“Interesting.” The officer in front of Elias crossed his arms as he stared at him, his face devoid of any real concern.

It took an ungodly amount of patience for Elias to not slam the table between them. He came here expecting a solution not an attitude.

His father had been missing for days.

“It's been over a month, officer. Month. A man has disappeared and his son is right here trying to get help for weeks.” More than rage, Elias felt numb at the dismissive way these public defenders treated his case.

Shaking his head, the officer leaned back in his chair. Looking at the ceiling he let Elias stew in silence for a few minutes before finally speaking, “Look kid. I will say this once since we are fellow humans.”

Still comfortable in his chair, the officer met Elias’s gaze, “Howl family, was it? Do you understand what will happen if I register your case?”

Elias grit his teeth. He knew, all too well. The racism against the humans, the chokehold beastmen had over his race.

And this country was supposed to be the first human governor’s wet dream of harmony between the races. What a shitshow.

“Going by the look on your face. I think you know. I will still spell it out for you just in case.” Correcting his hat, the officer’s face hardened.

“As soon as I file this report one of my non-human colleagues will see it. Calls will be made and by the time you reach home some very unwelcome people will be there waiting for you.” The officer’s words poured over Elias like cold water, much to his indignation.

Elias closed his eyes, he did not need to hear the rest. But what else was he supposed to do? Oh yeah his father disappeared, the man might be dead at best or a cultist beastman’s favourite snack time at worst.

In both cases he was expected to call it a day and move on with his life.

Elias stood up from his seat and left the interrogation room without sparing the officer another glance. He was done here.

Out of the gates, Elias couldn't help but shoot a glare back at the castle-like structure that they called the police station. Some help they were.

As he walked on the cobbled roads surrounded by the bustling streets he felt powerless. He had hands but no hold over his life.

Deep in his thoughts he kept walking until a shadow cast itself upon Elias. Craning his neck, he met eyes with a man a whole two heads taller than him.

Another, a much more reasonably heighted man, walked from behind the towering man blocking Elias’s path.

“Elias Blackthorn, right?”

Elias couldn't help but notice the obvious inhuman features on both of them.

Both had furred pointy ears that twitched from time to time. Going by what he knew, Elias placed the short man as someone with the fox bloodline.

Then there were the sharp teeth that the taller beast man kept trained on him. The difference in their sizes also made it apparent that this bastard hailed with direbeast bloodline. Needlessly big and with strength that rivalled tens of human men.

It was tough being a human minority in the United Kingdoms.

“I suppose I do go by that name. What's it to you?” Elias replied with a little too much anger in his voice.

“Whoa there, fella. Only if looks could kill.” The fox man raised his hands with a fake smile. Turning around he studied the busy road, his gaze soon stopping on a narrow alley nearby. Pointing at the obvious shady scene he smirked.

“Tell ya what, that alley looks perfect. How about we talk there? Settle this like strong humans.”

Before Elias could say anything, the other beastman put his hand on his shoulder. The brick shattering grip on his shoulder tightened and Elias couldn't help but groan.

There would be no escape.

–

A punch landed on his gut, soon his jaw, his sides, after another round Elias stopped counting.

“And that's why. Ya don’t. Fuck with the Howl family.”

In between the assault, Elias tried to shield his face from the upcoming jab but the foxman changed his trajectory to deliver a liver shot instead.

Spitting to the side, the foxman wiped the sweat on his forehead, “Phew that was quite the workout.”

On the ground clutching his stomach, Elias raised his head.

How pathetic was it that he felt glad that the one beating him down wasn't the direblood monster but the foxman.

“Taro. I think we’re done here, dump his ass in the bin.”

Nodding his head the towering beastman came forward no longer guarding the alleyway.

Elias saw the shadow of the direblood wash over him and he – gave up.

_

When Elias came to his senses, he was hurting all over. In a dark cramped place his nose assaulted by the thick stench of hot garbage.

"Oh, gods. Get me outta here." Despite the disgust brought on by being half buried in trash. Elias brought his knees to his chest.

"This — should do it." Muttering he kicked; both his legs slamming rusted metal with all the strength he could muster.

Stolen novel; please report.

Thankfully it was enough, with the door of the garbage bin open, light hit Elias face with no mercy. Covering his eyes with his dirtied hands he mumbled curses under his breath.

After his eyes got used to the light he crawled out. Every muscle and bone in his body screamed in pain but he gritted his teeth and pushed his way out of the bin falling over on the dirty road.

Elias's groans echoed in the narrow alley as he crawled, battered and bruised. The gravel on the cobblestone dug into his already battered body, adding another layer of discomfort to his predicament.

Still in a world of pain from the earlier beating, Elias somehow managed to bring himself to lean on the walls right beside the garbage bin.

With a sigh, he took in his surroundings.

A narrow alley, a dead end. Outside the alley the world kept moving, paying his sad state no mind. Elias shook his head, clearly holding back some emotions.

What's the point? Maybe I really should just disappear.

Elias shook his head killing that train of thought, "I can't die like this in a ditch. Not while those dogs live. Damnit!"

His frustration rang through the narrow alley.

"My word, what a poor fellow!"

Elias' eyes widened in surprise. He would've stood up only if his body wasn't battered all over. For a few minutes he couldn't even see who spoke but he felt something was off, beyond off.

"Walk away fella, I have a knife." He declared in hopes of scaring whatever or whoever it was. Another bout of silence as the feeling of strangeness creeped in.

Soon an old man walked into the alley, no footsteps accompanied his steps. Dressed in a vintage noble suit complete with a ridiculous top hat on the head. The old man even gelled his greying moustache to take the shape of bull horns.

