Chapter 89: Jelly Roll
Jafar and Alan, with the injured man slung over Alan’s shoulder, wasted no time fleeing the house. The moment the creature’s tentacles began to lash out, they bolted, adrenaline fueling their every step.
They stumbled back down the corridor, moving as fast as their feet could carry them. As they reached the doorway, Jafar shut the broken door behind them. He then formed a long, thin rod with a pointed tip of hardened earth with his magic. He shot it forward so that the rod would pierce the door and floor. With the way the earth spike was piercing the door, it was now jammed and would remain closed for however long Jafar’s earth magic would last. He was creating something to put some barrier between them and the writhing mass inside.
The trio spilled out onto the street, nearly collapsing onto the pavement as they escaped the confines of the house. They came to a halt in the middle of the road, breathless and shaking, their hearts racing from the sheer terror of what they had just faced.
They doubled over, gasping for breath, their bodies drenched in sweat. Jafar's hands were on his knees as he tried to steady his rapid breathing, his mind still reeling from the creature’s screeching and the near misses of its thrashing tentacles. Alan’s chest heaved as he fought to catch his breath, his pulse still thundering in his ears. The surrounding street seemed eerily quiet in contrast, the everyday normalcy starkly at odds with the nightmare they had just fled.
Jafar: "W-what was t-that? That was—Alan! Your arm!” he shouted out, worried about Alan after looking at his arm.
Alan’s arm was a painful mess of red, blistered skin, the vivid burns evidence of his direct contact with the creature’s acidic slime. Angry welts and raw patches covered his forearm.
Yet, despite the severe burns that marred his flesh, Alan’s clothing remained inexplicably untouched. His sleeve, which should have been scorched or eaten away by the acid, was perfectly intact—no holes, stains, or even a hint of damage. The fabric clung to his injured arm, unharmed by the very substance that had seared his skin underneath.
Alan: “I’m fine. It’s only my arm, but this guy’s whole body was inside that thing. He’s barely hanging on, we need to get him to the hospital,” he said while gesturing to the man over his shoulder.
Jafar: “Y-you're right. We should—” was all he said before getting interrupted by a wet, squelching sound.