Chapter 147 - Inside the mist [12]

My golden eyes stayed fixed for a few moments on the anomaly that suddenly emerged from the fog. Its shape was a grotesque and repulsive fusion of centipede, scorpion, and spider — as if someone had tried to create a perfect creature by combining the worst traits of each and had failed miserably.

The sight was disturbing, like staring at the result of a genetic experiment that should never have been conceived, a living abomination that defied all common sense of existence. Anyway, the father and the little girl who had given me chocolate earlier were facing the anomaly.

From where I stood, it looked like his body had simply frozen, as if panic had paralyzed him. He clutched his daughter tightly against his chest, instinctively trying to protect her with his own body... But, to be honest, that wouldn't have made much of a difference. I mean, that thing could probably break both of them in half with a single strike.

Looking into the diner, I noticed that the people inside were also in pure despair. The woman I assumed was the girl's mother, for example, was lying on the ground, her trembling hands clutching her chest. Tears streamed endlessly down her face, as if they would never stop.

There was something in her gaze — empty, broken — that made me think that, to her, the husband and daughter were already dead. And honestly, I couldn't blame her. Given the situation, from her perspective, it was two monsters attacking the only family members she had left — two ordinary humans, defenseless.

I watched the scene for a few more seconds, my face likely holding the usual expression of indifference. The silence was broken moments later by a voice echoing through the small camera attached to my chest. It was Laura, sounding desperate: "[Angel of Death], you need to help them. You can't let humans die, okay?"

Laura's tone, strangely, reminded me of a mother or an older sister — someone trying to teach right from wrong to a child, with patience and a touch of affection... Well, maybe it was just my impression, right? It would be odd if she was really treating me like that.

Anyway, even if Laura hadn't asked anything of me, my intention from the start was to help them. I mean, even someone like me, who usually doesn't care about much, would feel a certain weight on their conscience seeing something happen to that little girl and just turning my back.

Finally, I slowly approached the father and the little girl, my cautious steps echoing softly in the heavy silence of the place. I peered over the man's shoulder, and that's when the girl's eyes met mine. She watched me silently, huddled behind her father, and the fear in her gaze was palpable — etched in every line of her tense expression.

In the next moment, I positioned myself in front of them, like a shield between them and the threat. My golden eyes glowed with a soft, almost ethereal light, cutting through the thick fog that swallowed the surroundings. I stared intently at the anomalous creature before me, fully prepared to react if necessary.

While I observed the anomaly before me, Victor's voice came through the speaker of the camera attached to my chest, tinged with caution: "This thing seems to have a pretty tough exoskeleton... I'm not exactly sure what the [Angel of Death]'s strength level is, but with what we have right now, breaking that would be nearly impossible. If it were me, I'd aim straight for the head"

Hearing Victor's words, I blinked softly for a brief moment. The next instant, I activated my eyes and shifted my gaze to the anomaly before me. Just as Victor had said, specifically, the creature's head glowed with intensity. I thought for a few seconds about the situation.

It didn't seem like that area was its weak point, at least not in the classic sense. The truth is, the head had less of the plating that covered the rest of its body, making it, consequently, the most vulnerable point. I imagined that, if I could break through its armor, other parts might also start glowing.

The next moment, my eyes returned to their normal color. And it was exactly when I focused my sight back on the anomaly before me that I noticed something strange — more specifically, in its behavior. How can I explain...? Suddenly, it looked like a rabbit cornered by a predator.

I know, it sounds absurd, almost ridiculous, considering that thing is much bigger than me and infinitely more threatening in appearance. Still... there was something in its movements, in the tension of its body, maybe in its gaze — yes, it really seemed afraid of me.

Trying to prove my theory, I took a step forward. The anomaly, in response, slithered back... Well, that confirms it: this thing is scared of me. In the end, we found ourselves in a strange game — the more I advanced, the more it retreated.

At one point, the monster let out a low grunt, its fangs snapping with a dry crack, as if it hesitated between attacking or fleeing. Then, without warning, the creature turned and disappeared into the thick fog, vanishing completely, leaving no trace behind.

I can't say I was truly surprised by the situation. I mean, it's not like it was anything new to me, though I must admit it's been a while since something like this happened. In a way, it reminded me of my early days as an anomaly.

Back then, most beings I encountered would simply flee as soon as my eyes started glowing, but as time passed, more and more monstrous creatures started appearing, and that reaction no longer had the same effect. The world became more merciless, and so did I.

In the end, I turned to the man, and with a heavy sigh, he simply collapsed to the ground, his ragged breaths echoing in the stillness. His daughter was still clinging to him, and in the next moment, the little girl broke free from her father's arms and ran toward me, throwing herself into another tight embrace.

Upon seeing the scene, the man panicked again. He quickly stood up, his desperate eyes scanning the environment as if searching for an exit or something that could help. But, realizing there was nothing, his gaze shifted back to me, filled with a mix of anguish and apprehension.

