The Dream Shifter

Chapter 113

In Fumiko's mind, she could not think as panic washed it all blank. She threw out her hands towards the bounding creature. 'If it's me then please… Please! Attack!' A warm white glow from her hands burst forth expanding until it turned light blue. It seemed to be drawing from her body as thin threads of blue light grew from Fumiko body to be spun around her arms like ribbons. The light gained form as a blue flaming orb that was wrapped tightly in ribbons of light embroidered with delicate designs of line work and characters. There were only moments left to spare when it was shot from her palms speeding towards its target. An explosion of light blinded Fumiko when the orb crashed into the animal's chest.

The breaking and tearing of the nearby house could be heard through the flare. Fading light allowed a shadowed figured to be seen being flung away causing an even louder crash. Fumiko blinked once still trying to understand what had happened in that moment. A broken path of dragged dirt where the beast was forcibly thrown through was visible leaving a wide tunnel through the tall grass. In the distance there were low moans from the animal in pain. "Is it over?" she asked herself softly making a step towards the newly constructed trail.

As Fumiko cautiously approached the loud wheezing of the wounded animal the hind legs twitched quickly making her stop. Her anxiety was mounting with her own breathing becoming shallow and quick following her pounding heart and sweating skin. She pursed her lips in hesitation. 'Come on, Fumiko… Just a little—' The thought was sharply cut when the body of the creature flung itself up. Blood was falling out of its gaping hole in its chest showing off exposed bone. Seeing it was enough to make Fumiko throw up if terror had not gripped her. "You're still alive?! What are you?!" Fumiko backed herself away slowly from the animal hoping that she could escape without drawing its attention. The hope was quickly dashed though as it caught sight of her and started into a full blind rage run at her.

Fumiko immediately began to run away, but knew that she only had a few seconds before it ran her down. She threw her arm back towards the charging beast hoping that it would happen again. Nothing came leaving her in silent embarrassment. Running was the only thing left to her as she was able to dodge to the side of the charge in time leaving the beast to turn itself around. It gave her enough time to try again and fail. "Damn! Why isn't it working now?!"

A strange game of chase and dodge began between the two as Fumiko frustration increased. There were a few close calls, but she was somehow able to keep ahead of it. She pulled up her hand while she was fleeing and began to yell at it. "Why aren't you working for me?! I'm going to die here! Help me!" Silence only rang out at her as she came to an unfortunate realization (she was yelling at her hand). 'What's wrong with me…' The dire situation pressed her through the embarrassment and back to trying to make it work for her. She had cast out her hand attempting it another time. "Maybe I need to say a keyword… It's sort of looks like magic and I remember Yuki saying names for spells. Yeah! That must be it!" Her eyes narrowed seriously as she kept herself away from the beast and focused on it. "Blue Fireball!" Nothing came. "Fireball! Fire! Blue orb fire thingy!" Still nothing happened. Sweat quickly followed up as she panicked. "Nothing's working!"

Fumiko's panic was spreading through her body as the beast was catching up to her. It looked like it was not going to miss her. The terror poured through her limbs made them feel like lead bringing her to a stop. Paralysis had set in for Fumiko and it did not seem like she was going to be saved by whatever powers were helping her before. However, the beast suddenly turned directions away from her and fell over sliding through the grass leaving bent stems as it came to a stop. Fumiko had to blink and check herself to see if she was dreaming it. "What happened?" She rushed over to a safe distance to look at the animal, but it was no longer moving. "It's dead? Just like that?!" Approaching the beast carefully, Fumiko could see that it stopped breathing. Away from it there was a long trail of blood.

Once it was confirmed Fumiko collapsed to her knees with relief. "Mieko!" she shouted remembering the reason that she had done everything. It gave her the energy to move one last time and begin running down the grass street feverishly searching for the house that she had been left at.

The sound of wood and metal collapsing pulled over Fumiko's eyes. A cloud of smoke was coughed up by a house revealing a darkened figure inside. "…Big Sister…" creaked a weak child's voice.

"Mieko!" Fumiko shouted quickly as she ran over to the smoke without thinking. The little girl fell over coming out of the gray cloud, an exhausted expression on her face. Panic was the first thing that washed through Fumiko like a wave while she was checking on her. Relief came soon enough when she could see that Mieko had only passed out and not died, however there was a new wound that she had not seen before. The new wound was not paid much attention to by Fumiko as she was more worried about leaving the area. Fumiko carried her back to her house so that she could rest before helping Mieko to find her family. 'I'm so happy that she's safe now!'

The house seemed to be far more alive than when Fumiko had left. When she entered carrying Mieko with her both of Fumiko's parents were standing in the hallway looking across at her trying to hold back their fears. "Fumiko! Are you okay?!" her mother quickly shouted in the process of running over to check her over. Fumiko held her back a little making insistence that Mieko's care came first.

They all moved over to an empty bedroom that was still lightly furnished. Mieko was given the bed to rest on while Fumiko's parents turned back towards Fumiko. "What happened out there, Fumiko?" asked her father trying to keep up a stoic appearance (though it was clear there tears in his eyes).

She turned away looking towards the corner of the bedroom looking guilty, but not understanding it herself. Her hands were shaking at her side trying to keep herself together. "I don't know…"

"You're hurt too!" her mother said trying to pull Fumiko so that she could help her. Fumiko forced herself back away from her parents. "You have to tell us, Fumiko! Was it the strange plants outside?"

"…No! I don't know!"

Fumiko's father stepped around to get in front of her forcing her to look at one of them. She tried to turn from him, but his hand reached out taking hers. The stress that he was feeling pulsed through his palm connecting with her. "We're worry about you! So please tell us what happened!"

It was becoming too much for Fumiko to hear. She walked around them going for the door before interrupted again. "Please, you don't have to tell us, but at least let us tend those injures, Fumiko!"

"I'll do it myself!" Fumiko marched into the hall and to her room. The door slammed behind her as she dropped against the door. 'Why'd you have to use her room?' She slid down the door until the floor stopped her. Tears were already streaming down her cheeks with her face being buried in her legs.

Images of Mieko flashed through her mind as she could not stop thinking about the wound that she had seen. Part of her clothes had looked as though they had been burned away and the skin was blister severely from at least second degree burns.

Fumiko dug her face deeper into her legs wishing for it to go away. '…why me… …because of me… …I hurt…' Her hands tightened around her legs as she thought about what she was thinking. '…Mieko… …just like Kimiko…'