The monstrous wolves drew nearer, their snarls growing louder. Yowaya, his eyes glued to Dr. Sunji's monster radar, could see the blips closing in. Panic rising, he leaned over the back seat and shook Harlow's shoulder urgently.
"Harlow! Wake up, Harlow!" Yowaya's whisper was barely audible over the rising din. Harlow remained unresponsive, his eyes stubbornly shut. Desperation lending him a surge of courage, Yowaya slapped Harlow's cheek, the sharp sound cutting through the tense silence.
Oh god, I hope he doesn't kill me for that later...
Harlow's eyes blinked open, bleary with sleep. "Hey! What was that for, you jerk?" he grumbled, rubbing his cheek. Yowaya was relieved to see that his slap had only annoyed Harlow, leaving no mark.
In the front seat, Dr. Sunji noticed the encroaching wolves. Fear twisting his face, he whipped around and screamed, "HARLOW! MONSTERS! THEY'RE OUTSIDE! GET THEM! THEY'RE SURROUNDING THE CAR!"
Yowaya flinched as a monstrous wolf, its fur matted and fangs bared, crashed through the window. Harlow, unfazed, casually grabbed the creature and tossed it back out as if it were a mere inconvenience.
"HEY! DON'T SIT ON ME!" Harlow shouted at the discarded wolf. Yowaya could only stare in disbelief. If anyone could survive this nightmare, it was Harlow.
He watched as Harlow stepped out of the car, the wolves circling him like a pack of hungry sharks. The monster radar indicated at least ten of the creatures, yet Harlow seemed utterly unbothered.
I don't understand him. His casual attitude, his strange perspective... No wonder he ended up in that center. But what's truly terrifying is that he probably thinks this is all normal. If he's this powerful, why didn't he just escape? Why did he even listen to me back in the lab? He's a complete enigma.
Yowaya's thoughts were interrupted by a sharp crack as the front view mirror shattered. He scanned the surroundings, his heart pounding, and saw the wolves retreating, their snarls replaced by whimpers.
He did it. He actually did it. Thank god...
Relief washed over Yowaya as he slid into the driver's seat. Harlow climbed back in, nonchalant as ever, and Yowaya slammed his foot on the gas. The engine roared, and they sped down the road, leaving the chaos behind. Their destination: Harlow's neighborhood, wherever that might be.
...
Shalerock Point, Harlow's neighborhood, was eerily silent as they pulled up to the shattered entrance gate. The remnants of violence—bloodstains and tattered clothing—littered the ground. Dr. Sunji, his mind a catalog of monstrous threats, mentally classified the mutated wolves they had encountered earlier.
Those wolves, I believe, would fall into the 'Tremor' category—the lowest level of threat, he mused. But given my research, it's only a matter of time before we face a creature capable of pushing humanity to the brink. The mere thought of such a monster sends shivers down my spine...
His contemplation was interrupted as the car shuddered to a halt. They cautiously surveyed the surroundings before proceeding down the deserted street. The vehicle's movements became increasingly erratic, a familiar and dreaded sign.
"We're out of gas... Damn it. We knew this was coming," Yowaya groaned.
"As long as Harlow can push, we'll manage," Dr. Sunji reassured him. "Besides, look at all the abandoned cars. We're bound to find some usable fuel. Perhaps one of the houses even has a siphon hose."
Yowaya nodded, a flicker of hope in his eyes. "I-I guess you're right..."
The car finally sputtered to a stop beside a dilapidated house. Yowaya turned to glance at Harlow, who was still blissfully asleep, snoring softly. Dr. Sunji mirrored his gaze, and their eyes met in silent understanding.
"C'mon, Doc, I tried shaking him last time..." Yowaya's voice was laced with trepidation.
"And nearly lost your life for it," Dr. Sunji retorted. "Better to yell, as I did."
Yowaya fell silent, conceding the point. Dr. Sunji leaned towards the backseat and bellowed, "Harlow! Wake up! We're here!"
Harlow stirred, his hands instinctively rising as if gripping an invisible sword.
What on earth...?
Both Yowaya and Dr. Sunji observed Harlow's peculiar gesture with bewilderment.
