-Welcome to the devil's warehouse dear customer... it's been a long time since I had one.....
It was a full-blown monster, a completely black mace, its shape resembling a frog, with a single large yellow glowing eye in the center of its 'face' a large mouth, with a bunch of messy, flat teeth.
-Or maybe you're here for the job... lucky me, I have a while to wait... after all I can't do the reopening of the store without staff.....
My body started to relax. Maybe this creature wasn't as bad as it seemed, what if this was a sign? I remembered my dreams, the pinwheel in my hand? Could this be the beginning of the life I had always wished for! But then I continued.
-But it's been so long since I either... like nothing...
Fear hit me like a bucket of cold water. My gaze froze as I staggered backwards, but my body no longer responded well. I stumbled and fell backwards to the floor.
-I can't open the place without staff..... But I can't open it if I'm starving either.... I think I know what's more important.... Thanks for the food!
The creature pounced on me, opening its huge mouth wide. I watched my life flash before my eyes, a tedious and monotonous movie... until this moment. It couldn't end like this! Suddenly, the weight of the pinwheel in my hand brought back a spark of hope.
I blew it with all my might, which generated an even stronger draft than before, sending the creature flying across the store and knocking over several shelves in its path.
A wet rumble was heard as the creature crashed into the wall. With a tremor in my legs, I staggered to my feet and ran for the exit. I could barely see for sweat and fear, pure adrenaline energized me. I pushed the door with all my might, stumbling as I stepped out into the street.
-Ah, ah, ah, ah, ufff... -I was breathing agitated trying to catch my breath, I wasn't used to so many emotions and I needed to process what happened.
-Stop right there!
The last thing I needed, the creature had rejoined, and came out of the tent breaking the door in the process, it was coming for me and it wouldn't give up.
-Don't come any closer!
I blew the pinwheel again, using what little air I managed to recover, but it wasn't as strong as before and the creature didn't back up as much, still, I took this extra advantage to run.
My heart was beating as if it wanted to burst out of my chest; every step was a torment, and my poor condition was taking its toll. The creature was getting closer and closer, and I knew I couldn't keep up this pace for long.
Finally it caught up to me, the creature knocked me down, the pinwheel, my only weapon, flew away. I was now on the ground with the creature on my back.
-Finally I got you... That piece is merchandise from my store.... I hate thieves. But... you don't have to be picky about food.
The creature opened his mouth, at last it was his and I had nothing left to do, I closed my eyes waiting for my end, and suddenly....
"KABOOOMMM"
A deafening bang shook the air around me. The heat and the roar stunned me completely. When I looked back, the top of the creature's head...was gone, it had a smoking hole in its place, it had been scorched and its body was beginning to melt on me. A pungent, nauseating smell filled the air as the black mass began to slide across my skin. Exhaustion overpowered me as the explosion continued to echo in my ears. Between relief and confusion, I felt the world fade away. I looked ahead and the last thing I saw was the silhouette of a woman... before I passed out.
To be continued...