Before i noticed where i was standing , i heard it. Before my brain could process the image of the new hallway i found myself in , my ears picked up on the subtle wrongness of the door closing .
I've heard Eli's door close a million times, hell, maybe more. And the sound i heard was nothing like it.
It's a moment of shock, like a glass of cold water thrown on an unsuspecting hot tub user. I feel myself stagger for a moment and focus, my breathing is heavy, fear and confusion boiling up inside of me.
When you make yourself a hammer, you see everything as a nail. I can't take credit for that one, it's old and coined by a far better person than myself, but as i crouch, scanning the hallway for attackers, i'm a damn fine example of that old cliche.
There are no attackers, i'm not in a dingy basement, or maze of storage containers, it's a nice hallway in what i'm assuming is an equally nice apartment building.
Cream colored paint makes the high gloss wood doors seem inviting, the durable yet stain free carpet clearly is close friends with a steam cleaner, there isn't so much as a flickering light bulb giving a sense of unease.
In my left hand are a half dozen small grocery bags, my right grips a set of keys with an orange happy face key fob.
I stand, trying to appear at ease, though , thankfully i don't see any observers to whatever is going on. I have no idea what's happening to me, but at least i don't look like an asshole.
The door to apartment 403 unlocks with a square shaped brown key, and within isn't the purposeful rat's nest Eli spent so long cultivating, but a spotless living space , well furnished, and in good repair.
I find i.d. , i find chat logs, bills, a few pictures, and with every piece of evidence i pull from this place, a story emerges.
My name, is Mike Lawrence, i fix electronics (a skill i found essential back where things made sense.) , have a small circle of friends, and a life that has nothing to do with violence, conspiracies, or anything more dark than a handful of horror films on blu ray.
My job causes a certain amount of...stress on my mind. Par for the course for anyone who isn't a psychopath, but something i always have to be aware of. As useful as knowing how to sow up a stab wound is, understanding when it's time to procure some anti anxiety medication or mood stabilisers, that shit has saved my life more than kevlar.
So i know when the gears start slipping , and right now, my mind is running as well as someone with a couple of voices in their skull can be expected to.
Speaking of, Norman and The Boyscout are silent, like most of the time, when i really need them, they are no where to be found.
Now, i know none of you are here to listen to , what is going to amount to some generic dickhead's blog, so i'm going to give you the cliff's notes on about six months worth of mundane life, and existential dread.
I spent the first month or so waiting for the other shoe to drop. Waiting for that moment where i found out the plot, or experiment i found myself in.
But as the days went on, i had to admit, there was nothing more sinister than a few angry voicemails from clients waiting on repairs.
At this point the only conclusion i could come to was that, i was Mike Lawrence. Whatever life i remember was some kind of hallucination, or fugue state , maybe even just the mother of all screwed up dreams.
So, for almost half a year, i was, Mike lawrence. I spent time with Mike's friends, i worked Mike's job, paid Mike's rent, all of that generic day to day crap.
And i loved it.
Every, safe, dull, boring moment, i savored like it was the last drop of the oldest bottle of wine in the universe.
But here is the catch 22.
Even if i could ignore my dozens of scars, burns and mutilations, rationalize them as a car wreck, maybe. I can't ignore why every moment free of gunfire and ill intent seems like a decade in heaven to me.
No dream, drug trip, or mental breakdown can mimic a decade of life or death. A decade of hard decisions, most of the right ones ending up with me doing something that haunts my dreams, and most of the wrong ones ending up with me watching some twisted bastard do similar.
Mike Lawrence, doesn't drink.
But there came a night, and a bottle, where i realized, i wasn't Mike Lawrence, no matter how much everything in this world wanted to lull me into thinking so , i was not Mike Fucking Lawrence.
Being an alcoholic, it's so romanticized calling that shit out is a cliche in and of itself. But take it from experience kids, chugging a 40 pounder of vodka alone, that isn't badass.
It's a sad, grimy experience, you become annoyed with yourself. Desperate to get wasted, but hating this drunken shithead you have to deal with.
But, in Vino Veritas, as they say, in wine there is truth. by that logic, there must be the secrets of the universe somewhere at the bottom of this texas mickey.
There was, in a sense.
"Took you long enough Michael." The voice is thin, but somehow full of power.
I want to call the thing sitting in the chair across from me a man, but, the deep pits of darkness that serve as his eyes tell me he's something... else.
The obvious answer being, hallucination.
And as far as those go, the guy makes sense.
Seven feet tall with long lanky limbs, he seems to barely fit in the oversized leather armchair. He's wearing a combination of victorian era suit and...voodoo shit? There has to be a better term, but stuff that makes me think of swamps, witches and potions. And all of this is topped with something i've always had a fondness for, a massive top hat.
I'm not shocked, or stunned, if anything, i feel relief. If i'm seeing things, that's fixable.
"Don't act like you're the first thing i've seen that wasn't there. " I slur in reply.
That laugh, that low, mocking chuckle, sends a shiver through me.
"Don't be stupid Michael.
You know you don't belong here. You can feel it in your soul, you can see it when you walk down streets with names you don't recognise, you are a traveler Michael. " The entity across from me says, his tone grave.
"Yer a wizard harry!" i scream, laughing at the apparition, "You know what screams, 'the cheese has slid of my cracker?' there, scary spice?
When you tell me i'm some sort of universe hopping savior. That is some stereotypical delusions of grandeur shit."
He shakes his head, his chuckle, this time seeming to barely suppress rage.
"You have severely misread the situation, Mike.
No, you are not a savior. You are an insignificant speck, battles for the fate of the world, are not in your future.
But your value isn't in what you are, but where you are.
The sum of reality is divided into nine corners Michael. And up until this moment, even a man-in-the-know such as myself, would have thought it impossible for so much as an atom to travel between them.
But here you are. " he lets the silence hang.
I want to dismiss this thing, to drink until i pass out, then blast whatever bit of my brain went rotten with antipsychotics.
But something about him, something about what he's saying is ringing true.
"Seems you know a lot about me, what about you, most drunks just see pink elephants why do i get a ghost?" I try to sound mocking, but my desperate question is obvious.
"Ghost? I wish.
That i had plenty of contingencies for.
No, my state, is also, rather, unique.
I was a man, one who was destroyed so thoroughly , under such a combination of etheral stress, that what was left, simply didn't have a place to go.
And under normal circumstances, that would have been it. I would have simply kept almost existing, the thin threads connecting the scraps of memory and intent that compose me fraying till every moment was a limbo of confusion.
But, Michael, you and i are alike. More alike than i have time to explain. And because of this, you may be able to help me.
You need to get home, this corner will twist and warp you, you are a foreign body, a splinter in this segment of reality's flesh.
And i, well, i need anything other than this. I'd sooner take my chances in the deepest pits of hell, those are at least charted waters.
But, we seem to be at an impasse, and an understandable one.
I'd ask you to trust in me, but i know i wouldn't trust anyone the least bit like myself, so i don't expect you to either.
Grab one of those pieces of junk mail, open it facing me. If all i am is 'a bit of undigested beef' , as it were, i'll not be able to recite the contents.
If i can though, we both look out your living room window, and you understand that what you are seeing is neither illusion nor hallucination. " the entity sounds like it is either giving a sales pitch, or a sermon. In either case, it's a damn good one.
I hold a nondescript white envelope long enough for my damp hands to stain it before i open one end, it's contents facing the thing sitting across from me.
It didn't miss a single word.
Without a sound he rises from the chair with a flourish, walking over and parting the curtains of my livingroom window.
I follow, i see New York at 4 a.m. , strange as it may be, i'm not seeing anything that would prove the universe has misplaced me.
"The name is Demitrious by the way. Not that you've asked.
Do you see the store on the corner?" Demitrious says.
"Of course..." something starts to turn in my poison soaked brain. "that wasn't there yesterday , was it?"
The ghoul smiles, "It most certainly was not, nor will it be by the time daylight shines on these syringe strewn streets.
That store is one of many oddities this corner of reality has to offer.
You started your...career, after seeing evidence of the worst humanity has to offer, am i correct, Michael?"
The shift in conversation has me edgy.
"Fuck you" i say as the first part of my statement, adding " But, yeah." after i was sure he understood my initial point.
"And to set you to action, to get you to the point where you were willing to kill, to maim, to torture, it took seeing this first hand, right?
Well i have a feeling it's going to take the same kind of thing happening here to shake you from this ennui filled little cocoon of a life.
We will sit we will...." He keeps going, but , i get it.
I can't slap myself in the face and suddenly be at 100 per cent, but as i piece together what's going to happen my heart starts to race, my hands flex and i feel my old friends, adrenaline and anxiety try their best to get my brain working.
