I woke up to the metallic scent emanating from the creature before me — a robotic dog named Russ. Russ, a technological marvel, had been crafted by an engineer I had met six years ago. Since the engineer's demise, I considered myself fortunate to have inherited Russ. Modeled after a German Shepherd, Russ possessed remarkable speed, akin to that of a cat, and strength surpassing that of a bear.
I affectionately patted the dog and inquired, "What's up, Russ? It's already 7 am?"
The robotic dog shook its head, revealing a radar screen on its back. Six dots were displayed, three red, two white, and one blue.
"Russ, let's get to it!" I exclaimed, hastily gathering my gear beside my bedding.
Russ outpaced me, darting out of the small house we had taken refuge in. I followed suit, stepping outside to find the sky tinged with a reddish hue — a sign of a distant demonic ritual beyond our immediate vicinity.
Ignoring the ominous sky, I pursued Russ. The agile robotic dog effortlessly vaulted over the ruined streets, while I navigated the obstacles presented by abandoned cars along the way.
Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air, "NOOO!"
We swiftly turned around the corner and witnessed a woman pinned to the ground by an aswang — an eerie folklore creature that had emerged after the Rapture.
Aswangs typically resembled humans but lacked hair, sporting a ghoulish appearance. The creature attempted to sink its teeth into the woman, but Russ managed to tackle it in time.
Clutching my jar of rock salt, I called out to the woman, "Hey, are you alright? Did it bite you? Do you have any companions?"
The woman gazed at me, her voice trembling, "Ya-yes, my daughter and husband are at the pharmacy, but-"
Before she could finish her sentence, an elongated tongue burst from a manhole cover, sending the cover flying.
Before words left my mouth, it wrapped around her, I drew my knife from my waist, but it was too late. The woman was swiftly dragged into the depths of the sewers.
Filled with remorse for not being vigilant enough, I was brought back to the present by a robotic bark from Russ, who appeared triumphant after subduing the aswang, its neck twisted at an awkward angle.
Recalling the woman's family, I sprinted forward, urging Russ, "Go to the pharmacy quickly!"
Russ barked affirmatively and dashed ahead. I stowed my knife and retrieved my customized AUG assault rifle. Knowing a child's life was at stake, I couldn't afford to let history repeat itself.
Finally arriving at the pharmacy, Russ forcefully broke in, shattering the glass. From inside, I heard grunts and a distinctive crack — Russ had eliminated one of the threats. A flapping sound captured my attention, prompting me to raise my AUG, aiming at the sky.
"A well-armed one?" a voice resonated from above, the creature struggling to mimic a human tone.
Unfazed, I took aim and fired, cutting off its speech, hitting it in the chest.
The creature shrieked as it plummeted to the ground. It jerked a bit as black-colored blood oozed from its chest.
Swiftly, I grabbed a handful of salt from the jar and hurled it at the creature. Its ghastly skin sizzled upon contact, accompanied by agonizing screeches.
Smirking at the putrid odor of its burning flesh, I scoffed, "Talking so much, huh."
Entering the pharmacy, I was met with shattered glass and disheveled aisles. Moans of pain emanated from within, accompanied by Russ's low, robotic whining.
He chuckled weakly, "Thanks, man. Unfortunately, I won't survive, but at least it bought me some time."
With his back against the wall, his innards exposed, and a chunk of his shoulder missing, he sighed, "I know I'm a stranger, but can you take care of my daughter? My wife is unreliable, and I believe she's already dead."
Coughing up blood, he continued, "Her name is Samantha. She's stubborn but intelligent. She'll warm up to you eventually. Just... don't let her see my body."
I nodded solemnly, understanding the weight of his request. Grabbing a jar of salt, I reassured him, "Your daughter will be in safe hands."
He nodded and closed his eyes, accepting his fate. As I poured half of the salt onto him, he gradually transformed into ashes. There was a slim chance he might turn into an aswang, if bad luck was on his side.
All that remained were his backpack and clothes. I discreetly stashed his clothes under a rack and took the backpack, determined to honor my promise.
The pharmacy appeared to be intact, with a decent amount of supplies left. However, my priority was finding Samantha.
The pharmacy had a counter at the front and another counter inside the medical area. The store was divided into sections for everyday items like food and over-the-counter drugs, while the prescription drugs were locked away. Additionally, the janitor's room was left open.
Glancing at Russ, who was by my side, I sighed deeply, realizing where Samantha might be hiding.