The night was thick with shadows, the air heavy with the promise of violence. The streets of the city were a battleground, dominated by ruthless street gangs that claimed their territories with iron fists. But none of them could have anticipated the arrival of a figure so terrifying, so merciless, that their dominance would be shattered in mere moments.
The Black Angel had arrived.
His cloak billowed as he moved through the streets with deadly purpose, leaving behind a trail of carnage. The first gang he encountered didn't stand a chance. His movements were swift, precise, and brutal. He cut through them like a blade through paper, dispatching each member without a moment's hesitation. There were no screams, no last words—just the cold finality of death. Gang after gang fell, their leaders cut down, their followers silenced forever.
Mike, working in a nearby store, had heard the chaos outside. The distant sound of gunfire, the screams, and the unmistakable thud of bodies hitting the pavement. But it wasn't until the Black Angel himself appeared at the store's door that the true terror of the night set in.
Mike froze as the dark figure entered, his face obscured by the mask and hood of the Black Angel. The chilling aura around him sent a shiver down Mike's spine. He had heard of the Black Angel, the whispered rumors of his ruthless vengeance against the criminal underworld. But now, seeing him in the flesh, Mike understood why they called him that. The figure seemed more like a shadow than a man, his presence suffocating.
Mike's heart raced. He realized—he had spoken to this man before. This was the same figure who had approached him in the alley, the one who had told him to walk away from the darkness of the streets. This was the Black Angel.
"You..." Mike stammered, his voice barely a whisper.
The Black Angel's eyes met his through the mask, piercing and cold. "Leave," he commanded in a low, guttural voice. "This is not your fight."
Mike hesitated. Every instinct told him to run, to flee from the nightmare unfolding before him, but something rooted him to the spot. He glanced outside, where the sounds of gunshots continued, followed by the sickening silence of death. His heart raced with conflicting emotions—fear, awe, and a sense of helplessness.
"You have no place here," the Black Angel continued, his tone final, devoid of any warmth.
With a gulp, Mike turned and fled, stepping into the night as the Black Angel continued his massacre. Behind him, the sound of destruction echoed through the streets. The gangs, once a terror in the neighborhood, were now nothing more than victims of a greater force—one that didn't care for alliances, for power, or for mercy.
The Black Angel was on a mission, and nothing would stop him. Mike ran, but the shadow of the Angel loomed over him, a reminder of the terrible figure now cleaning up the streets in his own twisted way.
Mike stumbled through the streets, his heart pounding in his chest. The chaos from the Black Angel's rampage still echoed in his ears, but it was the gruesome scene outside the store that haunted him the most. As he fled, he caught glimpses of bodies littering the sidewalk, twisted and broken, the blood soaking into the asphalt like a macabre painting. The once vibrant street was now a wasteland, empty save for the remnants of a battle that had left no survivors.
As Mike rounded a corner, he froze. His eyes widened in disbelief. Standing just a few feet away from him, in the middle of the street, was a grotesque figure. It was him—the High Rise Devil.
The monstrous hybrid, a terrifying blend of man and bird, crouched hungrily over a dismembered body. His sharp, predatory eyes glinted in the moonlight as he tore into the flesh with unholy speed. His dark, leathery wings flickered in the night, casting eerie shadows on the ground. As Mike watched in horror, the creature paused mid-feast and turned his gaze toward him.
The High Rise Devil's face twisted into a disturbing smile, a grin that was both malevolent and amused. His eyes, glowing with an unnatural red hue, met Mike's and for a moment, time seemed to slow. Mike's breath caught in his throat as he stood frozen, paralyzed by the sight of the demon devouring its prey.
Without warning, the High Rise Devil pushed the body aside, his eyes never leaving Mike. He stood up, his towering figure even more imposing as he unfurled his wings, the tips scraping the ground. The wings stretched wide, casting a dark shadow over Mike as the creature's smile grew even wider.
Mike didn't wait to see what would happen next. Fear surged through him, propelling him into motion. He turned and ran, not daring to look back at the horrific sight. His legs moved on pure instinct as he made his way toward the parking lot, praying he would escape whatever nightmare was chasing him.