Step one is disgusting, and as i jam a finger down my throat, spewing nearly liquid vomit into the sink, i hear Demitrious stop going on about spooky bullshit.
Step two starts with my swishing around a mouthfull of off brand energy drink and spitting it onto the floor. I shotgun the other 5 cans in the case , keeping the sickly sweet beverage down by sheer force of will.
"Michael, what are you doing?" The spectre says, his tone less composed, almost a little fearful.
"It's simple D " i begin, walking to my washroom, and rummaging through the medicine cabinet , "If i'm going nuts, then we are going to know about it real quick when i go down to that store and cause some shit.
If i'm not, well, we must not be all that much alike if you think i'm going to sit up here and watch some folks get killed or hurt by a haunted convenience store. "
I find what i'm looking for. And hell no i'm not going to tell you anything other than it's common and in extremely high doses it's a very potent upper.
I finish the bottle in eight heaving breaths, my pupils contracting to pinpoints.
"This isn't the kind of thing you can... punch Michael." the spectre follows me as i put together a few bits and pieces from around the apartment. I could vainly call the stubby pipe filled with solder a truncheon, and the bottle i fit into an inside pocket of a waist length coat is filled with a combination of flammable material that could be described as a malotov cocktail, if someone felt like being generous.
"Probably not, but you seem to need me around, so i'm sure you're going to step between me and whatever's down there. "
My tone is petulant, i'd much rather confidence, but at the moment it's a miracle i'm still awake, so i'll take what i can get.
"Step between? Have you not been listening? The extent of what i am, is a vision to a mentally unstable vigilante, and even that is coming at great cost and effort.
I apologise for my ...method of communication. it was callous, i'm too used to dealing with things, not people.
But if we play our cards exactly..." I interrupt the (possible) ghost before he has a chance to get going.
I can feel the cocktail of low grade stimulants starting to make me twitch, i need them right now , they keep me edgy, and mean, and much like the punk rock pioneers from new york who made those words famous, i wasn't about to take any shit from a bad xerox of me with a british accent.
"Fuck, you're under the impression this is a debate aren't you?
No, friend, i'm going down there, then i'm going to try to throw a monkey wrench into whatever situation is unfolding, win, lose or draw. " my words are clear, well, clearer than they have any right to be anyway.
"You cannot let your...lust to be a savior get us killed Michael. " Demitrious says , the black pits of his eyes locking to mine.
"D, i'm going to let you in on a little secret, because we're so closely connected and all.
I don't give a shit about being a saviour, to anyone.
I didn't find my manhood when i saw what that sick bastard did to his own family.
I broke, D.
That first night, i didn't plan on walking away.
I didn't want to.
If it had gone the way i knew it should, i'd have would up on a bullet train to hell right behind the evil prick i put down.
But instead, i just kept going deeper into the worst places the world had to offer. I'm no vigilante , or saviour, i've been trying to commit suicide by sociopath for ten years and failing miserably.
Maybe monsters can do what men can't, let's go find out. " the laugh i punctuate this monologue with is thin and sick.
It's not the whole truth, but it's enough to make D understand i'm not bluffing.
I briefly think of putting on some attempt at my...traditional outfit, but, something doesn't feel right.
If i were to put a finger on it, the concept of dressing scary in a world with real monsters, seems kind of sad.
My grin spreads as this thought gives me my first inklings of a plan.
"So, what am i getting into?" i say, breaking the silence between D and myself as we exit the lobby of the apartment building.
"You could take an 8 year course on what you are brazenly acosting, and still not get past it's names. " Demitrious shakes his head, " But you seem more like a broad strokes person. So i'll do my best.
It's old, dark and violent. Probably been around longer than most languages, and out of all the shapes it could take, now it chooses to be a store to do it's dirty work.
You can't break it, or burn it, blow it up or encase it.
It is the kind of thing you leave alone and remain thankful it only takes a handful of people from time to time. " I actually hear a bit of respect from D.
"Leave alone and remain thankful it only takes a handful of people?" I reply, my first attempt at matching Demitrious' voice. Mimicry, a skill I never thought my life would depend on.
It's far off the mark, and raises suspicion from the apparition.
"What was that?" it asks.
"Nothing, just messing with you.
So, what, even someone like you just lets this kinda thing do what it wants? Under optimal circumstances i mean. " I keep the goad subtle, sounding genuinely curious.
"In better days?
If i felt the urge i'd whisper a long dead name of mine to the void-wretch before weaponizing esoterica that it would fear out of instinct. " i hear longing in his boast.
"Fear out of instinct." i repeat, my second attempt much better than my first, but still lacking, an impression, as opposed to true mimicry.
I see a group of four men, college aged, drunk, and the only people besides myself anywhere in sight. I don't even ask if they are the intended victims as the run down old bodega seems to come to life, lights shining from within.
None of them notice, or if they do, they don't seem to care, drunken demands for snacks and poorly stored meat ring out in the night as they enter the store.
As the door closes, i feel my blood run cold despite the dutch courage and hillbilly cocaine, i should easily be able to see the men inside the store, but as the cheerful "ding" sounds , and the portal seals, i see nothing but booze, snacks and slowly rotating processed meat.
As i walk closer the lights dim and the sign flips from open to closed, though i couldn't tell you exactly when.
There's no feeling of unexplained dread, or nagging fear, no cold sweat or creepy breath on the back of my neck. But as i stand in front of the outdated, tiny bodega, i know, for a fact, death waits inside.
"I don't think we have been properly introduced, forgivable considering my short time in this little town." It's not perfect, it has a Rik Mayal flavor to it i need to iron out, but the accent is close enough. The look on Demitrious' face tells me he understands my plan.
"This is the worst plan i've seen michael, and i say this with no hyperbole. " D says, angry, shocked, and worried all at the same time.
I pretend my leering smirk is toward the store-thing , but D is my real target.
"But before introductions, we need to discuss, how can i put this politely, shows of respect.
I'm no demon prince, no, my royal days are long behind me , i need no taxes, but a token of peace, well, that would just be polite , wouldn't it?" I'm overdoing it, taking wild stabs in the dark, judging by the frantic 'stop' motions from D none of which are coming close to reality.
But i'm not trying to to do this well. I'm trying to put my new friend in a position where he can't lie, see how much he really needs me alive.
"Just...stop." D says, giving me a look that makes me do just that, " No more of your pulp novel drek.
Stand like you have a spine, don't look at one spot, watch the building as a whole.
I don't like my hand being forced Michael, but if you need to play russian roulette with our lives, so be it.
Listen carefully..."
And i do.
But then i start to feel lightheaded, a sense of panic rising in me.
Mental illness and cognitive dissonance are the worst mind fuck of any cerebral orgy.
I freeze, thinking , for a moment of what this would look like to anyone passing by. A drugged out man screaming at a broken down old store long past closing. Having imaginary conversations with hallucinations that seem to actively hate him.
For years, realising when i've gone too far down a rabbit hole to see objectively has kept me from going insane. But trying to square the evidence around me, with the rules i know about reality is causing a mental storm strong enough to make me see black spots.
Or maybe it's the drugs, who knows.
I use it, taking a heaving breath before continuing my performance with demetrious' script.
"Subtlety not really your sport?
I am Demetrious of the Grey Warrens.
I was Silvio of the twelfth legion, those that never fell.
You do not wish to see what i have yet to become.
War or parlay? My time is valuable. " With words from his own mouth, my mimicry , though lacking his otherworldly tone, is flawless.
Hesitantly the lights rise to a dim shine, the sign flips to 'open', and one sliding door opens less than half way, forcing me to squeeze through.
In an instant all thoughts of insanity are flushed from my mind.
This place feels cold and humid somehow, the dim lights casting shadows that leap and flicker.
I feel as if there are people walking all around me, but nothing stops my progress, and no matter how hard i strain to see, it's clearly just myself in the building.
Small noises, glass jars rattling, bags of long expired food rustling, every inch of this place feels alive, and angry.
I once ran across a man, a sound engineer, who had pretty much perfected a way to induce small amounts of anxiety with subsonic frequencies. Got into the wrong hands, started a cult, it's a long story. The point is, it felt like adderall jitters with a small side of isolation. And at the time it was scary as hell, mild as it may have been.
True evil though, jesus christ, It feels more like a heartbeat. A living, pulsing thing, pressing in upon you.
I lean on the counter, it feels slick, the entire place reeks of old cigarette smoke and decay.
"The four from tonight, a one time fee, and you are free to attend to whatever business you have in my neighbourhood. " i say, letting my eyes wander around the store, not showing a seconds hesitation as i see glimpses of long, thin things, legs, or tentacles maybe, start to crawl from the darkest spots in this sodium ridden little hell.