I stared back at him, watching closely, my golden eyes narrowing slightly in his direction. His look quickly turned to terror, and he took a step back, as if he wanted to flee.

However, it only took a brief glance at the little girl clinging to me tightly for him to approach again. Curiously, he seemed to fear more what might happen to his daughter than his own life. The tension in the air thickened, as if that small being were his only weakness.

While my mind drifted in that thought, something unexpected grabbed my hand. I looked down, and to my surprise, it was the little girl. With a shy smile, she moved toward her father, repeating the gesture before, with a gentle tug, guiding us toward the diner's entrance. The soft sound of her footsteps echoed in the silence around us, and for a moment, everything seemed quieter.

The next instant, she opened the door, and the three of us entered. The little girl's mother, frantic, ran to me, picked her up in her arms, and began to cry, sobs coming fiercely. I stood still in front of the door, watching the scene as she held her daughter tightly, as if fearing to lose the only thing she had left.

In front of us, the men began to act strangely, pointing everyday objects, like mops and pots, at me. One of them, however, held a knife, the blade gleaming faintly in the dim light of the place. The atmosphere was tense, the situation on the brink of exploding at any moment.

The mother, unable to contain her tears, embraced her daughter tightly, her hands trembling with distress. The anguish on her face was evident, each tear falling as though trying to wash away the pain she felt. Her voice, choked with emotion, echoed with silent desperation: "My daughter! My dear! My world! I love you so much... never disappear like that again... Mommy would die without you, without your smile, without your presence. I couldn't bear it again"

Although the woman was in tears, her emotions didn't seem to be of sadness, but rather of overflowing joy. I watched her silently, my eyes glowing intensely in gold, reflecting a supernatural light. My attention, however, was focused on the men inside the diner, whose expressions and movements I studied with unsettling calm.

They approached me slowly, as if trying to corner a frightened animal. Well, I wasn't an animal, and I certainly didn't fear the weapons they carried. When they were only a few steps away, I moved my foot, taking a slight step forward. In that instant, the man holding the knife stared at me with pure terror.

His body hesitated for a moment before throwing the knife toward me. The blade spun through the air, reflecting the light in a threatening manner, until, with a precise motion, it lodged itself in my chest, just near where my heart should be. Not that I had one, anyway.

In the next moment, they pulled back from me but continued to point their weapons in my direction. Their eyes, fixed and piercing, wouldn't leave me, as if they wanted to read every thought I had.

However, the silence was absolute; not a sound was made, creating a palpable tension in the air. It seemed as though even the simple act of breathing could trigger an unwanted reaction from me — at least, that's how they felt, as if every move I made was being watched with extreme caution.

Meanwhile, I pulled the knife from my chest with surprising calm. The moment the blade came free from my skin, the wound began to heal before my eyes, closing in less than a second. My body, as if nothing had happened, showed no scar.

The scene, however, had the opposite effect from what I expected. Everyone around me backed away even more, their gazes filled with horror and discomfort. Well, I knew that doing that wasn't such a great idea.

I thought for a moment about what to do. Honestly, I could try talking to them, but the fact that I couldn't make a sound with my mouth would likely make them see me as an even more frightening being. In fact, it would have the opposite effect from what I wanted. So, I dismissed the idea immediately. It was while pondering this that a sudden idea struck my mind.

In the end, my intention was to do nothing. I believed the best way to show that I posed no danger was simply to remain still. So, without haste, I sat down on one of the chairs near the door and stayed there, just observing the men.

They exchanged confused looks, as if wondering what I was thinking. In the end, apparently convinced that I wasn't a threat, they backed away, slowly returning to where the woman and child waited, leaving the atmosphere a bit calmer.

They seemed to be exchanging words, although I could hear them if I wanted to, but I preferred to look outside the store. The fog outside seemed dense, as if it were swallowing everything around it. The sound of the outside world had disappeared, likely muffled by the thick glass of the diner.

The silence inside the diner was profound, only interrupted by the distant murmur of conversation and the occasional crack of something on the shelf. I made no effort to understand what they were saying. I just sat, letting time pass, waiting for something to happen, as if the simple act of waiting would be enough for the world to keep moving.

Then, finally, I heard footsteps. When I turned my gaze, I saw the man. He was approaching slowly, the air around him tense, but there was something different in his behavior. Although I could still see the fear in his eyes, his posture seemed more relaxed than when we were outside, as if he were, in some way, finding a certain calm in that moment.

He stared at me for a few seconds before sitting in front of me, his gaze fixed and calm, as if pondering something important. I watched his movements closely, absorbing every little detail, my mind completely consumed by curiosity.

What was he trying to do? That moment seemed to carry a mysterious weight, something I couldn't explain. For a moment, the scene reminded me of a human trying to make contact with an alien, a meeting of two completely different worlds. But, well, that was probably just my impression.