Apocalypse Awakening: Apocalypse Awakening, #1

By Hui Wang

"Apocalypse Awakening" takes you on a heart-pounding journey into a post-apocalyptic world filled with mystery and terror. Sean, our protagonist, suffers from sudden hallucinations that warp his perception of reality. After a four-year self-imposed exile from the world, an invitation to a high school reunion prompts him to venture out of his safe haven.

 

Upon arrival, Sean is horrified to find his classmates transformed into monstrous beings, with only Layla appearing untouched by this strange phenomenon. As the sole individuals who seem to retain their humanity, Sean and Layla form an uneasy alliance to navigate through the treacherous city and survive its deadly inhabitants. They engage in a desperate battle against the monstrous creatures, earning points that allow them to fortify their abilities and increase their chances of survival.

 

As they delve deeper into the city's secrets, they begin to unravel the enigmatic narrative behind this nightmarish reality. Who are these creatures, and what has happened to the world they once knew? The deeper they go, the more twisted and chilling the truth becomes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hui Wang
• Release date: Sep 16, 2024
• ISBN: 9789198846805

Book preview

CHAPTER 1: THE ESCAPE BEGINS

In Sean's small room, the only sound was his mother cleaning outside, the sweeping sound of the broom on the floor, accompanied by her continuous nagging. Her voice was just loud enough for Sean, curled up in his bedroom, to hear but not loud enough to bother the neighbors.

You’re grown up, yet all you do is play games all day!

Such a mess in this room, utterly useless!

Just like your heartless father...

Living in your own world, accomplishing nothing!

Sean curled up, hands over his ears, his body involuntarily trembling. He couldn't remember when this life began, only feeling an excruciating headache as if someone was torturing his brain.

Four years ago, this severe headache and dizziness started, distorting his world, stretching and deforming everything. His heartbeat was like the sound of a drum, each beat seeming to last an eternity.

In these moments, his thoughts were like shattered mirrors, reflecting a complex array of light, hard to focus. He tried to accept and control it, but clearly, his family could no longer accept him.

Suddenly, a faint vibration of his phone broke the silence, slightly bringing Sean back to reality. Don’t forget the reunion, Meadow Hotel, second floor private room. The message was from John, a high school classmate.

Sean hadn’t contacted his old classmates for a long time. In these four years, he barely left the house. But this message made him decide to go out, even just having had a headache. He yearned to escape, even if only temporarily.

Not staying at home properly, where do you want to go now?

Go ahead, leave!

If you dare not to come back, then never return!

Sean hurriedly grabbed a hoodie and rushed out the door, his mother’s angry shouts intensifying as he left. Every action of Sean seemed to trigger her rage.

Chop chop chop…

In the kitchen, his mother was furiously chopping some unidentified meat, her eyes glaring menacingly at Sean as if she would turn the knife on him next. Chilled by her gaze, Sean quickly fled the house.

Night had fallen, and the narrow streets were unlit. Escaping the sound of chopping, Sean still felt as if something was watching him, like a massive creature lurking in the shadows.

Grrr…

The neighbor's fierce dogs growled threateningly, their chains stretched taut, creaking under the strain. Their red eyes fixated on Sean, drool dripping from their fangs.

Sean walked close to the walls, suddenly hearing the eerie melody of an old record player from above. An invisible tension quickened his pace, only to be drawn by the grating sound of a saw. Through a grimy window, he saw a tall butcher working with a chainsaw.

Swoosh!

The butcher and his ‘work’ suddenly turned to look at Sean. Filled with terror, Sean stumbled back and started to run, not stopping until he reached the lit street, gasping for air.

He looked up at the busy street, neon lights surging like lava, the honking of cars like roaring steel beasts. The searchlights on the rooftops tried to illuminate the night but couldn’t reach the dark corners of the city.

The newspapers on the ground spoke of serial killers and bombings, their black and white text blending with the city's aura.

Have I been indoors too long?

Sean inhaled the cold, damp air, forcing himself to calm down. Looking up at the unfamiliar city, he felt an unexplained oppression. Despite this, he wrapped his coat tighter and slowly made his way to the reunion.

As Sean entered the private room, a wave of familiar voices greeted him. Sean’s here?

Today’s gathering is really something, bringing out Sean, who hasn't stepped out in years, and Layla, who hasn’t contacted any classmates for so long…

It’s a big deal to get Sean out of his house…

Inside the room, the smiling faces of his classmates brought Sean back to the sunny days of four years ago. These smiles overlapped with the vibrant faces from his memories, offering him a moment of tranquility.

Over these four years, they had all graduated from college and started new chapters in their lives. But Sean's life had been stagnant due to severe headaches, as if he had been caged. Despite feeling somewhat alienated, Sean was genuinely happy – this felt normal, these were normal friends.

What are you guys talking about?

Suddenly, a cheerful voice interrupted the conversation.

