The alleyway twisted and turned, a labyrinth of shadows and dimly lit corners. I navigated the bike with practiced ease, my senses heightened as I listened for the telltale sound of sirens.
"They're getting closer!" Yolan shouted, her voice filled with urgency. "We need to lose them!"
I nodded, my eyes scanning the alley for a potential escape route. Suddenly, a narrow gap appeared between two buildings, just wide enough for the motorcycle to squeeze through.
I gunned the engine, leaning into the turn as we entered the narrow passage. The walls on either side of us were a blur, the air thick with the smell of damp earth and rotting garbage.
The alleyway opened up into a deserted courtyard, its centerpiece a crumbling fountain overgrown with weeds. I slowed the bike to a stop, the engine's roar dying down to a soft purr.
"I think we lost them," I whispered, my eyes scanning the surrounding buildings for any sign of pursuit.
Yolan let out a sigh of relief, her grip on my waist loosening slightly. "That was close," she said, her voice still shaky. "We need to find a better hiding place."
I nodded in agreement, my mind racing as I tried to come up with a plan. Just then, my eyes fell upon a nondescript building tucked away in the corner of the courtyard. It was a warehouse, its windows boarded up and its exterior covered in graffiti.
"There," I said, pointing towards the building. "Let's try there."
We pushed the motorcycle towards the warehouse, our footsteps echoing in the eerie silence. The door was unlocked, and we cautiously stepped inside, the darkness swallowing us whole.
Yolan hopped off the back of the motorcycle and quickly closed the garage door behind us, the metallic clang echoing through the empty space.
"That was fun!" she exclaimed, a wide grin on her face.
I nodded in agreement, the adrenaline from the ride still coursing through my veins.
I glanced around the dimly lit space, confused. "This isn't the company warehouse...?"
"Nope," Yolan replied, a mischievous glint in her eye. "This is an abandoned milk factory."
"Huh? In the middle of a residential area?"
"Yep!"
I dismounted from the bike, taking in the surroundings. The air was thick with the scent of dust and decay, and the only sounds were the creaking of the old building and the distant hum of the city.
"I used to come here with my friends to skip school," Yolan confessed, a hint of nostalgia in her voice.
"Really?" I asked, surprised.
"Yeah," she nodded. "Lots of memories here... They were supposed to tear this place down years ago, but it never happened."
Just then, the Harbinger appeared beside us, its voice a low rumble in the silence of the warehouse. "There's someone else here," it warned.
I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. "Who?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
"A ghost," the Harbinger replied.
I nodded, my hand instinctively reaching for the watch on my wrist. With a click, the gun materialized in my hand.
Yolan grabbed a nearby metal pipe and transformed it into a gleaming sword, her eyes narrowed in concentration. "Describe it," she said, her voice a steely whisper.
"It's just a ghost that used to live here, but it attacks anyone who comes near," I replied, my voice shaking slightly.
Hmm, a ghost that can't find rest? I thought to myself.
The Harbinger shook its head. "It's not a ghost who can't find rest, Xian," it corrected. "It's a ghost who escaped from hell."
I looked at the Harbinger in surprise. "What?"
"There was a time when the gates of hell opened accidentally," the Harbinger explained, its voice grave. "Many ghosts escaped and fled to the earthly realm."
"... It's multiplying. There's another one..." the Harbinger's voice tensed.
"Huh? Another one?" Yolan gasped, her grip on the sword tightening.
"I can sense this one is a Jin," the Harbinger continued, its voice grim.
"A Jin... is that different from a ghost or a demon?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.
"It's different," the Harbinger explained. "Jinn are creatures similar to demons, but they're not from hell. They were once humans who lived on Earth, but are now invisible to most."
"Who is this Jin?" Yolan whispered, her eyes darting around the room.
Creak!
The warehouse door groaned open, revealing a massive hand covered in thick, dark hair.
"... Shit, this one is a Genderuwo," Yolan breathed, her voice shaking slightly.
My eyes widened in fear. I had heard stories of Genderuwo, a monstrous creature from Javanese folklore, known for its immense size and sharp fangs.
"Should we run?" I asked, my voice trembling.
"Do you want your power or not?" the Harbinger challenged. "You faced an ice demon yesterday. Why not this one?"
His words struck a chord within me. I couldn't let fear control me any longer. I had to embrace my powers and face my fears head-on.
"Okay!" I shouted, raising the gun and aiming at the encroaching figure.
Bang!
The gunshot echoed through the warehouse, the bullet piercing the darkness as the Genderuwo let out a deafening roar.
The bullet struck the Genderuwo in the shoulder, eliciting a roar of pain that shook the warehouse. It stumbled backward, clutching its wound with a gnarled, hairy hand. The creature's eyes, burning with fury, locked onto me.
"You dare harm me, mortal?" it bellowed, its voice echoing through the cavernous space. "You will pay dearly for your insolence!"
Before it could retaliate, Yolan charged forward, her sword gleaming in the dim light.
Swung! With a swift, powerful swing, she slashed at the creature's legs, leaving deep gashes in its flesh.
The Genderuwo roared in pain, its massive body shaking the warehouse to its foundations. It swung its arms wildly, its razor-sharp claws raking through the air. Yolan nimbly dodged and weaved, her agility and speed keeping her out of harm's way.
I knew I had to do something. I raised the gun again, my finger tightening on the trigger. But before I could fire, a new voice cut through the chaos.
< Chapter 069 > Fin.