Chapter 3- Monster
For a few moments, Elio had to take some deep breaths. He didn't know why… But that subtle look scared the living hell out of him. He was a very sensitive person toward subtle changes in people's expressions, so he could tell when someone's stare changed, and he was certain that the man's eyes changed for a second; he was not hallucinating.
"... Why did he look at me that way? Did he see something?" He muttered as he turned around and walked away while still licking his injured finger. 'Maybe he's just exhausted… Or angry. Who knows?'
Many people there had relatively moody vibes. Nobody wants to be there, yet they had to work and communicate a lot, so it wasn't hard to see many of them in a sour mood. Shaking his head, Elio tried to forget about it and continue his work.
"Elio! What the hell are you doing idling around?! Get back to work!"
"Yes, boss!"
With hurried steps, Elio moved back to the truck to pick up the next box. Quickly, his mind forgot about that incident, and he was submerged in work again.
***
*A few hours later*
"Fuuh… It's finally over… Hah…" Elio sat down on one of the empty boxes as he breathed heavily. He was totally and utterly spent. He couldn't breathe properly, and his clothes were soaked with sweat. He was also incredibly hungry and thirsty.
'I can't wait to finally go back home and sleep. I'm so tired.' He closed his eyes as he sat there, trying to rest a bit.
"Hey, boy."
At that moment, he heard his boss approaching.
"Yes, boss?"
For some reason, his boss seemed quieter than usual. Usually, he would have a very vulgar and loud tone.
"Say… Can you work overtime? Clean up the warehouse."
"H-Huh?"
"Max and Gellian can't stay since they have to go back to their wives, and Lorian works tomorrow morning, so he will have to leave too. That only leaves you."
"... I'm sorry, but I can't. I have tests soon, boss."
'Absolutely not! Clean the entire warehouse alone?! Are you crazy, old man?! How about you clean it on your own, huh?!' It took Elio all his willpower not to lash out at his boss and lose his job.
"Come on, kid. It won't take more than two hours."
"I really wish I could, boss. But, I really can't. I will clean the warehouse tomorrow if you want."
"Say… What if I pay you an extra 50 dollars?"
"..."
"What do you think?"
The boy froze for a few seconds, his expression completely twisted. '50 dollars? That's like… double my salary...'
"Well… Ummm, I guess I can do that then."
Elio simply can't resist such an offer; he really needed that money.
"Hahahaha! You little brat! I knew you had it in you!" The man laughed as he slammed his hand on Elio's back a few times before he pulled out his wallet and pulled out a hundred-dollar bill. "Here, today's pay."
Elio's eyes lit up as he took the bill and looked at it. He felt like a kid holding a toy in his hand.
"Thank you, boss! I will do my best!"
"Good, and I forgive you for coming late. Don't do it again, though!"
"Yes, boss!"
With that, the man turned around and walked away.
"Sigh, well, I guess food and sleep will have to wait longer."
Looking around him, all he saw was a huge mess left behind as everyone started leaving the warehouse.
"Two hours, he said… Now I wish it would take less than three."
Sighing, the young man rolled his sleeves and immediately got to work. It was already 10 pm, so he had to get it over with before midnight, or he wouldn't get any sleep that night. Luckily, this wasn't the first time he stayed to clean the warehouse, so he was very quick with it.
'Hurry, hurry! I need it to be done quickly!'
***
"Hnnng… Ugh…"
Elio walked outside and threw the large bag of trash in the bin before he exhaled tiredly. "And that's the last bag… I'm finally done. That was so tiring. I will never let myself get bribed like that ever again."
Every muscle of his being was sore, and he knew tomorrow morning, he was in for a whole lot of pain. But that was a problem for future Elio to deal with.
Dusting his hands, he was about to get back inside and turn the lights off. However, at that moment, he looked up. Right above his head, the sky was completely dark, with no stars whatsoever.
In the heart of it was the large, full moon in its glorious beauty. The scene was mesmerizing, and Elio took a second to fully appreciate it.
