Chaper3
Rapid, erratic footsteps ran away, backs flashing in the dim light. The tall suppression officer's heavy boots pounded the ground as he gave chase.
TAP TAP TAP TA
"Stop running right now! This is an officer! I said stop!"Kayen yelled, trying to call the one acting suspicious to a halt. But the other kept fleeing until the long legs finally caught up. "What the hell are you doing? You haven't done anything yet.
And why were you sneaking around watching me?" Kayen's voice was sharp, only meant to extract an answer.
"N-Nothing… I just… I wanted help," the small one replied.
"Wanted help, and yet you ran?"
"There's someone trapped in a shipping container. I can't open it. Could you help me get him out?"
"You can't open it? And how do you know it's someone you need help with?"
"I don't know, but his voice… it sounded pitiful."
"If you can't get him out, he's dead already."
"No! No! He's not dead! He's still screaming!"
"Then why hasn't the leadership called in the Special Operations Unit to help?"
"I don't know… please, Uncle, go help him!"
"I won't help just because you called me 'Uncle' ! Kids these days… can't even think straight. Lead me to him, then!"
The towering figure followed the mysterious child deeper into the port district, unaware that someone else was trailing them…
"Uncle! Where are you, Uncle Kayen Faak! Hahaha, I love the last name!"
Vivian's slender frame had been sent to find the unit chief. Clumsy and awkward compared to the three others, he reluctantly set out to follow the cantankerous man, since it was almost time to return.
COUGH COUGH
He walked in, unaware of the dense, suffocating air that made each breath difficult.
COUGH COUGH COUGH
"Hey, I think I see a fast-moving back! Who are you with? Uncle!"
Vivian continued calling after the figure who had turned into a distant alleyway. His thin frame panted, tongue lolling, pausing briefly.
Not one for much exertion, he nevertheless pressed on, searching for the suppression unit chief.
CRASH!!
A loud noise nearby made him flinch, clutching his chest.
"Wh..what the hell!? Uncle!"
He ran toward the sound, oblivious to what lay ahead, only knowing he had to help.
BANG!
As Vivian approached, a small teenage boy ran out, panicked, colliding with him and sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Ugh! Oof! Hey, what's happening inside?"
"I-I don't know… It… please help Uncle in there! I'm too scared!"
The boy ran off as fast as he came. If the "Uncle" he referred to was…
"Uncle Faak!!"
Vivian immediately realized the 'Uncle' the boy meant was that foul-mouthed, irritable old man.
Though he didn't care much for the old man's temperament, helping those in need was ingrained in him.
He chose to act, not flee.
COUGH COUGH COUGH
His pale face darted left and right. Grabbing a nearby wooden plank, he scrambled to his feet.
TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP
"Uncle!!"
CRASH! BANG!
"Wh-what the hell is that!?"
Vivian's eyes widened at the scene before him. One figure was the familiar, wrinkled face of someone he knew but the other… it was something else entirely.
A naked body, dripping with multicolored slime, moved with horrific, unnatural motions. Its face was torn, exposing white bone. Thick, opaque slime in shades of purple, green, and red oozed from every movement.
Its mouth was wide, filled with sharp, widely spaced teeth, opening to snap at anything in front of it as if it wanted to tear the victim apart and swallow them whole.
The larger officer grappled with the monstrous figure, twisting and wrenching its limbs, but it remained relentless, attempting to bite and devour every living thing in reach. Its flesh and exposed bone were slick with slime, as though it secreted the viscous fluid with every motion.
Vivian turned pale, nausea washing over him. He gagged violently, his legs trembling, as he scrambled toward the officer's gun, the only hope of stopping the abomination.
But the creature, even with its neck twisted and spun, showed no intention of weakening. It lunged at the officer as if
"I-I-I found it!" The trembling voice spoke as he picked up the object but his face went even paler than before.
THUMP!!!
CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK
"Y-You… Uncle… I-I don't know how to shoot!" His voice quavered, stammering with fear.
"You damn kid! Throw it throw it now!" Kayen cursed in frustration, barking orders again.
CLUNK CLUNK CLUNK
The pale-faced boy drew in several deep breaths, steadied himself, and lifted the heavy rifle with his slender arms, hurling it with all his strength.
THUNK!!
Direct hit…
right on the monster's head.
(Vivian: Shit! It's turning back!
I'm screwed!)
Vivian froze, unable to move, trying to avert his gaze but when he looked down, he caught sight of… that thing.
Even more terrifying than seeing its face. The monster stared at Vivian's pale, frail body differently from the way it had reacted to Kayen, who had attacked it head-on from the start.
Kayen watched the scene with curiosity. The creature's jet-black eyes lingered on the small, trembling figure of Vivian… as if it… recognized him?
The towering officer slowly bent down to grab the gun, but…
TAP TAP TAP
The slimy, grotesque creature moved forward barefoot, its body covered in wounds, heading straight for Vivian, who stood rigid as a wooden plank.
