---
Distracted by my phone, I didn't see the lady approaching until we collided. She was in such a hurry that she barely muttered an apology before rushing off.
But she wasn't fast enough to escape my notice.
Around her neck, I caught a glimpse of it — the item I had been searching for.
"Finally!" I gasped under my breath, my heart pounding with excitement.
But just as quickly, a chill ran down my spine.
Wait... something isn't right. If the last piece has surfaced, that means...
I swallowed hard, my instincts sharpening.
Cautiously, I began to follow her, keeping a safe distance as she disappeared into the crowd.
---
In a panic, Ire pushed her way through the crowd, her heart hammering in her chest.
Suddenly, a strong hand gripped her arm, freezing her in place.
Displeased and alarmed, she spun around to face whoever had dared to stop her — but the sight that met her eyes wrenched a scream from her throat.
Horror twisted her features as she struggled to pull free.
The bustling crowd seemed to vanish, melting away as if she and the creature were the only two left.
Her vision blurred with tears, but one thing was clear —
what held her wasn't human.
It was a monster, its twisted form looming over her, its grip cold and unyielding
She felt unbearable pain from the hand that was trapped. Her screams filled the air, but the monster held on tightly. No one came to her aid. Closing her eyes against the pain, she braced herself, unwilling to watch her end.
Suddenly, she heard a loud screech, followed by the immediate release of her arm. She opened her eyes in wonder and saw the creature writhing as it burned. But others were still coming for her. She darted backward, almost stumbling, when someone caught her from behind.
"Let's go!" the person said, pulling her along as they ran, trying to dodge the creatures that seemed to be everywhere.
"In here!" he shouted, unlocking a nearby car with a key in his hand. Without thinking, she yanked the door open and jumped inside.
Once they were both in, the guy fumbled desperately with the ignition as the monsters gained speed, their horrifying screeches growing louder. The air felt thick with tension until the engine finally roared to life, and the car shot forward, swerving around obstacles toward the exit.
"Hi! My name's Efe," the guy said, breaking the heavy silence between them.
"Ire. Thank you for saving my life back there," she replied, still breathless.
"It's nothing. I just hope we can trust each other," Efe said, casting a sideways glance at her and leaving the words hanging heavily between them.
"What are those things?" Ire asked, her gaze drifting to the blurry scenery rushing past the window.
Efe glanced at her, then turned his focus back to the road.
"Your bead... it's attractive."
"Oh, thanks, but it's not mine. It's my roommate's," she said with a faint smile.
"Ohh," Efe sighed, sounding slightly disappointed.
Silence fell between them again.
Ire tried to move her arm but winced at the sharp pain. She rolled up her sleeve and gasped. Black veins throbbed beneath her skin, spreading like dark roots. The sight made her stomach churn. A terrible headache followed, and the world around her blurred into blackness.
She couldn't feel, hear, or see anything.
For a moment, time stood still.
Then, faintly, she heard distant chattering, the clanging of metal, and strange incantations. Drawn by the sounds, she stumbled forward through a dark tunnel and reached its exit, but found no one there.
Moments later, a figure appeared — an old man, wrapped in a red cloth around his waist, his face decorated with strange painted tattoos. He carried a staff, his head held high as he walked steadily forward.
"Hey!" Ire called out, but the man didn't seem to hear her.
"That's odd," she thought, stepping out of hiding and standing directly in front of him. Strangely, he didn't see her — worse, he walked straight through her as if she didn't exist.
"Ahhh!" Ire screamed, staring at her trembling hands as tears blurred her vision.
"What's happening to me?" she thought, panic gripping her chest.
"Idusogie!" a distant voice called out in panic, pulling Ire from her thoughts.
A young man ran up to the old man, panting heavily, tears already streaking his face.
"What happened, my child?" the old man asked gently.
"I can't explain. Please, come with me. Things are getting worse!" the young man cried, almost dragging the old man along.
Without hesitation, the old man nodded. "Lead the way!"
They hurried toward an isolated hut where a crowd had gathered. Familiar screeches — the same sounds the monsters had made earlier — filled the air, sharpening Ire's curiosity. She followed them.
"Idusogie!" someone screamed from the crowd. Heads turned, and people began stepping aside one by one.
When the last person moved away, Ire's breath caught — she saw one of the monstrous creatures that had attacked her earlier.
The same decayed skin.
The same lifeless eyes.
The same foaming mouth and black veins, etched clearly in her memory.
The monster was bound in iron shackles, but the chains trembled under its strength.
The old man stared at the creature, his face crumpling in horror, and dropped to his knees, seemingly unsure of what to do.
Ire wanted to see more. She needed answers.
But her vision grew foggy again — and then everything dissolved.
When she opened her eyes, she found Efe staring at her intently before quickly looking away.
"What did you see?" he asked, breaking the heavy silence once more.