Harlow blinked, shaking off the remnants of his dream. A wide smile spread across his face as he realized they had arrived.
"Yay! I get to see Granny!" he exclaimed.
Dr. Sunji raised an eyebrow. "What were you doing just now, lad?"
"Huh?"
"You were holding an imaginary sword. Something from that manga, I presume?"
"Oh, this?" Harlow held up the well-worn volume. "I guess I was daydreaming again. Sorry about that."
As Harlow and Dr. Sunji discussed the manga, Yowaya's attention drifted to the desolate landscape outside. The crumbling houses and abandoned vehicles whispered of a violent exodus. He shuddered, recalling the hulking cyclops he had encountered at the detention center.
Were these the same creatures responsible for this devastation?
"You alright? You seem distant," Dr. Sunji inquired, placing a hand on Yowaya's shoulder.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Yowaya replied, watching Harlow step out of the car and survey the scene with an unsettling nonchalance. He then turned his gaze to Dr. Sunji, who exited the vehicle. By the time the doctor had joined Harlow on the sidewalk, Yowaya was still rooted in the driver's seat, his hands trembling uncontrollably.
Dr. Sunji reached for the door handle, but Yowaya stopped him. "What are you doing? Aren't you coming out?"
"No... I'm fine here... safe in the car..." Yowaya's voice quivered.
"You're safer with Harlow," Dr. Sunji countered.
"That's where you're wrong," Yowaya retorted, his voice rising in panic. "I'm not like you two... I simply can't... I... I..." He trailed off, unable to articulate his fear.
Dr. Sunji rubbed his temples, a frown creasing his brow. "I find it hard to believe someone like you ever became an officer. If you won't help yourself survive out here, then you're on your own."
With that, Dr. Sunji turned and walked away, leaving Yowaya alone in the car, grappling with his fear and the harsh reality of their situation.
...
The image was still vivid in Harlow's mind—his grandmother gracefully descending the stairs, bathed in the warm glow of the morning light. As always, Harlow would be there to offer a steadying hand, then settle down to breakfast while she watched the news. The news never held much interest for him; he preferred to escape into the vibrant worlds of his comics, the ones his classmates often dismissed as "distasteful."
I was quite the daydreamer, wasn't I? Granny would always scold me for being slow and warn me I'd be late for school.
A smirk tugged at Harlow's lips as he reminisced about those moments with his grandmother. She was a simple woman, much like himself, but with a notably shorter temper. He recalled the time she had accidentally dropped a cherished family photo, the glass shattering on impact. Her initial grunt of frustration quickly dissolved into sobs.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
At the time, Harlow couldn't fathom such a strong reaction to a broken picture frame. It wasn't until later that he understood it wasn't the frame itself that held such significance, but the precious memory it contained—a photo of his parents, standing side-by-side before he was born.
Lost in thought, Harlow paused his steps and looked up, the familiar sight of his house greeting him. It felt strange, standing here amidst the wreckage of his monster-ravaged neighborhood. Footsteps approached from behind, and he turned to see Dr. Sunji. But where was Yowaya?
"Want to say hi to my grandma?" Harlow asked, his voice tinged with childlike innocence. Dr. Sunji's eyebrows rose in surprise as he studied the house, his keen eyes drawn to a gaping hole in the roof. It was clearly the work of a monster, but what kind? He glanced at Harlow, then slowly removed his glasses.
"Harlow... must I really spell it out for you?" Dr. Sunji asked, his voice heavy with pity. Harlow shook his head, oblivious to the doctor's meaning.
"I don't understand. If you want to say hi to my grandma, just follow me inside," Harlow replied, stepping into the ransacked house. The interior was a scene of chaos—furniture overturned, books scattered, broken plates and splintered wood littering the floor. As Harlow made his way to the dining room, he noticed a full bowl of soup on the table. A wave of confusion washed over him. Why hadn't his grandmother finished it?
"Grandma! Grandma! I'm home! I was released! You didn't finish your soup!" Harlow called out, expecting his grandmother to emerge from her bedroom upstairs. Silence met his calls. As Harlow waited at the foot of the stairs, Dr. Sunji examined the disarray in the kitchen. Still, no response.
