Chapter 15 : First Night Out - Opening a New World

The girl was squatting down, holding her head while trembling. Because her head was covered with her hoodie jacket, the black cat wasn't sure of her expressions. However, with its superior eyesight, the black cat saw clearly, there's a big drop of water dripping down, wetting the concrete floor. Squinting its eyes, its triangular soft ears quiver, hearing soft sobbing cries coming from the little girl down below.

Yawning, the black cat looks at it's useless master again. This little girl is so pitiful. Does the master really turn sadistic now? This lazy man wasted three days watching a fledgling struggle with her changes, hunger and thirst alone, and finally see her step inside a world she didn't know about. The black cat was uncertain what this old vampire is thinking, after all this is the first time in hundreds of years this master of it has taken interest in something other than sleeping and drinking different varieties of blood all around the world. And it also lasts for three days!

The black cat doesn’t know whether to be astonished or something. Its master is worse than a child who has ADHD, who loses interest in something for almost immediately. Now, this black cat really wonders if this little girl is special.

Still, the black cat can't help but feel sympathy for her, after all, this is a Night Owl. They have zero physical attack power, that's why they can't climb up to ranks and stay at the peak of lower-level beings. Nevertheless, Night Owls specialize in mental and psychological attacks. They imprisoned their prey inside an Illusionary realm, where all they can see is a dark place. Then the Night Owl will create images of fears their target greatly feared the most.

What these Night Owls eat aren't flesh and blood of their prey, but their fear and emotions. Mostly, their prey will die of a heart attack, or sometimes will just go into a coma and will never wake up again. They are like Dream Demons but inferior and weaker.

The black cat didn't know what the little girl was seeing, but whatever it was, no one wanted to experience their fear over and over again.

Sighing, the black cat closes its eyes and doesn't bother thinking anymore. Its master is known for his peculiarity. The black cat felt tired of guessing what this old vampire was thinking.

...

Contrary to what the black cat is thinking, Cedric wasn't thinking of anything at all. He was just curious that's all. After all, it's been a long time since a vampire like Zion was born. Stories sometimes tell truths and facts, but in just a roundabout way. Vampires we're all once humans. They were born within the dark, chaotic years on Earth centuries ago. They crave warm blood to replace what they don't have and what they lost.

People like Zion, who turned into a vampire after death, are a rarity itself. Maybe she mutates? Or does she have vampire genes in their family? Cedric is really curious. Recently, he puts himself into watching so many marvel movies that he rarely goes out. He was watching Dr. Strange and didn't really plan on going out that night, three days ago. However, that woman suddenly called for help. Cedric was happy, so he immediately paused Dr. Strange and went straight towards that woman. Guinevere, that prideful woman never reaches out for anyone before. Recalling how badly injured that woman is, Cedric couldn't restrain himself and chuckled delightfully.

Down on his feet, the black cat that just closed its eyes to sleep, was shocked when it heard Cedric laughing happily. The black cat shuddered, as it finally came to a conclusion. It shook its head, feeling ill fortunate to have a master like Cedric. Not only did it have a useless master, it's master even turned sadistic. What can it do? This black cat is just a talking cat, it could only accept its Master's new hobby.

Cedric, who's ignorant about his familiar's thoughts, threw Guinevere out of his mind and looked at Zion again. He smiled and turned a little thoughtful. He just wanted to test her resilience, he didn't come here to watch her die. Cedric is currently addicted to acting like a kind elder, who is always thinking about the future of the young generation.

The world she will be stepping into is a cruel world, where survival of the fittest is always on trend. However, Cedric wasn't sure of it anymore. Recently, the Supernatural Society is planning something huge. Guinevere was injured because of it as well. More so, the pandemic...Cedric is certain they have a hand in that as well.

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Meanwhile...

Zion looks at her surroundings with caution and alertness. She keeps rubbing her arms, trying to ease up the goosebumps in her body. She was feeling scared and helpless. She wanted to curse, wanted to ask why she was experiencing this out loud. But her body is trembling hard so that she could say even a word. She could only swallow and gritted her teeth, watching her situation turn for the worst.

Zion bowed her head and cried letting out her emotions that were out of control. Cold tears fell down her face nonstop. She pulled her hood down, covering her face. Even in this situation, Zion didn't want anyone to know she was crying. She let her body fall and she kneels on the ground. Actually, it didn't feel like the ground. It didn't feel like she was stepping into anything. It's like she was inside a water, floating, but not at all. She isn't sure where it is up and down, but since she can stand without falling, she didn't dwell on these problems more.

