Kaelion walked toward the stairs.
The upper floor was completely dark.
One of the old lamps in the building flickered weakly.
Each step on the stairs creaked softly.
Kaelion tightened his grip on the knife.
The sound he had heard earlier had definitely come from here.
When he reached the upper floor, he stopped.
The corridor was even darker than the one below.
Long shadows stretched along the walls.
Most of the doors were closed.
But one door was slightly open.
A faint sound of movement came from inside.
Kaelion approached slowly.
Predator Instinct remained silent.
This wasn't a monster.
Still, he needed to be careful.
He reached the door.
Placed his hand on it.
And slowly pushed it open.
The moment the door moved—
Something lunged.
A man.
He was holding a broken wooden stick.
The man swung it at Kaelion.
"Don't come any closer!"
Kaelion quickly stepped back.
The stick cut through the air.
The man was trembling.
His eyes were wide with fear.
"I'm not a monster," Kaelion said.
The man froze for a few seconds.
Then he looked carefully.
Kaelion was clearly human.
The man's face was pale.
His arm was covered in blood.
A torn T-shirt had been wrapped around it as a bandage.
The man still held the stick up defensively.
"My name is Lucas," he finally said.
His voice was still shaking.
"Don't come closer… okay?"
Kaelion slowly raised his hands.
"Alright."
"I'm not looking for a fight either."
Lucas waited a few more seconds.
Then he lowered the stick slightly.
But didn't drop it.
"You saw it too… didn't you?"
"The blue screen?"
Kaelion nodded.
"The Aether System."
Lucas took a deep breath.
"So I'm not the only one…"
The apartment was small and messy.
A bed had been knocked over.
Broken glass covered parts of the floor.
Lucas leaned against the wall.
Holding his injured arm.
"This city…" Lucas said.
"It's gone completely insane."
Kaelion listened silently.
Lucas continued.
"I just came from the street below."
"There are monsters everywhere."
"And people…"
He paused.
"…people are running."
Kaelion frowned.
"Werewolves?"
Lucas nodded.
"I saw those too."
Then Lucas stepped a little closer.
Lowering his voice.
"I need to tell you something."
Kaelion waited.
Lucas spoke quietly.
"In the city center…"
"…there's a police station."
Kaelion stayed silent.
Lucas continued.
"Some people are heading there."
"They're trying to turn it into a safe place."
Kaelion's eyes narrowed.
"You sure about that?"
Lucas shook his head slightly.
"Not completely."
"I heard it from someone."
"While I was running."
Silence filled the room.
The building was dark.
A distant howl echoed from outside.
Lucas's expression tightened.
"You heard that?"
Kaelion nodded.
"Yeah."
Lucas took a deep breath.
"I was thinking of going there alone."
"But…"
His eyes moved to the knife in Kaelion's hand.
"…I guess I'm not alone anymore."
Kaelion thought for a moment.
Then he spoke.
"First we survive here."
Lucas frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Kaelion looked toward the corridor.
The apartment building seemed large.
There were many rooms.
"This building…"
"…might be full of supplies."
Lucas thought for a few seconds.
Then slowly nodded.
"So we clear this place first?"
Kaelion tightened his grip on the knife.
"Yeah."
"And then…"
"We head to the police station."
A gust of wind echoed outside.
And from somewhere deep inside the building…
A faint noise could be heard.
Lucas turned his head.
"Did you hear that?"
Kaelion heard it too.
It had come from the lower floors.
Kaelion's eyes darkened.
Predator Instinct trembled slightly.
"I think…"
"…we're not alone."