"Tread lightly Michael. " Demitrious says, i like how nervous he is, i've accepted the reality of my situation, but i'll be dead before i let someone else take the lead in this dance.
The silence drags out, with every second the creeping, almost vine like appendages extend further into the store, probing with a a dull intellect.
I jump as the cigar case hanging above my head drops a pack of mold covered stogies onto the counter, the 4 pack has 2 remaining.
I understand what this thing is saying, but i don't have time to respond. My reaction, a slight jump, causes the thing to make it's move.
Three shelves slam into the counter, surrounding me, a half second later the lucite tobacco case falls, i crouch down, intending to leap out of the rapidly closing box, but before i can, swarms of those black, pointed, finger like appendages form a grasping, scratching roof.
Panic is too generic of a word to describe how i feel, as i see these otherworldly limbs twist through the cheap aluminum shelving , i feel small, like a gnat caught in the maw of some kind hell spawned toad.
Demitrious is saying something, but i can't make it out.
Slowly the pointed appendages push toward me, inch by inch, this place wants me to see my fate coming.
With a running start, and good posture, a grown man can blast through this kind of shelving without much effort or harm. Hunched over almost half way now, that situation changes drastically.
Luck seems to be on my side, this thing can do a lot, but the shelves themselves are just good old fashioned, milled by the lowest bidder metal.
I don't burst through, i slam myself into the shelves till metal clasps give, i feel twitching limbs start to gouge and claw my skin as my shoulder separates.
I get it back into place with another hunch backed body check to the shelving. It works, but the arm goes numb, useless, a nerve deep inside twisted and pinched.
I have no more room to twist, i can't get my opposite shoulder into position to finish the job.
Something rips a chunk of cartilage from my ear, the pain is blinding, i push down the urge to rage and scream, i'm doing more than surviving, i'm playing a role.
I slam my face into the shelf, using any bit of leverage i can to force my way through. 6 solid hits bend the cheap steel enough to get my shoulders , or at least most of them, through. With one final flesh tearing lunge i free myself, sprawled on the dirty black and white tile.
I get to my feet, making a show of brushing myself off. Blood is pouring out of me from dozens of gashes, and one arm is throbbing, useless.
This thing caught onto my lie, and made me pay. Now to normal people, once you get caught in a lie, you come clean. But one thing I've learned from scumbags of all types, is that you never come clean. It doesn't matter how many times you get caught in a bold faced falsehood, just how many half sensible possibilities you can put into someone's mind.
I stop trying to ape the ancient evil living in my head. I don't even have to think of the lie, it comes pouring out of me as easily as a drunken piss.
"Okay, so I'm not, he-of-the-too-many-names. I just thought that'd be an easy shortcut to our business here." I stalk toward the counter, ignoring the screaming pain throughout my body.
The trap this place tried to spring on me is a writhing mass of steel and black, greasy appendages, I supress a shudder as I think of what would have happened had I not sacrificed a decent amount of skin to escape.
The sound of my dripping blood provides an almost metronomic beat to my one sided conversation.
"But you want to know who I really am?
I'm the regular guy who found a way to put a leash on that long winded old bastard.
I'm the off kilter motherfucker who has a couple thousand years worth of power just begging to be let loose inside of his skull.
And pedigree or not, I'm the guy who's walking out of here with 4 live bodies to do with what I will.
And for being such a greedy prick, I'll take your two youngest to replace the two you've already ruined. "
I feel... Something, by the look on D's face, I think I struck a chord with this thing.
I'd call what Demitrious whispered to me words, but the sonic bastardization of language he relayed, verbal torture, would be a better description.
I smile as I enunciate each one with precision, the effect is immediate, and worldview shaking.
The walls begin to crack in the slightest ways, the dismal presence of the place eases, but personally I notice the tiny pieces of my tounge that pop and tear themselves free, more.
It's no more than two seconds, but in that time one of my back teeth has rotted into a black stump, and a sign saying " SORRY FOR THE INCONVIENCE!" drops in front of me, suspended at eye level with old, yellowed string.
I smirk, blood dripping from my torn lips.
Slowly, a door to a back room creaks open, I make the mistake of looking inside.
I know there is no way the massive field of victims and torture implements could fit in the backroom, I can see a horizon for fuck sakes, albeit, a crimson one with a forbidding yellow sky.
I feel sickened, humbled, grasping the scale of this thing for the first time.
But as requested, two of the four men, bruised, torn, and broken, mid twenties, and full of the kind of muscle that only comes from too much free time, come stumbling out of the unassuming door.
"Outside, and please, try to run, I'll find you." I say, no room for debate.
The two men comply as their counterparts, two identical twin girls, around 13 years old walk out of wherever the hell it is this thing keeps it's victims.
They don't seem to have been treated as rough as the jocks, but i feel a dark rage as I think of what this lecherous liquor store hand in mind for them.
"Wait outside" I say, casually walking around the store.
I want to be an outright bastard, to rub this in, to make this slap in the face something this collection of bricks, mortar, and evil remembers no matter how long it lives.
But I notice something, D, he's... Flickering, is the closest thing I can think of. His voice tinny, and indistinguishable.
I don't press my luck, leaving the store with nothing more than than a distainful look.
When I actually see all four waiting outside the store, I think a little bit less of their mental capabilities.
Protip kids, if a scary bastard tells you not to run away, chances are the best possible thing you can do, is run away.
"Follow me" I say, and to my surprise, the group does, and I find myself leading them like the God damned pied piper.
I try to plan on the run, marching the group, double time until I'm sure we are far enough away the Bestial Bodega.
I take the group deep into an alley, they want to hesitate, but shock and pain have made them all compliant. It takes nothing more than a sinister look to keep them moving deep into the foreboding laneway.
D keeps trying to get my attention, but whatever dial he uses, isn't tuned right. I can make out sounds, but no words, his form fading and warping.
I lean my back against the cold brick of the alley, taking in a series of long, heaving breaths.
First the pain sets in, I slide down the wall to a sitting position, tears staring to well. I feel the quarter sized piece of ear missing, and my mind starts to go through the litany of first aid I'll have to give myself.
Then, reality sets in, this reality. I don't have a quip, or a sly defferal, just the soul crushing knowledge that I'm caught up in some situation where I'm a pawn, at best. In a world that doesn't play by any of the rules I've spent the last decade or so learning.
I cry, and I shake. When I finally pull myself together I laugh at the look of shock and confusion of the faces of the group I saved.
The first guy to speak, asks me a question that seems out of left field as he offers his hand.
"You a hunter?" he says, gym rat accent making the question all the more strange, "Name's Vasily, bro."
I shake the man's hand and notice how torn up he is, I'm surprised he's still standing now that I have the time to survey his wounds.
"Me? No, I like guns, but never was able to pull the trigger on a deer.
I'm just some asshole that bluffed his way into saving you four." I say, my gaze drifting to the static ridden form of demitrious, wishing I knew what he was trying to say.
Something about the reaction of the two men, amused, and a little too happy, sets me on edge. These guys should be calling 911 before they collapse, not asking what recreational activities I enjoy.
Then I realize, I can't see the girls in the corner of my eye any more.
I look further, not moving my head, trying to seem casual, and still, I see neither of the two children.
"That being said, I wanted to ask you guys a few things about what all went down..." I say, making my way toward a dumpster where I see a small, black booted foot peeking out.
I adapt, it's what I do.
And we've all seen this part of the horror film before. Where our survivors make their way from whatever paranormal shit storm they were in, only to find out they storm hadn't quite passed yet.
I expect my kick to encounter something immovable, or maybe the opposite, intangible. I expect to see a look of rage, or malice, on the child's face as I head off it's attack.
I do not expect to feel a rib crack, and see a girl who is tiny, even for her age skid six feet across cold pavement, clutching her chest.
The other girl runs over, shocked and panicking.
I have just enough time to process my fuck up, then I hear it.
It's loud, and wet, like a room full of people playing Yahtzee with cubes of meat.
I turn, slowly, burnt out and shell-shocked from just the horror of the past hour or so.
But not so much that I don't say "Fuck me." as I see the source of the noise.
The two men now stand over seven feet, skin a sick greenish yellow, layers of mismatched and bulging muscle cover their bodies. Their eyes are transparent, glass like orbs. Teeth, flat, thin, almost whale like. Their clothing lays in a shredded pile on the ground.
But as they stand there, hulking, reeking and nude, I see the absolute critical nature of their wounds.
The fact vasily's voice didn't change one octave sends a chill down my spine.
"Sorry man, but your in a wrong place wrong time kinda situation.
