When You're a Mystery Kid

Keeping Low

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters featured here.

"Stay down." Wybie firmly told her, a hand on both of her shoulders.

Coraline's response was to glower up at him. "Not a chance." she snarled.

Coraline again removed Wybie's grip on her shoulders and tried to rise from her sitting position, but just like before, it wasn't long before she clutched the right side of her chest and cried out in pain, falling back to her original position. Wybie always hated seeing her like this, all battered and bruised, but he's been forcing himself to be accustomed to it. It's just something that happens once in a while when your hobby involves supernatural creatures with serious anger management problems.

What he hates even more is convincing her to stay down once it's clear that she can't get back up.

"Jonesy, you can sit this one out. W-we got this under control, I-I think." Wybie gave her the most reassuring smile he can muster given the circumstances.

The ground suddenly shook, quickly followed by a cry of pain. Wybie turned his head to the direction of the sound. He can only see the trees and the silhouette of the monster through the thick fog. He's not even sure whose scream it was. Maybe it's Neil's? It kind of sounds like Neil's.

Wybie rubbed her hands, looking down at Coraline again. The look on her face says that she's still determined to get back into the fray. Whether or not she actually can doesn't seem to concern her.

Maybe some logic can dissuade her? "That thing picked you up and slammed you against a tree, Jonesy. That's several broken ribs, at least."

"So what?! I'm not sitting out 'til this thing is six feet under!" Of course logic didn't work. Well, it was a long shot anyway, he supposed.

Still clutching the right side of his chest in pain, Coraline tried to reach for her machete. The weapon lay on the ground a few feet away from her. Inch by inch, she crawled towards it, groaning and grunting in pain all the while. Halfway through, she paused. She was breathing heavily. It looks like the pain is starting overwhelm her, even if she would never admit it. The expression on her face gave Wybie a hint of the pain she's in.

He really, really hated seeing her like this.

Wybie grabbed hold of her shoulder again. "Coraline, please."

Coraline looked up at him, her expression softer this time. "Y-you are in a lot of pain. I know you wanna, but you can't fight right now. It's just- you just can't. I'm sorry."

Coraline averted her gaze, mumbling, "I hate that you're right."

Wybie sighed in relief. At least now he can stop worrying about Coraline hurting herself even further. The only thing he has to worry about now is the thing currently in an out-of-control rampage. Objectively speaking, that is so much better.

As gently as possible, Wybie helped Coraline move to sit against a tree. "Don't worry too much about us, Coraline. I-I know it looks bad right now, but we've been through worse scraps before, right?" he said as he helped her move.

"We sure did." Coraline chuckled lightly as she tried to make herself as comfortable as possible in her new position. "You trolls go and kick that thing's ass real good for me, y'hear?"

Wybie grinned. She's still the same old Coraline. "Sure thing, ma'am."

Wybie dashed off towards his bike that he parked a few feet away. He mounted it and quickly started up the engine. He turned to Coraline one last time and saluted at her, which she replied with a salute of her own. He faced forward again, gazing into the thick fog. The ground shook again, this time accompanied by a shrill roar.

Wybie gulped, and rode off into the fog.

X-X-X-X-X

Another extremely short one, but in my defense, I'm pretty sure I was in the middle of midterms when I wrote this. Well, not much to say other than, hope you enjoyed it!