The Bar
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Erick asked as I downed my Manhattan in one go.
I ignored him and signaled for another.
"Seriously, did the fortune teller say something weird? What did he tell you?"
I kept drinking, slower now, but still not answering.
Erick sighed, playing with his own drink. "This isn't fun."
A beat of silence passed before he admitted, "He told me I'd look Death in the face tonight."
"Bullshit," I scoffed.
"Yeah… but it felt weird when he said it. What if we drink so much it turns into poison? What if I actually die tonight?"
"If you wanted to die so badly, you'd have managed it by now with all the reckless stunts you pull. So shut up. We wasted money at that scam house."
"How about a drinking game to lighten the mood?" he suggested.
"Not interested in getting wasted."
"Come on! You're ruining the night with your foul mood."
I snapped. "It's not like I ever wanted to come out tonight!"
Erick fell silent, guilt flickering across his face. His voice softened. "I'm sorry."
A long pause. Then he sighed. "Maybe we should call it a night."
He paid for the drinks before I could apologize.
As we turned to leave, a woman approached.
"Hello, boys," she purred.
"Not interested," Erick and I said in unison, brushing past her.
More women swarmed us, asking us to dance, buy drinks, or give them our numbers. By the time we made it outside, I exhaled sharply.
"Jeez, we've never been swarmed like that before," I joked, but Erick remained quiet. He hailed a taxi for me, waving as I got in. The alcohol was starting to settle in my system, but all I could think about was how I'd need to apologize to him tomorrow.
The taxi pulled up in front of my house. I paid the driver and stepped out, rubbing my temples. My head throbbed, and all I wanted was to collapse into bed and forget this entire night.
But then—I saw it.
A figure sat motionless on my porch, right beside the door. A statue?
I hesitated, glancing around the empty street before slowly stepping forward.
The figure shifted. Raised its head.
I froze.
Silver hair cascaded down its back, glinting under the porch light. Its face was unreal—too perfect, too still. My pulse kicked up.
"What... what are you?" My voice came out hoarse. I took a cautious step back.
The figure rose to its feet in one smooth motion, watching me with those empty, silver eyes.
I swallowed hard. "What the hell are you doing on my property? This is trespassing!"
No response. Just eerie, unsettling silence.
A cold sweat prickled at my skin. My hands clenched into fists.
"Quit staring like that!" My voice wavered, frustration bleeding through the fear. "I've had a shitty day, and I am not in the mood to deal with whatever sick joke this is!"
The figure remained still, like it was studying me—measuring something unseen.
And for some reason… that was more terrifying than if it had actually spoken.
ERICK'S POV
"Fuck," I cursed as I walked toward the train station.
I guess I did it again… Damien hates me. Again. I should've just listened to him.
The night sky stretched above me, empty of stars or people. There were no cars around either. It was late, and I needed to catch the last train at 10 PM before the station closed.
I passed old and new buildings, cafés, companies, and libraries. That was when I felt it—a strange, cold chill, as if the temperature had suddenly dropped.
I froze. Waited. Then I heard it.
A skrrr sound.
There were no cars or people around to make that noise. I listened again. Maybe it was the alcohol.
No. It was the sound of something heavy—like metal being dragged along the pavement. And it was coming from behind me.
A prickling fear settled in my chest. I started walking, my pace quickening. Yet, the sound followed me.
Now I was speed-walking, eyes locked straight ahead in case of any other unwanted surprises. The only thought looping in my mind was get to the station quickly.
The station came into view. I swiped my card at the turnstile, barely glancing around. The train had just pulled to a stop when I reached the platform, but something about it felt… off.
Wrong.
The people inside were all just watching me.
An icy sensation crawled up my spine.
I bolted.
Didn't even think. Just ran—away from the station, away from those eyes. My heart pounded against my ribs as I sprinted blindly down the street.
Then—
BOOM.
Something dropped from the sky, sending a shockwave through the air. Dust exploded outward, and the ground trembled beneath me.
I coughed, stepping back, my eyes locked on the figure emerging from the dust cloud.
It was a woman.
But not an ordinary one.
She was light-skinned—no, white. Not pale, but glowing. She was tall, her entire form bathed in a blinding radiance. A massive sword rested in a sheath at her waist.
For a split second, I could've fallen in love with her. But for some reason, that felt incredibly inappropriate.
I opened my mouth. "What the f—" But the words refused to come out.