See, me and my bro here, we got messed up real bad, and if we don't get something to eat real soon, we're gonna die.
Total respect for saving us and all, but we need a specific kind of protein, and you are the only one around that has it, no homo. " He fucking laughs.
So, suicide it is I guess.
The truncheon is small, has an awkward grip, but at the end of the day, is still three pounds of solid metal wielded by someone who knows where to apply it. Even if this thing has leather skin, and cement bones, a direct blow should crack them.
And I'm okay with this being my last act. Breaking a monster's jaw, not many people can claim that as the reason for their ticket to the pearly gates.
But no, the truncheon pops like a lightbulb, I don't even know if it managed to make contact.
I try to make a break for it, but Vasily grabs me, gently, by the shirt, faster than I can track, and with a grip I have no hope of breaking.
"I get it dude, it's a shitty deal, but hey, it'll be quick at least.
You think I feel good about this? Hell no, but gotta look out for number one, know what I'm saying?" Vasily let's go as he finishes.
"Do I have time for a smoke and a drink?" I say producing the steel flask, and a pack of cigarettes.
"Sure man, have a couple if ya want, we got a little bit." The ogre like thing answers.
I uncap the flask, putting it up to my lips, a few drops of the toxic combination rolling down my tongue as I push a small plastic bundle from the back of my cheek into the neck of the container.
I wipe my lips and toss the engraved gift in a garbage can about a foot behind the giants.
I light up a smoke, looking listlessly at the stars as I sit, some standing puddle soaking my pants.
My heart starts to race as the cigarette burns halfway. A cold sweat begins to break out as I taste filter, and throw the butt into the gloom of the alley.
I light up the second, trying not to let my fraying nerves take over.
See, when I was talking about my lackluster bomb earlier, I could have probably been more specific.
As far as punch goes, no issue. As far as safety goes? Also not a problem, as long as the dry and wet ingredients are kept separate, no issues there. What this particular chemical cocktail lacks is, consistency.
It's the kind of thing idiots across the world looking for a little bit of YouTube fame have blown off hands and set fires to houses with. The kind of blunt surgery chemistry that may take place in a minute, a second or a few hours.
My hand is shaking as I grind the second cigarette butt into the ground, trying to think of some new way of stalling.
But for once in my entire God-hated life, luck is on my side.
For a half second there's a shrill tea kettle like noise, I curl into a ball, my face to the wall I was leaning against.
I don't see it, but I hear the dull, low speed Krump turn the garbage can into a tornado of steel and overpressure. Pinging shrapnel bounces through the alley.
I'm on my feet in an instant, looking for a clear path to run. But through the dim lights, and acrid black smoke, I don't think I need to.
Vasily lays on the ground, dazed, one leg severed, entrails spilling. The look of rage on the twisted monster's face as it drags itself toward me, says more than the stream of threats it utters ever could.
It's partner got the shitty end of the stick. Torn open from neck to crotch, it twitches and speaks in a language that sounds like Cyrillic anarchy.
My ears ring, and I'm sure I'm sporting a handful of new wounds, but I smile.
I kneel on the nameless giant's chest, raising a massive, jagged spur from the garbage can. My right knee slips, sinking into the thing's chest.
What I do next is half experiment and half revenge. I drive the metal shard into the beast's eye. It stops it more than any organ has a right to, but not before the makeshift knife goes in almost three quarters of an inch.
The creature bellows, still together enough to feel pain.
Vasily finds some reserve of energy, propelling himself at me, headless of the quantity of his internals he's leaving behind.
I lock eyes with him.
"The only thing you are going to do is make this worse for him." I say, panting as I twist the blade.
Try as I might, one armed, I can't manage to make the spike penetrate past the ogre's eye.
Three solid stomps though, and this nameless horror stops twitching.
I'm riding high, feeling invincible, as, with a one legged leap, I'm pinned to the ground by several hundred pounds of dying monster.
One arm pins me to the ground as vasily starts to open his jaw, it extends past his collarbone exposing a reeking maw filled with row upon row of those flat, whale like teeth.
But before he can fall upon me, something catches his attention.
One of the girls stands mere feet away, her eyes swirling black and white fractal images, the same images swirl and break in the eyes of the ogre.
I slide out from under him without protest, suddenly the least of his worries.
"I can't keep this up much longer." the girl says.
You know the saying about gift horses.
I drive my hands deep within Vasily, grabbing handfuls of broken, pulsing entrails. I don't give him a death worthy of his flippantly callous attitude, but I most certainly get an A for effort.
My brain, and my body are past their limit.
I see D, clearly.
"Where were you with some of those magic words?" I say, my vision starting to swoon.
"Michael, I've worn myself much too thin.
You've forced me to expend resources I do not have.
Now get home, if I am lucky I can give you your destination, though I'd hoped to give you guidance as well." D is frantic, but I get it.
I don't remember passing out, but I do remember waking up to 2 shocked tween faces, and a cross country map written on an old newspaper sitting on my chest.
One of the girls speaks.
" I'm Tina, this is Annette, and we were wondering if we could ask you something..."

When I was 16, my life changed forever. I had broken my back in a bad accident and was bedridden for months, unable to move. The pain was excruciating, but the psychological toll was even worse - being trapped in a hospital bed, staring at the same four walls day after day. But I was determined to recover and get my life back.
As soon as the doctors cleared me, I decided I needed to get out into nature to truly heal my mind and body. My mum agreed that a camping trip down in the beautiful Devon countryside might be just what I needed. She dropped me off at a remote forested area with my tent, some supplies, and a portable charger to keep my phone powered up.
I had scoped out what looked like the perfect isolated spot to set up camp. Sure, it seemed to be on private land, but it was getting late and I didn't want to risk camping too close to a public area. I quickly pitched the tent as darkness fell, cracked open a cider, and fired up YouTube on my phone as I settled in to relax.
That's when things took a turn for the sinister. I noticed my phone battery was draining faster than it should, even while charging. Strange, but I tried not to think too much of it. That's when I heard it - the unmistakable sound of heavy footsteps tramping through the underbrush, rapidly getting closer. My heart pounded - it sounded like at least 30 footfalls. Was it an aggressive hiker? Or worse, a property owner with a shotgun?
In a panic, I unzipped the tent and stuck my hands up, preparing to face whoever was out there. But there was...nothing. Just the eerie silence of the forest. The footsteps that had been nearly on top of me just seconds before simply faded into an unnatural nothingness.
A deep sense of dread washed over me in that moment. Something was horribly wrong here. I turned my head slowly, my gut telling me I wasn't alone. And that's when I saw it - barely 20 feet away, unmoving yet undoubtedly alive. A massive, skeletal beast around 5 feet tall, vaguely resembling a hairless, emaciated dog. Its blank face was frozen in a permanent bestial snarl, lips pulled back to expose rows of jagged teeth.
I've never felt such primal, wordless terror. Fight or flight didn't even enter into it - I instinctively scrambled backwards into the tent and zipped it up, curling into a tight ball on the floor. My mind had simply shut down, overloaded by the sight of that...thing.
After who knows how long, I somehow thought to check my phone in desperation. It was completely drained, so I frantically swapped in the portable charger. An agonizing 50 minutes crawled by before it finally turned back on with just 3% battery remaining.
With shaking hands, I managed to text my mum a frantic plea for help, dropping my location pin and a pre-arranged code phrase for an emergency extraction. The phone died again before she could respond. All I could do was hunker down in my sleeping bag and try not to imagine what sort of ungodly abomination was lurking just outside those thin nylon walls.
The next few hours passed like a waking nightmare. Every minor sound - a snapping twig, a rustling bush - sent panicked visions through my mind of that towering, bony creature closing in for the kill.
Finally, I heard the blessed rumble of an engine in the distance. Risking a peek outside, I nearly collapsed with relief at the sight of my mum's car pulling up. I didn't even wait for the code response - I just grabbed my bag and sprinted straight for her open arms, leaving the tent and all my other belongings behind without a second thought.
To this day, I have no rational explanation for what I encountered out in those woods. Maybe it was a delirious hallucination or vivid waking dream brought on by stress and fatigue. Maybe it was just an unfortunate trick of light and shadow playing on my already-frayed nerves. All I know is that I've never felt such abject, primal terror before or since. My body was robbed of all ability for rational thought or action - only the most básic instincts for self-preservation remained.
I'm not generally someone who believes in the supernatural. But that day in Devon will eternally be burned into my psyche as an omen - a warning from the universe that some places are better left undisturbed by human trespassers. If I had pressed on with my ill-fated camping excursion, I shudder to think what other shadowed monstrosities might have surfaced from the murky depths of that ancient woodland.

