Without warning, a cloaked figure materializes high above the town square, his dark robes billowing in the wind. Beside him, a massive bell looms, its surface tarnished with age. With a swift, deliberate motion, he strikes the bell with a bluish rod, the loud clang reverberating through the air.

Chaos erupts. The bell's clanging echoes through the town and beyond. A shopkeeper, eyes wide with terror, hurriedly shutters his doors. A mother clutches her child, murmuring assurances she doesn’t believe.

In seconds, a frenzied crowd makes its way through the streets. You're among them of course, standing in bewilderment amidst the chaos.

"Out of my way!" a man yells, pushing his way through a family and right through you. Your eyes widen in shock, disbelief mixing with confusion.

"Don’t worry," I whisper. "They neither see us nor hear us. We're just two spectators here to enjoy the show."

"Although I have a little more leeway," I say, tripping a man. He crashes face-first to the ground with a grunt of pain. You feel a rush of shock and concern.

"Oh, and my apologies for pulling you in like this. I should introduce myself. But you already know me, and I know you as well. So come, walk with me." I pull you by your arm.

"We have things to see, places to be, and questions to answer."

We follow closely behind the crowd until we arrive at a large gathering of people. You see a large sign that reads "shelter." Further down is a large gate with uniformed officers standing on top. The crowd thins into a line leading through a narrow pathway.

The line doesn't seem to be moving at all. No wonder everyone's panicking.

"We need to make sure no one is infected," a uniformed officer announces.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"You're crazy," the man yells as the concern and panic from the crowd grows.

"Mommy, is the monster coming?" a child beside you asks, voice trembling.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. Just say your prayers, and it will all be fine," her mother replies, with weary eyes.

I scoff. "That damned storyteller isn't going to answer you, but I can," I say to you.

I walk over to two men in the middle of their conversation.

"It's getting messy out here, Antonio," says the shorter man.

"I know, man. We need to get in there," the taller man replies.

A brief moment passes before Antonio speaks. "We can start a riot."

"Are you sure, man?"

"The officers aren't many," Antonio replies.

"Yeah, you're right. We just need a trigger," the shorter man says.

"Maybe use those in front as a shield and push through," I whisper again.

Antonio scratches his head. "Yeah, we start pushing those in front. They can be our bait to get the officers out."

"That's crazy, man, but I see it. We can even use them as shields and just push through."

"And if the worst starts to happen, me and you can just slip in," Antonio says.

"Agreed. Let's do this, man. I'll gather some boys," the shorter man says, shaking Antonio's hand.

You watch as the two men go separate ways within the crowd, gathering a good number of people behind them.

Within minutes, they are in position. In the blink of an eye, they shove the people at the front of the crowd, disrupting the line to the gate and causing the officers to intervene. "Now!" someone yells, and all hell breaks loose as people attack the officers.

The officers are reluctant to use their abilities as they face the difficult situation of their assailants using innocents as meat shields.

"Look over there," I say to you, pointing towards the gate. Amidst the chaos, we watch as a few people make it through the entrance, including Antonio and the mother from earlier.

"See, I told you I would help them," I turn around, laughing at your mortified face.

"Oh, don't look at me like that," I point out.

"I merely just offered some food for thought, maybe suggestions, but just like them, you and anyone else decide what to do with those suggestions." I say casually directing a man's head to a nice piece of jewelry barely hidden in a satchel.

"You certainly can't blame the devil for acting on your temptations. That just announces you're a lunatic." I continue as we watch the man attempt to steal the jewelry only to be met by a series of blows by the owner.

I walk behind you, kneeding your shoulders to ease the tension. "So you see, it's all you. You alone will bear the consequences of your actions and carry the weight of your sins. And I'll just be here on the sidelines, gleefully enjoying the show."

A loud bang interrupts with a crack in the sky. We both look up to see a golden yellow cloud zoom out from the crack.

"Is that them?" a man interrupts, pointing to the sky. Multiple responses come from the crowd.

"It might be."

"We're saved."

"Well, my time is up." I give a heavy sigh. "It was nice having a proper chat with you, but I have to hand you over now, to that arrogant storyteller." I snap my fingers in front of you, and a bright light blinds you.

Squinting your eyes, you do your best to block out the light with your arms. "Don't miss me too much now and never forget, I'm always watching. Always just a shoulder's width away."

My voice fades. "See you some other time, my dear reader. Bye."