When Zane saw the man pulling a knife on his best friend, time froze, and then a lot of questions popped in his head. There were too many to answer, too many to count, but they all started with a desperate 'why': Why now? Why Ben? Why not me?

But a piercing scream halted his thoughts before he could find any answers. He turned to see Ben on the ground, clutching his right arm, blood pooling around him.

Panic surged, transforming into a singular, horrifying realization: his best friend is dying. However, by then, he was already sprinting, and when Zane reached his target, he threw himself with all his weight.

The impact barely moved the man, but it was enough to make him drop the knife. Now, face-to-face with the assailant, Zane realized just how much smaller he was in comparison.

Yet, it wasn't the man's size that frightened him—it was his eyes, burning with rage. At least now, those eyes were focused on him.

Yet, as soon as hope started brewing, a knife rose from under the man's skin, landing in his hand, and before Zane could scream, he felt something piercing his chest.

Looking down, he saw the source of his pain, a knife still embedded where he felt excruciating pain, and the sight sent his eyes rolling.

---

Moments later, a police officer, alerted by the commotion, quickly arrived. He took in the scene: Ben bleeding profusely, Zane unconscious with a knife protruding from his chest, and the assailant standing over them.

He took his weapon out and spoke few but vital words in his radio before shouting at the man:

"PUT YOUR HANDS UP. NOW!"

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The man followed suit and turned toward the police officer. Surprisingly, he obeyed every command, slowly lowering himself to his knees.

The tension in the air was palpable; both parties were on edge, the fear and hostility almost tangible. The cop began moving toward the man, cautious with each step, the pressure mounting with every passing second.

Suddenly, distant police sirens began to wail, triggering something within the man. A wicked smile spread across his face, and a knife grew from his hand. With a swift, fluid motion, he hurled the blade at the officer.

The cop's eyes widened in shock, his reaction a split-second too slow. The knife landed itself in his thigh, pain searing through his leg.

Reflexively, the officer pulled the trigger, but the agony in his leg threw off his aim. The bullet went wide, hitting the man in the shoulder instead of his core.

The impact was brutal, the man's body jerking back from the force of the shot. Yet, instead of crumpling to the ground, his smile only widened, a disturbing blend of pain and pleasure.

The officer, gritting his teeth against the pain, tried to steady his aim, but the criminal was already moving.

As he was about to shoot, movements behind the man diverted his attention. Tendrils of dark, viscous substance began to seep from one of the victim's wounds, writhing and expanding like living shadows.

Without warning, the knife embedded in Zane's chest was absorbed into the biomass. A tendril formed from the substance, taking the shape of a knife and shooting toward the assailant with terrifying speed.

The man screamed as the tendril-knife impaled him, a blood-curdling sound that was abruptly cut off as the biomass enveloped him.

The conversion was grotesque and swift; the assailant's body was absorbed into the writhing mass.

Zane's body jerked violently, shifting and expanding as the entity took control. A monstrous head emerged from his chest, and the form began to grow.

The police officer watched in horror as its limbs elongated, twisting into grotesque shapes.

The parasitic entity lashed out indiscriminately. Tendrils whipped through the air, striking down anyone within reach.

Ben, already grievously injured, was caught in the chaos, his cries-now-whispers silenced as the biomass consumed him.

The police officer attempted to intervene, firing his weapon at the creature Zane had become. Bullets had little effect, either absorbed by the biomass or passed through harmlessly.

The officer soon fell, his body tangled and absorbed by the ravenous parasite.

The only sounds left are the irregular pulse of the creature's heart and the distant howls of sirens approaching.