The screams that echoed through the school grounds dragged half the campus outside in panic. Adrian and Selene pushed through the crowd, following the murmurs, following the tension—following the fear.
By the time they reached the school garden, police cars were already surrounding the scene. Yellow tape fluttered in the wind. Teachers were frantic. Students whispered in shaky voices.
Someone shouted:
"They found two bodies inside!"
Everything fell silent.
Selene was confused.
Adrian felt a cold shiver crawl up his spine.
Two bodies.
Inside the shed.
Just like the last time someone went missing.
They exchanged a look.
Without a word, they moved closer.
The police wouldn't let students near, but Adrian and Selene saw enough when the officers lifted the stretcher outside—the corpses were so dried up they looked like ancient mummies. Paper-thin skin. Hollowed cheeks. Empty eye sockets. No blood. No moisture. No smell.
Just… dust.
Horror wrapped itself around the crowd.
Selene whispered, "This… this isn't normal."
Adrian's stomach twisted. "What do you mean?"
"These bodies should stink—rot—decay. Instead… they're preserved." Her expression darkened. "This is supernatural."
Before they could reply, an officer barked:
"Alright emveryone back to class! NOW!"
Selene pulled Adrian aside immediately.
"Something's very wrong here," she said quietly. "I need to ask questions."
"I'm coming with you," Adrian insisted.
"Adrian, it's dangerous. You shouldn't—"
"I'm coming whether you like it or not."
She hesitated… then nodded.
"Fine. But stay close."
They walked behind the science block where no one was watching. Selene placed her hand on his arm. The world blurred—colors twisted—air folded—
And in a heartbeat, they were gone.
---
THE PREVIOUS NIGHT — GENERAL POV
A boy and a girl sat behind the school garden, kissing hungrily in the shadows. Their breath mixed. Their hands roamed. Their whispers turned into soft giggles.
But the girl noticed it first.
A figure.
Standing behind the trees.
Still. Silent. Watching.
Girl: "Stop—wait—someone's there."
Boy: "You're imagining stuff."
He didn't even bother turning. His lips trailed down her neck again.
Girl: "No—seriously—I saw something—"
He rolled his eyes and finally turned—
And froze.
A tall figure stood beneath the moonlight, inches behind them.
Wrapped in a dark cloak.
A hood hiding its face.
Boy: "Dude!! What the heck is wrong with you—?! You scared the crap out of me, man!"
Then the wind shifted.
The hood blew open.
Both teenagers screamed.
The face beneath wasn't human.
Eyes like burning coal.
Skin cracked like a dried corpse.
Fangs protruding from a sunken jaw.
Dark veins pulsing under dead flesh.
"Zucrus"
The ancient infinite.
They ran—hands locked, hearts racing—straight toward the school.
They pushed open the back door and darted through hallways until they reached the sports equipment shed. The boy slammed the door shut.
Girl: "What was that—?! What was that thing?!"
Boy: "I—I don't know—just stay quiet—"
Then the temperature dropped.
Their breath turned white.
Frost spread across the metal lockers.
Their fingers numbed instantly.
Girl: "N-no… no no no—"
The boy slowly looked up.
The figure was standing inside the shed with them.
He did not walk in.
He did not break the door.
He was just… there.
Before either teenager could scream—
Their life was drained from their bodies.
Skin cracking.
Veins shriveling.
Eyes collapsing.
Hearts turning cold.
Until what remained were two brittle, empty shells of who they once were.
Zucrus stepped over them.
His voice was nothing but a whisper of dust:
"Pathetic creatures."
---
CURRENTLY — ADRIAN & SELENE
The teleportation dropped them into a quiet forest clearing filled with glowing blue fireflies. Ahead was a black stone pathway leading to a castle-like structure carved into the mountain's heart.
This was "Medusa's domain".
Thick vines curled around stone spires.
Lanterns lit with violet flames hovered in midair.
Ancient sigils pulsed faintly on the walls.
The air smelled of herbs, smoke, and magic.
Inside, the corridor was dim and cold. Shelves towered from floor to ceiling, stuffed with spellbooks, potions, jars containing strange floating eyes, preserved wings of mythical creatures, and scrolls older than the human world itself.
They followed the faint sound of turning pages.
In the far chamber, beside an enormous window of stained obsidian, sat **Lady Medusa**.
She looked young—but her eyes were thousands of years old.
Her black hair fell like silk.
Her robe shimmered with runes.
And before her lay a massive bone-bound book, etched with claws and sealed in silver.
Selene stepped forward.
Selen: "Aunt…"
Medusa didn't lift her eyes.
She turned one page, then another, her voice calm and sharp.
Medusa: "Selen".... I see you brought a friend.
Adrian swallowed.
Selen: "He's actually—"
Medusa: "No need."
She closed the book gently.
"I already know who he is."
Adrian felt his chest tighten.
Adrian (thinking): "How did she know?"
Medusa looked straight at him, her eyes glowing faint gold.
Medusa: "That is not the question you should be asking."
Adrian's eyes widened.
She stood slowly, her presence filling the room with both beauty and terror.
Medusa: "Your life is in danger, boy."
The room fell silent.
Adrian: "W-what do you mean? Because of those bodies—"
Medusa: (speaking to herself) there is a great war coming, ancient powers are back, powers that existed before your time.
(Then continued speaking to Adrian)
"Yes. And no."
She circled him, studying him like a rare artifact.
"Two dried corpses… no rot… no trace of mortal disease… only one being kills like that."
Selene's voice trembled slightly. "Aunt… do you mean—"
Medusa: "Yes.
An ancient power has awakened."
She stopped right in front of Adrian.
"Do you feel it? The tug in your blood? The disturbance in your bones? The cold air earlier today? The exhaustion?"
Adrian's eyes widened again.
He had felt it.
Medusa continued:
"This is the work of an Infinite."
Adrian felt the world tilt beneath him.
Adrian: "Infinite? As in… me?"
Medusa held his gaze.
"No. Not you."
She walked back to her chair.
"But something… someone… connected to your bloodline."
She opened the bone-bound book.
A chilling illustration glowed on the page—
a monstrous figure bound in chains beneath the earth.
Medusa: "Zucrus.
The first Infinite.
The destroyer.
The descendant of demons… and your blood ancestor."
Selene sucked a sharp breath.
Adrian stepped back, his stomach twisting.
"No… that can't—"
Medusa slammed the book shut.
Medusa: "He is free.
And he is killing again."
She pointed toward him.
"And whether you like it or not… he is coming for you."
Because you are the only one strong enough to challenge him
Adrian: why..!! He doesn't even know me, I can't even hurt a fly talk more of challenging a demon, please ma'am, you are mistaken.