She always gets up when she hears my voice, no matter how deeply she's sleeping. Something's not right...
Harlow ascended the stairs, his heart pounding. Reaching the second floor, he made his way to his grandmother's bedroom door and knocked. "Granny, are you in there?"
No answer. He knocked again, louder this time. Still, nothing. A frown creased Harlow's brow as he stared at the locked doorknob. It was never locked before...
The house is already a mess, Harlow reasoned. She wouldn't mind if I broke the door to get in, would she?
With a casual shrug, Harlow punched through the doorknob, splintering the wood. He gently pushed the door open, his eyes widening in surprise. The room was empty. His grandmother was nowhere to be found.
Strange... very strange...
Harlow scratched his head, perplexed. Where could she have gone? Running out of options, he decided to check his own room, not for his grandmother, but for any sign of her presence. Perhaps she had tidied up or left a note. He opened the door and stepped inside. The room was exactly as he had left it, his manga scattered across the bed.
Maybe I should take some of these comics with me, Harlow thought. Oh, right, I forgot. That officer guy still owes me a volume.
He grabbed his backpack, stuffed the comics inside, and slung it over his shoulder. As he turned to leave, his gaze fell upon a framed photo of him and his grandmother, smiling happily in a park. A wave of nostalgia washed over him, and he quickly grabbed and walked out of the room—not looking back.
He descended the stairs. In the kitchen, Dr. Sunji knelt, his eyes fixated on the shredded clothes scattered across the floor, aligned ominously with the gaping hole in the roof.
Dr. Sunji touched a torn piece of fabric, rubbing it between his fingers, a frown creasing his brow. Confusion gnawed at him; how could discarded clothing be directly beneath such a destructive breach? Unless...
Harlow entered the kitchen, wincing as he noticed Dr. Sunji's intense focus on the tattered remnants.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Harlow asked, crossing his arms defensively.
"Just inspecting," Dr. Sunji replied, his attention still partially on the fabric. "Any sign of your grandmother?"
Harlow shook his head.
"Uh... no, but maybe she went for a walk or something..." he offered, his voice laced with uncertainty.
Dr. Sunji's eyebrows shot up.
"Kid, are you hearing yourself? Like I said, she's not here. She can't be—the neighborhood is trashed for a reason. I shouldn't have to tell you that," Dr. Sunji said, rising to his feet. Harlow's face fell, a child's impatience warring with dawning fear.
"Okay... well, what do we do now? Where can I find my granny?" Harlow asked, his voice tight. Dr. Sunji scratched his chin, a thoughtful frown creasing his forehead. He looked away for a moment, then back at Harlow, his expression grave.
"I don't want to explain everything right now, you might get the wrong idea. Let's just try to scavenge for supplies first and we'll—"
"NO! I want to see my granny NOW!" Harlow's voice rose to a desperate shriek, his teeth gritted. Dr. Sunji recoiled, startled by the sudden outburst. He now regarded the boy with a cautious, calculating gaze.
"Harlow... I... I don't know how to make that happen. If I could, I would, but I don't know how," Dr. Sunji stammered, taking a step back. Harlow's face contorted with rage; he slowly advanced on Dr. Sunji, fists clenched.
"Are you lying to me?" Harlow accused, his voice low and dangerous.
"No, why would I lie?" Dr. Sunji replied, his voice carefully neutral.
"...I don't know... but it feels like you're lying," Harlow retorted, his eyes narrowing.
The tension crackled in the air. Harlow's expression remained furious until his gaze fell upon the torn clothes on the floor. A flicker of recognition crossed his face, and he bent down, snatching up a piece of the fabric. He held it up to Dr. Sunji, his voice thick with emotion.
"These... these are my grandma's clothes," he whispered.
...
Yowaya slumped in the front seat, his gaze fixed on the photo of him and Fukui. The Ferris wheel. A bittersweet memory surfaced; their shared laughter, the carefree joy before they boarded. It had been a perfect ending to their day.
Closing his eyes, Yowaya drifted back in time, not to the Ferris wheel, but further, to the moment he contemplated the job offer. Back to District 8, back to Fukui.
My memories... they always soften around the edges when it comes to her. I focus on the good times, the laughter, and conveniently forget the rest. Not this time.
