Inside the chaotic mall, he weaved through the crowded mall corridors navigating through the late night revelers and harried shoppers.
The mall's sprawling layout made his trip to the HappyBee fast food restaurant seem endless but eventually he stumbled upon the bright and inviting facade of the fast-food joint. His gaze looked around the crowded area scanning the scene with focus.
"Where is that little rascal?" he mumbled softly, continuing his search.
Suddenly someone hugged him from behind by a pair of arms and he stiffened instinctively, but soon he relaxed when he heard that familiar voice.
Julie exclaims happily "Gotcha Kuya" hugging him tightly.
He lets out a sigh rubbing his face in exasperation "Are you really trying to give me a heart attack kiddo?"
Julie let him go and stepped in front of him sporting a proud grin. "Aw don't say that Aren't you stoked to see your adorable little sis?" She puffed out her chest with pride.
He raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms. "I look more like pops now than your older bro."
Julie gasped in fake shock. "Oh Kuya don't talk like that, it hurts my fragile lil heart" she said, pretending to clutch her chest in exaggerated pain.
"Alright enough already," he replied, shaking his head. "Can you introduce me to your friend here?"
Julie's face lit up. "Of course! Marjie, this is my Kuya. Kuya, this is Marjie."
Her classmate, a petite girl with glasses, nodded politely. "Nice to meet you po!" she said shyly.
"Ah, nice to meet you too," he said, smiling slightly. After exchanging pleasantries, he turned back to Julie. "Alright, let's eat. I'll grab the food, and you two find us a spot to sit on, okay?"
"Leave it to us!" Julie said with a grin as she grabbed Margie's hand and went off to find a table.
He returned with a tray full of food after a bit and took a seat at the table they found earlier. Their laughter filled the space between bites as they ate and chatted.
He asked about their other three siblings and Julie shared funny stories about their antics, they teased one another creating a warm vibe.
Just as they finished their meal a loud alarm blared disrupting the atmosphere. The noise echoed through the mall and lively chatter turned into hushed murmurs and worried whispers.
His adrenaline surged as he instinctively checked his smartwatch, a holographic alert flickered to life validating his worst fears.
Monster Alert: Central City J.
Category: Rank D.
Threats: Lesser Trolls, Goblins, and a Hobgoblin (Category C).
The alert went on:
"These are the monsters that have escaped through the sewage systems of City I during the lockdown and have entered City J. Residents are urged to evacuate immediately or find a secure shelter."
His heart sank as he comprehended the gravity of the situation. The mall became increasingly agitated, with people hurriedly packing their things or anxiously checking their own notifications.
Julie tugged on his sleeve, her previous playfulness replaced by concern. "Kuya… what should we do?"
He took a deep breath, surveying their surroundings trying to find the nearest exit or the nearest fortified safety shelter. First and foremost, he needed to ensure her sister's safety.
"Stay close to me alright," he said in a solemn yet calm voice. "We have to get you guys out of here."
The once lively mall had transformed into a scene of barely contained chaos as every shoppers ran around aimlessly, and some even tried the opportunity to steal amidst the chaos, security forces of the mall guided the people to the fortified shelter, they cautiously made their way towards where the majority is going while the alarms still blaring in the background.
Gunshots rang out one after the other, the shots sliced through the blaring alarms. Sharp cracks echoed through the hall, followed by terrified screams of people. Panic erupted like wildfire, throwing the crowd into utter chaos.
People pushed, shoved, scrambling in every direction as guards shouted orders, and right now they're struggling to maintain control. The situation spiraled further as they radioed for backup, frantic voices crackling over radios.
Terrified shoppers stampeded, everyone was desperate to escape. Guards rushed in to contain the situation, but it was too late. Fear and panic had already spread, engulfing the entire mall.
Hunters were on their way, but they're currently occupied fighting a beast.
He tightened his grip on Julie and Margie, keeping his arms protectively over their heads as they moved through the crowd. "Stay close to me, and don't stop for anything," he said, his voice solemn and urgent.
Julie clutched his shirt, her usual cheer was replaced by quiet fear. Margie followed close behind, both of the girls trusting him to lead them through the crowd.
