who just transferred from a school in France," Noir said as she smiled at the two of us.
"I think I've seen you before, but where? Have we met before?" asked Alan, seeing Noir's face.
"Yeah, maybe you saw me in a TV commercial," Noir replied with a smile.
"Huh? In a TV commercial? How did you end up in a TV commercial? Are you a famous artist?" asked Alan, surprised.
"Yes, I'm a model, I'm a clothing designer so I modeled for my father in France" Noir replied.
"Well Alan, you forgot that our school is famous, and many of its students are famous, including us!" I exclaimed, confused as to why Alan was questioning something that already had an answer.
"Oh yeah, I forgot. Sorry, hehe," Alan said with a laugh.
"You're also famous?" asked Noir, still confused by the two of us.
"Yes, our family is quite famous," I replied.
"What does your family do?" Noir was curious.
"Oh, my father is a famous car designer and maker," Alan replied proudly.
"Wow, cool! You must have a lot of cool cars in your house, right? That's awesome!" said Noir in awe.
"I'll invite you to my house sometime," said Alan with a smile.
Ah, the habit of boys, hearing the word car immediately becomes familiar.
"What does your family do, Karin?" asked Noir, who was curious.
"She won't answer that, she's too shy to tell me what her family does" Alan replied, shaking his head.
I poked Alan's head again.
"Ah, why are you angry, Rin? I was just answering Noir's question!" complained Alan.
"Oh sorry, I was rude, asking personal questions" Noir said feeling guilty.
"Oh it's okay," I replied with a smile.
It was quiet again.
"Hey Alan, why did you save me? Why not Fatimah?" I asked in an annoyed and confused tone.
Alan just looked at me with an innocent face. "I... I don't know. But, my instincts told me to save you and my instincts are never wrong."
I felt annoyed by his answer which sounded as if it was guiltless. "What do you mean, you followed your instincts and left Fatimah alone? Did you forget that she uses a wheelchair? She can't escape on her own, Alan! What didn't you think?"
Alan seemed to flinch, but his answer only provoked my emotions further. "Yes, I forgot. I'm sorry, okay? Anyway, I saved you."
I looked at him sharply, holding back my anger. "And left Fatimah alone? Is that so?"
Noir who was near us finally intervened, trying to break the two of us up. "Never mind, you two. If you keep fighting, the bird monster might hear your voices and come here."
However, Alan and I didn't listen to Noir and continued to fight.
"You're always making a mess, Alan! Look now-one of our best friends has been eaten by a bird!" I said in exasperation.
Alan gave me a sharp, angry look. "This is your fault too! When the bird monster attacked, you just stayed where you were. Why didn't you run?"
I snorted, feeling my anger mounting. "I panicked, I didn't know what to do at the time!"
Alan grinned bitterly. "Yeah, so it was your fault."
I was not to be outdone. "Your fault too, Alan!"
And our arguments continued, no matter how hard Noir tried to warn us to be quiet. The atmosphere was tense, until suddenly-
*Tap...tap...tap...*
The sound of heavy footsteps came from outside, creating a knock that echoed behind the door. Alan and I immediately stopped talking, exchanging glances in silence. Our heartbeats quickened as the footsteps came closer. Then, slowly... the sound began to fade away.
"Huh..." a sigh of relief escaped all of our mouths, almost in unison.
However, before we could calm down-
*BOOM!
Without warning, a loud bang smashed the wall of the door into pieces. We were stunned in shock, our bodies frozen.
"Get behind me," Noir immediately instructed, her voice firm. Alan and I didn't think twice; we took cover behind Noir, feeling his courage radiate even though his face was not entirely calm.
On the shattered wall of the door, the monster appeared a large creature with a bird-like body, its eyes blazing red. Its beak opened wide, revealing the light that gathered inside its mouth, throbbing, like the harbinger of a great threat.We knew what was coming. The light burned brighter and brighter, like fire ready to burst out of its mouth.
We quickly fled, away from the monstrous mouth of the bird monster. Fiery red flames spurted from its beak, eyeing us with terrifying speed. However, we managed to dodge the deadly blasts of fire, even though the heat almost seemed to scorch our skin.
But we were trapped in the room with the exit blocked behind the bird monster.
"Where should we run to?" I asked, my voice filled with panic and fear at the sight of the bird monster ready to attack us again.
Noir suddenly stopped, turning around with determination burning in his eyes. She prepared to face the bird monster. He clenched his hands into fists, and instantly a sinister dark aura appeared, flowing into his palms.
