"Holy fuck, what was that?" Scott spat out, separating himself from the close proximity we had been dancing in.
The music had shut off, and the sounds of screaming and lots of people moving about could be heard. People had to be running from or towards whatever the source of that screaming was, probably away. Unless maybe someone had a sudden medical issue, then a large crowd might be gathering around them.
New Quest!
Main Quest: Ghoul Hound
Stop the (Lvl 3) Ghoul Hound's rampage!
Success: 200 Exp
Failure: -2000 Exp
“Oh frick, not now, not again!” I yelled at the blue box.
“What?” Scott asked with worry and confusion on his face.
“I-What do we do?” I asked him.
He just shrugged back at me while he looked around at the other people still in the kitchen, frozen in their states of indecision.
My delusions were now manifesting ‘quests’ of all things. Was my brain trying to tell me something about the source of those screams? And a ‘Ghoul Hound’ did not sound like some kind of medical issue.
“Wait, where’s Beth at?” Scott asked me with fear in his eyes.
“Beth…Oh my God, no she couldn’t…” Before I could even finish my thought, Scott took off in the direction the scream had originally come from.
I quickly followed after him, right on his heels. Scott and Beth were my two closest friends, and I was not going to abandon them.
As the two of us rushed through the house we passed by swarms of people heading in the opposite direction, towards the kitchen, and probably headed to the back door that the strange girl had left through.
Scott and I desperately ran full tilt through the house, looking for any sign of her, but we couldn’t find any sign. After a while though we did hear a sound that caused an icy chill to run up my veins. It was the sound of a deep and guttural growl. Not like a wolf or tiger, but something that was both similar and also a stranger. It almost sounded more unnatural somehow.
I stopped moving for just a second, at a loss as to the origin of the sound, but also largely out of fear. But after I saw Scott start to pull further ahead of me in our mad dash, it forced me to refocus on our goal.
Find Beth. I continued my sprint forward and into the dangerous unknown, right behind Scott.
Eventually, we both made our way to the source of the commotion, the origin of which quickly became apparent. Although what I saw almost caused me to turn straight around and run away.
It was a large hairless quadrupedal thing. Its skin had a purplish pink coloration that looked completely unnatural, and it had a large toothy mouth that was drooling out large quantities of blood. I suppose it could be mistaken for a large wolf if that wolf had lost all its hair and started to decay in places. It was also somehow both more muscular and more emaciated looking than any species of wolf had any right to be.
The formerly jam-packed living room/dance hall was now mostly empty except for a handful of people trapped along the edges of the room. Likely frozen in fear, afraid that moving would just draw the creature’s attention toward them.
The creature itself was focused on the few bodies lying around it, one of which was still moving and trying desperately to slide away from the beast.
Blood was everywhere on the floor, and the room was trashed.
“My God.” Scott proclaimed with genuine fear in his voice, but there was also deep smoldering anger visible in his eyes.
I took a quick look around the room again and couldn’t see Beth anywhere. Frick.
“What do we do?” I asked Scott again.
“We get everyone out.” Scott stated decisively, and with that, he dashed into the room and towards the figure on the floor that was trying to drag themselves away.
“W-what are you doing!? Wait!” I shouted at his swiftly departing back.
Mid run the creature turned its baleful eyes from its most recent meal, and towards the fast-moving interloper into its space.
It began to growl, and as it did so the blood that coated its maw and the ground around it began to flow up along its skin. The blood then seemed to be absorbed through the creature’s skin, into its body directly. Deep crimson veins soon began to bulge and pulsate along the length of its form.
Quest Updated!
Main Quest: Ghoul Hound
Stop the (Lvl 4) Ghoul Hound’s rampage!
Success: 250 Exp
‘Frick. This can’t be real. It just can’t be!’ I screamed at myself mentally.
Just as Scott reached one of the prone figures, the Ghoul Hound moved with shocking speed and lashed out with its front right claws at him. Its strike connected and it hit him in his upper left arm, sending him sprawling to the ground as well. A spray of blood spiraled out after him and landed nearby, coating the living room floor in even more of the dark crimson liquid.
“No!” I screamed at the beast, but I was still frozen in fear, unable to move from the spot I was standing.
My legs couldn’t move, it felt like my whole body was shaking like a leaf in fright. I needed to move, Scott needed me. I had to do something. If I didn’t move and do something…He might…I might….
But still, no matter how much I willed my legs or my feet to change position, they remained locked up, paralyzed by fear.
The monster didn’t have any such restriction, however, and it began to move forward, its attention squarely on Scott’s prone form now. It was Scott’s turn now to be crawling on the floor, frantic to get away from the large toothy monstrosity inching its way toward him with slow but certain patience.
