Xian was shocked to hear that. He was angry, frustrated. Why? Why is he the one dying? Xian was about to say something, but Tia stopped him.
"It's scary. It's like I was there when it happened. Everything feels too real. I could hear his scream loud and clear. I can't get it out of my head. It hurts so much. Why? Why is this happening? How do we stop it? Will it even work? What am I supposed to do? He's like a brother to me. Why does it have to be him?"
Tia spoke as her eyes filled with tears, again. Xian was stunned. His anger calms down as he realizes Tia's too doesn't want any of this to happened. Xian eyes darkened as he pulls Tia in his arms. Whispering words that seem to calm her down.
"It's going to be alright. Knowing Chester, he won't let himself die so easily."
Xian spoke as Tia stayed in his arms silently sobbing. And the fact that she thought Chester just like a brother somehow made Xian relieved. He doesn't understand why he did. They stayed like that for a moment until Aiden approach them.
"Hate to disturb you guys but it's getting dark, we need to be inside the barrier. NOW."
Aiden spoke as he smirks seeing both Xian and Tia hugging each other. Tia just nodded in response and pulled Xian hands as they started to walk towards the barrier. Somehow, that gesture made Xian embarrassed.
"So, what are you going to do? Are you going to tell him?"
"I don't know. Do you think it's a good idea to tell him that he's going to die?"
Xian replied and both of them went silent.
"Don't speak about it to anyone. Don't want to make them worried. I'll make sure to keep watch on Chester. Just stay close to him on the time being."
Xian added and Tia nodded in response. Hoping that avoiding the dark could save Chester lives.
"Where have you been?" Chester asked as his eyes filled with worries. He notices Tia's and Xian walking together and Tia pulling Xian arm, he found that surprising.
"Just getting some air. Xian's with me, it's okay."
Tia smiled as she took a seat next to Chester. He began talking about their plan for tomorrow as Tia stared at him longingly. "Is there something on my face?" Chester raised an eyebrow when he realizes Tia gaze. "Nope." Tia smiled as she ruffles his hair. Chester sighs in defeat as he continues talking about the plan for tomorrow.
Xian was watching them from afar as he was worried about both of them. What if something bad happened to the both of them? What if Tia was with Chester in the vision and she just doesn't realize it? Xian can't help but feel worried.
"You seem distracted."
Aiden spoke as he sat next to Xian. Of course, Xian was dumfounded when Aiden did that, but he was too lazy to argue with that guy.
"Yeah, it would be appreciated if you would just leave me alone."
Sighing, Xian ignored the guy next to him.
"Is it him?"
Aiden spoke and that made Xian shocked.
"What?"
"The one who's going to die, is it him?"
Aiden eyes was watching Chester and Tia. Xian was surprised, how did he know?
"I heard you guys talking earlier, didn't mean to eavesdrop..."
Aiden added. Xian was silent. He doesn't know what to say. "He's not going to die. I'll make sure of it." Xian added as his eyes darkened. Aiden was silent for a moment. "Hopefully... You were right about that. Don't worry since we're all in this together. I'll make sure he didn't die too. Since he seems like a better company than Red." Aiden replied as he steps away from Xian leaving him alone in his thoughts. What a weird guy indeed.
"We survived!"
Kyran exclaimed happily as he woke everyone from their nap. Some were groaning with how loud he is in the morning, but Tia too feels relieved. She took a peek at Chester who's still sleeping and sighs in relief, she turns her head towards Xian who's already watching her.
She gives him a thumbs up and mouthed "OK" and that made him chuckled. Tia woke Chester and Gally up as all of them began to look for the Ale Mermaid. Since they camped next to a river, it should be easy to spot a mermaid in a distance.
It was morning and they thought that they will be fine during the day, but they were wrong. In a blink of an eye, a creature stood in front Tia smiling widely as it stood there crouching it's body. Everyone was too stunned to move, eyes staring with horror.
Tia wanted to scream but she was paralyzed to her feet. The only thing in her mind was Chester. She turned her head towards Chester direction and relieved when he's standing next to Xian. Thankfully, he's okay. Tia thought as the creature smile even wider.
Suddenly, the ground started to grumble as Kyran, and Tammy seem ready to fight. Without hesitation, they leap towards the creature, and it flinched backwards still, smiling.
