Chapter 01: Darkness within the light.

Kenv

Location: The third flood of South-East Plaza.

Current time: 12:38 PM

1 hour and 24 minutes after the “Nightmare” had started.

“You’ll be safe here,” I said to the weeping young girl as I held her tightly.

 I don’t know how these strange things came to be.

 Before It dawned on me of how such a thing was possible, my somewhat normal reality was replaced with a dreadful life and death fantasy.

And now here I am stuck on a clothing store along with the other survivors cornered and awaiting our dreadful fates that were about to come.

“Shsss!!! It will be alright.” I kept patting her head that's buried in my chest.

I, too, wanted to cry out that I didn’t want to die, that I wanted to keep living, but I couldn’t muster the energy to do so. I held in my heart a faint hope that things weren’t as bad as what my mind was telling me, but knowing the true face of terror that lies before me.

I have seen the face of death today and it is both beautiful and ugly.

I knew that I was trying to lie to myself in order to cope with this new kind of reality.

Seeing the faces of all the nearby survivors, filled with fear and terror whilst they watch the unfolding tragedy helplessly.

All the remaining police guards numbered at less than a dozen, and most were wounded.

A hooded man who's shrouded with silver and gray who seemed to be cosplayer equipped with a glowing sword dashed through the plaza and struck the creature's left hand.

Releasing the arm that held an injured man. The beast lifting and shaking its hand as if fighting to regain its posture. The “Knight” quickly yanked the blade out from the new wound and leaped backed away from the beast.

He who was like a knight in shining armor is desperately fighting alongside the remaining few of our police force against a walking terror.

And I've got to admit he's good but it seems there is a hesitation on each of his actions.

As if he's got no choice but to cooperate. I wonder why? Though his action makes this life and death struggle extremely exciting. I know for a fact that this isn’t a time for that and I bet he knew it too.

Fresh corpse scattered about littered the plaza. Torn body parts, severed heads, smashed bodies, broken limbs, torn flesh, in all sorts of form. The result of a one-sided sudden massacre.

Such a scene could only be described as something that came out of a horror. Yet still, they tried to persevere even when one by one they fell.

Without a doubt, each of them broke out into a cold sweat.

A single police had been assigned to guard us while the rest went on to engage the enemy; the idea was even if all the police somehow died, the remaining one police would try to lead them away in order for the survivors to get away somehow while the other combatants would surround the creature and let the knight fight it in close combat and then the police would assist on a short distance to ensure the so-called knight would able to confront and survive.

A good reckless plan but the sad fact is that the beast has blocked our only path of escape.

The knight quickly dashed to the side, putting himself between the creature and whatever it was after. But it was all a faint, the real target was the person behind him all along. One of the police received a piercing blow died and fell limp forward.

It leered at the surrounding men menacingly while its claw strike mercilessly.

“Rooarr!!” The beast screeched.

In an instant, two men fell and dye the floor with more red, as those who still remained kept shooting from a distance. The beast leaped forward onto a nearby food stall trying to gain more advantage further.

“Incoming! Be-” One of the officers shouted to warn the others. Before he could be finished, the beast leaped and tackled him forward into one of the nearby abandoned stores.

They both disappeared from sight.

“NOOO!!!”

“Larry!!”

A cry for a quick grief for those who departed.

“NO! Don't pursue the beast is still hunting us.” The hooded knight shouted knowing that those who are supporting him were fighting already beyond their limit.

“RELOAD!” The captain of police force yelled out.

A rumble of the building that wasn’t as great as before, yet all the same, it filled everyone with a heavy sense of unease.

All the survivors knew that the creature could seemingly blend into the surrounding shadows.

For its blazing hellish eyes were the only thing that stood out from the dreadful shadows.

Their only chance was to stay within the remaining lightened area within the plaza. They knew that at any moment they hesitated or get distracted death would come and make its claim. Still, in desperation fighting against something they aren't equipped or trained for.

The brave men are still trying to bravely venture forth against a creature shrouded in shadow and uphold theirs deeply in the graved motto.

“To protect and to serve”

But despite them being careered veterans. In the end, they had to rely heavily on a strange civilian who was wearing a knight's costume.

The beast quickly got up again and growled angrily. Lifting itself off the ground with its powerful limbs, it rose over the broken stall and glared down at the knight.