With the power of darkness gathering, Noir clenched his hand and prepared to launch an attack. In an instant, he leapt up, sending an energized fist towards the bird monster with sweating strength. A loud 'TWICE!' echoed out as Noir's fist struck the bird monster's body, sending the monster flying far away, crashing heavily into the wall, leaving a huge crack as evidence of how powerful his attack was.
We were stunned for a moment, unable to believe the power of Noir's attack. However, I knew this opportunity wouldn't last long.
"It's time to run, everyone!" shouted Noir, his voice almost drowned out by the monster's furious growl.
"Come on, Alan!" I called as I ran after Noir.
"Feel it stupid bird" said Alan who was satisfied to see the bird in pain.
"Come on, you idiot!" I said in an annoyed tone, seeing him still stunned in the middle of the monster threat.
"Oh, yes! Okay!" replied Alan, finally coming to his senses and starting to run after us out of the room.
We ran towards the middle school building, breathing heavily.
"How long do we have to run like this?" I asked tiredly.
"Noir has superpowers. Why don't we just fight the bird monster?" Alan asked, full of admiration.
"Yes, Noir does have powers, but we don't," I retorted, annoyed at his reckless idea.
"Who says he's the only one with powers?" Alan asked, grinning secretively.
"Huh? What do you mean?" I asked confused.
"I have powers too," Alan replied, confident.
"Yeah right, the power of stupidity." I laughed mockingly.
"Ih, I'm serious, Karin," he said, slightly offended.
"Oh yeah? Prove it," I challenged, incredulous.
Alan stared straight ahead, then closed his eyes for a moment. "Okay, watch this!" He concentrated hard as he ran, his face tense like a man in pain.
"What are you doing? Stomach ache, huh?" I asked confused.
"Wait, don't disturb my concentration," he replied while continuing to mumble.
"Never mind, we better focus on running, Alan, later you-" Before I could finish my sentence, a large shadow appeared above us.
The bird monster hovered low over our heads, its shadow covering the ground. Its sharp talons gripped the boulders, and with a flick of its wings, it began to hurl them at us.
"WATCH OUT, KARIN!" Noir shouted, her voice echoing amidst the din.
Noir and I ran, trying to avoid the rocks that hit the ground like meteors, destroying everything around. But my eyes were on Alan. I don't know why he was able to dodge all the stone bat attacks with his eyes closed, as if he wasn't bothered by the destruction around him.
"Alan! What are you doing?!" I shouted, but he didn't answer.
His steps stopped. His body was rigid, his face tightened, and sweat poured down his temples. The air around him changed, feeling heavy, vibrating with an aura I didn't recognize.
"Alan, please move, don't be stupid," I shouted, trying to wake him up.
I glanced behind me. The bird monster was flapping its giant wings with great force. Its claws gripped a rock that was much larger than before. With a terrifying movement, it lifted it up, then flew right over Alan.
"ALAN! GET OUT OF THERE!" I screamed in panic, I didn't know what she was doing but this was no time to joke around.
My voice was hoarse with panic, but Alan didn't move. His body remained still, as if he hadn't heard anything. Time seemed to slow down. The giant rock hurtled down, cutting through the air with deadly speed, its shadow engulfing Alan.
**"ALAAAAAAN!!!"** I cried out hysterically.
The rock hit the ground with a thunderous, earth-shaking sound. Dust and rock fragments flew out, blocking my view. I stopped and fell silent, stunned where I stood. It felt like the world had stopped.
When the dust settled, I saw him-Alan, buried under the giant boulder. His body was nowhere to be seen. All that remained was an agonizing silence.
"No... it can't be..." I whispered, tears starting to stream down my face. My legs weak, I fell to my knees. My breathing was ragged, my chest tight. My other best friend...
she... she was gone.
My tears can't stop flowing. The sound of Alan's laughter, his smile, the way he always made us laugh, it all hit me like a storm. I pounded the ground with my fists, screaming so loudly that my voice was hoarse.
"Alan! You idiot, why did you do that? You idiot!" I shouted in annoyance.
"Karin...Karin..." I caught a glimpse of Noir's voice who kept calling me.The bird monster flew towards me who was sitting motionless, the bird monster pointed its beak at me.But before the bird monster's beak began to approach me, Noir quickly picked me up and immediately rode a cheeta, the cheeta ran very fast away from the bird monster.
The bird monster crashed into the ground, dust began to fly in the air covering the view.
"Are you okay Karina?" asked a worried Noir while holding meI didn't answer, still in shock from seeing Alan who was hit by a giant rock.