A stylishly dressed girl entered the room. Her tall figure and delicate features immediately drew everyone's attention. The classmates' faces lit up with new smiles as they asked, Nothing much, Layla. Are you planning to stay this time?

Layla was undoubtedly the center of attention at the reunion, recognized by everyone as the most beautiful girl. In Sean's memory, she was always the radiant girl from high school, not only beautiful but also academically brilliant and athletically talented. She possessed an indescribable aura of mystery. Rumor had it she was from a prominent family in a major northern city and had transferred to their school under special circumstances, only to leave after a semester.

I’ll be here for a while, Layla responded with a smile, though she was unsure for how long. She always had this demeanor that was approachable yet distant, inadvertently becoming the focus of everyone’s attention.

She seems different from others… Sean didn’t know when he started feeling attracted to Layla. It wasn’t just her beauty, but something real and indescribable about her. Only when looking at her did his unrealistic dizziness and tension seem to fade away.

Perhaps the previous discomfort and panic were just side effects of his headache, just over-anxiousness on his part.

Sean, what are you looking at? Suddenly, a cold voice snapped Sean back to reality. He looked up to see John staring at him with a sinister gaze, a forced smile on his lips but a chilling light in his eyes. Another classmate, gripping a dinner knife, was repeatedly stabbing meat on his plate while staring intently at Sean.

Suddenly, someone pulled a chair harshly, creating a jarring noise, then leaned back nonchalantly, giving Sean a mocking smile. At that moment, Sean felt as if he had become the target of everyone’s hostility.

His heart started to beat uncontrollably, slower and slower, his nerves tensing, and cold sweat breaking out on his forehead. The dizzy sensation returned, making everything around him seem unreal. He could almost feel these people about to violently attack him with their knives.

They all want to harm me… The thought shocked Sean himself. He got up in a panic, I’m going to the restroom! and fled the room, feeling the cold stares on his back.

What’s wrong with me? Splashing cold water on his face, Sean closed his eyes in anguish. Whether it was his mother at home, passersby on the street, or even his familiar classmates, they all seemed to harbor a deadly animosity towards him at times.

Was he really sick? His headaches, which started four years ago, had twisted his world. He thought he was getting better after secluding himself for four years, but were his symptoms actually worsening?

While Sean was wrestling with pain and confusion, a calm voice interrupted his thoughts. How long have you been awake?

Startled, Sean turned around to find Layla, who had quietly appeared behind him. She leaned against the wall, a slim cigarette between her fingers, her gaze indifferent yet fixed on him.

I… Sean hesitated, about to explain his earlier comment about going to the restroom.

But Layla cut him off, I’m asking how long you’ve been awake, and why you’ve attracted so much hatred?

Hatred? Sean was even more baffled, looking at Layla with a puzzled expression.

Haven’t you noticed? Layla's voice carried a hint of mystery, the smoke tinged with a faint mint scent. This city is a façade... We are surrounded by malevolent spirits…

CHAPTER 2: THE FIRST PRECEPT

F ake? Evil spirits? A chill went through Sean, as if he had plunged into an icy lake. The mysterious and aloof Layla simply looked into his eyes and said softly, Do you feel like everyone around you has developed an inexplicable and intense hatred towards you?

Do you feel as if they all wish to kill you, to devour you?

A sense of horror and gratitude surged through Sean as Layla precisely articulated his feelings. She then sighed lightly, I can tell you, all that hatred is real.

The animosity they showed in the room was real. If you had stayed any longer, they would have killed you. These words made Sean's scalp tingle, feeling as if the world behind him was silently collapsing.

Why? he asked softly.

The reason is simple, Layla said calmly, her voice cutting through the mint-scented smoke. Everything around us, the people and things, they are just facades. They have been replaced by false monsters.

You no longer fit into this world, like a nail stuck in a clock. The world loathes you, wants to kill you…

Overwhelmed by these revelations, Sean could only stare blankly at Layla, her composure and beauty instilling a profound sense of madness in him.

I… He had so many questions, but Layla quickly stood up, placing her hand on his shoulder, whispering, Don’t speak, they are coming.

Sean's heart was filled with confusion and alarm. John approached with a smile, his expression turning displeased, What are you two whispering about? Can I join?

Sean felt vigilant, but Layla easily replied, Just some interesting stuff.

John glanced at Layla, then at Sean, his smile fading. He told Layla to go back first, as he had something to discuss with Sean. Sean noticed a sinister flash in John's eyes as Layla obediently nodded and left. As she turned away, she whispered to Sean, The first precept of the outsiders: Don’t appear weak. If you don’t want to be killed by him, you'll have to kill him.

Shocked by her words, Sean watched Layla leave. John, seeing Layla whisper to Sean, seemed extremely displeased. He dragged Sean into the restroom, pinning him against the wall, shattering the glass. You think you’re worthy? John spat out with resentment.

You… what’s wrong? Sean panicked, instinctively asking.

John angrily declared, This gathering was because of Layla. I like her. She’s mine. How dare you compete with me? How dare you have designs on her?