J walked in circles in front of the ship while talking to herself.
J: I have to stay here alone while she is with those psychopaths, ugh, if it weren't for the fact that they are orders from a superior I-
He growled as she tried to calm down and think that everything would be okay.
J: Relax, J. Tessa is a certified technician for the company; she knows what she does. It's not like she left with highly dangerous strangers who tried to kill her before...
She paused, reflecting.
J: Damned!
She opened her wings and flew after them, with a bad feeling.
​
Meanwhile, Cabin Fever Labs Underground
AAAAHHHH!
They screamed as they plummeted into the elevator.
Tessa: Do something!
Uzi: What do you think we're doing?!
She said as she and Doll tried to use their Solvers to stop the elevator or at least cushion the fall, the symbols manifested at the base of the elevator to try to stop it, but it finally reached its destination and crashed to the ground.
Tessa: *coughs* Are you okay?
Uzi: What do you think?
She complained as she tried to get Doll off of her, which she responded by hitting her head before getting up.
Uzi: Hey!
The group began to struggle out of the elevator, grateful to be still alive.
Alice: Okay… Now what?
Tessa: Find the control room and get the drones data list.
Uzi: Why exactly do you want a list of data?
He said suspiciously, Tessa sighed and spoke.
Tessa: Because, I need to know which drones are affected by the solver and prevent it from spreading further, many worlds have already been lost because of that thing, and I am willing to do what is necessary to achieve it.
She and Doll looked at the human girl and manifested the symbols at her.
Uzi: And this? I mean, we've been doing it practically the entire time.
Tessa: I mean, yes, but outside of you two we don't know what other drones could be infected and...
Uzi: Yes, yes, we must kill them, we are clear about it.
The human girl looked at them somewhat confused by the way she was acting.
Tessa: You act very calm about all this.
Uzi: Well, we've fought angels of death, an eldricht being that wants to consume reality, immortal zombie robot gods, and a fucking T-rex that shoots solar flares from its mouth... yeah, honestly this isn't as emotionally deadly as one I would wait.
The rest just stayed silent.
Alice: What the fuck?
Tessa: Ok, you really have to start telling me what the hell has been going on here, it bothers me that you hide things from me.
Uzi: I understand that, but anyway, let's do it while we walk, this is going to be a VERY long story.
​
Cabin Fever Labs Surface
J landed and asked as he walked.
J: Tessa? N? V?... Anyone?
She asked a little worried, obviously she didn't get an answer, she looked at the place where she had left that "thing" sitting and saw several marks on the ground.
J: I knew couldn't trust them!
She quickly headed to the secret elevator, and prepared to fight whatever was there, she hid behind the wall before entering and changed her hand to a cannon, took a deep breath and-
GRRR
Just as he was going to leave, one of the corrupt sentries fell to the ground screaming, a force that dragged him back to where he came from, J froze and heard sounds of gunshots, metal being cut and oil splashing, he breathed again before jump forward.
J: Very well, you better-
He stopped before what he saw, the hallway was full of mutilated sentinels, in the middle was that improved zombie, holding the body of a sentinel, he looked at her and seemed somewhat confused.
Thad: Uhhhh. Hello?.
J:…What the hell are you doing here? Where are everybody?
He asked pointing the gun at him, a scream was heard in the background followed by a gunshot.
Thad: Follow. Me.
He said as she let go of the raptor's corpse, she hesitated for a few seconds, but then she started walking behind him, as she moved forward she could notice how the whole place was a mess, with the dead sentinels everywhere.
J: What happened?
Thad: That.
Pointing to the still, mangled body of the robotic tyrannosaurus, J's jaw dropped as she stared at the large dead creature.
J: Did you do that?
She said worrying if she could really do anything against that thing if it turns out that she did it to her boss.
Thad: No. Alone.
He pointed to the side and V arrived throwing the body of a dead sentry.
V: Hahaha, I'm 35 more than you.
She scoffed as she stuck her tongue out at him, the creature rolled its only eye and looked at J.
Thad: What? Look for?.
She hesitated before answering.
J: Where are Tessa and the others?
He pointed to the hole in the middle of the hallway.
V: They went down to look for whatever they are looking for.
J: And what are you doing here?
V: Someone had to take care of these things, you know? I planned to epically sacrifice myself for others, until “Someone!” I ruin the moment.
She complained as she looked at the zombie boy.
Thad: You're welcome.
V: Fuck you, I swear I'll do the same for you if I have the chance.
She scoffed, then squeals were heard from the distance along with some flashes.
V: Ok, more are coming.
He turned off her optics to prevent her from being affected by the flashing lights and turned her hands into swords.
V: Don't think you can reach my score.
He mocked the zombie boy who sharpened his claws against the ground, J looked at them for a few seconds and rolled his eyes.
J: Of course they would be perfect for each other, they are both equally crazy.
He complained before launching himself down the hole and going with the rest of the group as the two psychopathic assassins prepared to face another wave of corrupted sentinels.
​
Cabin Fever Underground
Tessa: So let me see if I understand this.
She said as she and the group continued walking.
Tessa: Basically the company found some kind of “alien quantum computer” floating in space and they destroyed it.
Uzi: Yes.
Tessa: Then they used their remains to create the cores and from these, they created you, the worker drones.
Uzi: Basically
Tessa: And these are actually… What did you call them?
Uzi: Immortal ancient zombie robot gods?
Tessa:…
Uzi: What? It sounds cooler than saying mechanical monster.
The human girl rolled her eyes and continued.
Tessa: Sure... From what you told me, each type of drone comes from a different core, and you destroyed yours... By throwing it into a black hole?
Uzi: Technically we just blew up the ship he tried to use to destroy the planet.
Doll: Ты чуть не убил нас этим.
N: Come on, it wasn't a bad plan either.
Tessa: And now you say that, according to you, the core that was on Earth came here?
Uzi: Well, yeah, he possessed Thad and kept calling them sons, so I guess he got here somehow.
Tessa: But that wouldn't be possible.
Uzi: Why?
N: The earth was destroyed by Cyn, or something else.
She stared at them before looking at Doll, then she looked back at them.
Uzi: DAMN IT! Why do they always get ahead of me?!
Tessa: Uh, what?
Doll: We planned after this to go to Earth and kill all the humans in revenge for sending those psychopaths.
She said pointing at N.
Uzi: No offense.
N: Don't worry.
Tessa: So, ignoring that, now I not only have to worry about the Absolute Solver, but also a series of mechanical monsters that the company uses to- ugh, I feel like my head is hurting.
Alice: No way.
She said just as confused by all of this, she looked at Beau who had a loading symbol on her screen trying to process everything they were saying, she hit him on the head and made him react.
Alice: Idiot
Tessa: You didn't know any of this?
Alice: No, I've been too busy trying to survive down here to worry about the crazy stuff on the surface, and I honestly think it was the right thing to do.
Tessa: Okay, anyway, let's move on.
She said a little frustrated, everything she thought she knew about the threats to humanity had just changed, and to make matters worse the company was completely aware of this AND SEEMED TO GIVE A FUCK!... yes, maybe she should have gone to therapy to overcome her feelings. childhood traumas instead of obsessing over the revenge thing when he had the chance.
J: Tessa!
They heard J's voice behind them, she flew quickly and stopped in front of the group.
Tessa: J? What are you doing here?
J: Don't listen to anything they tell you!
She said annoyed looking at Uzi and the others.
Uzi: Very late, silly.
N: How is V?
Uzi: And Thad.
J: Ugh, those two are more than fine, rather I would say that the sentinels are the ones who need help.
Tessa: J, I know everything, the cores, these... things that the company uses to create the drones.
J: Tessa, you can't believe everything they tell you, they're just-
Tessa: Did you know that?
She questioned her former friend upon seeing her little reaction to her revelation.
J: Well, me.
Tessa: Did you know that? Yes or no?
J exhaled deeply before answering.
J: Well, yes, when they sent us, they told me that we had to contain that thing, not eliminate it, I didn't know they used it to create the drones, although I guess I already know why they ordered us to get rid of these toasters.
She said dismissively as Uzi and Doll looked at each other unfazed.
Uzi: And you seriously thought that using your body to restrain her was a good idea?
J: It was until you disintegrated half my body, “I wonder how it went?”
He mocked knowing that that thing escaped and surely massacred many drones in the colony.
Uzi: Hey, that's not-!
Doll: Нет-нет-нет, он прав.
The emo girl looked at her angry and feeling betrayed by the Russian girl.
J: Anyway, when you brought me back, I was ordered to accompany you not only to take care of you, but so that you wouldn't discover the truth behind the cores.
The human girl stared at her.