The Ferris wheel scene replayed in his mind, but with a different focus. Fukui's flushed cheeks, not from the summer heat as he'd assumed, but from a different source of tension.
"More water? If you're too warm, we could..." Yowaya offered, his voice laced with concern.
"It's not that," Fukui replied, her eyes meeting his. "Why do you always feel the need to prove yourself?"
Yowaya paused, the question catching him off guard. "I don't know," he finally admitted, his voice barely a whisper.
Fukui's lip quivered. "The monsters... they're more active in the district you're transferring to. It's dangerous. What if something happens to you? Don't you care about how I feel? If you were killed..." Her words caught in her throat, as if speaking the fear aloud would make it a reality.
Yowaya's brow furrowed. He reached out, his arm enveloping her. "Fukui, I know it's hard, but this is my job, my calling. I can handle it, I have to. And I won't let anything keep me from coming back to you." He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.
"But you're putting yourself in more danger for no reason. You could stay here... Please, decline the transfer. Forget the badge, forget being an officer. Just... be with me." Fukui's voice cracked, tears welling in her eyes. "If I were you, I'd say no. I'd kiss me, and I'd stay."
Yowaya felt a lump form in his throat, blinking back his own tears. He leaned closer, his voice a soft murmur. "I can't turn my back on this. It's who I am. But I promise, I won't be gone long. I'll call, I'll text, every chance I get. And hey, look on the bright side, you'll get a break from this hothead for a while." He attempted a smile, but it faltered.
"This isn't a joke..." Fukui retorted, turning away, her voice thick with disappointment.
Silence fell between them. Yowaya stared out at the horizon, the vibrant cityscape blurring as his thoughts churned. Duty or love? Was it truly an either/or choice? He shook his head, dispelling the thought. It wasn't that simple. But then, what was it?
Yowaya's eyes snapped open, the memory fading. He touched his cheek, surprised to find it damp. Had he been crying?
How did I not even notice?
...
"Huh? You're telling me my grandma's a monster? Are you crazy? That's insane..." Harlow's voice trailed off, his eyes fixed on the shredded clothes scattered across the floor. Dr. Sunji, leaning against the wall, observed Harlow intently.
"It's just a hypothesis, Harlow," Dr. Sunji replied calmly. He discreetly checked his monster radar—the screen was blank. No blips, no signs of monstrous activity... except for the single, glaring red dot that pulsed over Harlow's location. With a shrug, Dr. Sunji slipped the device back into his pocket.
"Well, I'm going to check the other houses. Let me know when you're done here," Dr. Sunji said, heading towards the front door. He stepped out into the eerie quiet of the street and crossed to the neighboring house.
Alone in the ravaged kitchen, Harlow's gaze drifted to the gaping hole in the wall. Then, something caught his eye on the floor—a crumpled piece of paper peeking out from beneath a pile of shattered plates. Curiosity piqued, he walked over, knelt down, and carefully retrieved the paper. As he smoothed out the creases, he recognized his grandmother's handwriting:
Dear Harlow,
I hope this letter finds you well. I want you to know that I'm doing just fine, so please don't worry too much about me. The neighborhood has gotten a bit kinder since folks heard about you being in the detention center. Some of the neighbors even stopped by to see how I'm doing. It's strange, but it's nice to know they're looking out for me. I guess people can surprise you sometimes.
Did you get the manga I sent you—Gods Don't Bleed, Vol. 1? I hope you enjoyed it as much as I thought you might. It's a little darker than your usual reads, but I know you like those stories with a twist. When you get a chance, write me back, and I promise I'll send you the next volume. It's always good to have something to look forward to, right?
I miss you every day, Harlow. But knowing you're safe makes my heart lighter. I think about you all the time and hope you're keeping your spirits up. Remember that you're never alone, no matter how far away you feel.
Take care of yourself sweetie, and write back soon.
All my love,
Grandma
"Grandma?" Harlow whispered. He stared at the letter, his mind reeling. Where was she? How could she have disappeared?
The image of his sweet, doting grandmother transforming into a monstrous creature seemed impossible. He sank onto the debris-strewn floor, his legs crossed, lost in a flood of memories of happier times.