But the Hollow had appeared without a sound. The children had no idea their lives were about to end.
One little girl happened to turn around and found herself face-to-face with it.
Its ghastly white face struck terror into their hearts. Screams erupted all around!
The Hollow reached out and seized a little girl.
The other children scattered in panic, fleeing in every direction!
"Don't run around! There should be Soul Reapers patrolling this area. Go find one and get help!" Hiyori shouted.
But the children were too terrified to listen. Her voice vanished beneath their screams.
The Hollow's mouth split into a grin as it prepared to swallow the girl whole.
Just then, Hiyori charged at it with a kitchen knife.
She was terrified too. She knew rushing in would probably get her killed, but she had no other choice!
"Let her go, you bastard!" Hiyori swung, driving the knife into the Hollow's wrist.
The blade barely broke its skin, but the Hollow recoiled in pain and flung the girl away.
The little girl hit the ground and lost consciousness.
Hiyori gritted her teeth. How could this thing be so tough? It was like hacking at stone!
The Hollow wasn't intelligent, but it was furious at being wounded. It whipped around and struck Hiyori in the stomach with its tail.
It felt as though a steel whip had cracked across her belly. She lost all feeling in her upper body until she flew backward and hit the ground. Then searing pain surged through her abdomen.
The protection of her own Reiatsu kept the blow from killing her.
Clutching her stomach with one hand and her knife with the other, Hiyori staggered to her feet.
Even she couldn't tell what she was feeling anymore.
Fear, anger, sorrow—and a strange calm.