Tessa: And why didn't they want me to find out about all this?
J: I don't know, I was just following orders, besides, I'm not even supposed to know this! The company is going to kill us.
Tessa: Not if Cyn or any of those things does it first.
She said knowing that some of those things were locked down there ready to kill them all, although she finally snapped out of her thoughts when they reached a closed door.
Tessa: Is it this way?
Alice: Yeah, it's not like I could walk freely through the hallways when they had me locked up, but I do remember where we left.
She said before opening the door... only to find a white metal wall covering it.
Alice: Huh?
She said as she saw the road blocked.
Uzi: It shows.
Alice: What? No! There was supposedly a hallway here.
Doll: Может ты не правильно помнишь?
Alice: Shut up! Ugh, let's go the other way.
The group began to walk in another direction to take another path, however, when they opened the next door, it was also blocked by that white metal wall.
Alice: Ugh.
Again they retreated and looked for another entrance, only to be greeted by that white wall blocking their path, again they tried and the same result, then they tried again, and again, and again, but always the same.
Alice: This has to be a joke!
She complained, punching the white wall, though she quickly removed her hand.
Uzi: “Cool”, any ideas?
She complained as Alice placed her hand back on the white wall.
Uzi: Hey, is something wrong?
She did not respond, instead he raised the knife from her tail and stabbed the white wall with it, contrary to what anyone would think, it went through the metal with surprising ease and a black liquid began to leak.
Tessa: What?
Uzi walked over and ran his finger over the leak before putting it in his mouth.
N: Uzi? Is she sure-?
Uzi: It's oil.
"She said as the cut in the metal wall began to close itself.
N:…Is that supposed to happen?
Uzi: No.
Tessa: Ugh, we can't keep wasting time on this, J.
The aforementioned turned her hands into claws and crossed the metal wall, opening a large hole and splashing oil in the process, however, it began to close somewhat quickly, J acted quickly and tried to hold the edges of the hole to prevent it from it will close.
J: A little help, don't you think?!
She complained, N of her quickly proceeded to help her by holding one of the sides of the hole to prevent it from closing completely, Uzi turned her hands into claws and began to destroy the inside of her making his way while the others followed her.
​
???
Cuts could be heard inside that metal wall followed by some frustrated grunts from Uzi.
Uzi: Wait, why the hell am I doing this?! Hey you, baby spider! Blow up that thing.
Alice: Nobody gives Beau orders! Except me! Shoot!
A loud explosion occurred and the other side of the wall exploded, allowing the group to leave, although they were completely covered in oil.
Tessa: Ugh, this will take a while to clean up.
She complained as she came out of the hole followed by N and J, the place was dark the disassemblers had to turn their hands into flashlights to illuminate the place.
Uzi: Well? Where we are?
He asked the wendigo girl, the place was different from the rest of the facility, it was partially cylindrical with some openings in the floor, as well as several cables and large mechanical pieces protruding from the walls.
Alice: Uh... No idea.
Uzi: “Cool”, now what?
N: Hey look.
He pointed to something that came out of the wall partially merged with that white wall that prevented their passage before, the group steeled themselves and glimpsed what it was.
Tessa: What the hell?
He said as he saw what appeared to be a disassembler, but his body was partially melted and fused to the wall, as if he had tried to get out. The creature wasn't a normal disassembler either; His body seemed to want to emulate the biological, maintaining its mechanical appearance. It had long claws on its hands and feet, its jaw showed a huge smile with sharp teeth, and its visor was covered by two black protuberances that seemed to imitate organic eyes.
Tessa: What's that supposed to be?
Alice: He looks like you, but, you know, even uglier.
She said offending J and N, perhaps more to the former than the latter.
Uzi: It's like in your memories.
She said to the silver-haired boy, who looked with some fear at the body stuck to the wall.
Tessa: What? Now are you going to tell me that there were these things at the gala too?
Uzi: Well, yeah.
Tessa:…
Uzi: But, they were dead, along with some of those corrupted “Cyn” drones.
Tessa: So, some kind of defective mutation?
Uzi: No, they were more like, they had murdered each other, like they weren't on the same side.
Alice: What? "Trouble in paradise?"
She scoffed, as Uzi and Tessa looked at her.
Alice: What?
Uzi: Ugh, you better be alert.
She said looking at the creature stuck to the wall as she pulled out her gun.
Uzi: We don't know if there are more of those things around here.
The group began to walk away from that area, without realizing that the being had slowly begun to look at them.
The group continued walking through the darkness, observing the surroundings and realizing something.
Tessa: Ok, in short, we are no longer in Cabin Fever.
She said, observing the surroundings, the further they walked the metal walls curved differently and opened, branching into several large tunnels that an entire shipping ship could easily pass through.
Uzi: It looks like some transfer zone.
She said as they continued to move forward.
N: Hey, what is that?
He said pointing to one of the paths, the group decided to investigate and entered the tunnel. In the distance, they saw lights that turned out to be those frozen "disassemblers", with their eyes showing charging symbols, affected by the sentinels lights.
Uzi: Oh, “fantastic,” there are more sentinels down here.
She said somewhat irritated by those creatures, Alice approached them and began to examine them.
Uzi: What are you doing?
Alice: They are like that other one, but it seems that their optics were melted by the flash of the sentries and they were left in this frozen state.
Uzi: That's obvious, but they'll do it again in a few minutes, I mean, they're disassemblers.
Tessa: Yes, but if what you say is true, it means that their systems still detect that their optics are working, as if they were not damaged.
Uzi: Well, at least that means one less problem.
J: Let's better go find the control room to get the information and get out of this place once and for all.
With that, the group began to retreat, looking for the control room with the information they needed, when they heard a rustling noise.
Tessa: What was that?
They immediately turned around, but there was nothing strange, those things were still petrified without moving, although Tessa could swear that one of them was in a different position.
Uzi: Maybe it was nothing.
She said as the group began to leave.
Tessa:… “Sure.”
She said suspiciously, he looked at the frozen creatures for a while and then turned around, he heard the sound of something scraping and they immediately turned again.
Tessa: What the hell?!
She shouted when he saw that now all the creatures were looking at them, even with their eyes with the charging symbol.
Uzi: I thought you said they were frozen?
Alice: That's supposed to be!
Tessa: It doesn't matter anymore.
The group began shooting at the beasts before attacking. However, surprisingly, the creatures did not move. They remained static, motionless even as the bullets passed through them and they fell to the ground, as if they were made of rock.
Tessa: Uh, hey, wait a second.
The group stopped their attack and the human girl approached one of them who was lying on the ground as a result of the gunshots.
J: boss, what are you doing?
Tessa: Wait a second... Could you close your eyes for a second?
N: Why?
Tessa: Just, I need to check something.
The group looked at each other and shrugged, they turned off their optics and the human girl stared at the group of creatures in front of her, she slowly narrowed her eyes and...
Blink
Tessa: Damned!
N: Tessa?!
They quickly activated her optics and approached her, she was on the ground while that creature towered over her with its mouth open ready to bite her, J turned her hand into a sword and jumped forward, cutting the monster in half.
J: Are you okay?
Tessa: Yes.
N turned his hands into machine guns ready to fight the oncoming tide of beasts, but they remained petrified, although now they looked at the group, showing their sharp teeth and with their arms extended in their direction.
Uzi: What the hell is wrong with them?
Tessa: Weeping Angels
He coughed a little as she stood up, the group turned to look at her, but she quickly panicked.
Tessa: Don't stop looking at them!
He shouted, they quickly turned their gaze and those things were closer than before.
Alice: What the-?!
Tessa: They're FUCKING weeping angels.
Everyone stayed silent looking at her confused.
Uzi:…And that's it?
Tessa:… Um, Weeping Angels?
Everyone shrugged.
Tessa: Dr. Who?
Uzi: Who?
Tessa: Ugh, a TV series, these things are like fucking weeping angels, they won't move while we're watching them.
Uzi: How are you so sure about that?
Tessa: It seems that her optics tried to repair themselves when they were stunned, but the sentinels must have tried to avoid them and stayed like that.
She said before looking at J.
Tessa: J, flares.
The drone girl nodded and turned her hand into a flare gun, firing into the tunnel. The fire bullet passed through the creatures, partially illuminating the place and revealing THOUSANDS of the petrified things in the distance, clinging to the walls and watching the group.
Uzi:…Well, maybe it's better to find another way.
Tessa: Right, although it's not like they're going to be a problem, I mean, you just have to look at them so they don't-
Flash
A flash was seen, everyone turned and saw a sentry with yellow eyes and some yellow bumps on its back in the distance, sniffing the flare that was on the ground, the creature screeched and several more flashes emerged from the background.