Sean witnessed John's anger erupt with a sense of profound dread. The fury contorted John's face, his forehead veins bulging like worms, and his eyes almost obscured by blood-red lines. His rage was like an unleashed beast.

His mouth split open due to the intensity of his anger, his cheeks torn apart by the force of his twisted muscles. His chest seemed to split open, revealing writhing tentacles with round suckers and barbs, dripping with mucus.

You lazy trash, you deserve to die in your bedroom… John's voice was filled with hatred and venom, his slimy arm, or rather tentacle, viciously stabbing towards Sean’s heart.

At that moment, Sean’s eyes widened in horror, his heart racing to an unbearable extent. A wave of panic, more intense than anything he had ever experienced, washed over him.

Is this real or an illusion? Has he... turned into a monster?

With the intense headache and dizziness, Sean felt as if time around him had slowed down. Only John's angry and contorted face, the tentacles writhing out of his body, and that unnaturally powerful arm were clear.

What was happening? Why was he experiencing such absurd, nightmarish events? Confused, Sean could hear his heart beating loudly, each beat stretching longer and longer.

Since he began adapting to his panic attacks, he often experienced this sensation. The more anxious he became, the slower everything around him seemed to move, almost to a stop. In the same second, he could think through more, perceive more, as if the world had paused and only his mind was racing.

Previously, this sensation brought only pain and torment, but now it seemed to have an unexpected effect. His mind worked overtime, quickly comprehending in less than a second what others might take much longer to understand.

Sean, confronted with John transformed into a monster, felt a profound threat and hatred. He wants to kill me, he thought. Should I run? No, I can't escape; he's too close. The only way is... He remembered Layla's words: To survive, you must kill him.

Murder was unthinkable for Sean, who had never even killed an animal, let alone a person. But what he faced was a monster attacking him. He had no other choice.

How to kill it, then? Sean's mind raced, capturing every detail around him. He saw John's torn skin, grotesque flesh and tentacles, and the slowly bulging dark red heart. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted the shiny fragments of the broken mirror on the floor, formulating a plan.

Bang! The furious John lashed out with his tentacle towards Sean's chest. Sean, with astonishing precision, dodged and grabbed a sharp mirror fragment from the floor.

As John's tentacle struck again, Sean was ready. He grasped the mirror shard and stabbed towards John's chest.

Shh! Sean's wrist passed through the sticky tentacle, piercing directly into John's wildly beating heart. The heart was tough, but Sean exerted all his strength, plunging the shard deep into the organ.

John's tentacles suddenly went limp as he staggered backward, his eyes filled with surprise and fear. Clutching the bloodied mirror shard, Sean stared intently at him. Taking a deep breath, he crouched down and fiercely stabbed John's heart again.

CHAPTER 3: WE ARE ALL OUTSIDERS

As John's twisted body and tentacles lay lifeless, Layla mysteriously appeared at the men's restroom door. Surprised, she observed Sean standing over John, a bloody mirror shard in his hand.

She had checked outside to ensure no one else had transformed and hurried to assist Sean, only to find he had already handled the situation himself. Sean stood calmly before John, gripping the bloodied shard, an unexpected decisiveness in his actions.

Layla was taken aback by Sean's efficiency. She had given him time alone with the monster to gauge his potential, hoping he'd demonstrate high capability. However, Sean's performance exceeded her expectations.

Sean glanced up at Layla, his grip tightening on the shard, his nerves taut. Recognizing her, he relaxed slightly. He didn't understand her surprise, nor did he think he had done anything wrong.

His actions, though seeming spontaneous, were the result of prolonged thought and determination to kill the monster for self-preservation. He had committed fully to his decision.

Only after confirming the monster's death—its shattered heart no longer beating—did he stand up and discard the shard. His heart pounded heavily with relief and lingering tension.

Layla clapped slowly as she entered, her gaze on Sean somewhat peculiar. You did well, she said.

I… Sean's voice carried belated nervousness. Did I kill someone?

No, Layla reassured as she approached, applying a medical patch to his wound. The situation isn’t over yet. You’ve only delayed the crisis. Your anger, even against these creatures, has a suppressive effect...

Sean's head throbbed intensely as he grappled with the aftermath of the killing, the explosive headache, and the bizarre revelations, feeling utterly lost.

Why are you two whispering so much? A laughing voice suddenly broke the silence. Sean turned and froze in shock. John was rising from the ground, his torn flesh and punctured wounds miraculously healing, tentacles retracting into his body. He walked over to the sink, washing his hands and joking, We always thought you two had a story back in school. Was I right?

Sean listened, feeling the world turn surreal. His recent terror and desperate fight seemed like illusions. Warily distancing himself from John, Sean looked at Layla, who was casually explaining, It was too noisy inside, we couldn’t hear each other.

John joked as he dried his hands, Come on, let’s go back. You’ve been gone so long, you should drink as a penalty.

