After a quick shower, she decided to head out early. The streets were still oddly quiet, and the tension in the air felt thicker than ever. As she walked, she noticed cracks in the pavement, small and jagged, as if the earth was stretching itself apart.
At the diner, the mood was tense. Customers whispered among themselves, their voices laced with fear. The news played on the television in the corner, showing live footage of yet another town affected by the glowing fissures.
"Selene," Meg called from the counter. "Over here."
Selene joined her, glancing at the screen. The footage showed a reporter standing in front of a massive crack in the ground, glowing faintly with an eerie light. Around her, emergency workers scrambled, their faces grim.
"The tremors are getting worse," Meg said quietly. "And they're spreading."
"Any word on what's causing them?" Selene asked, though she already knew the answer.
Meg shook her head. "They're saying it's some kind of geological phenomenon, but I don't buy it. There's something... unnatural about it."
Selene looked away, focusing on wiping down the counter. She didn't want to think about it, but the unease gnawed at her.
By the time her shift ended, the sky had darkened, even though it was barely afternoon. Heavy clouds loomed overhead, swirling ominously. Selene pulled her jacket tighter as she stepped outside, the wind biting against her skin.
As she walked, the ground beneath her feet shuddered, a deep, rumbling vibration that seemed to pulse through her entire body. She froze, her breath catching in her throat.
The tremor lasted only a few seconds, but it was enough to send people running. Around her, car alarms blared, and distant screams echoed through the streets.
Selene stumbled forward, gripping a lamppost for support as another tremor rippled through the earth. This one was stronger, more violent, and it left a jagged crack in the street ahead of her.
"What the hell is happening?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
The air grew heavy, charged with an unexplainable energy. Selene looked up and saw it—the crack in the sky, larger and brighter than before. It pulsed with a rhythm that seemed almost alive, its light casting an eerie glow over the city.
Panic erupted around her. People screamed and pointed, some dropping to their knees in prayer. Selene stood frozen, her eyes locked on the crack as it expanded, splitting further across the sky.
A deafening roar shattered the chaos. Selene turned just in time to see a shadowy figure emerge from the crack—a massive, winged demon with glowing red eyes and jagged horns. Its roar sent a wave of terror through the crowd as it swooped down, its claws tearing into the street.
Selene's heart pounded as she stumbled backward. This couldn't be real. It couldn't be happening.
The demon roared again, its fiery gaze sweeping over the crowd. People ran in every direction, but the creature was too fast, too powerful. It struck down anyone in its path with terrifying ease.
Selene ducked behind a car, her chest heaving. She needed to move, to run, but her legs felt like lead.
"Get up, Selene," she whispered to herself. "Move!"
But before she could, the demon turned its gaze toward her. Its eyes locked onto hers, and a chilling smile spread across its monstrous face.
Selene's blood ran cold as the creature lunged toward her, its claws outstretched.
Run, Selene! Her brain screamed at her, but her legs refused to move.
She was trapped.
The demon snarled, its jagged fangs glinting in the dim, fiery glow of the collapsing city. Saliva dripped from its open maw as it lunged, claws slicing through the air toward her. Time slowed. The monstrous roar of the beast dimmed in her ears as everything narrowed to that deadly swipe.
Her knees buckled, and her vision went black.
Weightlessness overwhelmed her. Selene felt like she was sinking into an endless void. The screams of the dying and the cacophony of destruction faded into the distance. Was this death? Was she already gone?
Then, like a jolt of lightning, a voice thundered through her mind.
"System initializing... User detected. Activating survival protocol."
Warmth erupted in her chest, coursing through her body like wildfire. It burned fiercely, searing through her veins, and Selene gasped as the energy surged outward. Her skin prickled as something unseen surrounded her, crackling with power.
The demon's claws stopped inches from her face, unable to penetrate the invisible barrier that had formed around her. It roared in frustration, clawing at the force field, but it held strong.
"Energy Shield activated. Current energy reserves: 20%. Warning: Energy levels critically low."
Selene's eyes darted around wildly. "What... what's happening?" she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
The voice returned, calm and detached. "User's latent abilities have been unlocked. You are now bound to the Lust System. Current objective: survive."
"What?!" Her confusion mingled with fear as the warmth inside her intensified. She could feel it, alive and pulsing, like it was part of her. Before she could question further, the demon let out a guttural roar, slamming into the barrier with renewed force.
The shield cracked.
"Energy Shield integrity at 10%. Recommend offensive action."
Offensive action? How? Selene had no weapons, no combat skills, and no idea what was happening. Her panic grew as the cracks spread, the barrier barely holding under the creature's relentless assault.
"Channel energy through your hands. Focus and release."
She didn't understand the instructions, but there was no time to think. Instinctively, Selene raised her trembling hands. The warmth inside her flared, and a brilliant blast of light shot from her palms, striking the demon square in the chest. It let out a deafening screech as it was hurled backward, crashing into a pile of rubble.
Selene collapsed to her knees, her breathing ragged. Her hands trembled as she stared at them, stunned by what she'd just done. "I… I did that?"
"Energy Blast successful. Energy reserves: 5%. Warning: user is nearing exhaustion."
The demon stirred, its battered body rising from the debris. Its glowing eyes burned brighter now, its fury unrelenting. Selene's pulse raced. The warmth inside her flickered weakly, like a candle in the wind. She was out of time and out of strength.
"What do I do now?!" she shouted, desperation choking her voice.
The system responded instantly. "Engage in emotional or physical connection to recharge energy reserves. Warning: No suitable targets detected within immediate vicinity."
Her stomach twisted. "Are you kidding me? I'm about to die, and that's your solution?!"
The demon lunged again, its massive frame closing the distance in an instant. Selene threw herself to the side, narrowly avoiding its claws. She hit the ground hard, pain shooting through her body.
"Alternative option: strategic retreat. Locate safe zone."
"I can't outrun that thing!" Selene hissed, struggling to push herself up. The creature rounded on her, snarling as it prepared for another attack.