As the beast's large body came hurtling down at them with its mouth wide open, showing its deadly fangs the knight quickly called out everyone to move them out of the way.

“… Don’t tell me… Help him!!!” I yelled out knowing what comes next, I screamed fiercely as I can and thankfully the captain noticed me.

With the sight of the beast charging forward towards the endangered vanguard.

Realizing what I meant. Without a second thought about his life, The police captain mustered all his strength and dashed forward closer and grabbed the knight, twisting his body around to push away what he knows is there only hope then a shrill sound of razor-sharp claws came upon him.

Seeing the fall of their beloved captain the police begun to lose hope and composure the men begun shooting wildly.

“CAPTAIN!!!”

“NO! YOU FUCKING ANIMAL!!!”

“DIE!”

"You monster!"

A splatter of blood sprang forth within the man's chest, but the beast did not yield there still angered by the fact that his desired target evaded. It lifted the man up and slammed him down against the knight who was still close by.

As it neared, I saw two people drew closer to it, desperately fighting against the beast that still held the dying captain.

Fiercely they shot and struggled but the injured beast tried to evade the rain of lead using the surrounding corpses and large chunks of debris.

As it dashed further away from us but the inevitable came and the beast somehow got closer and killed them both.

And thus the force protecting us was reduced to a handful few.

This maddening event made even worse when “the Knight” in silver and gray sword was countered off and then the force of the impact caught him in the air and blew him across the plaza through a food stall and into a nearby wall.

Finally, the hero fell.

After a minute of silence within, the beast let out what can only be described as a victorious roar that sounded fiercely.

It's roar resounded within the empty halls fiercely once more.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

Then It gazed upon me filled with terror, anger, and murderous intent.

I knew definitely that it has selected us to be its next prey.

With a body filled with fur, as black as the moonless night, brimming with smoke and eyes that lit like hellfire.

My body froze as it drew ever so closer and dragging with it the unfortunate corpse of the now deceased police officer. As a shiver of anxiety coursed through me, bringing my fading senses into full alert.

Rather, without a doubt, that creature was evaluating me with its hellish eyes.

The foul smell of the dead along with the cries of despair of those who still remained. Without any form of intervention or protection, what remained here in this part the mall would die in a meaningless slaughter.

Even the little girl who seemed no more than the age of 10 crying in my arms would definitely fall into an easy prey.

“Damn!” I muttered. I knew that I must do something or else but the pain in my chest still severely ache.

My state of near exhaustion from running out of energy earlier made me unable to aid them so. I was forbidden to do but now the person who forbade me joined the legion of the poor souls.

Furthermore, most of the “heroes” lost their lives in the battle, but even in their short time on this nightmare, hopefully, they had made a lasting impact.

I remembered that barely a few hours ago this place was filled with joy and laughter.

A heavenly sanctuary for those who like to shop, where one can buy an overpriced product and food of every criterion.

And with a flash of a blinding light now this great mall of ours turned into a deadly cage.

This new reality of ours that we are facing I could without a doubt describe turned into a living hell. Why did it suddenly appeared here?. I saw nothing but death and carnage for the past hour in front of me and yet still, why am I still standing?

My body ached as I felt slightly disoriented as my stomach continued to grumble. I just remembered I hadn't eaten anything since dawn.

Still, my mind lingered on the thought that she was safe. For all I know, she could be alone right now, hiding safe and sound. She was somebody with a weak fragile body, and with a scarce protection available, I feared for her survival.

My best hope for her at this point is that this mega mall even in locked down is several miles wide. Knowing her at this point, I hope she had hidden well and hopefully meet up with the others.

I recognized that approaching thing that slaughtered so many of my kin. The beast kept mumbling in words I can't understand.

After all, I loved reading and playing games. I who loving read fiction every possible spare time, read horrors and madness suddenly descending before.

With twin fangs larger than my finger and claws sharps as knives It matched forward displaying a rather peculiar haughtily attitude.

I knew from the way it fought that this beast has a higher semblance of intelligence.

Slowly and surely I felt Death's encroaching shadow.

But like any fool who's got everything to lose.

I knew I'm definitely going insane because of the insanity of what is about to come.

“Can you hold her?” I ask the nearby sales lady who was the least bit shaking among the group.

Realizing my intention she agreed upon what I asked. 

“Okay! Come here, little girl!”

She reached out and tried to grab the girl. 

