[Monster attacks in downtown Miami…]

[42 dead and multiple injured, how will Wilson take responsibility…]

[Archeological evidence found, hints of primordial creatures…]

Cade's eyes wandered around the computer screen as he sat in his office cubicle. His eyes lingered towards the news headlines. Nearly everything around him seemed normal as how it should be. Except this. The appearance of monsters and how they became an integral part of human society since the closure of World War I. 

He squinted and pinched his nose. 

'How did it come to this…'

For the nth time he sighed as he realized that this is not the Earth he once grew up in. Despite his utmost to treat this world like the one he knew, it's just not the same. And it never will be. 

To make it short, this world is an alternate reality based on a popular web fiction that Cade was once a fan favorite of. [Monsters: An Alternate World] depicts an environment where the modern man must adapt in accordance with many disaster class monstrosities due to unknown reasons. Fortunately, alongside the appearance of monsters, there have also been men and women of courage who stepped up when it matters most. They were suddenly equipped with amazing abilities and managed to prevent the world from falling into further chaos. They were called Hunters and quickly became an important asset many nations coveted.

The novel focused more on the modern age as it tried to explore the reasons as to why the world became the way it is through the lens of a Hunter protagonist based in the US. 

'Damn it, even though I was excited for the TV series to see it, that doesn't mean I have to experience it up close like this. This is way too close for comfort.'

Cade breathed out a soft curse. As for his situation, Cade apparently came to this world around 9 years ago as a 15-year-old boy. His memory was anything but a haze as to how he ended up in that state. To his luck, he came around when he had been hospitalized. Apparently, he had an accident while crossing the street. So at least he was able to feign memory loss in front of the parents of the previous owner of this body. 

Now here he was 9 years later working as a journalist. It's been a few years since he graduated from college. Fortunately, he got the job at The Daily Notice. A key actor in the novel as they would help inform the public in uncovering the dark secrets of this world. Cade's reasons for taking this job were simple in all honesty. 

'I need to get as close as possible to the source of information in order to know why I'm in this cursed world in the first place.'

Currently, due to the fact that Cade is inside the story, there is no way for him to confirm or figure out how the pace of the storyline will pan out. There are too many variables and factors that cannot be taken into account, unlike when he could just search on the internet and read the different POVs of the novel in his previous life while having a clear picture of the situation.

Upon further pondering, Cade pulled out his phone and checked the date. After confirming it, he realized that he had around a year left before the plot of the novel kicks in and the protagonist's debut. 

'Well, there is also the option of becoming a Hunter in order to be closer to the action unlike a journalist, however―'

A knock towards his cubicle took Cade out of his stupor and he turned his head towards the newcomer. 

"Mr. Monroe, I'm sorry to disturb you but the Chief expects you in his office." 

A female staff member politely addressed him and quickly went back to work after Cade's confirmation.

This was unexpected. There wasn't supposed to be any meeting happening today as Cade still had yet completed his most recent story that would be approved in two days' time. Still, without further ado, he went to the Chief's office almost immediately. 

"Son, I need you to do something for me." 

A gruff voice greeted Cade the moment he stepped inside the office. A man in his fifties with white patches on his sideburns and beard slid his eyes curtly towards Cade before focusing back on a stack of documents in his hand. The man had a big stature with a scant scent of cold lemon surrounding him. An odd combination, but Cade preferred this rather than a room filled with smoke powered by cigarettes.

"What is it Chief? If you're asking for that piece I'm writing on, it's still not ready."

"No, I'm not talking about that. I have a new assignment for you. You got 3 hours to prepare."

Cade raised his eyebrows.

"With all due respect sir, isn't Monty―"

"Monty is busy, I just got a phone call from him 15 minutes ago that a new incident happened at Southside. He's the only one nearby so he'll be tied there for a while."

The Chief, Mr. Wade, cut off Cade before he could even muster up a counter. But he did manage to squeeze out another word.

"...Monsters?"

Mr. Wade nodded his head and Cade could only sigh internally as he counted his bad luck. What made this world so cursed was the fact that monster appearances happen quite frequently through portals opening at a sudden notice. To this date, none was able to predict when the next one is going to open. This resulted in many casualties throughout the globe. Though many governments came up with many emergency procedures and systems to combat these appearances, the sudden attacks are still the bane of this universe. No one is safe. 

'At this rate, I won't be out of a job until retirement.' 

Cade blinked twice before asking about the assignment. 

"So, what's the job?"

"You are going to attend a press conference held by Hastings Corp with a little extra meat put on the table right after the event."

The Chief pulled out a file from his desk and gave it to Cade. Cade threw a questioning glance at the latter statement made by the Chief. But his complexion changed the moment he took a glimpse at the documents inside the file.