"You're so stupid Karin, why did you sit on the ground and not run?" asked Cheeta.
"Alan, you're still alive!" I asked, shocked by Cheeta's voice, which turned out to be Alan.
"Why are you saying that? You know that I am Alan, how can a big bat like that kill the great Alan?" said Alan confidently.
"Alan ... thank goodness ... you're okay ... I thought I lost you," I said while sobbing.
"Karin you just walk, you're so heavy" Alan said, not responding to my expression.
I froze for a moment, processing his sudden sentence. Then without thinking, I pinch him quite hard.
"Alan! I'm so emotional, how come you're so annoying!"
Alan grinned and chuckled. "That means I'm okay. If I can still make you mad, then I'm okay, right?"
I let out a long breath, but finally smiled faintly. Alan was like that, always having a way to bring back the mood, even in difficult times like this.
I heard a rumbling sound from the bird monster. It was obviously angry that it had lost track of us.
This was a rare opportunity that shouldn't be wasted. While the monster was busy searching, we had to hide immediately.
""We'll hide in the high school building," I said, pointing at the building that hadn't been destroyed yet.
"Alright, everyone hold on tight!" exclaimed Alan, who immediately increased his speed with his cheetah-turned body.
"Wait, Alan! I haven't-" Before I could finish my sentence, my body was thrown backwards. I didn't have time to hold on.
I slammed into Noir, who swiftly caught me before I fell to the ground.
"Are you okay?" asked Noir briefly, his voice sounding flat but with a hint of worry.
"Yes, I'm fine. Sorry, I bumped into you," I replied as I stood up straight, a little awkwardly.
Noir just nodded briefly without saying anything else, then removed his hand from me. In a few minutes, we arrived in front of the high school building. Alan stopped right in front of the entrance, still in cheetah form.
"Let's get in!" Noir exclaimed sternly as she dismounted from Alan's back. I quickly followed Noir, but before we all entered, Alan suddenly transformed into a squirrel.
I looked at him confused. "Alan, why did you become a squirrel? Why don't you return to human form?"
Alan let out a long breath, his voice sounding a little frustrated and embarrassed. "Because my clothes tore when I turned into a cheetah. If I turned into a human now, I would... well, you know..."
I stared at her for a while before covering my mouth with my hand, trying to hold back my laughter. But Noir who was standing next to me just sighed softly while shaking her head.
"Alan... You poor thing," I muttered while averting my eyes to keep from laughing.
Alan raised his tail, trying to maintain his dignity even in squirrel form. "That's it. no more talking, let's go in."
Noir gave me a quick glance. "Come on, let's go in before the monster comes back." I nodded slowly and followed Noir into the building. I tried to stay focused, but my thoughts were hard to cooperate with.
Despite the tension of the situation, I couldn't help the small smile that appeared on my face. Alan, with his ridiculous behavior, somehow always managed to make the atmosphere a little lighter, even though the situation was obviously still tense.
However, it wasn't just Alan who occupied my mind. Noir-who I had just met-had a strange way of making me feel safe. She was so calm and collected in situations that even made it hard for me to breathe. Secretly, I was starting to think that she might be a lot more reliable than I thought.
I took a deep breath, trying to push those thoughts away. We still had a lot to do, and it wasn't the right time to daydream. But that little smile still wouldn't leave my face, as I ran down the hallway.
"What's wrong with you, Karin?" Alan's voice suddenly broke my thoughts. He was now sitting casually on my shoulder, like a child enjoying the ride. His face looked confused as he looked at me.
"Ah, no... it's nothing," I answered quickly while still running.
Alan frowned, his eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Are you sure? Your face looks like someone who just got caught with a crush."
I immediately gasped, almost losing my balance. "Wh-what the heck? What the hell!" I replied quickly, trying to ignore the heat that was suddenly creeping up my face.
Alan just giggled while folding his arms. "Uh-huh, yeah, yeah... definitely nothing."
"Already, you'd better shut up, you're heavy you know" I replied while continuing to run.
Instead of feeling guilty, Alan grinned widely. "Hey, I'm a lightweight, you know. You're the one who's too focused on thinking about other things. If I was on Noir's shoulders, he wouldn't have grumbled." I glanced at Alan with a sharp gaze. "Oh yeah? If you keep talking, I'll just throw you at that monster!"
Behind me, I could hear Noir chuckling softly, the sound almost like a light breeze. "Have a crush on someone?" he said confused, not understanding what Alan had just said.
I scowled, not wanting to look at him. "Don't listen to him!" I said, trying to distract myself.