"And what pray-tell will little Elias do with it, I wonder!" Cupping his chin, the old man asked. "Oh my, something reeks HORRIBLY around here, does it not?"

Elias, still covered in grime, stared at the old man. It almost felt like a cartoon character had walked out of a tv, "Wha-"

"Alas it is not a bother. You look just fine. Tell me Elias, my boy." The old man squatted down right beside Elias. Visibly creeping out the young man.

"Do you not wish to have the power to get back at those slimy wealthy beastmen that got you here?"

Elias back stiffened, reminded of the people behind his current predicament. For a moment, he questioned if the dispute between him and those furry eared bastards was really irreconcilable. Ultimately he had to nod his head, one of them had to go, "Y–Yes?"

"That's the spirit, boy wonder." The old man stood back up, "Wait right here; I will be right back."

Elias watched the old man hop his way, disappearing into the crowd of the busy road outside the alley. Right when he thought things couldn't get any weirder he sucked in another cold breath.

"Ah yes, boy wonder I am back!" The old man said, his voice disturbingly jovial. Behind him stood a wooden cart filled to the brim with what can only be described as random shit.

His back against the wall, Elias gulped, he saw the creepy old bugger walk out of the alley only to come back from the opposite direction - the dead end. Something felt really off with the older gentleman. And that was ignoring how he had simply vanished then appeared with a creaking wooden cart in tow.

"H-how did you.." Before Elias could finish the sentence. The old man threw a hard covered book right in Elias' face.

Elias groaned while the old man corrected his ridiculous top hat and broke out in laughter. "How indeed, little Elias. Life is filled with strange wonders. Just like you."

Disoriented by the sudden attack, Elias shielded his throbbing face on instinct. But the second blow he expected never came. Amidst his shock, he heard the old man’s words, “You may end your story today as fate ordained or you may live, become a thorn that bleeds them. Show me a good story, Elias.”

Elias’ eyes shot open yet all he saw was the cold empty alley.

He would've gladly written the whole encounter off as a hallucination caused by getting hit in the head a few times. If only it wasn't for the black book resting in his lap.

Elias felt his hair stand on end, staring at the book in his lap an old memory resurfaced about the time when his father narrated his first ghost tale.

—

The lawless lands. An entire continent filled to the brim with criminals and monsters. Beasts and entities of unimaginable power walked these parts and even among these horrors there remained those whose names had remained forbidden to all its denizens.

Somewhere deep, deep within these lands. There stood a cabin with peace that seemed disturbing even for a place as dreadful as the lawless lands.

“Oh no. no. no. This can’t be real!” Loid yelled as he covered his bleeding shoulder, the bullet had torn through it.

While he was escaping the slavers, he had prayed for the first time in a long while and this is what it got him.

Despite the welcoming peace of woods around the cabin, there remained a sense of wrongness. Loid recalled some of the stories he had heard. About the cabin that didn't exist. An ironic name because the cabin in question turned out to be very real as it was staring him in the face.

And if the stories were anything to go by, the slavers would be a better bet than to approach whatever the hell laid waiting in the cabin.

Once his decision was made Loid shot the other way around running. He ran for a long time, his path followed no rhyme or reason, just desperation.

“N–No that can't be.” His knees gave out. Whether out of exhaustion or pure shock he didn't know it didn't matter because he had ended up right where he started. Near the cabin.

Loid kept staring at the cabin in disbelief. Something within him stirred at the sight. Despite having no strength left in him he stood, then he started walking.

“What. Stop.” He tried in futility. His body now with a mind of its own had kept moving. Weakness washed over him, the closer he got to the cabin the more tired he felt.

He saw his hand dry up, the life within them leaking out at a visible pace. Another scream died in his throat as he was now just skin and bones, too weak to even open his mouth.

By the time his shrivelled hand made contact with the cabin’s door his body, his soul, everything that was him fell apart.

Within the cabin in a room, a book lay upon an aged table. It was ominous how the shadows danced in the presence of the grimoire but the person looking at it remained unphased. The hood covering their head shook as the person nodded to themself.

"The first lich was it. The truth seeker’s system honours me with such a title. And all it took was to deny the world my death, deny the lady of her due." Their robes hummed along the person as they tried to stifle their laughter but ultimately failed. Maddening cackles roared through the empty rooms of the lost cabin.

Raising his hands to the sides the person turned their head up. The hood covering their face fell revealing a skull. A skeleton might be the only thing that remained but his soul remained alongside him.

"HAHAHA! There, my legacy of unlife shall continue to scorn those who deprive us of eternity." Blue flames danced in his skull’s sockets with every word.

In between the fits of cackles, the robbed skeleton stopped monologuing to take another look at his great work. Yet when he brought his attention back to the old table there only lay dust.

Hmm, an empty table? Blue fire dimmed in the skeleton's hollow eyes.

The table on which his legacy sat a few seconds ago was now empty,

No, there was something there.

A note.

"Greetings my skinny friend. This note is left here as a humble reminder that your "great work" has been put up for sale in my collection of marvels. In exchange for such a wondrous selfless contribution your payment shall be me owing you a favour.

Regards,

The Peddler."

Blue turned to deep red. Rising flames in the skeleton's skull reached the cabin’s roof.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH."

Every unseen horror in the woods stopped in their tracks at their master's heaven defying wail. One by one they played dead, even though they had been dead for a long time.

Ravens flew away from the dead trees as the ground trembled from the harrowing scream that came out of the deepest part of the woods.