***
Loud groveling shrieks and noise from outside the house caused Muzin to hurry to his living room window. Parting the blinds to the side slowly, he watched in befuddled manner as his world began to take another form just outside his house.
“Laura! Laura! Laura!” Muzin yelled atop his voice.
Laura came running into the room with Naomi not far behind. The ladies stopped by Muzin and feasted their gaze upon the disturbing sight too, with Naomi gasping and slowly retreating with her hand over her mouth.
‘Something is coming”, Laura whispered. “Something is coming our way and they can sense it”.
The Onamegas had slowly begun to merge, fusing into one another with a giant structure emanating, while Daren remained unperturbed and with his gaze on the house.
“What is coming?” Muzin asked without peeling his gaze away from the window.
Laura wished she could give a candid answer, but even she looked scared stiff and unwilling to admit to whatever was coming their way.
“We need to seal your daughter in”, Laura replied.
Muzin shot her a rather glum and angry look. “You must be out of your darn mind if you think I will allow my daughter remain trapped wherever she is and without a way back home”.
A loud thud shook the house and threatened to dislodge the foundation. Another terrifying thud ensued and with it, Muzin flicked off the safety on his gun and aimed his weapon towards the hallway leading to the basement as the sound seemed to be emanating from there.
“You need to do as I say Muzin, or we might not live to tell this tale!” Laura pleaded.
Muzin wasn’t sure he could ever trust the woman. He didn’t want to trust her and he decided to rely on his own instincts. More so, he wanted his daughter back badly and he would do almost anything to have her back even if it meant defying the rules of nature.
“I want my daughter back”, he mumbled. “If I have to hold off whatever that beast outside is until she comes, then I will do just that”.
Naomi handed herself two knives from the kitchen with her chest pounding hard and her breath becoming rather difficult to come by. Scared stiff to her bones, she sought refuge beside Muzin, while Laura’s face paled as the thumping thud continued before a loud blast and a wave of wind blew them hard and dangerously into the wall behind.
Dust filled the room, and visibility became impossible to navigate through. Muzin groaned and moaned with his ears buzzing endlessly, while immense pain shot through from his right knee.
“Naomi! Are you alright?” he called out, coughing and spitting in between. “Where are you?”
Naomi’s response remained scarce, but Laura coughed aloud and slowly made her way towards the living room couch where she fell. The dusty air slowly began to clear, and with it came two figures walking towards the trio in the distance before they both halted their walks.
Through the deafening silence, came the familiar and rather chilling voice, “Hello Muzin”.
Muzin let off another cough and halted his breath as he looked up, squinting to get a clearer gaze through the dust. “Oh my God! Sarah!”
CHAPTER TEN
Nothing could compare to the moment as everyone seemed disinterested in speaking or even making a move from where they were. The moment seemed to be far more consuming and emotionally drowning for Muzin than it was for the other two by his side, yet, Laura looked the most terrified. She looked to the door, wondering about her choices, while the sight of the Mega-Onamega outside made her heart decide against doing anything stupid.
Muzin coughed and slowly got to his feet with the help of his better knee. He paved the way with his hands and tried to get as much dust out of his line of sight as possible. Six feet from him was none other than his dear wife, presumably dead, and now back from beyond. Her face hadn’t aged a single day, and her wry smile was as welcoming as ever.
By her side was their daughter, looking pale and terrified, but with a hint of gladness that she was back home. Nora sighed aloud for everyone to hear, as the final thud emanated from behind them and the portal through which they had come finally slammed shut and back into place.
“Muzin”, Sarah called out to her husband.
Muzin tore his face with the wildest smile he had ever had since she died, gasping in shock and unsure of what to say as he drew closer to her.
“Sarah!” he finally found his voice and called out to her.
The duo raced towards each other, with the man limping as he wrapped his arms around his wife and leaned his head into her shoulder. Nora looked around the room for her friend, and found Naomi slumped against the east wall, with her head somewhat banged up and her breath heavy to bear.
“Naomi!” she called out, frightened to her bones as she hurried over to assist the girl to her feet.
Naomi coughed and whispered, “Nora… is that you, Nora?”
Nora nodded aggressively, sniffed and gently pulled the girl closer as she tried to ascertain if her friend had sustained terrible injuries. Thankfully, she found no such evidence, bar a scratch on the back of her head which would heal properly with some bandage.
“Daren… Daren and Lama”, Naomi muttered in weakened tone.
Nora understood too well, as their eyes filled with tears and their lips trembled, they shared a hug, but Nora soon spotted the one person her heat didn’t desire to see, right there in the room, silent as she could be, and on the couch.
“You!” Nora cried in anger.
She motioned to get on her feet, but decided against it as she cradled Naomi until the girl was strong enough to get to her feet. Sarah pulled away from Muzin and