Back in the private room, their classmates indeed teased Sean and Layla to drink. But to Sean, everything seemed bizarre. His classmates were overly friendly, with occasional resentful glances. Even John seemed more amiable, albeit still somewhat pretentious.

Layla, after chatting briefly, excused them from singing, claiming she and Sean had other plans. The classmates looked on in surprise and envy.

Once in her black SUV, Sean felt the envious stares of his classmates. The situation seemed eerily normal.

What’s really going on? Sean asked as they drove through the neon-lit streets, cold night air streaming through the open window.

Layla, smoking a cigarette, replied softly, I can’t explain everything, only give you the answer. Everyone around us, in essence, is no longer human. Your friends, your family, they've all become different beings. They still wear their old faces, have memories and identities, but they are twisted monsters...

Usually, they disguise themselves, living normally around you. But when the city turns malicious, you see their true forms…

At that moment, as if an electric current surged through his brain, Sean thought of his mother's cold gaze and the city's pervasive strangeness. Then we... He opened his mouth, as if to say a lot, but couldn't form a coherent question.

This world has changed and forgot to include us... Layla seemed to know what he wanted to say, a mysterious smile on her lips, We are not from here; you and I are both aliens...

Sean didn’t know what to say. After a while, he took the cigarette from Layla's mouth and put it in his own. Normally, he didn't smoke, but now he needed something to calm his chaotic mind. He found it hard to accept what Layla had just said; it was too terrifying, too crazy. He would rather believe that he was insane and everything he saw was a hallucination.

Watching Sean cough from the cigarette, Layla couldn't help but smile, I know it's hard to accept. Everyone who just wakes up feels like you do, preferring to believe they’ve gone mad rather than accept such an absurd reality. But you can't deny, maybe you've always sensed the abnormality of this world.

Sean choked severely on the mint-flavored cigarette but continued smoking. He wondered if he had indeed sensed the world's abnormalities early on. Or was it himself who was abnormal? Four years ago, after his parents' divorce and his family fell apart, his brain seemed to break down that summer. He was overwhelmed by intense panic and dizzy spells, unable to think clearly.

He went to the hospital, but nothing was found. His parents and even doctors thought he was faking it for a while. He couldn't express his pain to others and had to confine himself to his bedroom for four years, learning to focus his attention.

He read books and played games, or just sat in his chair all day, learning to adapt to it all, to control the perception distortion brought on by intense fear. Finally, after four years, he decided to rejoin the world. And now someone tells him that the world has been changed by some unknown force into something completely alien?

Okay, I know you have many questions in your mind, but there's too much for a newcomer like you to understand right away, Layla said, smiling. Let me take you home first. I need to prepare to properly introduce you to this world and how to survive in it.

Go back? Sean suddenly felt a strong aversion. Thinking of his mother's cold eyes and everything he encountered on the streets, he felt a chill.

Don't be afraid, Layla noticed his nervousness, smiling, Solving John has slightly eased the world's malice and rejection towards you. But it's only temporary, in a day or two, maybe even a few hours, that malice will return, even stronger than before. Not just John, everyone you meet might want to kill you.

Hearing her words, Sean tensed: Then what should I do?

Relax, Layla smiled. Just wait quietly as if nothing happened. I’ll come back for you.

Relax? Sean felt absurd, In a world full of monsters, you want me to relax?

Layla laughed at his response, In a world full of monsters, what else can you do but relax?

CHAPTER 4: A STRANGE WORLD

T hat’s damn true… Sean thought. If he's already in a world full of monsters, with no escape and no power to resist, what else could he do but remain calm? Despite the many questions in his heart, Sean slowly gave up the impulse to ask more. It might become annoying. Since Layla promised to explain later, that was enough for now. If this world had truly become one full of monsters, what was the use of pestering her?

Dropped off at the alley by Layla, Sean looked at the empty street and felt an odd sense of relief. He only turned to walk home after the car’s taillights disappeared. He deliberately avoided the butcher shop known for the sound of its saw and quickly passed the house with the old record player. He tensed as he passed the neighbor's house with three ferocious dogs. It was so quiet that only his heartbeat seemed to echo, and the dark corners seemed to hide sneaky eyes, silently watching him.

As he was about to open his door, his anxiety peaked, fearing what he might see of his mother. This place is all demons… He recalled Layla's words and the monstrous form of John, hesitating for a long time before pushing the door open.

Unexpectedly, he was greeted by warm, comforting light. Back already? His mother was sitting on the sofa, watching TV. She turned down the volume, I always said you should go out more.

Remembering how his mother had nearly attacked him with a knife earlier, Sean was shaken and mumbled a response before heading to his bedroom. You, not even talking to me, his mother grumbled from the sofa, I'm tired of worrying about you. I made pizza, it’s in the fridge. Heat it up if you’re hungry. Staying up so late playing games, not taking care of yourself. Who will look after me when I’m old?

Sean hesitated at the bedroom door, replying dully, Got it. As he entered, he still felt his mother's caring gaze, contrasting sharply with the chilling memory from earlier. Was it all an act?

