Chapter 13 : The Price of A Cage

Veronica's POV

"Q, I don't…I don't think she's breathing."

"Does it look like I care, Venus?" Q was sitting in his chair by the main stage, laughing as Erika slumped over after her spin kick, face still a red soggy mess. She slurred wetly, blood loss making her incoherent. She needed a doctor! "Jeffrey, can you get her back in line? Make her go around again?"

"With pleasure, sir!"

The Popobawa made a sign of inferni in the air, and I felt the magic loop around my limbs like Marinette strings forcing me to dance, Erika's limp body following. The Popobawa opened his limpet-like mouth, our pain filling him like a five-course meal at a Three Michelin Star restaurant. The cryptid was swollen with our anguish, once angular insectile body, now bloated like a tick's. His extra legs struggled to support his newfound bulk, as he danced about contorting us this way and that.

On one rough spin, my shoulder gave, my arm disconnecting in a rush of lightning-quick pain.

I scream