I never really thought there’d come a day when I hid from monsters in a sewage system, mostly because it never came to mind and it wasn’t the kind of thing to come up in a conversation.Anyway, bottom line is life is always full of surprises.Which is why as the stench struck my nose and the humidity caused my skin to crawl over, I could only be thankful for life.Yep, no need to think about it.Just be thankful that you are still alive…. Ugh, who am I kidding?This place reeks!I think I’m going to die.I can’t count the number of times I’ve wretched already.This is a new form of torture.The blue haired girl walked ahead of me with a steady gait while carrying Lincoln.How the hell are you not puking?This is so fucking emasculating.Okay maybe I’m focusing on the wrong things right now.Come on, man, get your act together.Hah, let’s do this.“Watch your step.” The blue haired girl suddenly said.Before I could get what she meant, I found myself falling.Shit.Splash… This is dis
“This doesn’t make any sense.” Leah remarked as she paced about. “The Fog appearing in a trial?... How is that possible?”I had already asked myself the same question and I had pulled up a blank thus far.“The Otherworldly projected in the trials are supposedly meant to be at a level where we can handle them with enough wits and skills. Based on my time here, there’s never been a recorded instance of the Fog appearing and making a move.”Wait, so it has appeared before?“Are you saying the Fog has appeared before?”Phoebe nodded. “Yeah. This should be the sixth time. The previous times, it only made a brief appearance before receding like a lie. In fact, the rumors were dismissed as an attempt to spark fear in cadets but now that it’s happened in a trial I’m in… I can’t help but recall them.”Based on how she was talking, Phoebe was definitely a year older than us.Why?... Because this was a new year and only a month had passed so far.There hasn’t been any rumor about the Fog appeari
( LEAH’S POV )Why?Why was this happening?How did everything turn out like this?Why were people so selfish?Just like what he did to mom, why do they always think it best to abandon those that were unable to act for themselves?How could they feel good doing such a thing?As human beings, weren’t we supposed to help each other?Weren’t we supposed to stand up for one another against the monsters that took everything away from us?So why would they still consider abandonment when things got tough or when the other person could no longer fight for themselves?Wasn’t it better to carry everyone along?Was it because it was easy?I guess the option of abandoning them and moving ahead was easy.But mom always said that something being hard doesn’t stop one from doing the right thing.Instead, those that choose to do the right thing even when it was hard were the true heroes and those that always chose the easy route, abandoning their comrades and acting out of selfishness were scum.Now
( Leah’s POV )A strange stench permeated the atmosphere.It was different from what I had to deal with in the sewers.No, unlike the sewage, the stench wasn’t because of the refuse.It felt like it was born out of the monsters that roamed the streets.Monster rats, zombies… Some moved in groups and the others moved solo.I didn’t plan on engaging them though.It was beyond me to attempt that with my condition.Unlike Jerry and Phoebe, I don’t have a Stigma to better my chances in a fight.Hah, I guess it doesn’t matter.I wonder when that thing plans to leave.Across the street from where I was, a giant rat with a pole stuck in it’s eye was on a rampage.Zombies didn’t escape it’s wrath as it gnawed on them with scraping metallic sounds following as it bit down on them.The scene was too gruesome to watch but I couldn’t turn away.My target was a building not too far from where it was.Based on its skyline, I made a bold guess.I might have a chance to scope the city from up there.J
Ugh, I can’t believe I’m still alive.I could have sworn that hit from Phoebe took me to the other side.The fuck did she pack in that punch?Was she planning on killing Leah?Crazy female!Hah, I guess it all worked out for the best.But then again, now that I think about it, Phoebe had a point.I’ve got only one working arm and Lincoln was unconscious.We are both unnecessary baggage that should be dropped.But Leah would never accept that.I knew her long enough to know that she’d rather put herself in danger for the sake of others.A worthy comrade.Heh, unfortunately, I’m only dead weight right now.I’m dragging her back from a chance at getting a Stigma.Was it selfish of me?I guess, but I only allowed it because I knew trying to convince her would be a waste of time.Hah, I hope she’s okay out there.Also, how come I don’t see Phoebe?Hmm, where did she go?Apart from an unconscious Lincoln and the occasional rats scurrying by, there was no-one else.She must be scouting the a
Fear.Primal fear.That was what I felt after seeing the fog.I could only make out shadows from a distance but even that was enough to cause my heart to palpitate strongly.I could hardly breathe but found it difficult to take my eyes away from it.Was that normal?It happened the last time and even now, it felt like it was drawing me in.Telling me to approach it.But the shadows… no, I’d be crazy to get closer.So I ran.Even when it was difficult to run, I didn’t stop.Because it was right behind us.I wanted to stay far away from it.I’m sure, Leah and Lincoln felt the same because they also ran like their lives depended on it.After all, it did.We only paused for short periods to catch our breaths before taking off again.Because of that, we got into trouble, not once but thrice.Several groups of zombies were after us.Thankfully, their speed bursts wasn’t enough to keep up with three scared humans.Yeah, that’s what we were.Scared and weak.But I hated that I couldn’t stand
When I learned about the Otherworldly, what came to my mind then was unspeakable entities incapable of being reasoned with.All they knew was death and destruction and they carried it out without fail.So it wasn’t like I was off the mark on that one.Of course, I never thought that they’d be capable of human speech.It never crossed my mind at any moment yet I experienced it twice.First the Faceless and now this… whatever it is.Both communicated with series of grating noises but weirdly enough, I could understand them.Was it a general effect?... Or just because this is a nightmare.“Jerry.”I turned back to find Leah, Lincoln and Phoebe staring at me weirdly.“Yeah?”“Who are you talking to?”“Don’t you hear it?”Their expressions answered it all.I was the only one that could hear it.For a second, I suspected it was my imagination playing tricks on me but I immediately shot that down.My imagination might be intrusive, but it wasn’t that intrusive.So there were only two explana
It was a standoff.Phoebe was already on the bridge, urging Leah to make a choice.Only two slots remained and it was difficult to pick.Or was it?... Honestly at this point, I knew it was hopeless struggling.We didn’t have much time anyway.Leah formed a fist but I’m sure she could tell that there was nothing that could be done.There was no going back now.Just as the standoff reached its peak, Leah spoke. “You guys should…”“Take Lincoln and go.”I had to stand up and do what I felt was right.Lincoln couldn’t be the one to stay behind and Leah had already done enough.I glanced at Phoebe but said nothing.I found it hard to blame her for acting on instincts.Even though it was a dream… no-one would want to experience the very real pain of dying.Especially with the high chance of dying in reality.Anyway, as long as I could hold on long enough for them to cross the bridge… I’d be fine, right?I wouldn’t be fine knowing Leah or Lincoln stayed back.My conscience would haunt me.“J