The ground trembled beneath the crowd's feet as a monstrous, towering worm burst through the arena floor. Its jagged maw screeched into the sky, its body casting a vast shadow over the city.
Floris gasped. "What is that thing?!"
Banid, calm but slightly unnerved, replied, "A beast."
"A beast?" she repeated
He scratched the back of his head, clearly not thrilled to explain. "I'm not good with history, but... beasts are like monsters just way bigger. Animalistic. Mindless most of the time. Ninety percent chance they'll kill anything they see."
The crowd didn't care. They screamed in sync, wild with bloodlust
"EAT THEM! EAT THEM! EAT THEM!"
Within the arena, Zed and Felt were bound to wooden stakes. The execution was moments away.
"Zed! What are you doing?! Dammit, let's get outta here!" Felt writhed against his restraints, desperation burning in his voice.
But Zed said nothing at first. Then, with a calm too eerie for the moment, he muttered
"Let's just die."
Felt's eyes widened. "What… what the hell are you saying?!"
The beast lunged.
Its grotesque mouth split open and swallowed them whole stakes and all before plunging back into the earth with earth-shattering force.
"NOOO!" Floris shrieked, her voice drowned by the sea of cheers.
"YEEAAAAHHHH!" the audience roared.
On a terrace overlooking the chaos, Banid turned to Grayslake. "Well, that wraps it up. What about her, sir?" he asked, nodding toward Floris.
Grayslake downed the last of his drink with a chuckle. "Use her body for testing. Rare to get human specimens these days."
"You said she'd be spared," Banid interjected, concern in his voice.
Grayslake smiled and placed a heavy hand on his son's shoulder. "My son... once someone sides with a monster, they become one. I'm not punishing her. I'm freeing her from her own delusions. Giving her a purpose."
"But—" Banid tried to argue.
Grayslake's grip tightened, painfully so. "A man knows what he wants when he wants it. So make your choice. Be human… or join the monsters."
An invisible weight crashed down upon the room like gravity itself had thickened.
(Wh-What is this…?) Floris thought, her knees buckling. (This pressure… Is this his ability?!)
Banid could barely speak. "Humans… shouldn't do this…"
Floris' vision blurred. Her breathing grew shallow. (I'm going to die...)
"Hey."
A whisper brushed her mind.
(Is someone there?) she wondered weakly.
"Hey there… I'm glad you can hear me."
(Who… are you?)
"Someone who wants to help you escape. But only… if you help me."
(Yes! I'll help! Anything!) she pleaded.
"Thank you… my friend."
Floris' body went limp. Her consciousness faded.
Grayslake glanced at her unconscious form. "Seems the truth was too much for her. Poor thing."
Suddenly the building quaked.
"The worm is back?!" Kochi asked, startled.
"No…" Banid muttered, touching the comm in his ear. "Mira. Evacuate all personnel. Now."
The tremors worsened violently rattling the walls and shaking dust from the ceiling.
"We need to get out of here," Grayslake ordered, rising.
"But the subject is still here," Banid said, gesturing toward Floris.
Grayslake waved him off. "Leave her. She's useless now. I'll get another."
The group rushed out Banid hesitating for a moment before following.
Behind them… silence.
Then… a low laugh.
Floris opened her eyes. But something was different. A grin spread across her face unnatural, filled with malice and clarity. Her voice dripped with venom as if she was possessed by someone
"Gray… Grayslake… I'll kill… Grayslake."
She broke into a manic laugh as the building collapsed around her.