Joseph drove through the bright morning streets, the car moving steadily under the clear blue sky. Sunlight streamed through the windshield, illuminating the cityscape around them. David sat beside him, his eyes scanning the surroundings. The city was waking up, but something felt off. As they neared the office, they saw posters and graffiti plastered on the walls, hastily put up overnight. They screamed of fear and suspicion:
"There are monsters among us!"
The words were stark and clear, standing out against the bright facades of the buildings. Flyers littered the streets, fluttering in the light breeze like leaves in autumn, catching the light as they moved. As they got closer to the office, the throng of reporters came into view, a sea of bodies and flashing cameras crowding the entrance. Among them were civilians holding signs, their faces a mix of curiosity and anxiety.
"We have a right to know the truth!"
"Are there monsters among us?"
David looked out the window, his eyebrows knitted in disbelief. "News travels fast, but I didn't think it would be this fast," he muttered, his voice tinged with unease.
Joseph's face remained unreadable; his eyes focused on the scene ahead. "We have to move in from the back door of the building," he said, his tone brooking no argument.
He turned the car into a narrow alley, maneuvering it with precision. The alley was tucked away between two tall buildings, a place where sunlight struggled to reach. The shadows were long and thick, swallowing the alley in a dim, oppressive gloom. The ground was littered with discarded trash, the walls covered in grime and peeling paint. A foul stench lingered in the air, a mixture of rotting food and stale water pooling in clogged gutters. It was the kind of place people avoided, a forgotten corner of the city that seemed to harbor secrets.
Joseph parked the car near a small, inconspicuous door—a hidden entrance to their office that blended perfectly with the dirty, neglected surroundings. In the dim light, the door was almost invisible, hidden in plain sight among the filth and shadows.
As they stepped out of the car, a strange stillness suddenly fell over the alley. The air grew thick, and time seemed to slow. Joseph's senses sharpened; his body reacted instinctively. His claws extended, fangs bared, eyes glowing with a predatory light. The silence was unnerving, like the calm before a storm.
A voice broke through the quiet, smooth, and mocking. "Don't be so cautious, Joseph."
Joseph's eyes darted around, searching for the source of the voice. He recognized it immediately—the same demon commander from earlier. His muscles tensed, ready for anything.
"I know you see me as an enemy," the demon's voice continued, almost friendly, yet dripping with dark intent. "But believe me, you don't have to be so alert around me. I mean you no harm."
Joseph's response was a low, threatening growl. "Like I'd believe a demon."
The demon chuckled, the sound like a hiss that echoed off the walls of the alley. "I expected this reaction," he said, his tone casual. "But let bygones be bygones, Joseph. I'm only here to wish you the best of luck. You'll need it, facing those humans and trying to clear their doubts."
The demon's words hung in the air, laced with a foreboding that made Joseph's skin crawl. Before he could respond, the demon spoke again, his voice dropping to a whisper that seemed to linger in the thick air.
"They are humans, Joseph. And humans fear what they don't understand. They will see you as an enemy once they learn your truth."
Just as suddenly as it began, the stillness lifted. The noise of the city returned, the sounds of traffic and people resuming their daily routines filled the air. Joseph blinked, his claws retracting, his body slowly relaxing. He glanced at David, who was looking at him with concern etched across his face.
"Joseph, what just happened?" David asked, his voice steady.
Joseph replied "Nothing!". As Joseph step in the building through the door, a contrast between the environment can be seen a clearly, a clean office with well-furnished room and a dirty backstreet with foul odor.
Staff members looked up as Joseph walked past, nodding in greeting, their faces showing a mix of respect and unease. They had all seen the news, the growing frenzy outside. One employee rushed toward Joseph, her face pale, her breath coming in short gasps.
"Huff… Huff… Mr. Joseph, the crowd…" she stammered, struggling to catch her breath.
Joseph raised a hand, his voice calm and reassuring. "Calm down. I know about the situation. We will handle it."
A familiar figure stepped in—a colleague named Adam, who had made no secret of his jealousy toward Joseph. Adam had tried to undermine him more than once, always looking for ways to make Joseph's job harder, hoping to see him fall from his position.
Adam smirked, crossing his arms as he came in front of Joseph. "So, what will the great Mr. Joseph do about this case?" he sneered.
Joseph's eyes narrowed; a sharp retort ready on his tongue. "Adam, Mr. Joseph will definitely handle this situation excellently, as he is not incapable like someone he knows!" he shot back, his voice icy.
As he brushed past Adam, Joseph's shoulder collided heavily with his, making Adam stumble slightly. David followed silently, observing the exchange without a word, but taking in every detail.
Adam's face twisted in anger as he watched Joseph Walk away. Under his breath, he muttered, "Let's see how long you can maintain this attitude of yours."
Joseph entered his office, his mind already racing with strategies to deal with the media and the growing fear outside. As he opened the door, he nearly collided with Ms. Lopez, who was about to step out.
"Joseph—I mean, Sir, I was on my way to find you!" Ms. Lopez stammered; her expression anxious.
Joseph replied instantly, "Yeah…, I know about the media!"
Lopez's face was full of tension. "Sir, what must we do? All the media is covering this incident, and many are already claiming it could be a monster that did this."
Joseph's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "But how did they find out about this? Did any evidence leak from the hotel?"
Lopez's eyes widened as she suddenly remembered something. "Oh, yes! About the crime scene—Early morning, when I reached that hotel—"
Before she could finish, there was a knock on the office door, which then opened to reveal a junior staff member. Joseph and Lopez turned to see who it was.
"May I ask, who is Mr. Joseph?" the person asked.
Joseph stepped forward. "I am Joseph."
"CEO and the managers of all departments are calling you to the meeting room," the junior staff member said.
Joseph knew why he was being summoned—the incident outside and the growing panic. He nodded. "Let's go," he said.
Lopez tried to interject as Joseph began moving out of the office. "But the crime scene—"
Joseph turned to her briefly. "I'll discuss this after everything is sorted out, Ms. Lopez." With that, he stepped out, closing the door behind him, moving towards the questions awaiting him.