The ground pulsed beneath my feet, a heavy, bone-deep tremor that seemed to claw up through my shoes. Inside the café, the warm hum of conversation choked to a halt, snuffed out by a low, vibrating rumble that hung in the air. Porcelain cups on our table rattled. Their delicate chimes clinked like fragile bells in a storm. Then came a crack—a raw, violent snap that tore through the silence, like thunder splitting the sky.

The walls shuddered, groaning under the strain. The sound warped the air as if reality were being torn apart. For one breathless heartbeat, everything froze. Silence pressed down on us, thick and suffocating, as though even time were holding its breath. My heart thundered in my chest, an erratic drumbeat in the unnerving quiet.

I glanced at Daisy and Oliver. Daisy and Oliver's faces were pale, reflecting the same dread I felt. Around us, patrons sat frozen, eyes wide. They clutched their cups with white-knuckled grips. Across the street, strobe lights flickered against the dark sky. They cast fractured patterns on the walls—a silent, neon warning.

Then, the sirens began to scream. At first, they were faint. Then their wails rose in pitch. They cut through the night as panicked shouts erupted outside. The café's warmth turned icy and thin. It was a flimsy barrier between us and the nightmare beyond the glass.

Something massive was pressing in, suffocating. I could feel it watching as if waiting for us to make one wrong move. I shoved my chair back, the scraping sound jarring in the quiet. "We need to check it out." The words emerged with a rough quality, and my voice revealed a tremor that I couldn’t completely conceal. Daisy and Oliver moved in silence, their steps in sync. But their pale faces spoke volumes.

Outside, chaos had erupted. The streets were an apocalyptic scene. People scattered in every direction. Their screams tore through the air as they fled an invisible predator. Dark, jagged rifts clawed through the sky. Inky tendrils of smoke curled at the edges. They twisted and writhed like nightmare fingers. Cold air blasted from the rifts, sharp and biting. I could see each puff of breath fog in front of me, white against the darkness. My fists clenched, nails digging into my palms as I fought to steady myself.

Daisy’s hand gripped my arm, her fingers digging in. "Rei... this wasn’t supposed to happen," she whispered, her voice small but laced with raw fear. Frustration flared hot and fast. "Damn it. What the hell is going on?" I scanned the street, my pulse racing. Where was the WEO? Where was the backup? All I could see was empty streets and the gaping maw of hell.

Oliver stared at the nearest rift, his eyes wide and unblinking. "These creatures... they’re not in the WEO databanks," he muttered, his voice thick with disbelief. Daisy’s hand hovered over her medical pouch, her fingers trembling. "What’s the plan, Rei?" Her gaze flicked between me and the chaos unraveling before us, a quiet plea from the fear.

I swallowed, forcing my voice to steady. "We’ll stop them." I raised my SMG, its weight solid but heavy in my trembling hands. "You two, get the civilians out. I’ll keep them busy." My fingers tightened on the trigger, and I didn’t wait for an answer.

Gunfire erupted, a staccato burst of sound swallowed by the creature’s thick, armored hide. Bullets ricocheted off its scales, causing only a slight flinch. The roar that followed rattled in my chest, deep and guttural—a sound that felt as ancient as the Earth itself.

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Doubt gnawed at me, sharp and unrelenting. Why can’t I do more? My heart raced, each beat a reminder of my limitations, the gun heavy and useless in my grip. Why am I so weak?

“Rei!” Oliver’s voice cut through my spiraling thoughts. “The bullets—they’re useless!” I knew he was right, but I couldn’t stop. I fired again and again. A desperate hope clung to each shot. Maybe, just maybe, something would break. The creature stared with cold amusement in its many eyes, watching me struggle.

"Come on, damn it…" I hissed, frustration boiling over, my breath coming in sharp, ragged bursts. This was supposed to be my job—my responsibility. I was supposed to protect these people. Instead, I was wasting ammo, a soldier playing pretend against an unstoppable nightmare.