Alan just laughed contentedly on my shoulder, while Noir kept running behind me.
"Which room are we going to hide in?" asked Alan, his eyes glancing around nervously, as if every corner could be a safe hiding place.
I stared at the long and large hallway, trying to think fast. "In the classroom on the left. The back door can be locked, and if someone passes by, we can get out through the window."
Alan nodded quickly. "You're smart too, Karin. But if a monster passes by, where do we run to?" he asked in a serious tone.
"Don't talk weird, Alan! The monster might actually come!" I replied, trying to calm myself down as I quickened my pace.
"No we can't hide on the first floor, let's go to the third floor first" said Noir who had a plan.
"Why can't we lock the door?" asked Alan who was so innocent and stupid.
"Oh yeah, you're right Noir, we can't hide on the first floor" I replied, understanding what Noir meant.
"Hey, tell me, I don't understand" said Alan who was confused about what the two of us were talking about.
"You idiot, on the first floor the bird monster can still chase us, if we go to the top floor surely the bird monster can't go up, his body is too big and he's not that stupid to force himself to go upstairs, afraid that the building will collapse and fall on him" I said explaining Noir's meaning, while running towards the elevator.
"Oh I see, wait a minute Karin, you're not entirely right, if we are on the top floor and if for example the bird mustard intends to destroy the building and lock us up what?" asked Alan who thought of another hall.
"Alan's right, we don't seem to have anywhere to hide" I thought to myself.
"Report, it is confirmed that the bird monster will not destroy this building, so ladies just calm down" said the Mind Sage who told me.
"What do you mean that the bird monster won't destroy this building?" I asked confused about what the Mind Sage said.
"Answer, that's because the bird monster is a creature called Pyraquila, Pyraquila is a bird monster that is usually found on planets far from Earth, especially in areas that have less extreme environmental conditions. Although it has a simple and friendly appearance, the Pyraquila has very dangerous abilities when under threat.
Appearance:
The Pyraquila has a small, slender body with golden-brown feathers, resembling a common sparrow or small bird. Its wings are wide enough to fly swiftly, but its body is relatively small and inconspicuous. Its eyes are large and bright, giving it a friendly and curious impression. However, its facial expression can change drastically when it feels threatened.
Characteristics:
Friendly and Compassionate, Pyraquila are generally very friendly creatures and tend to approach other creatures with curiosity. They are often seen flocking or flying together, and tend to live in less dangerous environments, seeking shelter in safe, open places, such as grasslands or open forests.
Moves Fast and Agile: Due to its small body, the Pyraquila is very agile and nimble when flying. It can fly at high speeds, and can easily avoid danger with quick maneuvers. Pyraquila likes to stay high up, such as cliffs or large trees, which makes it easy to spot danger from a distance.
Special Abilities:
1.Change in Size and Strength*: Although the Pyraquila appears to be a small and harmless bird, when attacked or starved, it can transform into a much larger and stronger one. It can increase in size up to three times its normal size, with wider wings and a stockier body. In this state, it becomes extremely powerful and is able to expel flames from its throat at high temperatures, though these flames are more restrained and not as large as those of other bird monsters.
2.Fire Spouting: When angered or threatened, the Pyraquila can spit hot flames from its mouth. These flames are strong enough to burn trees and shatter rocks, though not as strong as the flames produced by other fire birds. However, this fire is enough to make opponents fear and retreat.
3.Sharp Sense of Smell: As a small bird, the Pyraquila has a very keen sense of smell, allowing it to detect threats or food from long distances. This ability is very useful for finding food and avoiding predators.
Habitat:
Pyraquila usually live in open areas that are not too extreme, such as large grasslands or dense jungles. They like to stay in safe and quiet places, away from major threats. When at peace, they can often be seen flying low around large trees or hunting insects in open areas.Strengths and Weaknesses:
Strengths: When feeling threatened or hungry, the Pyraquila can become very strong and quickly transform into a large form. Although its body can become very large and strong, it still retains its agility. The fire it emits can be very dangerous if not dealt with carefully.
Weaknesses: Pyraquila is very dependent on food and comfort. If starved or exhausted, it tends to become more aggressive and unable to think clearly. Also, while it can turn large, it cannot maintain that large size for long without drastically depleting its strength.
Attitude and Traits:
Pyraquila prefers to avoid conflict and tries to live in peace. It will avoid fighting if it can, and tends to approach other creatures with curiosity, perhaps even interacting with them in a friendly manner. However, if it feels threatened, hungry, or hurt, it will not hesitate to act with full force." The Mind Sage replied while explaining everything about the bird monster.
