ʀ ᴜ ʙ ᴀ ɴ ɪ ʟ ɪ ᴇ ɴ ᴇ s + ʙ ᴀ ʀ ᴛ ᴍ ᴀ ᴛ ʜ ᴇ ʀ s + ʀ ʏ ᴀ ɴ ᴍ ᴀ ʏ ᴇ ᴢ : [indent][indent]ᴛ ʜ ᴇ ᴅ ɪ ɢ ɪ ᴛ ᴀ ʟ ᴡ ᴏ ʀ ʟ ᴅ : [b][sub] D A N T E M U S T D I E [/sub][/b][/indent][/indent][hr] [center][sub][@Briza], [@Ezekial Wolffe], [@RBYDark], & [@VKAllen][/sub][/center] A slight hiss knitted itself through the path of the forest, catching Ryan’s angry yet pathetically scared attention. Her eyes shifted quickly towards the sound, catching the briefness of Rubani. Her body cradled itself into Bart’s shadow for safety as the chill in the air crept up her spine. There was no way she was going to make any sound. Bart, on the other hand, God -- he was such a buffoon. [i]Bart the Buffoon.[/i] The nickname barely crossed her mind noticeably, but perhaps, if the two of them did live to pick a bone with each other, again, the insult would be hurled from her lips. Rubani was desperate for either of them to hear her calls. Any louder would mean that they all could be seen by the one who was responsible for the carnage. The boy; however was wholly convinced that the floating creature that presented itself looking like a toy marionette was of the good affinity, [i]“He’s good!”[/i] The whisper was silent but vigourous enough for others to hear by an earshot, “I’m not about to lose to somebody who’ll use [i]scare[/i] tactics though.” Rubani was stunned. Was this boy actually planning on antagonizing that thing? Did he not see everything that was going on!? The poor girl almost sighed out loud at his stupidity. She tried signaling again, hoping that at least the girl with him would respond. Maybe she could drag that other kid with her. Hearing the monstrous thing’s voice had terror-stricken Ryan, and in her poor and vain attempt to protect herself behind Bart had fallen apart all too quickly. Her lower lip quivered beneath her teeth as her eyes slowly met the violet eyes of Rubani. The only comfort she could find in the mist of the situation was a mutual acknowledgement of Bart’s overtly macho behavior, and upon making any such recognition, she quickly shut her eyes tightly and began taking in slow breaths, trying her best not to let them oscillate her body. Maybe the [i]thing[/i] would not notice her and just Bart. [i]No, it clearly knew there were more of them.[/i] In a sudden swift motion, Ryan reached for Bart, pulling him downward, [i]“Shhh…”[/i] her eyes narrowed at him in pitiful fear, “Stop being such a [i]boy![/i] This is not a game,” she whispered sharply, pity turning more into a glaring antagonism at the [i]buffoon.[/i] The force had weighed him down -- fingers that pulled his hoodie was followed by Ryan’s terrified and emaciated appearance. It hounded him with her words. As he nervously threw his gaze at the girl he said, “And have me be what? A damsel in distress princess? You’re the one who’s trying to sound like a man! Guy’s inviting us to play games! No good man would deny him that opportunity,” Completely unaware of the death that is surrounding them. Ryan’s lips parted to say or rather, [i]yell[/i] something in a bitter retort. However, after a moment of hesitation raced through her mind, her body inclined forward slightly, and her hands pushed against Bart’s chest, shoving him onto his back, “Oof!” Dirt skirted into the air at the thud of the teenager’s body collapsing against the forest’s floor. A leer escaped his eyes as he landed square on the ground. Anger and frustration enticed him into leaping up from his back and proceed to [i]fight[/i] the enemy that he sees in front of him. “What is your goddamn major malfunction?!” He too shoved Ryan as hard as he could. The fight starting before her eyes dashed any hope of either of them remembering where they were. Rubani could only watch in confusion and frustration. She looked towards the floating mask child in anticipation. There was no possible way that it didn't hear the two of them fighting. Indeed, Rubani seemed to be correct. The masked being was staring at the group, arms crossed and expression unchanged. For a second, it almost seemed like it had forgotten entirely about Dante, still squeezed in an invisible hand and a purple crystal to his chest. “[color=fdc68a]....that doesn’t really count as coming out to play. What do you think?[/color]” The masked being finally spoke up over the fighting, apparently addressing the one person paying him any mind. “[color=fdc68a]Well, [b]I[/b] think I gave you guys a fair chance.[/color]” The crystal pulled back a few inches, the being raising a hand. He flicked his wrist. The crystal shot forward- [i]And dissolved upon contact with Dante’s chest.[/i] A scream rang out from the trees. “[i]NOOOO![/i]” Rubani shouted. The being laughed, gentle and sincere and almost reassuring were it not for the scent of charred flesh still lingering in the air. “[color=fdc68a]Oh, that reaction never gets old...[/color]” And now he was in the middle of the three, Dante dropped to earth like a discarded doll. The child digimon reclined, still floating in midair as he apparently surveyed the group. “[color=fdc68a]That bit though? Missing the crystal? [i]That’s[/i] starting to get a bit old. Cheating, I tell you.[/color]” Ryan had her fist cocked, ready to twist it harshly into the soft, round cheek of Bart. If she aimed it right, his dumb [i]hipster[/i] glasses might fall off, too, but before her muscles released her senses came back to her as the slow echo of Rubani’s shriek began replaying in her memory. Her hand arm weakened, fingers tugging at the sleeve of her jacket. Her body moved from the younger boy’s frame. Her eyes heavily scanned the area in terrified lament before finally falling upon Rubani who stricken with grief. [i]They were about to fucking die.[/i] He saw the punch coming and raised his arm in anticipation for it. The pain that he had expected was to sear his muscle did not come, rather his ears were vibrating from Rubani’s screaming plead that reflexively caught his attention in an instant. His gaze pointed towards a horrified Rubani followed instantly to the marionette and his puppet laying lifelessly that was… The other human. “H-He died?” “H… h…” Ryan stuttered, attempting to repeat verbatim what the boy had just said as a means to articulately register what had just happened. Immediately, Ryan flung herself on top of Bart to hide behind the log. Her right arm writhed against him protectively, “Stay down,” she whispered -- seriousness kneaded in her tone. She couldn't handle what was happening. That thing had actually killed someone. Rubani been nervous about what might happen, but to have her worse fears come true was absolutely terrifying. Her blood ran cold, and her legs grew weak beneath her. This is where she dies; in a strange forest by a sadistic monster who wanted to see her suffer. Did it even care? It floated in mid air as if they were only boring it. Soon enough, it would grow tired of them completely and kill them all. First her, then Ryan, then Dante… If she didn't do anything, they were going to be next. Rubani threw herself forward in a blind panic. If she could reach them and drag them away from that thing, maybe they could somehow survive this. [i]I can reach them in time, I have to![/i] She mumbled this to herself as she reached out to grab the quarreling children.