It's gone.
In a flash, the creature was now standing behind Chester. Smiling eerily.
Xian manage to push the creature away with his ability and push Chester away.
No. It can't be.
Tia was staring at the creature with wide eyes.
No, It can't be!
It's morning.
Why.
STOP.
Gally screams made Tia jumped to her feet and realized that the creature is clutching to Gally feet and dangling her in the air.
"ONI. ONI. ONI. ONI."
It keeps chanting the same word over and over as it continues to smile even more. Everyone was shocked to see what happened and Gally was screaming and crying. Enzo tried to help her by summoning his beast, but it just disappears when the creature touches it.
"Run!"
Aiden yelled to them as Tia stared at him in disbelief. She can't leave Gally to die. She can't leave anyone else to die because of her.
"Forget about her! Just run!"
Aiden growled as he pushes Tia towards Xian and he pulled Tia away from there. NO! STOP.
"Gally!"
Tia screamed out as the distance seem farther away. Xian, Chester, and Tammy were running Infront of Tia as the others Aiden, Enzo, Rebel and Red behind them catching up leaving Gally behind. They thought it was over, but the creature was already in front of them with Gally nowhere in sight. Tia panicked. What does it want from them?
"Stay close! Don't run off on your own!"
Red yelled as everyone gathered in a circle back facing each other.
"What are we supposed to do now?"
Tammy spoke as her eyes glisten in fear. "Focus! Eyes on that thing!" Red yelled asking them to use their ability to injure the creature, but nothing seem to work.
The creature stood Infront of Tia in a flash, grinning one last time before yanking Chester away from the group.
The fear in Chester eyes was clear as he was too shocked to do anything. Tia could swear she heard bones snapping. She really hopes it wasn't Chester's. Tia held out her hand to pull Chester, but the creature just smiles at her even more.
Crushing Chester's fingers and disappear into the wild.
NO.
CHESTER
"What the heck is that thing. It got Chester and Gally."
Kyran spoke as everyone was too stunned to speak. Tia was shocked, she still can't believe how soon it's happening. She doesn’t want to believe what she saw. She turned her head towards Xian whose face filled with anger but when they made an eye contact, he soon calmed down and walk to Tia embracing her in his arms.
"It's okay, we're going to get him back."
Xian spoke as his eyes followed the direction; he thought the creature disappear Into. Everyone was silent for a moment.
Red made sure that nobody is injured and thought of a plan for them to save the others, Chester and Gally.
"It must be one of those two, the vision you see."
Red spoke as his face filled with worries, for the first time he seems like a true leader.
"We were careless, we don't list the fact that caves are still dark during the day. But what surprised me even more was that creature; just how long did it wait for us to make its move?"
He sighs as he took a sit on the ground making an unpleasant face.
"Do you think the barrier attract its attention?"
Enzo, who was silent finally spoke. It can't be. Tia don't want to believe that. No way.
"It does make sense, and the fact that the creature is out on daylight is even more TERRIFYING." Aiden sighs "So what are we going to do now? Hunt for it?"
He added and looked at everyone expression. Of course, Xian and his friends would say yes and hunt for it, but Aiden and his clique is still in dilemma.
"You guys could wait here if you want. We're going to save them. Tia stays with them until we get back."
Xian mentioned as he, Kyran and Enzo decided to hunt for the creature den.
"No. I'm going with you."
Tia reply giving Xian a stern look.
"You can't."
Xian glared back and told her that she won't be able to do anything even if she went with them. Hearing that made Tia heart hurt so much, she remembers the word exactly. Chester used to say that to her before in The Norm. Tia wanted to argue even more but Xian gave her a cold look.
"Please, I can't lose you too."
When he said that everyone was staring at him weirdly despite going to hunt for a creature.
"I need to see him. I need to see Gally!" She insisted and everyone stayed silent for a moment.
"Let's just all go. I can't even wait and sit still now that it happened."
Aiden spoke and rolled his eyes as he doesn't want to hear anymore bickering. Tammy and Red nodded in response saying that they too, wanted to help find the others. Tia felt relieved. Somehow, Tammy doesn't seem like a bad person anymore. And Red is tolerable.
"Let's go then, let's save our friends."
Xian replied as Aiden smirks with that remark.
"Let's kill that creature."