She covered her face with her hand, while her other hand was still holding onto the edge of her hoodie.

Blot.

"Huh?" Zion thought she was hallucinating, when she heard that sound. When she thought of ignoring it, it sounded again.

Blot. Blot.

It sounded wet and sticky, and at the same time seemed like a bubble that pop opened. Zion can't describe what that sounds is, but as she hears more and more of that sound, she's beginning to imagine things in her head.

In the dark place, with nothing around but herself. There's nothing to see, there's nothing to hear. She is alone, standing in blackness. When all hope is almost shed, suddenly a small sound comes. That small sound sounded more and became louder and louder, as if it was coming closer and closer.

Zion shivers, wanting to shut down her brain. As the sound became louder, her imagination became fuller and colorful. This is one of the things Zion specializes about. It was guessing the next plot of the story. And this didn't fail even in this kind of situation.

She wanted to deny it by uncovering her eyes, laughing at herself and her active imagination. But...

When she moved her hand, coincidentally she was looking down as she cried. She thought she would see the same blackness, but she was wrong.

When she opens her eyes, something opens its eyes as well. Accompanied by the same "blot" sounds, a round eye ball with clear visible red pulsating veins greeted Zion.

"F*ck!" Zion stood up quickly as if she was stung. She steps back, away from the disgusting eyeball, but because she stood up abruptly, she was off balanced and she fell down on her butt within the second step.

"...aww...f*ck..."

Something changes within the surroundings, yet Zion didn't know what. Her eyes linger at the eyeball that is also looking back at her. "...what the hell is that..." Feeling creeps in her bones, Zion unconsciously wanted to hug her arms. When she tried moving her hands up, finally Zion felt something not quite right on her hands.

Looking towards one of her hands...Zion wanted to scream but no voice came out of her throat. In her hands, another eyeball. It was wiggling in her palm like it wanted to get her hand off it. Making Zion felt like being struck by lightning every movement of it. It was wet, sticky at the same time soft...it was disgusting!

Zion immediately takes her hands away. She thought of standing and running away from these eyeballs, but when she looks forward, her legs can't help but soften.

"...what is this?! Are you Pride?!!" So many eyes! Zion felt so frightened that she froze in place again. She was a coward, after being exposed to many ups and downs, Zion just wanted everything to end quickly.

The eye balls, looked at her all at the same time, blinking at her. Zion felt electrified, she was having a feeling that she's going to die for sure. She was full of pessimism. Still, she accepted her death without any qualms. Closing her eyes, Zion imagined herself laying on a plate and readied herself to be eaten.

But after a long time, Zion felt nothing.

"...???"

...

Cedric didn't know how to react. Even he, himself, wasn't sure what happened. The Night Owl was just about to succeed, when it suddenly failed? It seems that the little girl manages to stabilize her own mentality just before the Night Owl manages to take a sip of her own emotions.

Jumping down from the rooftop, Cedric reached where the Night Owl is hiding, like he teleported. Not giving it time to react, he strangled it and snapped its neck, and threw it away to the side. He looked back observing the fledgling at the distance.

The girl never moved, she was still squatting in the same place, but she stopped crying and she didn't tremble as much anymore. Cedric walks closer. He hesitated a little, but still tapped her shoulders lightly to wake her up.

Zion didn't respond. Cedric watched her for three days, and he knew how troublesome her stubbornness was. So, instead of trying to be gentle, Cedric just let his true nature come out and casually smack her head so she can open her eyes quickly.

The black cat saw it all. Since it already accepted its Master's sadistic tendencies, it just shrugged its shoulders and turned a blind eye to its Master's actions.

However, Zion still didn't respond. So, Cedric smacked her head with more strength.

Zion opened her eyes, feeling irritated. Her heart was ready. Her mind was ready. Her body, although she was feeling a little scared, who doesn't feel scared of pain? But she was ready. She thought she would die almost immediately, even if she didn't, it was just like what she experienced with that creepy woman when she died the first time. Anyway, it’s not like this is her first time dying.

So, when Zion didn't feel the familiar pain, she felt flustered. She is like a death row prisoner, waiting in line to be sentenced, when suddenly what was delivered to her was a word that her judgement day will be delayed.

Instead of feeling anxious and worried, Zion felt annoyed and irritated. She is going to die, anyway she doesn't care anymore. People who didn't care about death usually will become more courageous than usual. So, when Zion was welcomed by Cedric face first thing as she opened her eyes, her hand clenched into fists and "pang!" straight to Cedric's face.

The black cat on the side line could only open its mouth dumbfounded.

Cedric: "aww!"