"Ah, right… Tonight was a full moon… It looks really nice." He smiled faintly. He loved staring up at the sky sometimes. Something about how vast and seemingly endless it is intrigued him. For this world to be so small yet so big, and for him to be so insignificant in it all… He found solace in that.
Sucking a deep breath, he finally shook his head and started walking inside again. He can't stay here any longer; he needs to get back home and sleep.
*BANG*
At that moment, as he was about to close the door, Elio heard a noise coming from the other side of the alley.
"Hm?" He frowned and peeked outside. He saw a bucket roll down the path slowly, making noise as it moved.
"..."
Eventually, it came to a halt a dozen feet away from him. His eyes stared at it before he looked up.
"Is anyone there?" He asked. However, it was quiet. "Hello?"
'Was that a cat? I can't let it get to the trash bin, it would make a big mess.' He grumbled as he got out again and walked down the alley to check where the cat was. It was dark, with only the light from the street illuminating the place.
Peeking around every corner and every piece of trash, he searched for the cat without any result.
'Could've that been the wind?' Rubbing the back of his head, Elio stood there for a few seconds.
"Sigh… So annoying." Cursing inwardly, he turned around to head back. He was sick and tired of all of this nonsense. 'I'm heading home, I don't care anymo-'
"Raaaaaa…."
Suddenly, Elio stopped, his entire being froze in a second. A feeling of dread swept over him from the feet as he found himself completely shell-shocked. It was a faint noise, barely audible, yet the moment he heard it… It was like his body lost control.
That feeling… It was familiar. The fear, the inability to move, the racing heartbeats. He knew them all very well and because of it… Exactly because of that, deep within his consciousness, he somehow recognized that noise.
Slowly, with a pale face, he turned his neck around and stared at a particular corner of the alley. There, out of the darkness, a silhouette emerged out of thin air. A man, slumped forward with his arms hanging down.
"Raaaaa…"
He growled lowly, his voice making Elio's bones shudder. He gulped… Then, he gulped again as he slowly took a shaky step back. His mouth was parted open, his eyes wide and unblinking, ready to run at any given moment.
"W-W-Wha… WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU?!!!"
"RAAAAA!!!"
At that moment, as if provoked, the man suddenly dashed forward at ridiculous speeds, cutting the distance down before Elio could even react.
*BANG*
Slamming into him, the boy was pushed to the ground violently. His entire body felt like it had been hit by a train.
"AAAGH!" He groaned in pain as he tried to resist. "GET OFF ME!!! GET THE HELL OFF ME!!!"
"Raaaaa…"
The man stared at him, and for a second, they made eye contact. His eyes were bloodshot red, his face pale as a sheet of paper. Two large fangs protruded from his mouth, dripping with saliva.
"A…Aaaa…" Elio's entire being shook. It was the same exact creature he had been seeing in his nightmares for the past few years. Those eyes, the fangs, the pale skin… That was the monster!
However, even more than that, that face itself wasn't unfamiliar. It was his coworker. One he knew very well, as he was talking to him barely a few hours ago.
"Raaaaaa…."
'Why? What's happening? Why is this real? Why am I being attacked? Is this real? Am I having another nightmare?' Elio thought to himself.
"RAAAAA!!"
The creature suddenly moved its hand and slammed it down on his face, pushing him to the ground even more. The boy's arms flailed everywhere.
"Let go!!! Mmmmm, mmmmm!!!" He tried to punch and slap the monster, but he was completely weak compared to it. He felt like he was hitting a rock.
Then, he felt the monster lean down, ready to bite his neck.
'Please! Anyone!... Save me…!!!' He yelled in his head as he felt the teeth start to sink into his skin. The feeling was dreadful and harsh, like large needles poking his very being.
Tears rolled down his face as he felt fear overwhelm him. "Please… Anyone… Please…"
As he started feeling the fangs reach deeper into his neck, suddenly, a flash of bright light took over, blinding him completely for a second.
What he saw after completely blew his mind.