"Human."
Her voice was soft. Feminine. Yet it carried weight. Power. So much that I collapsed to my knees, fear gripping my chest.
What the actual fuck? My mind went into overdrive. Oh my God, what is happening right now?!
Slowly, I raised my head.
She took a step toward me. A slow, deliberate, powerful step.
Sweat dripped down my neck. My pulse pounded like a drum in my ears.
"Do not be afraid." She smiled.
How could a smile be so beautiful and yet so terrifying at the same time?
Bullshit.
"Is that a cruel joke?" I muttered, shuffling backward.
"It is what humans believe we say when we materialize before them."
That voice again. Like a gentle blizzard. But everyone knows blizzards are never gentle.
I hadn't shaken like this since I was a kid.
"Look at me."
It was a command.
Every instinct in me screamed don't.
And for the first time in my life, I listened.
She stopped in front of me, but I kept my eyes trained on the asphalt. Tiny ants crawled across the pavement, oblivious to the supernatural presence towering over them.
Then—crunch.
Her golden sandals—no, ancient golden sandals—crushed them beneath her feet.
The world went silent.
Too silent.
No life. No sound. Not even my own breathing. It was as if we were trapped in a hollow bubble of nothingness.
I felt her crouching. Felt her hand inching closer.
Then—
skrrrrr.
That same metallic dragging noise from earlier.
She stood up slowly and backed away.
I immediately exhaled the breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
I scrambled to my feet, ready to get the fuck out of here. But before I could move, something stepped into my view.
Creatures.
They looked like demon statues—like something you'd see in a museum or a horror documentary. Only now, the stone was shattering from their bodies as they moved.
They walked toward me.
And I walked backward.
Then I felt it.
Something warm.
Something comforting.
Until the burn started.
A tingling sensation spread across my back where I had bumped into someone.
I turned—
And dread flooded my veins.
The same blinding light.
The same woman.
And behind her—
Five more demons.
A massive one stepped forward, dragging a war hammer across the ground. The pavement cracked under its weight.
I turned forward again—five more demons closing in.
They had formed a circle.
Just the two of us in the center.
"You led me into an ambush, human."
Her voice echoed.
I scratched the back of my neck, forcing a sheepish shrug. "Uh… whoops?"
The demons ahead hadn't moved yet. They stood there, watching me. Bickering.
Were they… laughing?
I almost felt offended enough to ask what was so funny—
BOOM.
A violent impact sent me flying to the ground, scraping my arms and legs.
Nearby car alarms blared. Trees snapped under the force of the blast.
"What the f—" Again. Again, I couldn't finish my sentence.
Another thud. Bones crunched. The ground shook.
I was in the middle of a battlefield.
While the demons were distracted, I bolted. Ducked behind a car.
I took deep, shaky breaths. Tried to calm the slow buildup of a panic attack.
Think positive.
"Okay. Maybe this is, uh… a moveable theater? A free performance in the middle of the night? Yeah! They saw a special person out here in the street and decided to perform for me. Right? Or maybe… this is just some crazy underground circus."
I forced myself to believe it.
Then I peeked out—
And shit.
The glowing woman was fighting all five demons at once.
She didn't even look remotely fazed.
Then—
The car I was hiding behind lifted.
I landed on my ass, staring up in horror.
Demon number six grinned at me.
It raised the car like a hammer.
I rolled out of the way just before it smashed into the ground.
"Oh my God, this is not happening." I bolted—
And ran straight into demon number seven.
Then eight.
Nine.
Ten.
"Sh—" I barely got the word out before the blinding light engulfed my vision again.
I turned—
The silver woman was still fighting, her waist-length hair glowing as she moved. Sparks of light trailed off her sword as she sliced through the demons like they were nothing.
I ran toward her—
And froze.
The tip of her sword pressed against my throat.
It hummed. Buzzed.
A tiny droplet of blood sizzled against the blade.
I slowly raised my hands. "I swear I'm not with them."
She turned her gaze to me.
Her eyes glowed.
I heard the demons behind me shuffle closer.
I gulped. Forced a nervous smile.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend?"
She stared at me for so long, I started squirming.
Then—
The demons were gone.
Only ashes remained.
"Holy f—"
And once again, the tip of her sword pressed against my neck.
"You're clueless, aren't you, human?"
Her voice sent chills down my spine.
And I was suddenly very aware of how close she was standing.