The cry for help continued echoing from outside.
But the more they listened to it…
The more disturbing it became.
There was something wrong with the voice.
It didn't sound human.
Serene, one of the girls, looked toward Theo.
"Theo… What is that?"
Theo stared at the shutters.
"I… I don't know."
Aqua answered instead.
"Giant insects mimicking human voices."
Serene slowly turned toward Aqua.
She looked irritated.
Aqua noticed her expression.
Then he turned toward Theo.
"Theo."
Theo looked at him.
"Tell them that anyone without powers stays here."
Theo nodded.
He already knew the girls hated being told what to do by aqua.
So Theo walked over and explained the plan.
Once he finished, Aqua turned toward everyone.
His expression became serious.
"Theo, Valt, and Ace will go to Bank Junction."
The three of them looked at him.
"The orb should be near Dominic Church."
Aqua continued.
"I'll take Abu with me."
He then looked at the others.
"Everyone else with powers will protect those without powers."
Aqua's eyes narrowed.
"And do not…"
He paused.
"Under any circumstances, go outside."
One of the students looked at him.
"Where are you going?"
"I have to meet someone."
"Who?"
Aqua didn't answer.
Instead, he smiled.
"Gotta find my buddy."
Everyone looked at him in confusion.
But nobody questioned him.
Theo walked over and placed a hand on Aqua's shoulder.
"All our lives are depending on you."
Aqua smiled.
Then he gently tapped Theo's shoulder.
"Come on."
He turned toward the others.
"It's gonna be one hell of a night."
The monster outside seemed to have finally left.
Aqua gestured for Theo, Valt, and Ace to leave.
He quietly opened the back door.
Then he peeked outside.
Nothing.
No monsters.
Aqua carefully stepped out.
He kept his back against the wall of the building.
Before Theo, Ace, and the others left, the girls approached them.
"Are you going to be okay?"
Theo looked at them.
For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
Should he tell them the truth?
Or should he comfort them?
Ace answered instead.
"If we're not back by dawn…"
He looked at the others.
"Leave this place."
The girls froze.
"Find a way out."
Some of them hesitated.
A few even looked like they wanted to go with them.
But Theo immediately shook his head.
"No."
He walked toward the door.
Then he looked back.
A smile appeared on his face.
"Stay here."
Theo walked outside.
Ace followed him.
The others followed behind them.
The students remaining inside waved goodbye.
Concern was written across every face.
Outside, Aqua had heard everything.
He waited until they caught up.
Then the group began moving silently.
They walked past broken stores and abandoned buildings.
Theo stayed close to Aqua.
After a while, he leaned toward him.
"Where are we going?"
Aqua didn't answer.
Theo frowned.
"This isn't the way to the church."
Suddenly—
Aqua sprinted toward the side of a clothing store.
He hid behind the wall.
Theo and the others quickly followed.
"Shh…"
Aqua raised one finger.
Everyone became silent.
Then—
A giant centipede crawled over the top of a nearby store.
It dropped into the middle of the road.
The creature stopped.
Then it opened its mouth.
"HELP!"
Everyone froze.
The centipede's voice sounded exactly like a human woman's.
It slowly began crawling toward them.
"Shh…" Aqua whispered.
The centipede continued moving.
"H… ELP…"
Its voice became distorted.
"M… Me…"
Then it screamed.
"IT'S HURTING!"
Theo stared at it.
"Can you kill it?"
He tried to use his powers.
But only a few sparks flickered.
Nothing happened.
The centipede continued crawling closer.
It sniffed the air.
Then it crawled even closer.
Aqua looked around desperately.
Then his eyes landed on something.
A bottle of kerosene.
Aqua quickly grabbed it.
He poured some over Theo.
Then Valt.
Then Ace.
Then Abu.
Finally, he poured the remaining kerosene over himself.
Everyone stared at him.
Aqua raised a finger.
"Don't move."
The centipede crawled toward them.
It sniffed Theo.
Then Valt.
Then Ace.
Then Abu.
Finally, it reached Aqua.
The creature slowly crawled up to him.
Then—
It licked his face.
Aqua's entire body stiffened.
The others desperately tried to hold back their laughter.
The centipede sniffed Aqua one last time.
Then it crawled away.
Everyone waited.
And waited.
Only after the centipede disappeared from sight did they finally relax.
Aqua wiped his face.
"Bastard…"
He looked disgusted.
The others could barely contain their laughter.
Aqua glared at them.
"What's so funny?!"
The group continued moving.
Aqua led them toward a police station.
Once they entered, Theo froze.
Valt almost threw up.
The smell was unbearable.
The police station was filled with dead officers.
Some had been eaten.
Some were missing limbs.
Others were barely recognizable.
Aqua ignored the scene.
He quickly searched the bodies.
Then he found what he was looking for.
Three walkie-talkies.
He picked them up.
Then he gave two to Theo.
"Here."
Theo took them.
"Call me only if you're in trouble."
Aqua looked at him seriously.
"It could mean the difference between life and death."
Theo stared at the bodies around them.
Then he looked at Aqua.
"Aqua…"
Aqua turned toward him.
"How are you so… unfazed by this?"
Aqua glanced at the corpses.
"I'm not surprised that there are dead people here."
He looked toward the entrance.
"Not in a place full of giant centipedes and insects that can mimic human voices."
Aqua walked past Theo and Valt.
"I came here knowing I would see this."
Then he walked outside.
Theo's gaze lingered on Aqua.
There was something different about him.
Something that Theo couldn't understand.
Outside, Aqua found a police car.
A dead officer was still inside.
Aqua picked up a rock.
Then he smashed the window.
Abu immediately came over to help.
He carefully pulled the dead man out of the vehicle.
Then he placed the body against the wall of the building.
Abu lowered his head.
And said a small prayer.
Aqua looked at him for a moment.
Then he checked the police car.
It was still functional.
Aqua turned around.
"Valt."
Valt looked at him.
"You know how to use your powers, right?"
Valt hesitated.
"Y-yes?"
Aqua nodded.
"For now, only Valt can use his powers."
Everyone looked at him.
"But once we get the first orb…"
Aqua looked toward the dark streets.
"We should get them back."