"So what you're saying is, the bird monster used to be friendly? And now, it's suddenly angry?" I asked, trying to understand the Mind Sage's words.
"Answer, Right, it's most likely that it's starving. When it's angry like that, it won't let go of its prey until it eats it. But, there's one thing you need to remember, although hunger can make her aggressive, she wouldn't destroy this place... if she didn't have to." The Mind Sage replied in a flat tone.
"Don't worry, Alan. That monster won't destroy this building. I'm sure," I said with confidence that I tried to hide so as not to look too doubtful.
"Well, why are you so sure, if it destroys this building we'll all die," said Alan who wasn't sure what I was saying.
"Already, just listen to what Karin says. I believe her. If she says it's safe, it's safe," said Noir, with a confident demeanor that radiated great calm.
"Noir, why do you trust Karin so much, we only met her a few minutes ago," asked Alan, who was confused by Noir's attitude.
"Enough of the chatty talk, if you don't want to come then you're on the first floor" said me who was sick of hearing Alan's words.
"It's bad to leave a friend alone, okay, okay, I'll come with you two," Alan replied with resignation.
We rushed up the stairs to the third floor, breathing heavily, the atmosphere getting tense. We entered one of the empty classrooms, hiding under the desks, afraid that the Pyraquila monster would find us through the cracked window.
"We can't keep hiding like this," Alan said, his voice low but full of emotion.
"We have to fight back, or we'll all be finished here."
Noir, who had been silent, finally spoke up. "I have a plan." Her tone was calm, but firm.
"What is it?" I asked, both hopeful and anxious.
"Karin, you stay here. Don't go anywhere. Alan and I will face the bird monster," Noir said as he looked at me with sharp eyes, full of confidence.
"Finally," Alan nodded in agreement, his tone turning enthusiastic. "Time to avenge Fatimah!"
"Wait a minute! What if you get hurt? Pyraquila is very powerful," I protested in a panicked tone.
Alan looked at me in surprise. "Pyraquila? What's that?"
"The name of the bird monster," I answered quickly.
"Oh, so you gave it a name. All right," Alan said, grinning. "Take it easy. We'll be careful. After all, we're not that weak."
I bit my lip, my heart wavering. "Then, promise me you'll be careful," I finally gave in, though the worry still haunted me.
Noir nodded. "We promise. Take care of yourself, Karin."
Alan moved from my shoulder to Noir's. Without saying much more, they stepped out of the classroom with burning determination. I could only watch them leave, my chest feeling tight....From the third floor window, I watched them set up in the open field. Alan, in the form of a lion, roared loudly, his voice echoing to the point of making small birds scatter. His roar caught Pyraquila's attention. From the dark sky, the giant creature glided down, its wide wings making the wind swirl ferociously.
Alan and Noir quickly split up, strategizing. As Pyraquila attacked Alan with its sharp beak, Noir launched from the side, her fist enveloped in an aura of darkness slamming into the giant's body.
"BOOM!" The boom of Noir's attack made the ground around her tremble. Pyraquila was knocked several meters away, her wing hitting a tree and breaking it.
Alan didn't waste the opportunity. He jumped with incredible speed, clawing at Pyraquila's injured wing. However, the monster did not stay still. With a swift movement, it opened its giant beak, gathering fiery energy.
"Look out!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, my voice almost lost amongst the roar of the flame bursts.
Alan and Noir jumped to the opposite side, avoiding the death blast that engulfed the ground, leaving a trail of charred craters. Pyraquila was now focused on chasing Noir, flames continuing to spew from her mouth, heating the surrounding air. Noir moved nimbly, her eyes keenly reading every movement of the enemy.
Alan seized the moment. With one huge leap, his body transformed into a giant elephant right above Pyraquila. Alan's body weight slammed into Pyraquila's back with tremendous force, breaking the monster's balance. Pyraquila staggered, the fire in her mouth extinguished instantly.
"NOW, NOIR!" shouted Alan.
Noir leapt high, his fist filled with dark energy that swirled like a mini-storm. "Destroy!" he cried, the sound echoing like the roar of lightning.
"BOOOOM!" His fist slammed into Pyraquila's head with tremendous force. The boom shook the ground beneath them, sending shockwaves all the way to where I stood. The ground around Pyraquila cracked, dust and rock fragments flying into the air. I
covered my ears, stunned at Noir's overwhelming power.