After his parents' divorce four years ago, he had lived with his mother. The sudden onset of panic disorder prevented him from even taking his college entrance exams. For almost four years, he had stayed in his room, not working at all. His mother, getting older, had always taken care of him, despite occasional complaints, showing more concern and companionship.

But if his mother had also become a monster, were all these memories fake? An act?

Closing the bedroom door, Sean's body shook uncontrollably, rubbing his face hard. That night, he didn't dare undress, lying in bed with his clothes on, waiting for dawn.

After sitting in bed for a while, he finally got up. After the tense events of the previous day, he had fallen asleep with his shoes on, ready for anything. But nothing happened all night, an unnerving calm.

When he tiptoed to the living room, he found it empty. Mom seemed to have left already. In the old-looking living room, the breakfast she left for him was on the table: a plate of fried pizza and a box of milk. His mom was frugal, believing pizza was the ultimate irreplaceable delight. Recently too tired from work, she hadn't made pizza in a long time. He hadn't eaten supper the previous night, so she probably felt sorry for him. Fearing he would be too lazy to heat it up, she fried it for him before leaving for work…

But was the person who left him this pizza the same one who had almost chopped him up yesterday? Sean stared at the pizza but didn't try it. Washing his face with cold water, he left the house hungry.

Walking through the plant-filled courtyard to the old neighborhood, he saw a stark contrast to the towering buildings nearby. This area, with its two- or three-story houses and small bungalows, seemed like a forgotten corner of the bustling city. Different from the previous night's fear, Sean now clearly saw this long-lost world, clearer but still perplexing.

He saw the neighbor's three big dogs: one chasing butterflies, another digging holes, and the last one lazily buried under dirt. Far from being ferocious, these dogs were so docile they wagged their tails at cats.

He saw the second-floor neighbor behind the white curtains, dancing to soothing music. At the butcher shop, the apron-wearing owner greeted everyone with a warm smile.

The sun was warm, everything was peaceful.

Looking at the elderly chatting in the old alley and the playful little girl, Sean felt as if he had stepped into another world, starkly different from yesterday's gloom and terror. His heart eased considerably, but he remained vigilant, hands in his pockets as he crossed the alley and stepped onto the street.

Looking up at this world, he felt a sense of unfamiliarity. The commercial skyscrapers that seemed to have sprung up out of nowhere, the light rails crisscrossing the city's midsection, the massive factories at the city's edge, and the pale, dim sun. There were shadows of his memory, yet something was different.

But all he saw was a vast, limitless city, not the sinister realm of yesterday. There were just people of all kinds, living their varied lives. Busy white-collar workers with coffee in hand walked the streets, a girl with a ponytail hurried to catch the subway, and sexy girls on billboards blew kisses to the city.

Everything seemed to operate normally, different from his memory but still natural. Was this unfamiliarity due to his four years of isolation, or had the world really changed, making so many things feel alien to him?

Sean couldn't tell at the moment. He just looked at this vast, profound world, unable to question its reality. How could these living, breathing people be monsters?

Maybe everything was just his illusion, and yesterday's experiences were just hallucinations and delusions? Sean looked down at the band-aid on his hand, suddenly ripping it off to reveal a deep wound. The reopened wound reminded him that this wasn't fake, so yesterday's experiences were real. He had killed John, and Layla had bandaged his wound...

But thinking of his past four years, the blurred whispers, the bone-deep headaches, and the intertwining of dreams and reality, he began to fear again. What if yesterday's memories were also fake? What if he hadn't really killed a monster but just punched a mirror, causing his own injury?

And his mother, her care for him, could that also be a monster's disguise? The more he thought, the more agitated he became, quickening his pace home. But as he opened the gate, he suddenly heard a cold voice: Where have you been wandering all day?

Sean looked up to see his mother standing in the yard with a cold expression, angrily dumping an untouched pizza into the trash bin. She was still wearing her supermarket guide uniform, apparently just getting home and not yet having changed. Seeing Sean, she could hardly hide her displeasure: Not eating, not coming home.

You’re grown up, what exactly do you want to do? she continued, You’re supposed to get married, have kids. Am I supposed to take care of you for the rest of my life? Go to your father, you’re both the same. He has plenty of money; let him take care of you!

Sean stood frozen at the entrance, staring at his mother. He watched her pacing the yard restlessly, throwing things around in her hands. When her anger peaked, she suddenly turned and glared at Sean. Beneath her skin, he noticed the movement of an eyeball.

In that moment, Sean felt a chill run through his body and stumbled backward. But for some reason, he felt an unexpected relief in his heart, his confusion slowly fading. She was indeed a monster, just like John. He no longer needed to be confused or run away; the world was indeed as Layla described, filled with monsters.

However, looking at his increasingly ferocious mother, whose skin seemed to be torn apart by some writhing monster, Sean felt a moment of hesitation...

What should he do now?

