KENNY & KELLY

The darkened streets of Watford in the Britannus Kingdom gave off an eerie atmosphere, disturbed only by the echo of a lone pushchair's wheels. The feeble streetlights illuminated piles of litter that fluttered like restless spirits in the wind.

Walking against this bleak backdrop was a lady, her face obscured by the shadows, pushing her baby gently in the pushchair. She paused, head tilting slightly, as a disturbing sound reached her ears— a faint, yet unmistakable sound of bones cracking.

"What on earth...?" She murmured, apprehension filling her voice. "Wait here, love."

Parking the pushchair, she cautiously approached the sound. With each step, the grotesque noise grew louder, accompanied now by a sickening sound of chewing. Her heart pounded in her chest as she neared the corner, finally risking a glance around it.

What met her gaze was beyond comprehension: a hulking, monstrous creature, its hideous form glistening in the dim light, surrounded by a crimson pool. It was devouring a lifeless man, the remains of its victim gruesomely evident.

Overwhelmed by terror, she retreated rapidly, the impulse to protect her child the only thing on her mind. "No, no, no..." she muttered, desperation palpable in her voice.

However, the creature had become alert to her presence. The once silent night now echoed with the lady's panicked breathing and the creature's growling.

She was almost at her baby when something hard and cold struck her from behind. The sickening realization came as she saw a severed head at her feet. As she processed the horror, the creature suddenly landed before her, its menacing red eyes locking onto hers. Her scream pierced the night, but even as the beast lunged, maternal instincts kicked in, allowing her to narrowly dodge and grab her baby.

"Help! Please, someone!" she cried, racing away from the pursuing creature, her baby's wails mirroring her own terror.

High above, three silhouettes observed the chase. Dressed in the unmistakable blue uniforms of the Dove Corporation, they watched with detached interest.

"Another Gula attack, huh?" remarked the female officer, her voice devoid of surprise.

"Been a lot of those lately," commented the male officer. He then turned to their leader, waiting for a decision. "What's the call, Captain?"

The squad captain, his face half hidden by the dim light, wore a smirk. "Depends, no?"

The cool voice of a woman filled his earbuds, "She's behind on payment, Sir."

With a sigh, the captain decided. "There's your answer. Let's head back."

The three figures disappeared, leaving behind a night filled with screams and chaos.

The evening had grown quiet once more, the dim glow of the streetlights casting long, sombre shadows as the officers of the Dove Corporation melted away into the darkness.

The desperate lady, heart pounding with terror, took her chances in a nearby alleyway. It was narrow and deserted, lined with stacks of crates, forgotten garbage bins, and the discarded remnants of countless nights: empty liquor bottles. Her breath echoed against the walls, each footstep a thunderous sound in her ears as she rushed further in, hoping to escape the monstrous creature behind her.

But then she skidded to a halt. The alleyway terminated abruptly, leaving her trapped with no way out. "No...Lord please no..." she whispered, her voice trembling.

Turning slowly, the weight of impending doom made her movements sluggish. The beast's shadow loomed larger with each heartbeat, its menacing form edging closer, drool dripping from its monstrous jaws. The space between them disappeared too quickly. "Somebody...please..." she whispered, feeling the end was near.

Just as the creature lunged, its massive frame obscuring the scant light, an unexpected sound whistled through the air. A golden glow, moving at breakneck speed, darted forward. The unmistakable thud of a football striking its mark echoed, followed by the sound of something shattering. The force of the impact was such that the beast's head was completely obliterated, leaving its lifeless body to slump to the ground.

In the aftermath, the lady, gasping for breath and in shock, searched for the source of her miraculous rescue. From the dimly lit entrance of the alleyway, a lone figure detached itself from the shadows. He wore a simple hoodie and joggers, the hood pulled low to hide his features.

She managed to stammer out, "Wait..." as he began to leave.

He paused, his form tense. "W-was that you...?" she asked, her voice filled with gratitude and disbelief.

Slowly, the man turned, the soft light revealing a young face. It was Kenny Grieves, only 22, with the fair skin of a Caucasian male. His eyes, though young, held a weight much beyond his years. Without another word, he simply said, "Don't tell anyone about this."

And with that, he vanished into the night, leaving the woman alone in the alleyway.

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The quiet hum of crickets outside painted the tranquillity of the night, a stark contrast to the tensions inside the Grieves' modest single-story house. As Kenny gently pushed the door open, the hinges gave a barely audible creak. With soft steps, he entered the familiar space, taking a moment to exhale deeply, attempting to let go of the evening's events.

He cautiously flicked on the light switch, half-expecting the comfort of an empty room. Instead, a figure in a flowing bohemian dress came into view, shadows playing on her well-worn face. "Kenny..." The voice belonged to Kelly Grieves, her years evident not just in the slight wrinkles on her skin but in the weary tone of her voice.

Suppressing a groan of frustration, Kenny responded, "Mum, what are you doing up this late? Go get some sleep—"

His mother cut in sharply, "Where have you been, Kenny?" The weight of worry and fear was palpable in her voice.

Kenny, hesitating for just a moment, lowered his gaze, avoiding the piercing scrutiny of his mother's eyes. "You know where I was, Mum."

She took a shaky breath, her voice tinged with desperation. "Why won't you listen to me?"

He took a step, intending to bypass her and head to his room, but her words stopped him in his tracks. "Kenny!"

His body tense, he replied, "Look, we've gone over this already. Right now, I just wanna get some rest. You should too."

But Kelly wasn't about to let the conversation end there. "Why do you always feel the need to intervene with things that have nothing to do with you? Why can't you just accept the situation as it is? Why do you always have to put yourself in danger?"

Frustration built in Kenny as he answered, "It's not about me, Mum. It's about the thousands who are at risk of getting ripped apart because of a bunch of corrupt dickheads."

Her voice quivered with emotion as she responded, "But what does that have to do with us? What happened to your dreams of becoming a footballer? Why can't we just live a peaceful life?"

Kenny's anger surged. "Do you even hear yourself right now?"

Before the argument could escalate further, a fit of coughing overtook Kelly, causing Kenny to immediately switch from frustration to concern. "Mum! You okay?" he exclaimed, rushing to her side.

Cradling her in his arms, his voice softening with worry, he asked, "Have you taken your medication today?"

Through laboured breaths, she managed to whisper, "Yes, I have. Don't worry, I'm fine." The space between them became a silent testimony to the love and tension that coexisted in the Grieves household.

Kenny's eyes softened as he gazed at his mother. "Look," he began, his voice brimming with a blend of tenderness and determination, "I know you're scared. I know I'm all you have left. But living in constant fear isn't really living."

Kelly's eyes welled up, reflecting a myriad of emotions - from heartbreak to anger, love to desperation. But before she could interject, Kenny continued, "Our village, Mum, they need hope. Someone has to stand up against those monsters. If I have the courage to do that, then I must. I can't just stand by."

He moved closer to her, gently placing her frail hand over his shoulder to support her. As they began their slow ascent up the stairs, the weight of Kenny's promise echoed in their shared silence.

It was then that Kelly voiced the unspoken question that had been haunting their relationship for some time. "Kenny," she whispered hesitantly, her voice thick with emotion, "is this truly about the people? Or is it because you still feel responsible for...his death?"

The hallway seemed to stretch endlessly before them, each step heavy with the weight of memory. Kenny's face was a mask, revealing nothing, but his silence was more telling than any words could be. The ghost of the past was still very much alive between them, casting a shadow that they could neither escape nor confront.