Pyraquila struggled, her wings flapping wildly, but her body began to weaken. Alan transformed again, this time into a swift white tiger. He launched himself at Pyraquila, his fangs sinking deep into the monster's neck, making it let out a final, shrill screech before it collapsed with an earth-shaking roar.
I paused, my breath held. Down below, Alan and Noir stood over Pyraquila's motionless body, their breathing heavy, but their eyes shining with triumph. Although the battle was over, I knew this was only the beginning of our struggle.
I fell silent, my body trembling. Everything I saw felt unreal. Pyraquila-the bird monster-lay helpless before me. Her body was shattered, most of it still visibly covered in blood. What did they just do, I was silent, looking down, unable to stare at Pyraquila's body lying helplessly, I knew Pyraquila was being aggressive because of hunger, but she had eaten Fatimah, my best friend, is this fair?.
Suddenly I caught a glimpse of a familiar voice.
"What have you done!!!"
I immediately turned my head. Rafa! With sure steps, he ran towards Pyraquila, his body trembling, his eyes full of determination. Without hesitation, his hand stretched out and a bright green light emanated from his palm, touching the bird's body.
"What are you doing?" A seemingly confused and angry Alan asked.
"Who are you guys? Why are you hurting this poor bird?" Rafa replied with a look full of worry, hands still flowing healing energy.
"I'm Alan. Don't you remember my voice?" Alan, his face full of confusion, finally answered in a slightly annoyed tone.
"Alan?" Rafa exclaimed, shocked at the huge change in Alan, who had now turned into a giant white tiger. I could feel the tension in the air, and I, who was now on the third floor, immediately ran towards them.
"Wait a minute, what? Then who is she?" asked Rafa, pointing to Noir who was standing near us with a puzzled look.
"Oh, meet me, my name is Noir, just moved from France." Noir replied in a polite tone.
"Hey Rafa, you still haven't answered my question. What are you doing? You have superpowers?" asked Alan with a confused expression, looking at the green light in Rafa's hand that was getting stronger.
"I'm healing this poor bird," replied Rafa with conviction, without hesitation.
"WHAT!!!" Noir approached quickly and swatted away Rafa's hand, making Pyraquila's body move suddenly.
"What are you doing, Rafa!!!" shouted Alan, angry and confused.
"Trying to help this bird! Why are you attacking it? It's in agony and starving!" Rafa pointed his hand at Pyraquila, trying to convince them.I was silent, watching this argument. I knew this was the most difficult moment for me. On the one hand, I wanted revenge for Fatimah, but on the other hand, I felt that this was the wrong thing to do, Fatimah would not have wanted this.
"Why did we attack this bird, because he killed Fatimah, Rafa!" Alan shouted, trying to explain.
"Kill Fatimah? What do you mean, Alan?" Rafa looked confused, his confusion deepening.
"Yes, this bird ate Fatimah!" I shouted, though the sound was almost swallowed up by the trembling that overcame my body.
Rafa looked at us with an expression of disbelief. "What's wrong with you two? Fatimah is outside the school gate, with the other students!" he said sternly, as if trying to put an end to this mess.
"WHAT?!" We simultaneously exclaimed, our voices shaking between anger and disbelief. "You're kidding, Rafa! That's not funny at all!"
Rafa's gaze remained sharp, serious, and unwavering. "I'm not kidding!" he said, his voice deepening, like a hammer hitting the ground. "You'll see for yourself if you don't believe me. I just met Fatimah at the school gate, with the other students. There were many combat troops and nurses there. They were preparing to attack Pyraquila, but as long as the students were still nearby, they would not act. Fatimah... she was the one who was worried, telling me to look for you. So I went quietly."
I was stunned, but Rafa continued before I could say anything, his tone changing, darker. "When I found you... I saw Alan and Noir attack Pyraquila. But there was something I couldn't understand. For some reason, I could feel the agony... the pain of this bird."
We fell silent, only able to stare at Rafa who now looked like a different person, more assertive, more purposeful. He stepped closer to Pyraquila, staring at the giant creature with conviction. "Pyraquila is not our enemy," he said, his voice almost a whisper, but full of power. "And now... I must heal this poor bird, no matter what."
Rafa stretched his hand towards Pyraquila, and somehow, the air around us seemed to change, Rafa gave off a mysterious but extraordinary power, all the wounds on Pyraquila's body began to heal slowly.
**(A few minutes later)**
The tense atmosphere changed little by little. Pyraquila began to recover, her huge body now shrinking back, becoming a tiny creature full of harmless impression. The green light coming out of Rafa's hand slowly faded, and he gently fed the bird.