He reached his car, his hands shaking as he fumbled for the keys. The engine roared to life, and without a second thought, Mike slammed the car into gear and sped off, tires screeching against the pavement. The city blurred around him as he tried to put as much distance between himself and the High Rise Devil as possible.
But the creature was relentless. Mike's pulse quickened as he glanced in the rearview mirror, his heart skipping a beat when he saw a dark figure soaring through the air behind him. The High Rise Devil was following, his enormous wings cutting through the air with unnerving speed. The wings created a deafening whoosh, and Mike could hear the sound of the devil's flight getting closer.
Panic surged through Mike's veins as he slammed the accelerator to the floor, pushing the car faster and faster. But no matter how fast he drove, the creature kept up with him, flying just inches above the ground with terrifying precision. Its glowing red eyes locked onto him, a constant reminder of the nightmare that pursued.
Mike's mind raced. He couldn't outrun the High Rise Devil. There was no escape.
But then, just as suddenly as the pursuit had started, the High Rise Devil veered off. Mike glanced in the mirror once more, only to see the demon climb higher into the sky, its wings beating powerfully as it disappeared into the night. The sound of its flight faded, and for a brief, fleeting moment, Mike dared to believe he was safe.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
His hands trembling, Mike slowed the car, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He took a few shaky turns, desperate to get home, desperate to escape the madness that had engulfed him.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally pulled into his driveway. The weight of the night pressed down on him as he parked the car, his body completely drained. Without a second thought, he hurried inside, locking the door behind him.
Mike didn't care about the mess he had made, the dirt and grime on his shoes. He simply needed to hide, to forget everything he had seen. He stumbled into his bedroom, closing the blinds and crawling into bed, pulling the covers over his head.
The night had been too much, too unreal. He didn't know what was happening, why he was caught in the middle of it, but one thing was clear: the nightmare was far from over.
Back home
Mike lay in his bed, eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling. The image of the High Rise Devil’s glowing red eyes haunted him, chasing him into his nightmares. His body was still tense, his heart beating too fast for comfort, as though it couldn’t shake off the adrenaline. The darkness of the room offered no solace, no escape from the horrors of the night.
His mind kept replaying the encounter over and over. The Black Angel. The High Rise Devil. He could still hear the sickening crunch of bones as the creature had feasted on the body in the street. The way its wings had unfurled, spreading across the night sky like a monstrous omen. He had narrowly escaped, but for how long? The thought that the creature might be lurking just beyond the reach of the shadows filled him with dread.
Mike didn’t know how long he had been lying there in the dark, but the silence of the night had become suffocating. His pulse still drummed in his ears, a constant reminder that he wasn’t safe, that the nightmare wasn’t over. And he couldn’t help but wonder what kind of world he was living in now—a world where monsters roamed the streets and men in black cloaks dealt out brutal justice.
The clock ticked in the background, and Mike’s exhaustion began to catch up with him. His eyes slowly closed, but just as he drifted into a fragile sleep, the shrill ring of his phone jolted him awake. His body shot up in bed, the sudden movement sending pain through his limbs. He glanced at the screen, the name that appeared sending a chill through him.
It was his brother, Danny.
Mike didn’t hesitate. He answered the call, his voice shaky from the lingering fear.
“Mike? Are you okay?” Danny’s voice sounded frantic, tinged with panic. “I just heard what happened. You’re not hurt, are you?”
Mike swallowed hard, trying to steady his breathing. The events of the night were still too fresh in his mind, too raw. “I’m fine,” he lied. “But what the hell is going on, Danny? What did I just see out there?”
Danny’s voice dropped lower, his tone serious. “You saw him, didn’t you? The Black Angel.”
Mike’s stomach turned. The fact that his brother knew exactly what he had witnessed sent an eerie chill down his spine. “Yeah, I saw him,” Mike replied, his voice shaky. “But what I don’t get is... why? Why is he doing this? Who is he?”
