The goblin stabs its knife at me, crashing through the window and sending us sprawling in a tangle of limbs. Without hesitation, I [Suppress] it’s movements, my mind clamping down on it, turning the little beast sluggish.

  My own knife slices open its throat just as it digs into my leg with its fingers. It hurts and breaks skin, but probably isn’t too deep. The caustic blood spills on me, and I close my eyes before they can get irritated.

  [You have killed a lv. 1 Goblin]

  While the others are still stunned, I spit on the floor. “Inu, could you point me to the bathroom? I’d like to wash this off.”

  Her mom stops screaming to listen to me talk. Inu… nods, I think, though I don’t see it, and grabs my hand, pulling me along. Then, there’s the sound of running water, and she guides my hand into the stream.

  I wash my face thoroughly, feeling the tingling of the blood abate a little. My skin feels raw, but after a minute, I can open my eyes again. Inu seems to be in a rapid conversation with her parents, trying to convince them that staying is dangerous.

  I take another moment to wash my face, staring into my own dark eyes. Then, I wash the blood out of my long, white hair. Some of the dye has faded, but it looks like the acid is bleaching it, making a similar colour. I turn to listen to their conversation instead.

  “If only the damn window had stayed closed,” Norman complained.

  “Then we’d have been surprised,” I tell him calmly. “Something threw the goblin up. Something big.”

  “Already?” Inu whispers. “What are we thinking? Hobgoblin? Troll?”

  I shrug. “Dunno. But we need to move. Right now, safety means more people. Do you own a gun?”

  Her parents shake their heads and I nod slowly. “Fine. Take whatever you can use, then. Knives, baseball bats, food rations. We’ll go grab the others.”

  “The others?” Inu’s mom asks.

  “Thatch, Opal, Sylves,” I say. “My friends.”

  “Can’t we… stay? Hide?” Norman asks. There is some of that [Unassuming] nature. My lips twitch at the suggestion.

  Stolen story; please report.

  “Yes,” I say. “Feel free to. I’ll be off, then.”

  Inu grabs my sleeve. “I’ll come with you, Snow,” she says, decidedly. Her dad’s eyes widen.

  “No, you are not!” Norman yells. He even snatches her arm, grabbing onto her.

  Without hesitation, I [Select] him. The skill clicks into place, marking him as my target. I draw upon my vessel, feeling that tingling within me, willing my mana to fuel [Suppression]. Gently, I step up, and remove his hand. He doesn’t have the strength to resist.

  “Norman, with all due respect,” I say. “The world is ending. You can hide here until you die, and that is your decision. I plan on living.”

  The words are calm, collected and quiet, not loud over the strange wind blowing in through the shattered window. The drapes flutter, as does my hair, and the old man’s eyes shake a little as he looks at me.

  His hand drops. “Fine,” he says. “Fine, yes, we’re coming along to your friends. It…” he places his face in his hands. “I’m sorry, Inu.”

  “It’s okay, dad,” the girl forgives him.

  I do not. I look at her mom. “Do you have a first aid kit? You can pack while I see to our wounds.”

  Her eyes drift to the chunks of flesh missing from my legs. “Alright,” she says, calmer than I would have thought. “Yeah.”

  Before we leave, I grab a few more things from the bathroom, and then we’re off.

  - - -

  My boot presses down on a goblin. I have it locked down, squeezing it to the ground as it lets out pitiful grunts.

  [Suppression 1 > 2]

  “Kill it,” I tell Inu.

  The girl nods, stepping forward and driving a knife into the goblin’s eye.

  “Levelled,” she tells me. I smile and nod at her. “Two in heart, one in power,” she confirms, and I nod again. I can see her placing the points. The change is clear. Her heart is beating more strongly - almost enough for me to hear it. I can see her get dizzy for a moment as her body catches up, and she clenches her fist.

  It’s a big difference. Those first few points are world changing. She touches her shoulder and winces. “It’s so itchy now,” she complains.

  I smile. That means she’s healing. We continue stalking through the concrete jungle.

  - - -

  The wind’s picking up. It’s howling, now, powerful gusts spreading the dust and rubble, making it harder to see. I feel my heart beat in my chest as I look around, staying alert for danger. It feels almost exciting, even though it’s scary.

  I feel like I’m being chased by something I cannot see. We haven’t found a sign of the monster that threw the goblin through the window, but I don’t mind. It’ll show up eventually. And then I’ll kill it. The thought of that makes me grin.

  A pound of flesh for a pound of flesh. I scratch the wound on my leg a little.

  Then I stop. Inu and her parents do so a moment later.

  I listen, straining my ears to their utmost. The dust makes it hard to see, but I thought there was a shadow darting around. So, I pay attention. Eventually, I hear it. Breathing.

  From beneath me.