"So, what are we going to do with this Pyraquila?" asked Noir, pointing at the bird that now looked completely different.
"I'm going to take care of this bird. I'll take care of it," replied Rafa, sincerely, while carrying Pyraquila on his shoulders.
After observing this for a few minutes, I felt that the little Pyraquila was very different "eh, it's funny to think about, this Pyraquila, if you look closely." I said softly, smiling at the sight of the bird, though my heart was still full of questions.
"Funny? Hah! What's so funny about this cursed monster?!" Alan said irritably, seemingly still annoyed at being chased by the newly healed Pyraquila, Alan's body reverted back to human, he wore his jacket Noir to cover his maleness.
However, even though the situation changed, I felt an inexpressible tension. I still didn't understand. What was really going on? Fatimah... why does everything feel so complicated and unexpected?.
I must quickly go to the school gate, I must meet with Fatimah, and ask her what happened.
***
Before long, we arrived at the school gate. The atmosphere was chaotic. Emergency lights flickered, illuminating the worried faces of the security guards.
"Are you okay?" asked one of the officers, looking at our dirty and messy clothes. Their eyes briefly fell on Alan, who was only wearing Noir's jacket.
"We're... fine," Noir replied briefly, though her tone of voice sounded tired.
"Call the medics!" another officer shouted. "Take these children to be examined!"Several officers, taking us to the back of the line, several medics ran towards us, carrying stretchers and equipment. They examined us one by one, but my eyes were busy roaming the crowd. There were many soldiers standing guard, complete with heavy weapons. They looked prepared, perhaps to attack Pyraquila. But I knew they would return empty-handed-the bird was now on Rafa's shoulder, shrunk to a tiny, almost harmless creature.
In the distance, I saw the other students. Some were injured, some looked scared. But all of them were looking at us-no, they were looking at Alan who wasn't in uniform. But I didn't care. I kept looking for one face, the face I thought had disappeared forever.
"Karin! Alan!" A very familiar voice called out to us from the crowd.I stopped. Alan widened his eyes, pointing towards the source of the voice. "Fatimah's ghost!" he shouted frantically, his voice full of shock.
I froze. No way. Slowly, I turned my head. There, with a warm smile and gentle eyes, sat Fatimah in her wheelchair. Still alive.
"Take it easy, I'm not a ghost," she said in a humorous tone. She moved her wheelchair towards us, but before she could get close, I was already running. The tears flowed without me being able to stop them.
"Fatimah!" I hugged her tightly, afraid that if I let go, she would disappear again. "How... how is this possible?"
"There, don't cry, Karin. I'm fine," she said softly, stroking my hair.
"But... how?" asked Alan in confusion. "We saw you-Pyraquila attacked you! You couldn't move, Fatimah!"
Fatimah smiled faintly. "I'll explain later," she said as she moved closer to Alan. Then, without warning, she pinched his hand.
"Ouch! What's wrong?" Alan complained, clutching his hand.
"It's because you left me alone in the wheelchair!" Fatimah glared, but there was a small smile on her face.
Before Alan could answer, Mr. Rob appeared among the crowd. "Karin, Alan, Noir, are you okay?" he asked in a worried tone.
"Yes," Noir replied in a serious tone. "We're fine, Mr. Rob."
Mr. Rob paused, then let out a long breath. "Thankfully, you're all safe," he said, finally. He then turned to Rafa. "And Rafa, next time don't go quietly like that again. You made everyone worried."
"Sorry, Mr.," Rafa said with a face full of regret. "I just... I'm worried about them."
Mr. Rob nodded slowly, forgiving Rafa's actions, then turned to all the students. His voice was firm, echoing through the crowd. "Listen carefully. The school will be temporarily closed. No one should come to school without further notice. Go home, and rest."
"Yes, Mr. Robert," all the students replied in unison.
But in my head, only one question kept echoing. How could Fatimah have survived? What really happened today?
I dismissed my burning curiosity. This was not the time to look for answers.
"We'll meet again tomorrow and discuss this Pyrakuila," I exclaimed, pointing at the small Pyrakuila.
Rafa nodded with a small smile. "Alright, see you tomorrow," he replied before walking away, leaving us with a confident stride.
I turned my gaze to Noir, who seemed to be about to leave us. "Noir! You too, huh. Tomorrow we'll meet at Serenade Coffeehouse," I called out suddenly, almost forgetting about her.
Noir turned around with a confused expression, her eyes narrowed. "Me too?" he asked hesitantly.
"Yeah, bro, why don't you come? You're our friend now," Alan interjected, patting Noir's back vigorously. Alan's cheerful tone seemed to erase all remaining doubts.