CHAPTER 5: FACING THE NEW REALITY

As his mother approached with hatred in her eyes, the surroundings started to distort, as if in a nightmare. So, things hadn’t actually returned to normal... Sean recalled Layla’s words: the world gave him less than a day's respite after killing John before returning to its malevolent state. What should he do now?

His heart began to thud heavily, blood rushing to his brain. Is this Sean's home? Just as panic and unease peaked, a voice sounded from behind.

Sean turned around in surprise and saw Layla in a white shirt and jeans, wearing a white baseball cap, holding a box of bird's nest, smiling into the yard. His anxiety immediately eased, as if seeing a savior.

This… Before Sean could articulate his shock, his mother, who had just stepped out of the yard, appeared visibly startled. Her face rapidly shifted from anger and bitterness to confusion, then to a surprised greeting towards Sean, Is this child...?

Before Sean could answer, Layla walked past him, greeting with a smile, Hello, auntie, I’m Layla, Sean’s high school classmate.

Ah, hello, hello… The mother seemed flustered, hurrying to invite Layla inside: Come sit, you see, Sean didn’t even tell me, and the house is such a mess…

No need to fuss, auntie, water is fine for me…

Sean watched, almost in a daze, as Layla and his mother entered the house like a real guest. His mother, now devoid of any demonic behavior, warmly invited Layla to sit, then went to change out of her work clothes, even tidying her hair. After a brief chat, she enthusiastically invited Layla to stay for dinner, pushing Sean into the house to talk with Layla and happily going out to buy groceries. The contrast was so stark, it felt unreal.

Sean's mother, are you going shopping now?

Yes, my son’s classmate has come, I want to cook something nice.

Oh, is that Sean’s friend? Such a pretty girl…

Yes, Sean’s high school classmate. The child didn’t even tell me, leaving me unprepared.

From the distant yard, Sean could hear his mother greeting the neighbors. Sitting on the sofa, he felt the absurdity of it all.

What is she doing?

Parents always care about their children's romantic interests, right? Layla said quietly, a mysterious smile on her face, sitting on the sofa. Especially since, it seems, you don’t have many friends?

Sean felt absurd: But…

I've told you before, they act just like normal people do, faithfully playing their roles until the malice strikes, Layla continued, looking at Sean. Interacting with them is the first lesson you need to learn. We must find the truth among each other while adapting to the falseness of this world.

Otherwise, you’ll suffer. There was one of our kind who couldn't bear such falsehood and chose self-destruction. I don’t want you to follow in his footsteps.

Sean fell silent, not fully understanding but remembering her words.

Besides… Layla looked at Sean curiously, I'm also interested to know, what would you have done if I hadn't arrived just in time?

What would I have done? Sean recalled the moment at the yard entrance, facing his mother alone, and looked into Layla's eyes.

After a while, he said quietly, I would have run away, of course…

Oh? Layla raised an eyebrow, But she was about to turn into a monster that would devour you…

But she still looked like my mother… Sean, unsure why Layla asked this, rubbed his face tiredly, What else could I do but run away?

Layla didn’t respond, but her expression seemed much more relaxed.

Sean had thought that when he saw Layla again, he would be able to eagerly ask all the questions in his heart. However, to his surprise, Layla's visit turned out to be like a casual visit to an old classmate, staying for dinner at his home. His mother prepared a lavish meal, including roast beef, and grilled fish, and even took out a bottle of red wine, claiming it was high-end. Layla conversed politely and gently, patiently dealing with his mother’s roundabout inquiries…

Sean felt like an outsider in his own home. However, having not eaten all day, he was genuinely hungry and started eating heartily, seeing Layla comfortably doing so. After all, he had been eating there for years; if there were any issues, they would have arisen by now. His lack of appetite that day was probably just a repercussion of yesterday’s shock.

After the meal, Layla spent some time chatting with his mother before politely saying she needed to leave, asking Sean to escort her home.

Go ahead, his mother instructed, pointing outside, almost as if saying he should not only go but also stay out for the night: Take Layla home; it’s not safe at night.

Layla awkwardly responded, Don’t worry, I’ll be careful.

Under the cold streetlights, Sean instinctively donned his hood, stretching their shadows long. He joked, See, your mom really cares about you, and your family seems well-off; the houses here are expensive.

You’re discussing housing prices with me now? Sean said somewhat helplessly. After a pause, he spoke quietly, I went out today to see if the world is real… After all, I haven’t been out in a long time…

Hearing Sean's words, Layla smiled, her beautiful eyes looking at him: Still doubting whether it's you who has a problem? Sean remained silent. Indeed, it seemed more logical that he was the one who had gone crazy rather than the world.

Trust yourself, young man, Layla said, seeing him deep in thought. She couldn't help but laugh, patting his shoulder, Subconsciously doubting oneself is a reasonable and common reaction.

But once I introduce you to ‘him,’ you won’t think that way anymore.

Him? Sean suddenly looked up, Who is it?

