Suddenly, just as Pink set Smiling Girl down, whose eyes were currently spinning in circles from being shaken...
A loud howl echoed throughout the school.
The sound was deep.
Animalistic.
And full of pain.
Both girls immediately turned toward the auditorium.
Then, without thinking, they started walking toward it.
Pink blinked.
"...Why are we walking toward the scary howl?"
Smiling Girl giggled nervously.
"That's a wonderful question."
She forced a grin.
"Why ARE we walking toward the terrifying monster noise?"
She laughed.
"Maybe it'll end our suffering."
Pink looked horrified.
"Whoa! Smiles, calm down!"
She grabbed her shoulders.
"I know this is hard, but breathe and stay with me."
Smiling Girl blinked.
For a moment...
she actually relaxed.
Her smile softened.
A tiny bit.
Pink smiled proudly.
"We'll get through this."
Smiling Girl stared.
Pink nodded confidently.
"We will find Alice!"
Smiling Girl immediately deflated.
"I can FEEL her!"
She sank lower.
"It's like she's right next to me!"
Smiling Girl collapsed onto the floor.
Pink gasped.
"Oh no you don't!"
He grabbed her.
"Not until we find my Alice!"
"You can't die!"
Smiling Girl stared at him.
Then slowly inflated herself like a balloon.
Fwoomp.
Pink screamed.
"WHY DO YOU KEEP DOING THAT?!"
"Because reality has abandoned me."
A second howl shook the building.
This one was closer.
The girls exchanged a glance.
Then sprinted toward the auditorium.
The moment they burst through the doors...
they froze.
Students were screaming.
Teachers were scrambling.
Chairs were overturned.
And standing in the center of the auditorium...
was a giant werewolf.
Seven feet tall.
Dark fur.
Massive claws.
Golden eyes burning with panic and rage.
It was swiping wildly at anything that moved.
Pink gasped.
"Oh no!"
He looked around desperately.
"What do we do?!"
Tony immediately answered inside taking the wheel for a second.
We run.
Immediately.
This is not an anime.
We are children.
The school system never prepared me for this.
Smiling Girl burst out laughing.
"That is actually the smartest thing you've ever said!"
Before they could retreat...
A flash of steel cut across the stage.
The Stoic Samurai landed gracefully, katana already drawn.
At the same time...
someone leapt from the bleachers.
The Maniac.
She cracked her knuckles.
Then her neck.
Grinning ear to ear.
"Oh."
She giggled.
"Oh this is gonna be FUN."
The crowd collectively gasped.
Some students pointed.
"I-It's those girls!"
"The magical girls!"
"Oh no!"
"THERE'S THE PINK ONE!"
Pink pointed at herself.
"Why am I the scary one?!"
The crowd didn't answer.
The werewolf did.
It slowly turned its head.
Its yellow eyes locked onto Pink.
And it growled.
A deep, rumbling sound.
Pink blinked.
Then growled back.
Smiling Girl stared.
"What are you doing?!"
Pink puffed out her chest.
"Intimidation."
"You're pink."
Pink scoffed.
"How dare you."
The werewolf tilted its head.
Confused.
Smiling Girl pointed.
"See?! Even the giant murder dog thinks you're ridiculous!"