Noir was silent for a moment, then smiled slightly. "Alright, then. See you tomorrow, everyone," he said politely, before turning and leaving with light steps.
Every student was escorted home by the officers, including myself.
I was asked to get into one of the prepared cars, and we were soon on our way.
"Is Miss Karin okay?" asked the officer driving the car, his tone sounding worried.
"Yes," I replied briefly as I stared out the window, watching the fast-moving road scene.
Behind our car, several other vehicles followed. They were my father's subordinates, part of the security team that always ensured my safety.
"I'm glad you're okay. If there was anything wrong with her, the boss would be very angry," the officer said, trying to open up a conversation.
"Sorry for the trouble. You're overprotective," I replied in a tired tone.
We continued to make small talk throughout the journey. However, fatigue finally overcame me, and I fell asleep in the car seat.
Time passed quickly. I woke up when the officer gently shook my shoulder.
"Miss Karin, wake up. We've reached the airport," he said.
I rubbed my eyes and sat up straight. "Airport? Where are we going now?" I asked as I got out of the car.
"We're flying to Madam's house in the Pacific Ocean," he replied calmly.
I just nodded and followed them to my father's private jet. An entourage of bodyguards watched me very closely, making sure everything was safe until I boarded the plane.
After getting into the private jet, the plane immediately took off. The journey to America began. Normally, a trans-Pacific flight like this takes about 14 to 16 hours for a regular jet, depending on the wind direction and flight route. However, this plane was different.
My father's private jet is the result of the latest technological development by a scientist in his company. Thanks to improved engine efficiency and cutting-edge aerodynamics, it can fly at speeds close to Mach 1.5, much faster than ordinary commercial airplanes. With this speed, a trip that normally takes up to 16 hours can be cut down to only about 7-8 hours without compromising on safety or comfort.
***
My plane finally landed at the private airport located within the area of my house. From the window of the airplane, I saw a vast landscape that was so familiar to me. this is my House, the largest house in the world located in the ocean of the Pacific Ocean. with a size of up to 80 hectares, a magnificent private island that looks more like a small city than a private island.
The house is built on a large, isolated private island, surrounded by clear blue ocean. The island has a unique ecosystem with white sand beaches, small tropical forests, and rocky hills that hide many secrets. The main house stands majestically in the center of the island, equipped with various state-of-the-art facilities for comfort and safety.
My yard was designed with great detail. In one corner is a small airport that allows private planes like this one to land easily. Not far from the airport, a large swimming pool showed off its beauty, with a small island dotted with gazebos and gardens in the center, a place where mom and dad often relaxed, even though there was a beach on the edge of the island.
On the other side, there was an artificial forest filled with exotic plants and my father's various pets. Most of the plants were from my mother's collection, who loved gardening and kept the place alive with flowers and trees that were always well cared for.
The island also had employee apartments that were designed like small housing estates. There live all the people who work on the island, including bodyguards, maids, garden nurses, chefs, pilots and other staff. The apartments are complete with private facilities to support their needs.
Not to forget, there was a large parking area that accommodated a variety of vehicles, ranging from family cars to specialized vehicles used for daily operations.
Meanwhile, my main house stands majestically in the center of the courtyard. With 50 rooms, it was more like a modern palace. Every corner was designed with great attention to comfort and functionality. Inside is a large dining room, spacious enough to entertain dozens of guests at once. The state-of-the-art kitchen makes it easy for the chefs to prepare meals at any time. There is also a quiet library, filled with books from all over the world, my favorite place to do my hobby of reading.
For business purposes, the house also has a large meeting room, often used by my father or mother for important meetings.
The house has various evacuation or emergency exits and hiding places for shelter, a large basement under the house, designed as a shelter with complete facilities, such as food supplies, emergency sleeping space, and communication systems. This basement can accommodate the entire island population for a long time. And there is also a Secret Harbor Cave, a hidden shelter on the side of the wall facing the sea, the entrance is a large rock that can be opened with advanced technology, such as biometric recognition or a secret code that only the staff and my family know, and there is a large enough dock, this can accommodate fast boats, small submarines, and amphibious vehicles so if this hideout is discovered, the wall facing the sea will open or the wall in the water for submarines, so especially for our family, we will board the submarine and the staff will board the ship to trick the criminals, even though it sounds evil to let the staff who are willing to sacrifice for my family.
Although every corner of this house exuded luxury, but for me, it was a place of confinement, my parents were too protective of me. A place I always called prison.
Continued...