Layla gently put her index finger to her lips, signaling him not to ask further, and turned her gaze towards a direction.

Sean then realized that he had been walking with Layla for quite some time, but they hadn’t stopped at her car. Instead, they were heading towards a subway station. Inside the station, no trains were stopping anymore, but many homeless people huddled in the corners. The place reeked of urine and an unidentifiable rotting smell.

Sean had visited this place during the day, pondering how even in a post-death world, so many people still needed to cram into the subway for work, a terrifying thought indeed. But now, returning with Layla, he noticed the lights were glaringly pale and flickered due to unstable voltage. Every time the subway zipped by, the shadows reflected in the windows distorted his own body's image. The surrounding crowd seemed dazed and zombie-like.

Instinctively, Sean stayed close to Layla, observing her scanning the diverse crowd as if appreciating a scenery. They stopped next to a sleeping homeless man. Layla smiled at the man, emitting a pungent odor, and greeted, Hello.

It took a moment for the homeless man to slowly uncover his head from the dirty blanket, revealing only his eyes, blankly staring at Layla’s stunning face. Who are you? he asked in a sharp, child-like voice.

I get paid to do jobs, Layla replied, smiling. Someone paid me to do a job of catching mice.

After a moment of silence, the man suddenly sat up, his dirty blanket falling off. He stared blankly at Layla: Who’s the mouse?

Sean instinctively stepped back, filled with caution. But it was then that he realized the man under the blanket wasn’t a monster, just a typical homeless man, gaunt with a slightly swollen belly and skinny limbs. His skin was greyish-brown from malnutrition, surrounded by scattered wine bottles. He seemed nervously trembling, instinctively shrinking towards the corner as Layla approached.

Layla’s smile deepened, thoroughly examining the homeless man before nodding gently. She opened her bag, pulled out a cold-looking firearm, and handed it to Sean, saying, Kill him.

Kill him? Feeling the cold touch of the gun in his hand, Sean was genuinely shocked.

Layla nodded as if it was a trivial matter. Sean turned to the homeless man, who seemed frightened, curling up in the corner upon hearing their conversation. With a look of disbelief, Sean suddenly raised the gun and aimed it at the man's chest, continuously pulling the trigger.

Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang

Layla: ?

CHAPTER 6: CONFRONTING THE TRUTH

Layla was equally surprised by the sudden gunfire. It was quite a challenging task to give a gun to a person who had just awakened and instruct him to shoot an apparently innocent homeless man. What Layla intended to teach Sean was that, in this foreign world, many things cannot be understood through conventional logic. He needed to learn to distinguish disguises and become ruthless. Any hesitation or fear could be fatal when facing these distorted creatures.

So, when she handed over the gun, if Sean had shown hesitation or bombarded her with questions, she might have been annoyed but also would have seen it as a teaching opportunity, as her own mentor had taught her. However, Sean's reaction was unexpected.

He took the gun and, without asking why, immediately pulled the trigger, appearing as if he intended to empty all the bullets.

Is he dead? While Layla was caught in confusion, Sean was intently watching the homeless man engulfed in a mist of blood. When he first received the gun, he was conflicted about Layla's order.

He even doubted whether this beautiful girl had gone mad, abruptly asking for a murder... But as he grappled with these thoughts, he suddenly felt his heart pound heavily, a surge of intense crisis causing his thoughts to explode.

Countless thoughts and information erupted in his brain, operating in overload.

Why kill this homeless man?

Is Layla joking with me?... Almost impossible, she wouldn't be so trivial.

Then, is this homeless man really just a homeless man?

In the nearly frozen moment, Sean scrutinized the homeless man, his appearance, movements, bedding, and wine bottles. The man's eyes were slightly sunken, filled with red veins. Such a condition might seem normal for a heavy drinker with poor sleep, but his eyes were redder than most, with dark pupils flickering in the shadow. It was a chilling detail easily overlooked.

As he noticed this, Sean also observed the man's posture. He seemed scared, tightly pressed against the wall, trembling. But a closer look revealed his legs slightly bent, ready to pounce, and his hands with tensed fingers, as if prepared to tear something apart. This man was subtly adjusting his stance, ready to attack at any moment. He was dangerous!

Even with these observations, Sean didn't feel he could immediately shoot. What made up his mind was a dark object under the man's blanket, hard to notice at first. But upon closer examination, Sean saw it was a human thumb, half-eaten!

This wasn't just a homeless man; it was a monster hiding under a tattered blanket in the subway corner, eating people. And it was poised to attack at any moment.

Layla wasn't joking; she had indeed led him to a monster and ordered him to kill it. So why hesitate?

With that thought formed, Sean immediately pulled the trigger, aiming to kill the monster before it could leap at him in its grotesque form.

The force of the bullets shook the homeless man's body violently. However, Sean's unfamiliarity with the gun's recoil caused him to miss several shots, hitting the wall beside the man instead. The homeless man then let out a strange cry. His body, punctured by bullets, suddenly tore open, revealing a slender, blood-red creature that screeched and lunged at Sean's face.

