Mariana:
It was a strange being. It did not look old, yet it was not young either.
"What the fuck are you?" I whispered to myself, watching that beastly thing stare me down as if it would eat me alive.
It lifted its claw and lunged at me. I threw my hands in front of my body and shut my eyes tight.
I did not feel any impact. Instead, I heard scuffling nearby.
When I opened my eyes, Yorick had tackled the monster and rolled with it across the ground.
"Mariana, get away from here! Run for your safety!" Yorick yelled while still fighting off the monster.
I was frozen in place. And honestly, I did not want to run. I wanted to stay and make sure Yorick was okay.
But at the same time, I heard scuffling from the side and noticed someone moving toward me. I took a few steps back, and then I fell down on my ass again.
Panic shot through me, and I scrambled to my feet. I looked around again and saw that Yorickโs parents had arrived as well.
"Look, thatโs Charles," Yorickโs mother remarked, pointing at the monster.
For someone whose son was under attack by a monster, she lacked the anxiety or worry she was supposed to display. She was unusually calm.
Even his father did not seem to be panicking, despite the fact that their son was actively under attack. That made my worry rise.
"Who is Charles?" I asked, hurrying toward her.
She shot me a sharp, judgmental glare. Then she answered in a low voice, "He is my second son. Why are my two sons fighting?"
She cried out the last part, and tears streamed down her face.
I was confused about what was happening. Charles did not look like he wanted to attack Yorick.
He kept trying to come toward me.
Their fight continued for a while. Yorick repeatedly grabbed him and flung him away.
Charles would rise again and move toward me.
During all this, Lady Rimi and Yorickโs father, Jill, kept staring at me. They looked as if they had just uncovered something massive.
They exchanged a strange look.
"Do you understand what is happening?" Lady Rimi questioned Jill.
He nodded painfully. Then they both turned their gaze back to me.
I felt chills run up and down my spine under the weight of their stare.
Suddenly, Yorick hoisted Charles up and hurled him far away. His body slammed against the trunk of a tree.
Charles let out a bloodcurdling scream.
"Meriana. Go check the bags. There should be a syringe inside with the name Charles on it," Yorick shouted, still actively trying to stop the monster from coming in my direction.
I nodded and took off running. I knew exactly where Yorick had hidden the bags.
When I noticed Lady Rimi following me, I stopped abruptly.
"I will not bring anything if you keep following me. Do you understand?" I snapped at her.
My tone clearly displeased her, and her expression shifted.
I usually spoke bluntly to everyone. But this time, I was deliberate.
When Yorick had hidden the bags, I had realized his parents were involved in something.
Jill, who had been trying to stand between them to prevent either from killing the other, suddenly rushed to help his wife.
As soon as Yorick moved slightly away from Charles, I called out to him.
"Yorick, here!" I shouted and threw the syringe toward him.
Yorick caught it. The moment Charles leapt at him, Yorick did not dodge.
He allowed Charles to come at him.
Charles landed on top of him, and Yorick fell to the ground. But Yorick knew he had the advantage.
He had let Charles come close on purpose.
Using that moment, Yorick stabbed him with the needle.
Charles let out several growls and panicked sounds. Then he staggered away and collapsed onto the ground.
The entire scene unfolded in front of our eyes. It felt strange.
It was the first time I had seen monsters like this. Thankfully, Yorick was with me.
"Come on," Lady Rimi urged as she struggled to her feet and ran toward her sons.
She knew Yorick was fine, and Charles was the one on the ground. She hurried to Charles and knelt beside him.
By the time she reached him, Yorick had come over to me.
"Are you okay?" I asked, placing my hand on his chest.
He was still watching Charles. Then he suddenly turned toward me.

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