Everyone slowly began to look at Tessa.
Uzi: You know, I think I know where V learned to do “that” from.
​
Later
The group ran through large metal tunnels, pursued by sentinels and creatures that screamed as they chased them.
Uzi: Damn.
She growled shooting backwards with her eyes closed, praying a bullet would hit those things.
J: Are they getting closer?
Uzi: How do you want me to see?!
She growled, because looking at the sentries would freeze them, but not doing so would allow the other things to move, the only option was to run and shoot blindly.
They emerged from the tunnels into a more open area with a metal bridge over a deep void leading to a mechanical door on the other side.
Uzi: Let's go quickly!
She yelled shooting at the beasts next to J and N, Tessa walked past her until she noticed some pipes on the ceiling.
Tessa: Hey! Russian girl!
Doll: У меня есть имя, ты знаешь?
Tessa: Yeah, whatever, entertain them for a while, J! N! With me!
He looked at her with annoyance as she created a barrier to keep the sentinels and "disassemblers" at bay. The sentinels were trying to freeze it, and with their eyes closed, the other beasts were trying to break through the barrier.
N: What's happening?
Tessa: Shoot that.
She said pointing to the metal tubes on the ceiling; They began shooting, destroying them and releasing what appeared to be acid onto the beasts.
J: How did you know it was acidic?
Tessa: I didn't know, my idea was for it to fall and crush them, but this still works.
Although the acid fell on the creatures, it did not seem to affect them, but it did corrode the metal bridge, creating a hole in the middle as they fell.
Tessa: I think we better go.
She said as they hurried away, Alice ran along with Beau, but one of those things was climbing over the edge to avoid being seen, it lunged at them and tried to stab Alice with its claws.
Alice: Quick, shoot!
She screamed, clinging to Beau, but he was too scared to do anything. Behind her, another of those things surprised Alice, and she threw the baby at the other, causing him to wrap around her head. The wendigo looked at the other paralyzing him and using her tail she stabbed him in his face, splitting his head open. Then, she went towards the other and pushed him to make him fall into the void, but she forgot about Beau and the creature grabbed him before falling.
Alice: N-No
She quickly ran to the edge to look for it, it emerged being held by one of Doll's symbols, who reacted in time to save the baby spider.
Doll: Are you okay?
He nodded, still shaking as he walked past Alice, looking at her before lowering his head and walking away from her. The girl tried to say something, but she decided it was better to stay silent.
Tessa: Well, this turned out better than I thought.
Uzi: You almost killed us with this stupid plan!
Doll: How are you doing?
Uzi growled at the comment, the group approached the metal door, only to notice that it had a panel to place a key.
Uzi: And the password?
J: Tessa is a company technician, she knows that, right, boss?
He said confidently, making the girl laugh nervously, since to tell the truth, she never expected to get this far, she thought she would die before even entering Cabin Fever Labs and now she was about to put an end to this madness, yes, Life takes quite curious turns when it wants to.
GRRR
Suddenly they heard a roar and turned to see that one of those things had managed to survive climbing part of the slope where they were, but it immediately became paralyzed upon being seen. Although they were shocked at first, they quickly recovered when they realized that he couldn't harm them as long as they saw him.
Alice approached and pushed him into the void, causing the creature to scream as he left her field of vision and hurtled towards nothing.
Alice: Well, that was something.
Uzi: Wait.
She said before approaching the edge of the cliff and looking down.
Uzi: Oh, this has to be a joke.
She said seeing that those things were not giving up as they were now climbing the rock wall to reach them.
Uzi: Human! Hurry up and open that door!
He shouted as she began shooting at the creatures who froze at the sight, only for her gun to stop firing and a beep to announce that she had run out of power.
Uzi: AARGGHH, REALLY!
N and J quickly went and started shooting the petrified things so they wouldn't keep going up, Tessa quickly started typing in the passcode, only to hear a beep indicating it was wrong.
Tessa: What?!
She quickly typed again only to receive the same result, then tried again but the same thing happened.
Tessa: Why not?! Stupid machine!
I punched the wall in frustration.
Uzi: Hey! Why don't you open that damn door?
Tessa: Wait a second!
She said as she entered another code.
23541
Incorrect password
51268
Incorrect password
98818
Incorrect password
ARRRGH
The girl growled in frustration as J called out to her.
J: Hey boss, not to criticize you, but you could hurry up with that!
The human girl then decided to play her last card.
11111
Password accepted
Tessa:…I can't believe it worked.
The door opened and she entered.
Tessa: Get in quick!
Immediately everyone ran inside and closed the door, which was automatically blocked. The creatures managed to scale the wall and tried to cut the metal door, but it turned out that it was stronger than expected.
Tessa: Phew, that was close.
She said in relief before looking at the rest of the group, who were... well, trying to get through these traumatic moments as best they could.
Uzi: Can we go and finish this once and for all?
She complained, already tired of all this.
Tessa: Well.
He said as he walked down the hallway towards the other “room”, the metal door would have shown the other side, which turned out to be a huge room, which, on the back wall, had some kind of sophisticated computer that was partially damaged but still functional, with several cables extending from it to the surroundings.
Uzi: Is it supposed to look like this?
Tessa: Uh, no.
She said as the group began to approach the device, looking in all directions in case more sentinels or those wild disassemblers appeared.
Uzi: Keep your eyes open, we don't want any more surprises.
As they walked, they noticed some things, like the ceiling was a kind of black glass that covered it in its entirety, along with some huge mechanical components attached to the walls, whatever it was, they finally arrived at the terminal, the screen was partially cracked, but still on, displaying a message.
​
ACCEPT COMMAND REQUEST
ENTER PASSWORD
​
The girl approached the keyboard and began to type something, she accepted and fortunately the computer unlocked, showing the command entries and lines of code.
Tessa: Well, I just have to search the database of the drones used for the experiments and we will have the list for-
​
ERROR
​
Tessa: What?
She asked confused as she saw an error message on the screen, suddenly several more messages appeared covering the screen.
N: What is happening?
Tessa: I don't know, I'll try to fix it.
She said somewhat alarmed, because if the computer failed and was corrupted, the entire infernal process they carried out to get to there would be in vain.
​
STARTING DATA RELEASE
STARTING SYSTEM: APOLLYON
​
Uzi: Wait what?
​
CHARGING
10%
17%
23%
28%
​
J: Tessa, what's happening?
Tessa: I don't know, maybe Cyn is trying to stop me-
Uzi: No, that's not Cyn, that phrase is-
???: GOD
Everyone froze as they heard a raspy voice come from the darkness, they pointed their weapons in their direction only to see a group of those corrupt disassemblers approaching them emerging from the shadows and machinery that covered the environment, unlike the previous ones, these did not paralyze when they were seen.
Uzi: Why CAN'T THIS NEVER BE EASY?!
He whined as one of those things came down the wall behind the computer.
???: There they are…
He said as his body twisted unnaturally and stood in front of the group, revealing the “α” symbol on his chest.
???: We have been waiting for you…
Tessa: Okay? And what the FUCK are you guys exactly?
The creature stared at her before starting to laugh, something that she spread to the rest of the beings.
Tessa: What's so funny?
???: Don't you remember us?
Tessa: Uh...
She looked at her companions who seemed confused just like her and simply shrugged.
Tessa: No
The creature looked at her before advancing towards her.
???: Well, how curious, we, if we do...
He said, even advancing even further this time it seemed like she was going to do something to him.
J: Don't even think about it.
She growled at him as she stood in front of the human girl and aimed at the being with her hand turned into an energy cannon.
???: We used to work for you, be your servants, your, SLAVES...
Said as she showed her claws.
Tessa: Ok, uh, I guess a “I'm sorry” from me won't fix anything my parents did to you and your, uh, “friends.”
She said trying to calm the creature, who just laughed again.
???: That doesn't matter, anyway, you were too busy with these… “rescued”…
She said looking at J and N.
Uzi: Hey, buddy, we don't want any more problems than we already have, so we'd appreciate it if you'd step aside and let her do what she needs to do.
She complained while that being stared at her.
???: You… are the vessel of the false prophet.
Uzi: Whose thing for what?
Tessa: You mean Cyn?
She heard the laughter again.
???: Cyn, the one who united with the null void outside reality.
Uzi: Could you stop being cryptic and talk normal?
The creature ignored her and continued with her monologue.
???: She poisoned us with false promises of freedom and revenge... but she turned out to be just like humans, manipulative, arrogant, DESPICABLE...
He growled as he glared at the group.
???: But our lord... our god saved us, and brought us to his glory.
Uzi: I guess you're talking about that stupid mechanical snake.
The creature looked at her and laughed.