What the hell is that? Facing the bright red creature, Sean felt a wave of nausea, his brain turning to mush. Yet, in his heightened state of alertness, he clearly saw the creature lunging at him.

It was a human-shaped, skinless rat. It had muscular tissues, bulbous red eyes, and even a long, red tail made of bone segments. Its interlocking sharp teeth dripped with black ooze, emitting a putrid smell.

Don't turn your back on it... Layla, standing to the side, timely warned Sean. In fact, she had started advising even before the rat creature tore through its human disguise. She was holding a black dagger in a reverse grip, but she didn't seem intent on intervening, seemingly wanting to see how Sean would react to this sudden turn of events. As an old classmate, now a newcomer, Sean had already shown many surprising traits. But would he maintain his composure and accurate judgment when faced with the rat creature at close range?

As Layla's warning sounded, Sean's eyes widened, focusing on the creature lunging at him. He took in every detail of the monster – its deformed joints, bright red skin, and even the slime trailing from its attack – and quickly assessed the situation. This creature was terrifying; its strong body could withstand bullets unless hit in a vital spot. Its speed and strength far exceeded his understanding. At the same time, for some reason, the mere sight of it evoked fear, disgust, and cowardice within him. A part of his instinct seemed to be urging him to stay put, as most people's first reaction to terror is not to run but to freeze, losing control over their bodies.

However, Sean quickly overcame this instinctual response and made his next move. Clutching the gun with limited ammunition tightly, he stepped back swiftly to create distance from the creature and then sidestepped behind Layla.

Layla, who had been calmly observing Sean and was ready to intervene at any moment, was shocked by his reaction. Using her as a shield? Amidst her astonishment, the rat creature had already pounced towards her, its sharp fangs aiming to bite, its putrid stench reaching her nose. With a sigh, Layla lightly lifted her hand, warping the air with an invisible force that created a door-like ripple. The rat creature, now slowed as if deprived of its kinetic energy, was easily subdued by Layla with her black dagger, pinning it to the ground without even turning her head.

As Layla glanced at Sean, who had hidden behind her, her eyes seemed to question his actions. Facing Layla’s inquiring gaze, Sean briefly paused before stepping forward and firing at the struggling creature, ensuring its demise.

Bang! The creature wasn't quite dead yet, so he decided to fire another shot.

After finishing, Sean stepped back beside Layla, exhaling deeply and asking, What was that thing? It was terrifying!

Rat people, Layla replied quietly, observing Sean for a few seconds before explaining: They are mutated creatures born on the fringes of the forgotten city, skilled at parasitizing human bodies and living under their guise. Rat people are common in our city but very troublesome. Once detected, they must be eliminated immediately, or else they can multiply tenfold or even twentyfold in just a few days, causing widespread disaster. They have a mental attack that instantly evokes nausea and fear. Normal people, when encountering them, often flee due to the sudden disgust and terror, which the rat people use as an opportunity to... enter their bodies through a certain opening. They then consume the host's organs and flesh, inhabiting the body and accessing its memories, outwardly unchanged but inwardly transformed into one of their kind.

Listening intently, Sean's face displayed shock. After a brief pause, Layla continued, I've explained my part. Now, it’s your turn to explain... why did you hide behind me?

CHAPTER 7: 'HE' ARRIVES

B ecause it's safer… Sean's expression was surprisingly calm as he noticed Layla's scrutinizing gaze. He explained, You brought me here and found this... this rat creature, indicating deep knowledge about it. And you warned me before it emerged from its human disguise, which means you anticipated all these changes. You didn't show any sign of nervousness on your face, which means you didn't consider it a threat…

The most important thing is… Sean continued as he knelt down to pull the dagger from the rat creature’s head, wiped it on a nearby cloth, and handed it back to Layla, I noticed early on that you had already taken out the dagger, ready to act at any moment.

After taking a deep breath, he added, That thing was terrifying, and it was my first time seeing something like it. I wasn't sure if it had any other abnormal abilities, so even with a gun, I didn't feel safe.

So, hiding behind you seemed like the safest option…

Layla listened to his explanation and found it surprisingly reasonable. She had initially intended to observe whether Sean would have the courage to shoot upon seeing the rat creature’s true form. However, after hearing his analysis, she even felt that hiding behind her was the most logical choice.

Did you really notice all those details in such a short time? she asked, taking back the dagger with a hint of skepticism.

Well… Sean hesitated before replying, I react a bit faster than others, and I’ve always been good at games.

He made his response sound casual. Ever since experiencing unexplained panic and headaches four years ago, Sean had struggled with concentration and disordered thinking. During those episodes, time seemed to slow down excruciatingly, making each second unbearable.

In those states, he couldn’t speak or think normally. Even seeing a car heading towards him, he wouldn't know how to dodge, overwhelmed by an immense, invisible panic. The doctors found nothing wrong, and even his parents