As dawn broke, golden rays of sunlight fought their way through the heavy curtains of Yosefu's modest bedroom. The air was thick with the remnants of last night's dreaming, and the rhythmic sound of his snoring filled the room. Yosefu lay sprawled on his bed, limbs tangled in the sheets, the angle of his posture enough to unleash a symphony of creaks from his protesting joints once he finally stirred. A harsh electronic beeping shattered the peace of sleep: "Wakey, Wakey! It's 7:00 A.M. Wakey Wakey! It's 7:00 A.M!"
With a gravelly groan, Yosefu stretched his arms overhead, his fingers brushing the ceiling as he swatted at the insistent alarm clock, silencing its relentless call. He rubbed the scruffy remnants of sleep from his eyes, tousled his disheveled hair with a weary hand, and pushed himself upright. Sluggish and bleary-eyed, he shuffled from his bedroom, the drowsiness clinging to him like a heavy fog. "What a weird dream," he muttered, his voice rough and half-formed as he made his way down the dim hallway.
As he turned toward the living room, the sight that met him froze him in place. The strange man from his dream—Anzu—sat casually on his worn-out sofa, engrossed in the flickering images of the television screen. Their eyes locked, and Anzu's face broke into a smirk. "You're finally awake."
Heart racing, Yosefu exclaimed, "It's you! It wasn't a dream; it was real!!"
Anzu shrugged, the weight of his gaze both unnerving and oddly magnetic. "Yeah, I saved your life. So relax; we have business to attend to."
"Business?" Yosefu echoed, a wary frown etching his brow.
"Yes, we do. Now, shall we get going? I have someone for you to meet."
Meanwhile, on the other side of town, Anne was navigating her way to work, the scent of fresh grass and blooming flowers mingling in the crisp morning air. The tranquility was deceptive; unseen eyes tracked her movements from the shadows, a predator lying in wait. Oblivious to the lurking danger, she headed into the park, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion after the fight with Pallo the night before.
Upon arriving at the diner, the familiar warmth greeted her, and she exchanged pleasantries with Mrs. Tzipor, who offered a bright smile. "Good morning, Anne! You're early today!"
"Good morning, Mrs. Tzipor. I just wanted to get a head start," Anne replied, though unease prickled on her face.
"Alright, but only if Eliza was more like you" she chuckles before adding "Mister Tzipor is in the back, searching for some cocoa leaves, can you help him for me."
"Sure" Anne smiled walking off heading to the back.
The moment she stepped away to check on Mr. Tzipor, something mysterious enter the Diner behind her—a figure, half-hidden in the shadows. As she walked off and pushed through the door to the back, her heart dropped into her stomach in an instant. The horrifying scene before her was like a nightmare materialized: Mister Tzipor lay sprawled on the floor, lifeless, his chest ripped open and gaping—flesh torn, muscle exposed, and a grotesque creature hunched over him, feasting on his innards. Its hideous face looked up at her, eyes gleaming a malevolent red, razor-sharp teeth stained with blood that dripped and pooled onto the floor.
Screaming, Anne spun around, adrenaline surging as she stepped back, before rushing off, the creature hot on her heels, its growls reverberating like thunder in her ears. Simultaneously, the man outside who had entered the diner barked out a warning, his voice an urgent growl: "Duck!"
Instinctively, Mrs. Tzipor dropped to the ground covering her head just as he swung a monstrous cannon—a shadow of death playing at his back. He aimed it at the creature, and with a thunderous blast, he unleashed a torrent of explosive energy. The creature reeled back, a gaping hole erupting in its torso, slashing its way through the diner's wooden shelves as it was tossed aside, broken and bloodied.
Panic surged again, Mrs. Tzipor's terrified screams filling the air like a siren, as Anne struggled to get back on her feet. In the chaos, Shakura, the man with the cannon, rushed toward her. "We need to go! Now!" he barked, grabbing her hand and pulling her away.
"What? Where are you taking me?" she protested, her heart racing as she fought against Shakura's iron grip. But he was relentless reaching outside and threw her into the back of a waiting car. Just then, the creature exploded from the diner door smashing through it, a whirlwind of rage. Shakura pivoted, aiming his weapon, and with a grim expression, he fired again, sending the beast crashing backward through the glass with a sickening thud.
As Shakura jumped into the car, he slammed the door and sped off, tires screaming on the pavement, the air thick with the residue of fear and chaos. But the horror was far from over; the monster wasn't finished. It reeled, its body contorting grotesquely as it reformed, taking on the visage of Mister Tzipor—the sickening mockery of what had once been.
Years of urban bliss shattered, Anne lashed out in disbelief. "What the hell was that? What's going on? Who are you? Stop the car!!" Panic deafened her voice.
Shakura's face was stone-cold serious as he pulled the car to a halt, his gaze piercing hers with unsettling intent. "Are you Mary-Anne Theotokos, daughter of Anne and Joa Theotokos?"
"What? How do you know my name? How do you know my parents name?!" she stammered, lost in a cyclone of fear and confusion.
Without a word, Shakura turned the key in the ignition and resumed driving, leaving Anne in a muffled silence, a maelstrom of thoughts swirling in her mind.
Meanwhile, Yosefu and Anzu made their way to Tzipor's Diner; Anzu explained everything on the way. "So, what you're saying is those things are demons that attacked me last night, and I'm somehow a protector for some child who can change the world?"
"Pretty much, yeah…! Shit! They've already attacked!" Anzu shouted, abruptly halting as they crossed the street, eyes wide at the wreckage where the diner once stood.
His heart racing, Yosefu took off, a whirlwind of dread. "What the hell? That's where Anne works!" he called, panic pushing him onward as Anzu shouted after him in frustration.
Yosefu pushed through the chaos, his breath hitching at the sight of an ambulance rolling away, its occupants shrouded in white sheets. Mrs. Tzipor sat nearby, her face a mask of horror and despair. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she trembled, eyes wide with terror. "It's coming for me... It killed Eugene!"
"Uh? What happened to Anne? Is she okay?" Yosefu pressed, fear clutching at his heart.
"Anne? Anne! She was taken! A man shot fire—monsters ate my husband!" Mrs. Tzipor's voice grew more frantic, spiraling into a frenzy as her eyes darted around wildly.
Just then, Anzu's grip tightened on Yosefu's shoulder, a look of grim urgency crossed his face. "We have to go… now!"
Hastily, they turned and dashed away, unaware that a police officer was observing them from a distance, narrowed eyes following their fleeting figures. The storm was just beginning.