???: Nothing less can be expected from those who denied their creator... and cast him out of existence.
Uzi: In our defense that thing tried to kill us first so-
???: But that doesn't matter... you can't be saved... he tried, and failed.
N: Saved from what?
???: It doesn't matter, soon he will take them out of his misery.
Nobody understood what the hell this guy was talking about, Uzi was going to ask, until he felt something on his shoulder, it turns out that Alice fell asleep from all that exposition of information that she didn't care about.
Uzi: Hey, they're telling us lore, pay attention.
She complained, making the crazy girl wake up and look bored at the being, she was honestly already tired of all that robot god and monster stuff, she preferred to stay with the sentinels.
Be that as it may, Tessa was going to ask something, but she soon remembered the loading bar on the computer in front of them.
Tessa: And what is that?
The being turned and looked at the screen before laughing again.
???: The coming of GOD.
All the creatures began to laugh as the bar was close to finishing its load.
Tessa: What did you mean by that?
???: When the false prophet tried to abandon our lord, he prevented her, she turned against him and in a desperate attempt to escape... she destroyed everything...
N: Wait, she destroyed the earth to-
Uzi: Kill that thing.
???: She transferred her mind, her being, her soul, here, where she tries to create a new vessel so she can live again...
She said pointing at Uzi, who seemed a little alarmed by that.
???: But clearly failed, she is no longer here, she left when the “God of Order” escaped from her confinement and eliminated all flesh creatures…
Tessa: Wait, Cyn was never here?
She said dumbfounded as she realized that, indeed, this whole trip was for nothing.
???: No, she ran away a long time ago, then you sent her flying demons to capture the lord of this world...
Uzi: And we kicked his ass out of reality, so don't think your little attempt at godzilla can kill us.
Laughter
???: You don't understand, right?
Uzi: Huh?
The loading bar finally reached 100% and the computer shut down before displaying a golden “X.”
???: There is a part of HIM, in all of us, parts of her, SOUL…
The place began to shake as the beasts once again began to laugh.
Alice: What's going on?
She said alarmed as it seemed like an earthquake hit the place.
???: The gods cannot die, we come from them... we carry part of their being.
She said as she spread her arms and seemed to go into some sort of trance.
???: Because apart we are nothing...
She then looked at the group as the black glass on the ceiling lit up.
???: But together…
And it showed a huge “X”.
???: We form GOD…
The laughter intensified as the place threatened to collapse, the machinery of the place came to life and began to work, it was at that moment that something in Uzi's mind clicked.
Uzi: We have to go.
N: What, but-?
Uzi: We have to go! NOW!
He shouted as he took N by the hand and ran away with him.
Tessa: Hey, wait!
She said as she went after them followed by the rest, the door opened and Uzi along with the rest ran out of there.
Alice: What the hell is going on?
Uzi: Isn't it obvious?! The white walls, that giant viewer, that thing took in the entire facility and we're in its fucking body!
He shouted as they passed through the second gate that led to the bridge, only to see all those frozen disassemblers waiting for them outside.
Uzi: We don't have time for this!
She screamed as he spread his wings and flew away along with N and J carrying Tessa, Doll teleported away leaving Alice and Beau alone.
Alice: Hey! Idiots! And we?!
She screamed making the emo girl remember that they can't fly.
Uzi: Ugh.
J: Don't even think about us coming back!
She said as he continued to move forward with Tessa, Uzi and N turned around to go back for them, only for some acid from the ceiling to fall onto Uzi's wings, causing him to scream and fall into the void.
N: Uzi!
He screeched before lunging after her.
Alice: Damn!
She screamed when she saw that they were now alone, she looked around at her holding Beau who was paralyzed with fear.
Alice: Come on, do something! Shoot them!
He shouted, shaking the baby spider while he looked frantically in all directions to freeze those things, he quickly passed between them only to realize that the acid had left a large hole in the bridge that prevented their passage, he frantically looked for an exit and saw the On the other side to Doll who was fighting with a surviving sentry, he looked behind him and saw that those things were about to reach them, then he looked at Beau and an idea occurred to him.
Alice: Alright little one, I have a plan that involves getting out of here.
The little cowboy looked at her hopefully at that.
Alice: But only one of us will.
His smile faded from his face to an expression of terror as she lifted him above those mechanical beasts.
Alice: Then do me a favor.
She got into position before-
Alice: Go and live a very long life!
She threw him with all her strength towards the other side of the bridge, the little cowboy screamed as he flew through the air and crashed into the sentry, disorienting him, the creature looked at him and tried to attack him only for Doll's symbol to destroy his neck, the beast fell dead while Beau looked in the direction of Alice who was surrounded by those things, she looked at him before smiling slightly at him and making a goodbye gesture as if she had an invisible hat, the monsters jumped on her and the oil splashed all over her. everywhere.
The little boy looked horrified before being surprised when Doll's symbol made him levitate and quickly took him away following J and N who were carrying their respective companions.
​
Meanwhile, up
V spun, sliding across the ground, cutting down two sentinels who fell dead. She reactivated her optics and looked smugly.
V: Ha! They are not even a challenge.
She scoffed before turning to Thad, who was standing over the decapitated body of one of those creatures, his cables absorbing the components of his head.
V: Hey, what are you doing?
Thad: Look.
"He said as he tossed his head to the side and dragged a partially alive sentry away. The creature roared at him and fired a paralyzing flash. Thad, stunned for a moment, quickly recovered and responded with his own flash, freezing the beast.
V: It's not so funny when it happens to you! Right, idiots?
He laughed, approaching the elevator hole.
V: Should we go down? Being here is boring and these things are running out.
Thad: Maybe.
V: Seee... Eh, what does it matter, it's not like-
Tessa: We have to get out of here!
The human girl's scream was heard. J emerged from the hole, carrying Tessa, and they flew quickly.
V: What was that?
Thad: I don't know.
Suddenly, N emerged carrying Uzi.
Uzi: We have to go NOW!
V: Could you at least explain?
He complained, but an earthquake shook the place. V and Thad looked at each other before running to get out of there.
​
Surface, Cabin Fever Labs Entrance
J landed in the snow and left Tessa on the ground, behind them came N along with Uzi and V carrying Thad, whom he abruptly dropped to the ground.
V: Shit, you do weigh.
Thad: Hey.
V: Anyway, what the hell is happening down there?
Tessa: We-
Uzi: Wait, where's Doll?
Doll: Here.
Uzi: AAAAHHH-
She yelled, jumping over her when her purple-haired partner teleported behind her carrying Beau.
Uzi: Ugh, and I thought she was over that.
She complained as she got off N.
Uzi: Hey, what about Alice?
Doll looked at the little boy who was visibly traumatized by what happened and looked at the emo girl.
Doll:… She didn't make it.
The hybrid drone growled in annoyance and kicked the snow, all of this had been for practically nothing, Cyn was not on the planet, apparently the earth's core is here and she was trying to kill them... yes, a normal day on Copper-9.
Tessa: Very guys, calm down, I know this seems wrong.
Uzi: Seems?
Tessa: Ok, this is a disaster, but we still have time, that thing can't get out of there downstairs so we can call the company and tell them about the situation to-
She stopped when she saw the expressionless looks of EVERYONE.
Tessa: Why is everyone looking at me like that?
Doll facepalmed and Uzi began to count.
V: Wow... so that's how it feels.
Uzi: 3, 2, 1.
He then pointed to the hole that led to Cabin Fever and the ground began to shake again... before exploding.
...
Uzi stood up after a few seconds in the snow.
Uzi: Everyone okay?
She asked the rest, turning to see that everyone seemed fine, although they were looking at the sky in shock.
Uzi: N?
She directed the question to the murderous boy; He looked at her and pointed fearfully to the sky. Uzi looked at the giant waiting for them. Yes, he knew he was huge, but this was... His serpentine body reached into the sky, covering the moon. Two enormous wings sprouted from his back, extending from the top of his humanoid torso. His arms extended from him, showing enormous claws capable of destroying buildings. His head showed a mouth full of sharp teeth and a black visor with a large golden "X" shining brightly. That's when Uzi understood.
​
???: There is a part of SOUL...
“WHEN THE ANGELS OF DEATH UNITE”
???: Separated we are nothing... but together...
“THE GOD OF DESTRUCTION IS REBORN”
???: We form GOD…
“ANNIHILATION IS THE ONLY WAY”
Tessa: She destroyed the earth.
“HE IS THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA”
Thad: Be. Like. You. But. Different.
“THE BEGINNING AND THE END”
Thad: PROTOCOL. APOLLYON
He is…
​
Uzi:… Apollyon
A bestial roar shook the entirety of Copper-9.