More creatures began pouring from the rifts. They were monstrous shapes, twisting and unfurling as they advanced. I caught a glimpse of Daisy and Oliver. They were still herding civilians to safety. Their fear showed in their tense faces. "Fall back!" I shouted, my voice cracking as the weight of failure settled in my chest. The creatures advanced, a merciless tide, their warped forms closing in.

An explosion rocked the street. It staggered the largest creature. Its head jerked as bullets rained down with brutal precision. It shrieked, reeling, and for a heartbeat, hope flickered to life. Had it been me? Had I finally made a difference?

A voice sliced through the chaos, dripping with contempt. “Pathetic. You can’t even beat this thing on your own.” I looked up. Casper hovered above the street. His sleek blue exosuit shimmered under the neon lights. He was a blur of efficiency. His suit's missile launchers gleamed. His movements were sharp and calculated. He cut through the air like a force of nature, fast and precise, every inch the soldier I was not.

And in that moment, I felt the weight of everything I wasn’t.

His gaze slid over to Daisy and Oliver, his expression twisting with disdain. "The captain picked both of you, and this is what you’ve got to show for it?" His voice was cold, a blade slicing through the air.

Daisy and Oliver avoided his gaze, their heads down. Casper's scorn pressed on them like a weight. The ground still trembled beneath us. Casper's precision strikes forced the creature to stagger back in retreat. Neon lights cast sharp shadows on his face as he landed. He turned to me and shook his head in a way that indicated rejection.

“This is what you’re passing off as a fight,” he sneered. “You’re struggling to hold it together, Rei." Look around—your ‘protection’ is nothing but a light show for that creature.”

The words struck hard, twisting something raw inside. My fists clenched, anger simmering beneath the self-doubt that gnawed at me. “At least I’m trying!” I shot back, my voice tight. “Where the hell were you, Casper? We’re out here risking everything, and you swoop in when it’s convenient?”

Casper’s smirk widened, his tone cutting. “Risking everything? I’m here because I can make a difference—not firing blanks and hoping for a miracle.”

“Easy for you to say, behind that suit,” I snapped, the frustration blazing. “You wouldn’t know what it’s like to be out here without all that tech propping you up.” He narrowed his eyes, his smirk fading. “Don’t talk to me about tech, Rei. I trained for this. Years of it. You think a gun and some courage make you a hero?”

The words stung, but I held his gaze. “I don’t care about being a hero. I care about doing what’s right,” I said, my voice firm. “Unlike you, swooping in at the last second for glory.” Casper let out a hollow laugh. “Glory? You can’t even hold a line against a basic rift creature. Face it, Rei, you don’t belong here.”

Anger flared white-hot. “Weak?” I snapped, stepping toward him. "At least I'm not here, pretending I'm better than everyone with my shiny suit." Casper’s eyes flashed as he leaned in. “Look around, Rei. Without me, you’d be dead. You’re out here playing soldier without a clue about real power.”

“That’s enough, Casper.” Daisy stepped between us, her voice trembling but steady. “Rei’s doing his best. This isn’t helping.” Casper ignored her, his gaze fixed on me. “Maybe you should take her advice, Rei. Know your place—or next time, you might not be so lucky.”

I forced myself to hold steady, fists clenched tight. “Fine,” I muttered, meeting his gaze head-on. “But I’m not backing down. Keep sneering all you want, Casper. I’ll keep fighting—with or without your approval.” He scoffed, turning away with a dismissive shrug. “Suit yourself. But get in my way again and don’t expect me to save you.”

I watched him walk away, fists clenched, anger simmering beneath a cold, hard resolve. Whatever Casper thought, I wouldn’t let his words define me. The night was far from over; the creatures were still spilling from the rifts. Taking a steadying breath, I glanced at Daisy and Oliver. They watched me, uncertainty in their eyes.

“Let’s keep moving,” I said, my voice steady. “People still need us.” Without waiting, I dropped the SMG, drawing my short sword. Casper might be here. But this was our fight. And I’d face it, no matter what he or anyone else thought.