“No no no…”

“Don’t go! Please….. please...” the crying girl pleaded heavily.

“Shss! It will be alright!” I said.

 “Noooo……. You’ll die like Daddy and the rest” She said.  

“It will be alright! I told you’ll be safe here. I promised, didn’t I? I’ll be your Hero so I’ll definitely find your Mommy later. So wait.”

“Here!” I looked at the sales clerk with a beautiful pleasant face despite the sheer terror it was showing.

“What’s your name?” I asked.

"Wendy.” She replied back.

 Then I slowly handed her the little girl who was protesting on the action of me separating from her.

 “Well, then Wendy take care of her for me?” I said.

She responded by nodding and trying to comfort the crying child then moved forward. I looked back and gave her a forced smile as a reassurance that everything will be alright kind of smile.

I know I won’t definitely be.

This madness is my only hope. I knelt down picking the knives I dropped earlier before then held on both of them tightly on each hand. The very silver knives I stole earlier.

Honestly, I would be lying if I said I didn't dream and anticipate the coming fight. Growing up as a boy who was never afraid to play or watch the horror genre. However, the reality was irrational and not so lenient. I knew deep down one day this would eventually come.

As life is but a game and everyone plays to live it.

While this was, by no means a pleasant situation, unfortunately, I was the only one who can be considered the last “player” standing.

I smiled helplessly.

For nothing can defeat this monster but another monster and so I need to become a monster in order to slay it. But I’m not a “monster” so to speak.

I’m the guy who always fakes it till I make it attitude but this time it is different.

For the 1st time in my life, I’m going live out one of my childhood fantasies. To be somebody else's “Hero”.

Heroes are mostly martyrs and I ain’t those kinds of types but I guess it's my time to shine. Well, I guess today is a good day to die.

I promised to be one so at least I need act like one even though I’m definitely not one.

Then I looked back on those who hid cowardly behind me and spoke.

“But before my ruin falls I shall tell you who I am.”

Each one of them was filled with dread and so I tried giving them a sliver of hope.

Fool's hope.

I could've taken advantage of this situation and flee if possible but like those of a cornered desperate rat.

It will bite back.

It had happened in an instant; it was not been something that I had thought about and decided on doing. Thinking about it now, it seemed like a reckless thing to do. Even so, if she would be saved by my actions, I would at least know that my death wouldn’t be in vain, but...

With a ferocious roar that broke the silence of this hellish market, I knew my time has come.

“Monster your reign of terror ends now. For I am the “Hero” of justice and evil shall fall before me.” I yelled valiantly.

 I gracefully pointed at the fiend over a hundred meters away from me thus making sure its attention would be drawn towards me.

Well, It’s all about the flair of theater.

“So even if I die today I'll make sure that I'll take that thing along with me and so don't forget me and the heroic courage I'll make and so please sing it as a song of legends of the great Me."

I prepared myself and spoke in a clear low commanding voice to Wendy.

“I’ll draw its attention and get everyone out of this store immediately,” I said.

Even without looking at her I knew she agreed and so was the others.

Then I heard someone spoke behind me saying “Do you have a plan?”.

Their deaths won’t be in vain as those heroes manage to lure it away further from us but I knew it wasn’t far enough.

“Of course,” I replied with confidence whilst I kept looking at the face of terror.

 My heart pounding and my sweat dripping on the side of my left brow.

 My dreams of the future had only consisted of something vague like “happy go lucky type.” It would be fine if that dream would be granted in heaven. At the very least, I’ll make my ancestors proud upon meeting them soon.

I looked back at the little her for one last time. I knew it was stupid to look away from the enemy but I had to do it anyway.

Satisfied, I turned back my attention towards the upcoming beast and knowing the end is nigh a smile crept between my bloodied checks. Thinking that the beast would be upon me soon enough, I moved into action then I dashed forward to confront a very dangerous foe.

For what's left is but a crazy gamble and my embrace to my upcoming "ruin". At least with this much time and effort spent on this plan, it would surely go well. Right?

Thus In this fractured world of darkness within the light, I will become their light within this shroud of darkness.

And so.

"I am Kenv and this is my ruin." I loudly and bluffly declared and yet deep within my heart, I can only ask myself.

“Damn it! How the hell did this happened?”.

*******

Location: The third flood of South-East Plaza.

Current time: 12:49 PM

1 hour and 35 minutes after the “Nightmare” had begun.