Chapter 8- Devil (Part 2)
Meanwhile, back inside the room, Kamine was having his biggest mental struggle so far. The dilemma he was in at the moment was like no other he faced in his life. Now, for someone who was born and raised in a cesspit like the slums, taking some life-deciding choices was basically an every-other-day thing for him and everyone else.
Nothing was guaranteed there, not even food and water which are the most important things for a human being. But, that being said, everyone in this place had grown accustomed to such things and they quickly learned how to adapt and overcome those hardships.
However, this matter was different… very different. The difference is that Kamine and the others were facing the complete unknown. They had not even a single idea about the monsters that invaded their slums, their names, their strength, their weak points, and everything else.
This was even their first time dealing with a monster straight out of Holem. That's why Kamine can't really create any plan that could be safe enough to execute and one which can guarantee his survival.
'No! Don't let that get into your head! I will definitely survive! The inner city is gonna help us. I'm sure… yes, that's absolutely going to happen. I just have to reach that place by any means. I can use these idiots to pave the path.'
Kamine wasn't some god-sent angel who wanted to save his fellow survivors. He only made that speech for one reason and one reason only… to guarantee his survival. Using those idiots and getting rid of them as bait while making his way toward the inner city walls is his best bet.
Grinning secretly, a wicked look flash through his eyes.
"Kamine? Oi, Kamine!" Suddenly, a voice called for him from behind.
"Huh?" Turning around, he saw the group of survivors looking at him confusedly.
"Are we going to do it or not?"
In their eyes, Kamine could see that no matter what he said now, they will follow him and the reason for that is a basic human instinct. Because Kamnie stepped up in such tough times and presented himself as the most confident one with a plan for survival, the others instinctively made him the leader. They didn't have to discuss this matter or even be aware of it as their subconscious brains worked their magic.
Without much effort, the middle-aged man had gained a temporary group of followers.
'Good. Really good.' Smiling, Kamine scanned each and every one of the survivors.
"We will leave. The inner city is our target."
Hearing that, they all nodded understandingly and didn't try to argue much. The choices were already non-existent so it was pointless to nitpick about this decision.
'But the problem is… How are we goi-' Before Kamine could finish that trail of thoughts, something happened.
*BOOOM* *SWISH*
Suddenly, out of nowhere, the whole house shook violently as a loud sound echoed everywhere, almost breaking everyone's eardrums.
"WOAAAH!!" Kamine shook left and right before falling violently to the ground. The other survivors were no exception. They were all thrown into a frenzy as they smashed into the ground.
"What the fuck happened?!!" Kamine stood up and looked around him. The loud banging stopped immediately. However, that only made the survivors pale even harder.
Slowly, their eyes looked up in pure terror, their bones shuddering as a suffocating sense of dread weighed down on their souls. They had sensed it… the looming presence on the ceiling, moving ever-so-slowly yet with each move it made, it shook the whole house as if it was merely made out of thin sheets of paper and not real, thick wood.
"What…"
No one could move nor have the energy to scream or run away, they were frozen with deep, carnal emotions of fear.
*BAM* *BAM*
The monster's steps continued for a few more seconds before it stopped somewhere on top of the room. Everyone instinctively held their breath. Maybe it was the sheer shock from the looming danger that appeared out of nowhere unlike any monster they have seen before or maybe it was because they have accepted that they were now more dead than they ever could be. Either way, fate was sealed.
*BOOOOOOOM*
The next second, a loud explosion errupted as the ceiling was smashed open as if it was made out of eggshells. Bits and pieces of wood fell down to the ground like a deadly torrent. Many were hit by heavy objects.
The sound of bones breaking and skulls popping like balloons was the only thing audible for a good 2 seconds. Then, what followed after was something akin to all hell breaking loose.
"AAAAAAAAGHHHHH!! My leg!!"
"HELP!!"
"NO! NO!!"
"MY ARMS!! I'M STUCK!!! UGH!!"
Shrieks of pain shook the untouched survivors awake from their trance and made them quickly focus on the abomination that did all of this. From the hole created in the ceiling, one eye could be seen looking through. However, even with that minimal view of whatever was outside, it was more than enough to send their already shaken souls into a chaotic frenzy. That eye was akin to horror itself gazing at them.
It was not that different from the eyes of the monsters that attacked the slums and could even belong to one monster of the same species. However, that was where all similarities end. The sheer pressure that the presence of that monster exerted merely from one gaze was unlike anything they had ever witnessed before.
It was savage, lustful for blood, emotionless, and yet filled to the brim with a desire to shred its prey to pieces and taste their flesh. Oh, not to mention the fact that the eye of this monster alone was half the size of one of those fear-rank creatures. The size was incomparable!
After looking inside for what should've been only a few palpable moments, it moved again, vanishing away from their vision. However, that only made their fear grow bigger and bigger.
"MOVE YOUR ASSES IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DIE!!!" Kamine shouted as he dashed toward the exit of the house. His face was as pale as a sheet of paper.
Luckily, his scream shook them awake again and finally made them react. So, without even looking at the ones that got stuck under the huge logs, they all rushed to leave the house as fast as possible. Staying there for a second more and they could end up being buried alive!
However, there was simply no way this desperate attempt to run away would come out successful.
*BOOOOOOM*
Another hit came down on the already fragile ceiling, destroying another huge chunk of it. Kamine's already frowning expression became even sourer as he glared ahead of him. The monster… had blocked the exit.
'Fuck!! Fuck! Fuck it all!!' Screaming in his head, he quickly looked around desperately, searching for another exit. The windows were blocked with wood, and no other door was built into this house other than the one that was inaccessible at the moment.
*BOOOOOOM*
The third violent hit came down on the house again. The people were thrown into the ground helplessly, like pieces of paper being tossed around by the howling wind.
At this point, there was almost nothing left of the ceiling and for a moment, the full looming silhouette of the monster appeared. Because of its huge size, a dark shadow covered the whole house and blocked all sources of light. However, because of the already nighttime, no one could discern exactly how it looked except for the outline of its body.
'This is… insanity!' Kamine's eyes almost bulged out of their sockets. He had no idea how or why but he could discern that whatever that thing was, it was the last boss of these monsters. The monster that is on top of the hierarchy… The king.
*Swish* *BANG*
As he was being marinated in his own thoughts, the monster's hand extended and moved inside the house. The panicking survivors shrilled and cowered away like a bunch of guinea pigs before getting slaughtered.
However, the only ones that were able to escape were those who weren't stuck under a bunch of logs.
"NO!! PLEASE!! Help me! Please, Kamine! Help!!" A man was caught and pulled up by the hand. Mid-air, he kept begging for someone to help him, namely Kamine who had promised them salvation by reaching the walls. However, those cries were silenced in a mere second.
*POP*
The monster's hand squeezed the man tightly, his face turned red and his cries became louder and louder until… He exploded like a balloon.
*SPLASH* *SPLASH*
Blood and flesh coated every nook and cranny of the house, including the survivors beneath. However, none of them had the capacity to avoid the disgusting liquid and the bits and pieces of the dead human.
Then, after that, the hand pulled the dead corpse out, making it disappear from their vision. The only thing left was the sound they could hear of bones breaking and meat being shredded and chewed before ultimately being swallowed.
One down.