Amber and Azure are walking on the sidewalk illuminated by bright lights. They watch men, women, and children having their good times. The eateries are full of people as usual as before. Auto rickshaws are busy picking up the hurried passenger.
Any kind of noise could be heard at that place. People laughing, exhaust vrooming, and food sizzling are filling the atmosphere. Sometimes, the air that night blew, touching every inch of the skin. That same air also brings a smoky smell to people's noses.
"Look at these weak pathetic living breathing being," thought Amber upon the people. "I want to rip and tear every one of them so bad," Azure said from deep inside herself.
The cheerful atmosphere that they see didn't bring any happiness to them. Instead, they look down upon them, filling more and more hatred and disgust toward themselves.
"How can they have fun when they polluted the air they breathe?" questioned Amber. "How could they make such a terrible smell in the air? Disgusting!" annoyed Azure.
The more they use their senses, the more stressed they become. They decided to go somewhere less packed and less bright. They finally reached the place they preferred, the alleyways. The place where there are no annoying voices, no horrendous smells, and no unpleasant sights.
What they could only hear is the sound of water flowing in the drain. They also could only smell the wet asphalt under their feet. The darkness all around them is the only thing they see now. As long as there is no human, they are pleased with it.
They know that humans created the alleyway but they are sure that it will disappear one day. Why don't we enjoy it for a little while before it's gone, they thought. Plus, the things that humans created will lead them to their doom. By using their creation, we can track them and then crush them to bloody bits.
They walk until they meet two homeless old women. They kneel in front of the women and look deeply into their tired old eyes.
"Dear…, we are hungry... Please give us some food…," said one of the poor women as she shakingly lend out both of her hands to them. "Please dear…, just give us any kind of food… We will appreciate it…," another poor woman spoke up and did the same thing to them. Amber looks at her and said, "Do humans always abandon other humans? Does it mean humans are selfish being on the planet?" The women look at each other, "Dear…, it's okay… There's nothing you need to be sad about…," she said while shivering. "No, I'm not sad," she explained coldly, "Azure, looks like we found another lowest of the lowest. Let's dispose of them, now." "Dear…, what are you doing…? If you want to help us…, please be gentle," begged the woman calmly despite being scared. "It's okay, we will. Just close your eyes and we will help you," said Azure as both of them closely and gently hug both of the poor old women.
The women do as they have been told to. The only thing they could hear, smell, and feel is the cold breeze of the night.
Bite!
The poor old women get bitten on their necks. They could feel the sharp fangs penetrating their skin, flesh, and vein. Amber and Azure bite them even harder and deeper. The women try to push them away but unfortunately, their mere strengths are not enough.
Amber finally releases her victim go followed by Azure. Both of the women put their cold hands onto the bite wound. The consistent pain in their neck they feel is unbearable. They feel something burning hot flowing in their neck.
"Argh…, argh…, argh…," both of the women grunt in pain. "It won't take long. Just relax and it will go away," said Amber.
The women begin to writhe in pain as time goes on. They start to have uncontrollable seizures from head to toe. Their eyes are moving rapidly in every single direction. The air keeps coming in and out of their mouth.
Thud!
They suddenly stop and their body lay still on the ground. Amber and Azure just stare at them without emotions or remorse.
"Let's go, Azure. We are done here. It's time to find a place to sleep," said Amber. Azure just nodded while looking at the dead bodies with pure dissatisfaction. They both leave the place with two dead poor old women lying beside the drain. They guarantee that no one will find the dead bodies, at least for a while.
After they leave, the breeze continues to blow through the alleyway. The finger of one of the bodies begins to twitch and the other one starts to open her eye.
***
Click! Whirr…, Chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, whirr… Thwip! Whirr…!
Grigoriy takes the paper that has a screenshot from the printer. He then pins it on the corkboard and wraps the pin with a red tread. The thread is connected to the other paper that is also connected to the other papers. The whole corkboard is decorated with printed papers and red threads.
"There we go, another screenshot," said Grigoriy as he brushes his dusty hands clean. "That's a lot. I can't believe we could gather this much information," amazed Ayca. "It has happened a few months ago, it's not that surprising," interpreted Grigoriy.
He takes a mechanical pencil and a clipboard that has a few papers clipped together. Ayca also does the same thing and then stands beside him.
"So, if Amber and Azure are the cause of the monsters' emergence, then does it mean these women are not human in the first place?" questioned Grigoriy. "From what we know, both of them can turn people into monsters, and then the monsters could infect other people. It is a serious disease," said Ayca. "It is. We must find the solution quickly. Now, let's take a look at their characteristics, shall we?" said Grigoriy as he writes down something on the paper.
"First, these creatures have… let's just say indescribable look. They also have enormous size when compared to regular humans," said Grigoriy. "Some of them are quadrupedal, some are bipedal, and in rare cases, they are legless. From what we have gathered, these creatures are nocturnal," said Ayca. "The characteristic that they also have are that humans are their main diet. So far, no report about farm animals has been killed horribly." "Also, the victims of these monsters' attacks are usually found in remote places such as alleyways, woods, lakes, and bizarrely, houses." "These monsters are capable of disguise as normal humans. This is seriously worrisome. We can't just capture them openly."
As they discuss, jot everything down on the sheets of paper. Points by points could be read on the white paper.
Grigoriy speaks, "So some quick recap, there are monsters that could disguise as humans, could infect and eat us, bigger than us, and only hunt at night." Ayca replies, "Yes. But how about Amber and Azure? Does this two are infected by these monsters or not? Are these two even humans in the first place?" "That is what you and I want to know. What we all here must know. Think of it, if these two are humans, how they could kill 10 soldiers in a short period?" "I think that it doesn't even prove that they are not humans. Maybe they are asymptomatic, they are infected but they don't have any clear symptoms." "Are you sure Ayca? I mean… if they are asymptomatic, they wouldn't have super-inhuman-power. They would have been a normal regular everyday human."