The path ahead cleared briefly, and he spotted a sign directing them toward the safe room. Relief flickered in his chest. "This way!" he called, urging them to move forward.
As they neared the safe room, the announcement came through the mall's speakers, the voice was cold and mechanical:
"Safe room capacity reached. Safe room 1 is now closed, Safe room 2 closing. Please proceed to Safe Room 3, 4, and 5."
His stomach sank. "What?" He glanced down at the girls. "Go! Run faster! We're too far away from the other rooms!"
Panic injected speed into their legs and they sprinted wildly toward next safe room. He stuck close behind shielding them from jostling crowd and potential danger nearby.
They reached the second safe room just as its heavy steel doors were about to close. The guards ushered them inside, the guard began sealing the door with a hydraulic sound. For a moment, he allowed himself to breathe, leaning against the cool metal.
But then a woman's desperate scream tore through the air.
"Kyah! There's a child! He won't make it!"
His eyes snapped to the source of the commotion. Outside, in the chaos of the mall corridor, two young children, no older than 8 or 10, they were running for their lives. A bloodied lesser troll pursued them from behind, its hulking form towering over the terrified kids.
The troll's mottled gray-green skin was riddled with bruises from gunfire, but none of the bullets had pierced its thick hide. In its massive hand, it clutched a blood-stained spear with a crude stone tip. Two more spears were strapped to its back, it's the spares, ready to be used.
The children stumbled, they cried out as the troll was closing the gap. It roared, a guttural, bone chilling sound that sent fear through the air.
He clenched his fists, as the scene seared itself into his mind. The cries of children reached him. His body sprang into action, without a second thought he ran straight ahead.
He sprinted forward with every last shred of strength his legs could scrape, together his heart hammering against his ribcage like a frenzied drumbeat.
Adrenaline surged through his veins numbing any twinge of exhaustion or pain. His mind reeled as he closed the distance between himself and two tiny figures.
'Crap, crap, crap! I need to reach them before that bastard' His eyes widened in horror. 'Is he planning to throw the spear!'
The troll halted onto its tracks, its muscles bulged as it drew back its blood-stained weapon. The crude stone tip glinted ominously under the mall's fluorescent lights.
"NO!" he growled, pushing himself harder.
He lunged forward just in time, grabbing the kids by their arms and yanking them toward safety.
Fearful wails erupted from them but he didn't hesitate. Holding them firmly, he pivoted and sprinted back toward safety. Behind him, guards fired nonstop at the troll, bullets bruising its thick hide but failing to penetrate.
Suddenly a spear zoomed past, slicing the air.
He felt a deadly projectile pass mere inches from him, its force whipping his hair wildly. A sickening thud followed.
He saw one of the guards collapse to the ground, the spear of the troll embedded in his chest, blood pooling rapidly around lifeless body.
The guards froze in terror and one of them clutching his trembling gun. He cast a frantic glance at the troll getting closer; he then ditched his post and made a frantic dash for the safe room.
He pushed away the other guard operating the control, his palm slapping against the control panel with a resounding thud. The thick steel doors slowly closed from the sides, the hydraulic sound can be heard.
Julie stood near the entrance, watching the scene in front of her unfold in horror. Her brother, who had already reached the safety of the room, had turned back into danger to save a couple of strangers. She clenched her fists, as the guilt gnawed at her heart.
'Why?' she thought, the question weighted heavily on her mind.
'Why is he risking his life for them? Why isn't he thinking about us, about our family?'
The sight of the fallen guard only made her panic even more. 'T-that could've been him.'
Her tears blurred her vision as she looked to the side and saw the other guard pressing the switch to seal the doors.
"HOY!" Julie's voice broke through the chaos as she rushed toward the control panel. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING? MY BROTHER'S STILL OUT THERE! WHY ARE YOU ALREADY CLOSING THE DOOR?"
She shoved the guard with all her might, her small frame barely managing to push him back. The guard stumbled backwards, he was startled not as he was pushed but as the doors paused in their descent mid-air.
Julie leaned out of the room and screamed, "KUYA! RUN FASTER!" Her voice cracked a desperate scream.
He ran with everything he had left. But then, a loud crash reverberated behind him.
