Amidst the scene of a recent massacre, in the monitoring room, only one staff member remained alive. Watching over the shelter's monitors as if nothing had happened, he observed the plan that had taken months to orchestrate begin to fall apart. On the badge of his uniform was written "Takumi Hayashi," yet the one in control of that body was no human…
"One day," he thought. "One day of delay was enough to ruin everything!"
He was monitoring the camera feed of the meeting room where the Sombros disguised as the mayor and his entourage had been exposed by the Cobalt Flames just minutes earlier. In a desperate attempt to help them, the Nefari had launched the plan earlier than anticipated.
With a single command from him, the Sombros infiltrated in the monitoring room began the slaughter of the human staff. He, who had possessed Hayashi's body days before, continued his duty of monitoring the shelter.
It had been quite easy to possess that pathetic human's body. Like the other Vazcars, he had entered the shelter wearing a different skin—human, insect, or any small animal unnoticeable to the eye. He, for example, had entered as a fly. He went straight to the monitoring room and observed which staff member was the most vulnerable to possess quickly.
Hayashi was timid and fearful—a perfect prey. Whispering words into his ear about his past life and how humans couldn't see a Vazcar's true form, Hayashi believed he was going insane. He was so terrified that he wet himself. The Vazcar laughed with satisfaction at the scene—fear was the main means by which Vazcars could possess a body.
So even though he wished to feast on the man from the inside out, he refrained—there was a plan in motion. And unlike the useless Sombros, he wouldn't jeopardize his cover by feeding on the man and letting the foul smell reveal he was inside the staff member's body.
For that reason, he left the body intact and focused on maintaining full control, which wasn't difficult, as Hayashi was so ridiculously weak he couldn't even reclaim control of his own body.
But what was the use of the Vazcars' careful infiltration if the Sombros were such fools?
They couldn't control themselves when it came to hunger, and their stench could be smelled from miles away. Of course they couldn't fool the Cobalt Flames. He shook his head in disapproval while watching the meeting room feed. If only they had sent him and the other Vazcars to play the role of mayor and entourage, none of this would've happened.
The Cobalt Flames slaughtered the fake mayor's group in the blink of an eye, with swift, precise strikes. The only remaining Sombro was the one posing as the mayor, whom Ryu dragged into an empty room and began to beat—or rather, torture. Surely, he was trying to extract information, and that was terrible. The rest of the Cobalt Flames were busy fighting the Sombro guards, and even though he had shut off the shelter's lights, those warriors could still fight.
A movement on another monitor caught his attention. The Sombros posing as guards in front of the elevator had been caught off guard by two… girls? He was stunned to see that one single girl had shot and killed all of them with a rifle.
This was a problem… or perhaps an opportunity?
He watched the girl collapse in tears after killing the Sombros, then smiled with delight at her vulnerability. The other girl, clearly a half-blood, seemed emotionally stronger. She comforted the crying one, then took a rifle from one of the dead Sombros and entered the elevator, determined, with her timid friend following.
He prepared himself for the performance he would give next—one that might just save the Nefaris' plan.
______ 🌙 ______
Amara froze in shock at the remains of what had once been the monitoring staff. Blood coated the walls, coming from the room with the open door and light still on. Clutching her rifle tightly, her heart pounded wildly and her legs trembled. She knew a Nefari could still be inside, watching the cameras.
For a moment, she forgot about Miyu behind her, who vomited at the horrifying hallway scene. Amara rushed to help her friend, who looked about to faint.
"Miyu, are you okay?"
"No…" she sobbed. "This is horrible. I've never seen anything like this before… it's… it's a nightmare!"
Amara embraced her friend, who was shaking uncontrollably and sobbing.
"I know. It's cruel and horrifying. You can stay in the elevator if you want."
"But what about you?" Miyu pulled away, eyes wide in alarm.
"I'm going to check if there's anyone in the monitoring room and—"
"I'm coming with you!" Miyu declared at once.
"You don't have to. You're shaken and… there might be one or more Sombros inside," Amara whispered the last part.
"I know I'm a coward," Miyu wiped her tears with the back of her hand, "but I'm not leaving you alone. I said I'd go all the way with you, and I meant it!"
She seemed determined, though her body still trembled. Amara sighed, knowing convincing Miyu otherwise would be pointless, and nodded.
The two began crossing the grotesque scene, avoiding the body parts the Sombros had left behind. Stepping in blood with every step, they tried to remain silent as they neared the door.
From that distance, they heard crying.
They exchanged a puzzled look, and Amara wondered if a human had survived.
They crept closer and peered inside, seeing even more blood and body parts, but one lone staff member sat before the monitors, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Excuse me…" Amara called out, trying to get his attention. She hadn't noticed any strong smell indicating he might be a Sombro.
The man, around 40, bald and wearing glasses, looked up at the two girls, startled.
"Who are you?"
"We're human, don't worry!" Amara quickly said, hiding her rifle behind her back when she noticed him staring at it.
"Thank heavens!" He ran and dropped to his knees on the bloodstained floor before them. "Please, you have to help the Cobalt Flames!"
"What happened?" Miyu asked.
"I was in the bathroom when the massacre began. I came back and found this horrific scene. I decided to send everyone in the shelter to their dorms and turned off the lights. There are many infiltrated Sombros here and… and…"
"And what?" Amara almost shouted.
"And I saw them attacking the Cobalt Flames through the monitors. I tried to turn the lights back on, but they only work from here. Then the cameras showing the Cobalt Flames stopped working, but before that, I saw a Sombro corner Mr. Tsukishiro in an empty room… You have to go and save the commander—he's our only hope!"
The man began crying again, and Amara and Miyu exchanged worried looks. Miyu stared at one of the monitors for a few seconds, then pointed.
"Why is the Hinoken army outside? Look, they're trying to blow the gate open with explosives. You have to open it and let them in!"
"You think I didn't try that?" Hayaki, the name on the man's badge, raised his head to face them again. "The button to open the gate doesn't work either—it's probably part of those monsters' plan… We're practically alone among them, and if we don't help Mr. Tsukishiro, our last hope is gone."
"Which room is he in?" Amara gripped her rifle tightly. "I'm going there now!"
"Fourth floor, Room Y."
"Perfect."
"Wait, Amara, I'm coming too!" Miyu ran after her friend, who darted toward the elevator.
Panic thickened the air as they descended to the fourth floor. Neither looked back to see the final expression on the distressed staff member's face. He didn't seem like a Sombro—Amara caught herself thinking that again. He didn't have their smell, and his apparent despair seemed genuinely human.
She knew Miyu was thinking the same. The tension between them was so heavy it felt suffocating.
When they finally reached the fourth floor, a tightness gripped Amara's chest. She took a deep breath, knowing she had to be brave and fast. Her stomach churned at the emergency they faced.
"I'll go ahead."
They heard voices from the dark hallway. Miyu turned on her phone's flashlight.
"I'm right behind you."
"Are you sure you're okay?" Amara checked her friend again.
"I won't be okay until this is over…"
"Then let's go," Amara nodded grimly.
They ran through the hallway, Miyu pointing the flashlight toward the doors, trying to find Room Y quickly.
As they turned a corner, they saw what appeared to be the Cobalt Flames fighting Sombros. They took the opposite direction, still running and checking the doors.
At last, they found Room Y. Amara didn't hesitate—she kicked the lock open. They burst in like a storm, and when Miyu lit up Ryu and the Sombro before him…
Amara fired.
The bullet struck the Sombro right in the head, which exploded in a spray of black blood.