So confused was she that the raindrops were hurting her for some reason, Irina didn’t quite register just how much pain was flaring in her exposed cheek. It wasn’t that the droplets were falling with unusual weight or speed, this wasn’t the kind of pain caused by impact, nor was it a mere sting. It felt more like burning, a white heat burrowing its way into her flesh. It felt like melting.
People didn’t think of Irina as a true team member because her focus was an entirely medical one, but she was fully trained and her instincts were honed sharply enough that she reacted immediately, already scanning the area to see if there were any other stray students or residents at risk out in the open besides Irina herself and her companions. Thankfully, she didn’t see anybody. Probably most were avoiding the grounds while the forest was on the prowl and the cornfield was still looming ominously.
“We need to get inside,” she declared decisively, only to find that Pizer was already way ahead of her, grabbing her hand and even going so far as to use his hoodie to shield her from the burning rain. Her gaze cast down to Buddy scampering along beside them, wishing there was some way she could protect him from this unnatural water, and of course Pizer too, who’d made himself vulnerable to safeguard her. But there wasn’t. So much for her training, it didn’t seem to be helping much here. All they could do was get back inside as quickly as possible.
“What is it?” she yelped as they ran, keeping her head ducked. “Acid?!”