The Monster’s Aftermath

The Monster

Amidst the crumbling debris and shattered tiles, a tattered silhouette emerged from the hazy, grey dust. It stood as tall as an entire floor, its brown-red eyes piercing through the smoke before it vanished, as if pursued by something unseen.

Subsequently, Chloe’s ears were filled solely with the terrified screams of the students. Evidently clueless as to what had transpired, they mistook it for an earthquake, scrambling en masse toward the exits.

“What are you staring at? Run! There might be aftershocks!” A student, reaching Chloe, noticed her standing frozen and instinctively tugged her shoulder. Yet, Chloe remained utterly unmoved, like a petrified statue, her gaze fixed solely on the ruins. The student followed her line of sight, and a shiver ran down their spine. That place… it must have been the office. The earthquake’s power was truly immense!

“You… if you’re not going, don’t block the way!”

Chloe was shoved from behind, stumbling forward. Regaining her senses, she tried to steady herself, only to trip over a dislodged stone, tumbling to the ground. Her hands braced against the gravel-strewn earth, instantly scoring countless tiny lacerations. Though they were mere scratches, her palms were drenched in blood. The stark, crimson sight sharpened Chloe’s awareness.

Why would a monster like that appear in a school? Normal monsters possessed a ‘tendency towards darkness.’ While they preyed on humans, they never dared to openly appear within the public’s sight. For that would signify an endless pursuit by even more powerful magical girls. But now, an exception had been made.

The victim was Chloe’s homeroom teacher, Rona, whose name she had only just learned.

Am I sad? Grieved? More than sorrow, Chloe felt a profound incomprehension. How could someone be perfectly fine one moment, only to witness their life extinguished the next? Rationally, she felt she ought to be crying, yet, in reality, she was disturbingly calm.

The monster had appeared, claiming an ordinary life. Next, it would be the magical girls’ turn to appear and hunt down the monster. This was the usual procedure. She ought to transform immediately and pursue. Chloe hadn’t even had the chance to fully savor the fleeting kindness she had received from Rona. Rona was not a relative, nor a close friend; she was merely a teacher who cared for her students.

The fountain pen clutched in Chloe’s hand felt warm. This warmth was not from her own body heat; it must have been Rona’s lingering warmth.

Why does my face feel so itchy? Chloe reached up to touch it. Her dust-smeared, bloody palm moistened a small patch. Did a stone splash into my eye? Why am I crying? A tear, as large as a bean, splattered onto her hand with a soft plink.

She couldn’t catch them all. She lowered her head. The collapsed room could no longer obstruct the sunlight, and under the projection of the light, Chloe could see her own dark shadow sprawled across the cracked ground.

The crunching of footsteps on debris gradually drew nearer, and another shadow fell, eclipsing Chloe’s own.

“What are you doing here?” a familiar voice sounded from above.

Chloe looked up. Her small face, smudged with dust, revealed glistening golden eyes, yet she said nothing.

Tia knelt down, cupping Chloe’s small face to examine it closely. Then she took her wrist, her brows furrowed at the sight of the bloody, mangled palm. “Does it hurt? You’re crying like a little kitten.”

“It hurts…” Chloe responded, feeling not just the pain in her hands, but an even deeper ache in her heart.

There were no deep wounds on her palm, but numerous small stones were embedded in her skin. Tia tried to pry the fountain pen from Chloe’s hand, as she was clutching it so tightly that the congealed blood threatened to bond the pen to the wound.

“Don’t take it…” Chloe tucked her small hand into her chest, turning away.

“Be good!” Seeing her resistance, Tia grew anxious. It was just a fountain pen; they could buy another one. At a time like this, why was she clinging to it so stubbornly? The priority now was to get her to the infirmary for a thorough check-up. As for the monster, with such a commotion, other magical girls would surely handle it.

Tia grabbed Chloe’s forearm, trying to retrieve the pen. But after applying a little force, she found Chloe’s resistance unusually strong. She hardened her heart, intending to forcefully reach in and take it. Chloe resisted desperately, her small, thin body exerting all its strength. Just as she was about to give in, she suddenly opened her mouth.

“I said no!”

Tia flinched, startled by the girl’s strained, cracking voice. Her hands froze. She gazed into Chloe’s eyes—eyes that seemed to stare at an enemy. Her fair, small face was covered in dust, with two distinct tear tracks. A porcelain-white canine tooth peeked out from one side, and her slightly curled golden hair fanned out, like a startled kitten with puffed-up fur.

Tia had seen Chloe angry before, but never with such irreconcilable indignation. She felt as though a thick barrier had suddenly risen between herself and her “little sister.”

“This… Teacher Rona gave it to me…”

“Who is Rona?” Tia suddenly grew wary. If Chloe was angry with her because of some other woman, Tia would not tolerate it. Her hands unconsciously moved to grip Chloe’s shoulders. Seeing Chloe remain silent, she couldn’t help but tighten her fingers.

“Ow! That hurts!” The squeeze forced more tears from Chloe’s eyes. Still keeping the hand holding the pen hidden, she pulled out her other hand and pointed towards the adjacent ruins.

“Teacher Rona, she’s over there.”

Tia followed the direction of Chloe’s finger. It was nothing but a pile of crumbling rubble. A plaque, etched with the three characters for “Office,” hung precariously from a fallen doorframe. No one could be here.

No one alive.