20: To Take Down A Moth-Beast -John-

I'm not sure why we thought it was a great idea to jump into this thing's mouth. Then again, we were hasty about it, seeing how the damn thing attacked our friend and all. Either way, I really didn't appreciate being reacquainted to the inside of this beastly moth.

This time I wound up splashing head first into stomach acid. Jay landed somewhere nearby, hitting me on the way down. I quickly stood up, wiping at my face the best I could. Did I mention it was dark in there?

"Sure would be nice to have some light right now.", Jay's voice echoed the massive stomach. "Forget the light, Jay. What we need right now is a plan," I pulled a blade from my pocket, "and all I got is this knife."

In my head, I began to go over the damage this giant moth had already taken: Many, many bullets were shot; even its one eye getting a taste of lead. We applied fire to it, and by the smell of things it was still set aflame. I even managed to jab my knife up and in to its belly and cut it open. What else would it take to bring this damned thing down?

You know, fumbling with a knife in the dark while thinking doesn't help. I came back to reality due to the sharp pain in my left hand, the tip of the blade poking at my palm. At least feeling it meant that I haven't gone completely numb yet. I heard sloshing sounds come closer and closer, which told me Jay was trying to find me. As if the knife weren't distracting enough, "Just stay where you are, would ya? I'm trying to think here."

Jay stopped, speaking up, "I have an idea."

Considering I was low on getting those things called ideas, I decided to hear him out, "What do you have in mind?"

"Tear at its insides."

A part of me wanted to say how stupid that sounded, but it was the best thing we could do. After all, we were armed with knives and knives alone, and I didn't plan on becoming a filling meal for this moth. My brain finally pulled up some thoughts with Jay's help, "We'll tear at it, alright. More specifically, I'll tear at its stomach here...", I thrust the knife down, meeting flesh in the acidic bath, "...and you'll go for its lungs."

"Wait, its lungs? We could just as easily slice our way out of this thing right here while cutting it up some." I turned to his voice, "Yes, we could do that, Jay. Except that isn't going to kill it any faster, now is it? If we can take away its ability to breathe, even if it doesn't take to the lack of air quickly, it should die even faster."

"I don't see why I have to go do that.", he mumbled.

"Simple, you're skinnier."

I knew he wasn't particularly happy with that plan, especially since it entailed him having to climb up its gullet and than down its windpipe. He didn't waste time arguing though. With out another word, Jay splashed his way past me and began to stab his way up the throat.

I was left with the sounds of gurgling and some splashes of stomach acid as the moth roamed about. I closed my eyes, readying myself. Numbness was starting to settle within my body. It was now or become moth poo. I opened my eyes, clenching at the blade's handle, "Robby, this one's for you."

I charged to the right, finding the stomach lining with its tip. With all my might I ran along, trying my best to not slip. I repeated the process once I reached the other side of the stomach.

Roars and gulps of air gushed on in as I tore at its precious insides. I began to stab and rip at the stomach floor before me, running in to the cut I had made on its outside. I cut over it, deepening the wound. In an instant, I dropped to the ground below, acid splashing all over the place with a slow sizzle.

I got up and moved as fast as I could, seeing no sign of Jay. I found cover nearby and hid behind it; a pile of scrap metal. As my heart pounded and my skin slowly began to be eaten way, only one thing came to mind.

I was in desperate need of a shower.

16: The Four Musketeers -John-

Broken elbow or not, I wasn't going to just let this thing kill us that easy. As it lumbered toward me, I glanced to my left and spotted a car. Grabbing Jay, I dragged him over to the car as fast as I could and pushed him beneath it.

No sooner had I gotten him under, when I was slammed to the side by the moth’s flaming arm. I hit the ground rolling, trying to ignore the pain in my arm while putting out any fire. Exhaustion and pain made it hard for me to move, but I rolled to my feet and tried to lead the moth away from Jay. The ground shook as it got closer and I couldn't run anymore. I quickly spun around and ducked under the moth’s belly.

Running beneath it I felt the heat from its charred, flaming skin. I shoved the knife up in to the charred and burning areas, cutting them wide open. As I cleared the back of it, I could hear the creature’s screams of pain as fluid and some innards spilled from the cuts. I didn't look. I just kept running.

That's when I heard the buzzing above. Glancing up, I saw one of the smaller moths flying toward me. Why do things have to keep getting worse? I dived behind a trash can as a dart hit where I'd been running. The larger moth had turned around and was making its way toward me. I heard several loud popping noises coming from somewhere.

To the left Robby came running from an alleyway, his gun in his hands, firing away at the massive thing. He saw me and ran over as fast as he could, avoiding darts from the smaller moth.

"Are you alright?"

"I'll live. Jay's underneath a car behind that thing."

"Is he?"

"He's knocked out. Robby, I've thrown everything that I could at this thing, it won't go down."

"John, cockroaches can live a week with out their head. Bugs are known to live through extreme things."

The large moth roared and began running toward us.

"Robby, Jay tried blowing it up. I shot out its eye and sliced it up a bit. It's just not stopping."

The smaller moth flew around so that it could hit us and took aim.

"We have to move."

"Yeah."

At that moment a small plane flew in from the side, blasting away with small guns on its side. The small moth turned toward it and shot three darts. The plane dipped and weaved to avoid the attack and then turned off to the side.

"Stupid moth! John, why'd you have to go and get yourself in over your head?", Tim's voice came from the small craft.

Something about that guy just gets me angry, "Couldn't have gotten here sooner you little prick?!"

Robby pulled up his gun and began to fire at the gargantuan moth, "Now's not the time to argue."

I pulled myself to my feet and raised my fist at the small plane, "When I get back . . .!"

"I'm expecting it!" The small plane flew off to resume its battle with the little moth.

Robby's bullets weren't stopping the moth; only slowing it down. I lifted my gun with my good arm and just as I was about to fire, I felt a pain on the back of my head.

"Nice way to save my life!", Jay stepped next to Robby and began firing as well, "You could have just said duck."

"My way was funner." I lifted my gun the best I could and began firing.

Flashback Entry 3: Done The Same -Tim-

I couldn't breathe; at least not very well. Pains in my chest caused me to sit down and gasp for breath. All this because I laughed at the internet?

I took a deep breath. More pain.

This wasn't happening. I wasn't ready to die.

"Dude, you all right?", John looked sincerely concerned, a first for me.

I shook my head, the pains were worse and I couldn't talk anymore. I was getting dizzy and it was hard to move. I was terrified. They had to call my Mother. They needed to get me help.

"Carl, call his house. I don't think he's okay. He's red in the face."

Carl rushed off and in only a few moments he came back, "She called a cab. It will be at his house in a few moments."

What? Why my house? Why not here? I needed it now. I tried to pull myself to my feet because I'm not the type to give up.

A person can go for a long time with an injury with out having much problem. How ever, there comes a point when it's just too much and the human body can not function like it used to. I was at that point, so it took me almost a minute to get to my feet.

"You can't walk." John walked over and put his arm under mine, and let me lean on his shoulder.

We began the trek back to my house which was three blocks away. The further we went, the weaker I got and the more pain with every breath. As we walked, John kept taking more and more of my weight until he was practically carrying me.

John carried me more than two blocks to the cab.

The hospital told me that I would be okay, it was a common lung issue.

When I asked him why he did that after I got out of the hospital, he just looked at me, "You would have done the same."

All I could do was smile and say, "Damn straight."