[_____V_____]

WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED INSIDE THE ZONE


"Thanks for the backups, my friend. I have a funny feeling I wont be returning back this time," DESPARE said, staring into space.

"Dont say such things, Des. Who knows? You might pull through again like Fortunato did, even when I cant gift any HPs to you anymore," PAUL THE MONK looked worried.

"Well, no use contemplating anymore. We better hide," Despare replied grimly.

Paul nodded and both of them shook hands, before turning in opposite directions and disappearing into the forest.


SECTOR A:

SCOUSE MAC looked around, his machete ready. He knew he had heard footfalls on the dry leaves near him, but could see nobody. Just then, several twigs snapped behind him, followed by loud rustling. Scouse whirled and spotted Despare running away from him. Scouse stood tall and grinned wickedly. Scouse was a really fast runner, and as soon as he started running with big strides, Despare was in real trouble. In less than a minute, Scouse had almost reached Despare. The machete came down heavily.

THWACKKK!

The machete ripped through Despare's back and left a large, angry line across it, slashing the huge plate of flesh into two, bloody-red parts. Despare cried out and went down, as huge globs of blood started appearing all across the line of the wound. Scouse stopped and took a long breath. Despare was moaning as he reached for his HPs. Scouse looked down at Despare, his jaws set hard. He lifted the Machete again, and swung savagely.

THWACKKK!

This time, Despare's right arm was nearly hacked off from the rest of his body. Half of it dangled loosely from his shoulder joint, and Despare howled in severe pain. The blade of the machete trembled and split into two from the hilt, and Scouse dropped it, looking with smug satisfaction at Despare. Despare shivered and bleeded immensely, as his left hand reached feebly for his HPs.


CHRONOGRL heard the distant running and a loud cry break out to her right. She started to walk towards the source of the noises when a familiar blue streak ran across her vision to the left. She blinked and looked again to see Paul running, stealing glances back at her. Chrono smirked and lifted her machete, before running after Paul. Soon, she was near him when Paul tripped. "Ooooooooofff!" Paul went down with a loud exclamation. Chrono stopped and looked at him, smiling.

"Its just not your day," Chrono remarked, and brought her machete down with full force.

THWACKKK!

The machete tore Paul's body across his chest and abdomen. A long, crossed streak lay on it which quickly swelled and started to gush blood in big torrents. Paul yelled in pain loudly, before doubling over and rolling around. Chrono's blood-thirst wasnt satisfied. She lifted her hand again, and brought the machete down with a huge grunt.

THWACKKK!

Paul's waist was nearly cut into two halves. The long streak of bloody flesh oozed blood and Paul cried out loudly again, his back arched. Chrono dropped her machete and wiped her lips, letting out a loud smack of satisfaction. Paul's hand reached for his HPs, as Chrono walked away.

Paul was moaning in-between short, painful breaths when he heard a rustling noise. Despare came through the bushes, severely injured himself, and dragged himself close to Paul.

"We will...be safer...with the river helping...uss," Despare almost spat out the words inbetween huge spasms of pain.

Paul nodded, not able to speak. Both of them were biting off the pain as they dragged themselves down the slope towards the river. Despare tried to lift himself as he reached it, but fell back. Paul rolled into the river slowly, followed by Despare. The river pulled their bodies forward in a furious frenzy.


(To Be Continued...)