Grigoriy and Ayca could feel their head spinning, confused with these women. This is so much more confusing than schizophrenia, they thought.
"How about we talk about the monsters' human form shall we?" asked Grigoriy as he continues to write more points on the white sheet of paper. "Alright, can we talk about their faces first? Then, we are going to talk about their walking posture," Ayca also begins to click her mechanical pencil. "So, their face is reported so pale with dark circles around their eyes. They are also rumored to walk slowly with a hunchback posture." "From what I have observed, they also will not respond to their surroundings when they are in their human form as if they are deaf." "But here it says that they only respond aggressively when their head receives a trauma physically. When that happened, they tend to bite the attacker."
"Wait, is that how the infection spreads faster?" they thought as they look at each other. "We are in huge trouble…," said Grigoriy as Ayca replies, "You are right…,"
"Hold on, is it legal to capture people and examine them?" asked Ayca with panic. "If we could, we need to get the mayor's opinion first!" said Grigoriy to Ayca. "This is bad! We need to call the mayor quickly! The phone!" Ayca requested him. Grigoriy immediately grabs his phone and calls the mayor's number, "I'm calling!" Ayca only hopes the call will be answered as they hear the ringing from the phone.
***
A humongous cage is placed steadily right there in the middle of the woods. A group of soldiers dressed as plants and leaves so they can camouflage to their surroundings. They are waiting patiently for prey to get trapped inside the cage. No one knows when the cage will trap the prey, nor the cage will effectively work.
Inside the cage, there is an average-sized humanoid dummy. The dummy not only looks similar to humans but also has a texture like humans too. It is also filled with red liquid that smells like human blood. It also has a speaker that could emit voice via a microphone.
The cage is placed in the center of a 200-meter radius zone. The secured area is surrounded by detectors that are connected to the observation base. Inside the base, there are gadgets, equipment, and tools. A lot of observers are busy getting everything in perfect condition.
"Come on monster, get in the cage, and eat the bait like a good boy," said Hao Yu observing via camera. Saratha waited with a dart gun, blending in with her surroundings.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
"Captain! A movable object is coming into our radar zone!" reported one soldier. "Good! Everyone, get ready! Call the monster now!" ordered Hao Yu to his team. "Sergeant! Our target is entering the zone! Get ready!" told Hao Yu via walkie-talkie. "Sir! Yes, sir!" replied Saratha through the walkie-talkie, "Get your guns ready!" "Hello! Hi! Is there anyone there?! I'm so lonely… I want a friend…," said Hao Yu.
The doll emits Hao Yu's voice loudly from inside the cage. Everyone is waiting in their position to see the abomination with their own eyes. No one could even imagine what their target will look like. The dot on the radar screen keeps on moving rapidly.
"Captain! The target is 175 meters away from the trap!" called out the soldier.
How can that beast be moving so fast under a second? Hao Yu shakes off the feeling, he begins to focus back on the mission.
"140 meters!"
Even though none show any emotions, deep down they are very astonished. If this target could move this fast, how does it look then?
"105 meters!"
We are not hunting down an animal, aren't we? They could ask the question to their leader but it's better to keep shut.
"70 meters!"
Maybe it's an animal, yeah, the fastest animal on land. But come to think of it, why do we need a whole group to hunt this one animal down?
"35 meters!"
Just a second later, we will the target's look. That's what they thought, hoping that it is not as hideous as they imagine.
"Zero!"
Hao Yu immediately talk to Saratha using the walkie-talkie. "Sergeant, please respond. What is the condition of the target?" Saratha replied, "Hideous, captain. Indescribably hideous. You should check on the camera." Hao Yu take a look at the monitor screen with shock.
"Oh, my goodness…"
The camera shows what is going on with the cage. There is a creature with a bizarre appearance sniffing around the cage. Everyone's eyes are glued to the screen, they can't comprehend its look. They just hope that this creature gets into the cage and does no harm.
"Hey there! Hello! Come on in!" Hao Yu's voice called out to the odd massive beast. The monster is distracted by the dummy and thus begins to enter the cage. The beast slowly approaches the dummy and investigates by smelling it. "Get in! Get in there! Get inside!" these words keep on repeating concurrently with their heartbeat.
CLANG!
The trap door immediately shut behind the huge monster. The monster starts to panic, making the cage shake violently. It scratches, bangs, and bites to get out of the metal cage. People who witness it could the metal begin to bend and bow.
BANG!
Saratha shot the monster with the tranquilizer, but it shows no effect. She is confused about the outcome but remains calm as she waits for Hao Yu's order.
"Sergeant! Shoot it one more time! We have no time to waste!" ordered Hao Yu. "Roger that, Captain!" she immediately reloads the gun with another sedative dart.
BANG!
Another sedative dart pierces through the hideous monster's skin. The monster begins to slow down its rage inside the cage.
"Sergeant! Another one! We need to make it fall into a deep sleep!" Hao Yu ordered. "Copy that, Captain!" another sedative dart immediately got reloaded into the gun.
BANG!
She managed to shoot the monster with the third tranquilizer. Finally, the raging monster falls inside that cage and stops.
Hao Yu step out from the observation base and goes straight to the cage. He takes a look at the sleeping monster from outside the cage. "What kind of creature are you?" he thought to himself. The sound of the monster breathing and snoring could be heard.
"Captain! Look behind you!" warned his teammate via walkie-talkie. He turned around and was shocked by another hideous figure in front of him.
POW!
BZZZZZTKTKTKTKTKTKTKT!!!