“No!” I shouted again at the uncaring backside of the creature as it stalked its way towards one of my dearest friends, towards my…
Another paw stepped forward. Scott continued to try and slide away from it, leaving a growing trail of blood as he did so.
“No!!!” I screamed again, but now with a sound and tenor to my voice that was alien to my ears.
I could feel a sharp prickling sensation building up behind my eyes as I watched the disgusting creature continue to move forward, ignoring my impotent shouts.
How dare this disgusting filthy beast hurt my friend, hurt the people I held dearest to me. How dare it ignore my words, my desperate pleas, and continue to hurt and harm all these innocent people. People who’ve done nothing more than try to enjoy a night out with their friends.
How dare this damn dirty…
“No.” I said simply. The word was devoid of all emotion.
The creature took another step forward, a growl of anticipation leaving its lips as it stared down at the horrified face of my friend, the boy I had feelings for.
“No.” I repeated. My voice was cold now, like the vacuum of space. Otherworldly.
A strange and alien sensation began to well up from within me. Starting in my stomach and continuing upwards. Once it reached my heart and upper chest, it accelerated rapidly. From there this strange and alien feeling raced outwards to try and take over the rest of my body.
And I let it.
The shadows began to condense around me, in a small gust of wind, up and around my body, and then down towards my hands. There they began to swirl and dance around my fingertips, waiting on me with eager anticipation.
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My shadow-coated right hand raised itself before me and reached out, pointing itself in the direction of the beast. From there I could feel new and uncanny words and sounds begin to pour themselves from my lips.
Whispering Shadows
Howling Winds
Untether the void for all before me
“Dark Wind!” I shouted at the ugly beast.
A visible gust of shadowy black wind raced across the room and slammed into the creature’s side sending it flying and cartwheeling the rest of the way across the room and into the large speakers sitting there.
A shower of sparks and debris erupted from its impact, with an equally impressive cacophony of sounds and electrical sparks.
Congratulations! - New Spell Unlocked
Reward: 100 Exp
The debris where the creature landed began to stir. The monster had survived, but it was now covered in several scratches, bruises, and electrical burns.
I hadn’t moved an inch from where I was standing, and I continued to give the monster a cold and murderous glare as it stood back and turned around to give me its full attention finally.
Another deep bellowing growl began to emanate from the giant hound's throat as it righted itself and began to size me up.
I returned the stare it gave me, never breaking eye contact as it began to move back into the middle of the room and begin to circle me.
“I’m going to kill you for what you’ve done, monster.” I told it with as much hate and menace as I could muster.
It didn’t react and continued to just growl and circle me. Studying me with patience and an alien cunning. I did the same in turn, trying to observe its form and movements for clues.
Ghoul Hound - Lvl 4
A fearsome predator that sustains itself on the blood of its prey. Alone they are a dangerous threat, but in large groups, they are a true terror.
Interesting. The blue box was offering me hints and insights into the creature now. Was it because I was staring at it for a set amount of time, or was it more based on intent?
Eventually, the tension between the two of us slowly studying and staring at each other was broken by the sound of new footsteps rushing into the living room.
“Oh, my God.” The voice was Beth, she had come to a stop just at the entrance and was just as shocked as we had been by what she saw.
“B-beth you can’t get any closer to it, s-stay away.” This time the voice speaking was Scott’s. He was still conscious thankfully, and now resting against one of the walls.
Meanwhile, the beast and I continued to circle each other. It only had eyes for me now, and I felt the same way.
Beth, ignoring Scott’s words, rushed over to him. This time though, instead of being intercepted, she was ignored. Instead, the beast took the opportunity of me looking in Beth’s direction to dash and leap straight at me.
It had only been for a heartbeat that I had taken my eyes off the monster, but it was enough. The ghoul hound’s large hairless body had shot through the air, claws outstretched aiming for my arms and body.
I wasn’t ready, and the best I could do was avoid a complete pounce and tackle of my body. The monster did still manage to make a raking slash along my right forearm.
My left hand instinctively gripped onto the injured forearm, while I winced in pain. Strangely though, the pain and injury weren’t nearly as bad as I would have thought, given how it had injured Scott earlier. The amount of effort and power it used just now seemed like a lot more than what it bothered to use when it attacked Scott.
There was also the fact that my injured arm was the one I had used to point at it before. It was where those shadows had shot out from, before hitting the beast. Had the monster been intentionally targeting that arm?
As I stood up straight once again, I saw the creature’s leg muscles begin to tense. It was moments away from making another deadly leap toward me. Having realized what was about to happen I felt another well of power and energy surge swiftly through me.
Despite being injured, my hand shot up instinctively in the creature’s direction. New shadows flowed down my arm and into my hands as another bizarre incantation flowed freely from my throat.
Nights Swift Arrow
Shadows Sharp Bite
Darkness strikes down all that I see.
