Saka's heart was pounding like crazy—it felt as if it would explode that very second. But seeing the figure in front of him cornered on the brink of death was far more terrifying. Without a second thought, Saka ran forward screaming, grabbed the mop near Rajawali, and slammed its end through the monster's mouth until it pierced the back of its head.
With an enraged groan, the monster released its grip on Rajawali and forcibly yanked out the mop. Saka used that brief moment to grab Rajawali's hand and run for his life.
Foolishly, instead of heading toward the classroom, Saka fled into the dark hallway at the far end. As soon as they reached a three-way intersection, he dragged Rajawali to the right.
Rajawali's face had gone deathly pale. He suddenly yanked Saka's uniform collar from behind, then dragged him into hiding beneath the long tables lined up along the hallway. Saka was about to fight back and curse him out, but Rajawali quickly clamped a hand over his mouth. Rajawali's sharp gaze silenced Saka instantly.
"Look over there," Rajawali whispered, barely audible.
Reluctantly, Saka glanced in the direction he indicated. His eyes immediately went wide. At the end of the hallway, a crowd of monsters like the one that had attacked them in front of the bathroom had gathered. Their bodies came in all shapes and sizes—variations of the human physique, from short and stocky to long-legged.
Saka knocked Rajawali's hand away. "Y-you said there was only one, you asshole! Why are there so many?!"
Rajawali shook his head. "What do you think? You think the principal lied?"
"Huh? No way!"
CREAAAAK....
One sound made them both freeze. With their shoulders tensed, they pressed themselves even closer to the wall, hoping not a single one of those creatures would notice them.
"W-what do we do?" Saka whispered again, sweat pouring down him like shower water.
Rajawali merely shrugged. "I already told you to leave, but you wouldn't listen. Regretting helping me now?"
Saka glared angrily. "Instead of thanking me, you're—"
Saka's sentence broke off when he saw Rajawali flash a wide smile and even chuckle softly.
"What's wrong with you, ass—"
"Ares was right about you after all," Rajawali cut in.
"What the hell are you talking about? Don't make me even more scared, bastard!" Saka stared at him, stunned.
Rajawali slowly shook his head while patting Saka's back. "Relax. We'll definitely get out of here. Besides, Bela and Iwan would cry hysterically if you died here, right?"
Those words gradually eased Saka's panic. His breathing slowly began to steady.
"How's your hand?" Saka asked afterward.
Rajawali turned toward him. "Huh?"
Saka clicked his tongue in exasperation. "Idiot. That monster bit your hand earlier, didn't it?"
"Oh..." Rajawali glanced at the wound on his right arm, then hurriedly pulled down his hoodie sleeve. "It's nothing, just a normal scrape. It stings a little, though."
"You're a terrible liar. It's still bleeding like crazy!" Saka shook his head in disbelief.
Rajawali only grinned. Yeah, it did sting a little, but that pain was completely overwhelmed by another fear: he was genuinely about to die right now.
"And what was with rolling up your clothes like that? You think you're in an action movie?" Saka scolded.
Rajawali chuckled softly. "I was excited before. I thought I could kill that monster. Turns out I was the one who almost died. But thanks for choosing to save me."
"Don't get cocky," Saka sneered. "I just didn't want the others to label me a bad person if I went back to class alone."
Rajawali simply nodded along as he listened to the boy's curt reply.