From the shadows emerged a hobgoblin, its hulking frame drenched in blood. Its savage yellow eyes burned with malice as it stepped over the mangled bodies of its victims. He recognized the beast immediately.
'Safe Room 1… it broke through?'
A gut-wrenching realization slammed into him like a sledgehammer. That monster had somehow breached the supposedly secure room and brutally massacred everyone inside, now it was coming for them.
The people inside Safe Room 2 erupted into panick. The remaining guards, visibly trembling, yanked Julie away from the controls.
"Grab her and don't let her go!" he shouted at the crowd. "I'm closing the door now! They're dead anyway!"
Julie screamed as the door began to close again. The crowd pinned her to the floor, ignoring her desperate struggles.
"NO! PLEASE!" she sobbed, her voice breaking. "DON'T CLOSE IT! HE'S ALMOST HERE! PLEASE HELP HIM!"
Pinned and her nose bleeding from hitting the ground, Julie thrashed against the people holding her down. Marjie, who's smaller and weaker, tried to help but was quickly restrained.
He saw it all, even as he sprinted. The sight of his sister being held down and hurt by the people that prioritized their own safety over others, as she was only trying to help him, in the end he couldn't protect her, this ignited a rage in him that drowned out the fear.
'If it weren't for this situation, no, if it weren't for this damned world,' he thought bitterly, 'none of this would've happened.'
The door was almost closed now. He gritted his teeth and pushed himself harder.
'No… I won't make it,' he realized, despair threatening to take hold of him. Then suddenly a strange force shoved him from behind, propelling him forward.
He didn't know what it was that suddenly boosted his speed, but it was just in time since that gave him the momentum he needed.
With the sudden surge of speed, he jumped with everything he had and used that momentum to propel himself forward into safety.
The door slammed shut just as he crashed into the room, the children still clutched in his arms.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
A deafening BANGING sounds of the door followed, the sound of the hobgoblin slamming its massive fists against the steel barrier. The door trembled but held firm.
The crowd stared at him, and was stunned into silence. The people restraining Julie and Marjie finally let them go, the guilt is visible across their faces.
Julie scrambled upright, disregarding the throbbing bruises and blood dripping from her nose. She sprinted towards her brother, tears streaming down her face.
"Kuya!" she cried, throwing her arms around him. "Thank the heavens you're safe, please don't ever do that again!"
He smiled weakly at her, his breath was shallow. The two children he'd saved clung to him, sobbing uncontrollably.
Then Julie noticed the growing red stain on his back, and the long protruding spear from the troll.
Her smile faltered. "K-Kuya…wh-what" she stammered, her voice trembling.
He met her gaze, his eyes soft. "…Sorry, Bunso," he whispered. "Looks like… I'll be meeting them soon… d-don't cry…cough cough" He coughed violently, blood staining his lips.
'I'm sorry mom… I'm sorry dad… I guess I wouldn't be able to see… all of my siblings…one last… time.'
The children let go, and his body sagged forward. The crude stone spear protruding from his back was slick with blood, its force having it driven into him during his desperate leap broke his chest from the inside.
Julie froze, her mind went blank for a moment as she couldn't handle the shock. She stumbled forward, she reached for him, her body trembling. "No… No! Kuya, don't say that! Please, please don't say that…" She wrapped her arms around him, sobbing uncontrollably.
He felt her warmth and wished he could say more, but the spear had collapsed his lungs. The light in his eyes dimmed as his strength faded.
Julie cried out, clutching him as if holding on would keep him alive. But no matter how tightly she held him, his body grew colder, and the world around her felt emptier.
The sound of the familiar notification came.
Ping~
"System Notice! Selection confirmed. Initiating preparation. Transfer will proceed under defined parameters. Current progress: 50%. Requirement not yet met. Synchronization pending. System adjustments in progress...
Progress update: 75%. Core alignment stable. Target compatibility reaching threshold. Final calibration initiated. Synchronization at 90%... Complete.
Transfer commencing. Brace for dimensional shift. Good luck, chosen candidate. May your journey ensure the survival of the designated nexus."
His eyes slowly closed and his vision a blur he caught sight of a notification with a familiar design floating in the air that only he could see, but before he could read it, his life slipped away in the arms of his youngest sibling.
End of chapter.