“Shadow Bolts!” I shouted at the creature who was now mid-leap and flying straight at my face.
Before it could reach me though, it was intercepted by a trio of inky black balls of energy that shot out from my outstretched right hand and into the leaping creature's face, maw, and upper torso.
Each one of the black bolts impacted with a sizzling pop. This caused the creature to tumble through the air, and slide along the floor leaving a dark bloody trail.
Congratulations! - New Spell Unlocked
Reward: 100 Exp
This time the creature was not so quick and confident to stand back up, but slowly with weak uncertain muscles, it began to attempt.
I wasn’t going to let it.
“Die you monster.” I said to it venomously.
Another surge of power, and more arcane words issued forth.
Nights Swift Arrow
Shadows Sharp Bite
Darkness strikes down all that I see.
“Shadow Bolts!” I declared loudly once again.
Another trio of inky black bolts shot out and into the creature's now exposed side, impacting one after another right where the creature’s heart should be. If this cursed monster even had such a thing.
This time the beast did not rise, and a large pool of blood began to form from under its body.
I let out a loud heaving sigh as I almost collapsed on the spot.
The sharp prickling feeling behind my eyes that I had been experiencing, also began to quickly recede.
“Is it dead?” Scott weakly asked as Beth helped him to his feet, the wound on his arm still bleeding freely.
“I-I think so.” I said cautiously. And just as I said so, a new blue box popped up before me.
Congratulations! - Quest Complete
Main Quest: Ghoul Hound
Stop the (Lvl 4) Ghoul Hound’s rampage!
Success: 250 Exp
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I killed it.” I declared more confidently this time. I no longer held much doubt about the…truth of whatever it was the blue boxes had to tell me.
There was so much more to these blue boxes and their messages, and whatever it was they had done to me. I couldn't even begin to process it right now. Not with everything that had just happened.
“I think it’s over.” I told them both.
Just then, what sounded like a dozen or so pairs of feet charged into the now eerily quiet room. At the front, and leading the charging gaggle of humans, was Jackie.
“Where are they!” She shouted at us and anyone else in the room, before setting her eyes on the two still motionless bodies farther into the room.
She charged forward and dropped down beside one of the unmoving forms, pausing for a second before beginning to cry loudly.
“J-Jackie…” Another voice strained to say slightly away from where Jackie was and against the wall.
“Letitia!” Jackie shouted, standing and sprinting towards her other friend. They hugged weakly, but Letitia was still very badly hurt and obviously Jackie didn’t want to make her injuries any worse.
“Holy shit, what even happened here?” A male voice from the entryway asked, it was Luke of all people. The boy who liked to annoy and pester me whenever he got the chance.
“I-It was her, she did it.” A voice, this time from one of the figures who had been frozen in fear against the wall. He was pointing a shaking figure in my direction. “She killed it.”
“What?” Luke asked with condescending disbelief. “Her?”
Ugh, Luke was the worst.
I just stood there dumbly, not knowing what to say to the accurate, but still unbelievable even to me, statement.
“S-she killed it with a shotgun!” The quacking voice declared.
“N-no it wasn’t. I saw it, it was a rifle.” Another voice from the wall, this one female.
“You're both wrong, obviously wrong, it was a crossbow. Did you hear any gunshots, huh?” This voice was from a gangly kid wearing glasses who seemed incensed at the incorrectness of what other people were saying.
“It was a shotgun! What else could have done this to a wolf?” The quacking voice demanded.
“A wolf? Do you have eyes, it was obviously some type of escaped wild cat.” The female voice insisted.
“You need to get your ears and eyes examined because clearly, this didn’t happen from a loud, giant ass shotgun.” Said the nerdy boy.
“Yes, it was!” The now slightly less afraid, and more angry male voice shouted.
“You’re both still wrong, it was a rifle!” The angry sounding voice of the girl declared.
“Oh frick, now what…” I mumbled.
They thought I was using a gun?
I mean, I still didn’t really know what I had done, but it was clearly not any kind of gun or crossbow or whatever. This must have something to do with that censoring thing that prevented people from understanding certain things that I said.
All the people here seemed to be losing their minds with their contradictory stories. What’s going to happen to them? Are they going to start fighting or something?
With those thoughts, two new blue boxes popped up in front of my face.
New Quest!
Main Quest: Protect the Veil
Dispose of the remains of the creature you killed before its existence
sunders the veil. Time: 03 Minutes 00 Seconds
Success: 100 Exp.
Failure: -10,000 Exp.
New Quest!
Side Quest: Spare the Dying
Two more lives can still be saved if you act swiftly to staunch their wounds.
Letitia Davies: 02 Minutes 00 Seconds
Scott Thompson: 05 Minutes 00 Seconds
Success: 100 Exp per life saved.