Danny was silent for a moment before answering. “He’s not just some vigilante, Mike. The Black Angel... he’s something else. Something that’s been in the shadows for years. But it’s not just him you need to worry about. You’ve heard of the High Rise Devil, right?”
Mike’s stomach clenched. Of course, he had heard of the High Rise Devil. The stories had circulated for months, whispered by those who were foolish enough to get too close to the criminal underworld. A man—or something like a man—who tore through his enemies with savage brutality, leaving destruction in his wake.
“Yeah, I’ve heard the rumors,” Mike muttered, still trying to make sense of it all. “But what’s the connection between him and the Black Angel?”
Danny exhaled sharply. “I don’t know all the details, Mike. But I’ve been digging into it. There’s something going on—something bigger than the street gangs. The Black Angel is hunting down people connected to a network of criminal organizations, and the High Rise Devil... he’s something else entirely. He’s not just a killer; he’s been feeding off his victims for years.”
Mike felt a surge of anger rise within him. “Feeding off them? What the hell are you talking about?”
“I don’t know how to explain it,” Danny said, frustration creeping into his voice. “But this isn’t just some man who decided to terrorize the city for kicks. The High Rise Devil is part of something ancient, something connected to old myths and dark forces. They’re not just people, Mike. They’re monsters.”
Mike’s head swam with confusion. It all felt like a bad dream, but it wasn’t. He had seen the destruction firsthand. The cold, calculated manner in which the Black Angel dispatched his enemies. The grotesque, unnatural figure of the High Rise Devil tearing into his prey. It wasn’t just a nightmare—it was real.
Danny’s voice pulled him back to the present. “Listen to me, Mike. You need to get out of the city. You don’t know what you’ve gotten yourself involved in, and staying here is only going to make things worse. The Black Angel, the High Rise Devil... they’re not going to stop until they’ve completed whatever twisted mission they’ve set for themselves. And you being caught in the middle of it? It’s not something you can survive.”
Mike felt his chest tighten. The thought of running, of leaving everything behind, felt impossible. His life—his friends, his family, his work—was all here. But what was left of it now? The city had turned into a war zone, and Mike was no longer just a bystander. He was a part of this twisted game, whether he liked it or not.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Mike said firmly, his voice stronger now. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I’m not going to run from it.”
Danny was silent for a long moment, as if considering what to say next. Finally, he spoke, his tone softer. “You’re a fool if you stay, Mike. But I get it. Just... be careful. And if things get too bad, you call me. You hear me?”
Mike nodded, even though his brother couldn’t see him. “I will. Thanks, Danny.”
He ended the call and sat in the darkness, the weight of his brother’s words pressing on him. He was on his own now. No more excuses, no more safety nets. If he wanted answers, he was going to have to face the nightmare head-on.
The Black Angel. The High Rise Devil. The destruction they wrought. The city was no longer his home; it was a battleground, and he was stuck in the middle of it.
Mike knew what he had to do.
He had to survive.
----------------------------------------
The next day, Mike found himself back on the streets, trying to make sense of what had happened. The city felt different now—darker, more oppressive. It was as if the very air had shifted, charged with an unseen energy that made his skin crawl. He couldn’t shake the feeling that the Black Angel was still out there, watching, waiting. And the High Rise Devil? The memory of his predatory eyes haunted him at every turn.
As Mike walked through the alleyway near his apartment, he froze. A flicker of movement caught his eye. He wasn’t alone.
Turning sharply, he came face to face with a man cloaked in shadow. The figure didn’t move, didn’t speak, just watched him with an unreadable expression. Mike’s heart raced. He knew this man—he had seen him before, but he couldn’t remember where.
“You’ve been running from something, haven’t you?” the man said, his voice low and gravelly.
Mike’s eyes narrowed. “Who are you?”
The man smiled, a dark, knowing grin. “Let’s just say I’m someone who knows what’s coming. And you don’t want to be in the way when it arrives.”
Mike instinctively reached for the knife in his pocket, his fingers brushing the cold steel. But before he could make a move, the man was gone, vanishing into the shadows as quickly as he had appeared.
Mike stood there, shaken, wondering if he had just met someone more dangerous than the monsters he had seen before.