His thin arms crossed defensively in front of him, trembling at the thought of being bitten in the head.
The light from the entrance glinted off the silver ring on his right ring finger, shining across the monster's mangled face.
The creature froze, seemingly staring at the pale, frail figure of Vivian. One shredded arm quivered as if the bones themselves rattled, extending toward Vivian's gaunt face. Its slimy, sticky fingers wriggled in a nauseating way,
yet its wide mouth seemed…
almost to smile.
The corners of its mouth twitched rapidly, as though it were struggling to control its remaining muscles to form a grin.
Despite its horrifying appearance, Vivian's sharp, pale eyes squinted through the gaps between the monster's fingers, sensing something beyond fear.
SMACK SMACK SMACK
The monster's sticky, bloodied fingers brushed Vivian's cheek lightly. He froze mid-breath, the sensation stealing the air from his lungs.
Then…
BANG!!!
The heavy rifle cracked, the shot reverberating so loudly that Vivian crouched, clutching his ears as though they might burst.
The creature collapsed, unmoving, its body torn and drenched in slime. Its exact point of injury was unclear.
"How's it feel?" Kayen squatted in front of Vivian, gently shaking his chin to bring him back to reality.
"I-I'm… I'm fine It just touched me with its finger,"
The pale, fragile boy gasped, finally exhaling after holding his breath for what felt like ages. He stared blankly ahead, as if his mind had floated somewhere far away.
"That thing… it jumped at me from the door, trying to tear me apart. And now… you know it? Why is it behaving like that?"
Kayen narrowed his eyes at the younger man, as if warning that the world and its secrets could conspire with anyone, even in the Special Unit.
"I-I have no idea who… I mean, what… I should call it?" Vivian spun to face the scowling, wolf-like face of Kayen, still unsettled by the harsh words.
The two exchanged words while helping each other to stand, both still dizzy from the recent encounter. Suddenly, the seemingly lifeless creature grabbed Vivian's leg, sinking its fangs in.
"Ahhh!!!"
Kayen, turning his back, was yanked down as well.
The monster recoiled slightly from biting Vivian's small leg, then shifted its jaws to sink them into Kayen's side with brutal force.
"AGH!! You bastard!!"
BANG BANG BANG!!!
Kayen emptied the magazine into the creature's head in a rage. Its skull shattered, brain matter splattering everywhere.
He pulled his own body free from the monster's grip; the bite had torn his side slightly, but his thick jacket had prevented a deeper wound.
Vivian's calf had been bitten deeply, though not as severely as Kayen's injury.
Together, they guided each other out of the shipping container. Kayen's eyes burned with fury from being mauled. Spotting his fallen satchel, he grabbed the grenade inside, pulled the pin, and hurled it into the container.
With the explosion, he pulled Vivian close, shielding him behind a corner of the container despite his own injuries.
BOOOOMMMMM!!!
"Kayen… Vivian… are you okay? Why is it so loud?"
Semi dashed over at the sound of the explosion, finding the two huddled together near the container, and helped steady them.
"I-It… it… that thing…" Vivian stammered, hands shaking. His mind still reeling from both the monster and Cayen's grenade, his whole body trembling.
Will and Henry arrived, unsure of what had happened, but a grenade being thrown nearby made it clear this was no minor incident.
"It was a tiger… The local kid mistook it for a person and tried to open the container, so it bit them. I got a bit angry and threw a grenade. That's all," Cayen explained, noticing the crowd beginning to gather.
"That's it? It looks like a total mess. And how did you know it was safe enough to hide so close?" Semi asked, concern etched on his face.
"The container's full. I read the label. The blast wouldn't reach us," Kayen replied casually.
"You crazy bastard!"
"A tiger? In a shipping container? Who the hell sends a tiger in there without a proper cage?" Will scratched his head, looking around.
"Yeah… a tiger. Whatever. Did everyone get vaccinated? Let's go. I need to treat my wounds," Kayen said, brushing it off and leading the way.
"Right… and Vivian?" Semi helped the pale figure along, still curious but trusting Kayen to speak up if something was wrong
"He's just in shock from seeing the tiger, plus he tripped and got caught on a piece of wood. I've got a little talk to give him…"
Kayen muttered, covering his bite wound with his coat as he limped forward.
Semi and Will exchanged glances, surprised that someone like Kayen would even bother talking to a subordinate in the Special Unit.
"What did you just say? The slime that got on my clothes and that kid's… what kind of virus is it?"
Will raised a hand to cover one ear, the booming voice of his huge friend making his eardrum feel like it was dancing.
Kayen had been checking lab results every single day for three days straight, asking questions more anxiously than a father waiting for a child to be born.
Ever since returning from the operation with the Special Security Unit, Kayen had been acting… strangely.