Chapter 11: Hero's Entry — Daniel Willington

Suddenly, their phones buzzed, shattering the tender moment between them. The vibrations were relentless, demanding their attention. Reluctantly, they pulled apart, their breaths still heavy, and reached for their devices.

As they glanced at the screens, their hearts skipped a beat. An emergency alert flashed across both phones, the stark words sending a chill down their spines. Their eyes met, a mixture of fear and uncertainty mirrored between them as they processed the ominous message.

[EMERGENCY ALERT – IMMEDIATE ATTENTION REQUIRED]

Time: 8:00 PM

A MONSTER OUTBREAK has been reported in the vicinity of WINGS Hotel. All citizens are advised to avoid this area and remain indoors. Authorities are on the way to maintain the situation. Stay tuned for further updates.

Safety Guidelines:

Lock all doors and windows. Do not attempt to confront or engage. Stay connected to official communication channels for further instructions.

Both of their hearts skipped a beat as they noticed the emergency alert flashing on their phones. The chilling confirmation hit them—the monster outbreak they had spoken of earlier was now a reality.

They exchanged a brief, tense glance, their expressions a mixture of disbelief and dread. For a few moments, neither spoke, their gazes locked in silent understanding, before they shifted their focus back to the glaring message on their screens.

 "W-what will we do now, Ethan?" [Ava asked, her voice trembling. The fear was unmistakable, woven into every word.]

 "Don't worry, Ava… Everything will be fine…" [He said, placing his hand gently on her cheek. But deep down, uncertainty gnawed at him; he didn't have a clue what to do either.]

Ava melted into his touch, closing her eyes for a brief moment, silently wishing for the outbreak to end soon. But little did she know, this was only the beginning of the true story.

Suddenly, Ethan's room door burst open, revealing Sara, who was panting heavily.

 "Ethan… did—did you see that message?" [She asked, struggling to catch her breath.]

Ethan and Ava nodded in silent agreement, then followed Sara down the stairs. As they stepped into the living room, Ethan's eyes immediately locked onto the fearful expressions on everyone's faces, the tension in the air palpable.

 [Mr. Henry looked at Ethan as he entered the room, his expression filled with disbelief. He stood up quickly, his voice trembling as he spoke to both him and Ava.] "Everything you predicted... it's all come true. The monster outbreak... it's really happening."

Ethan and Ava exchanged a glance, their uncertainty clear. Their gaze shifted back to Mr. Henry, both unsure of how to respond.

 "N-Now what do we do?" [Clara asked, her voice trembling.]

 [Ethan noticed the slight shaking of her legs. He let out a deep sigh and replied.] "Let's wait for the authorities to take control of the situation at WINGS HOTEL."

 [He turned his gaze to Mr. Henry] "You said you evacuated the building, right? So, there shouldn't be any people left?"

 "Yes, I evacuated the building. There aren't any people at WINGS HOTEL." [Mr. Henry said, his voice filled with a hint of hope that he was right.] "Let's just wait until the authorities take control of everything."

Ethan nodded and sat down on the couch, leaning back to relax. Ava joined him, sitting beside him and gently squeezing his hand. Emily, watching the scene before her, felt tears well up in her eyes.

She had harboured a deep crush on Ethan, but seeing him with Ava made her feel as though her world was shattering. She quickly wiped away the tears and walked to the kitchen, seeking solace in a glass of water.

Seeing Emily like this, Sara, Lily, and Clara felt a wave of grief wash over them. They all knew about Emily's feelings for Ethan, and now, witnessing Ethan with Ava, it was clear why Emily felt the way she did. Clara cleared her throat, shifting her attention to the group. With a fearful voice, she said,

 "Are you sure we're safe here too?" [She asked, her voice trembling.] "I mean, what if the monsters start roaming around the city?"

 "It's not possible, Clara, dear." [Mr. Henry said, his tone gentle as he tried to reassure his daughter.] "Ethan's house is 36 miles away from WINGS HOTEL, and I'm confident the authorities have already contained the situation."

As Clara opened her mouth to say something, the lights suddenly went out, plunging the room into darkness. Ava gasped sharply, her breath hitching as she instinctively grabbed Ethan's arm tightly. Ethan, feeling her trembling grip, stood up abruptly, his body tense and alert.

 "Don't panic, everyone. It's just a power shortage." [Alicia said, attempting to reassure the group, though the tremor in her voice betrayed her fear.]

The room dimmed, shrouded in enough darkness to cast shadows but not so much that their faces were completely obscured. Ethan placed a gentle hand on Ava's trembling one, giving it a reassuring squeeze to signal that she was safe. Despite his gesture, her grip tightened further around his arm, her fingers pressing slightly into his flesh.

"I-I'll go check." [Ethan said, his voice betraying the fear he tried to suppress.]

Ava's grip tightened around Ethan's arm, silently pleading with him not to leave. He turned to her, gently prying her hand away but giving it a reassuring squeeze before stepping forward. Just as he began to move, the lights flickered, illuminating the room briefly before returning fully.

Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief, the tension in the air easing. Ethan returned to the couch, sinking into it with a quiet exhale. His gaze burned with rage and frustration as it locked onto Roman Schitzwit, a storm of emotions evident in his eyes.

Before Ethan could say a word, Emily's loud cry pierced the air, crashing over them like a tidal wave.

Ethan shot up from the couch and rushed to the kitchen, his footsteps echoing in the tense silence.

"E-Emily, what's wrong?" [he asked, urgency lacing his voice as his eyes scanned her tear-streaked face.]

"I-I saw someone outside the window." [she stammered, her trembling hand pointing shakily toward the glass pane.]

Ethan followed her gaze, his pulse quickening as he tried to discern any movement beyond the window. The room fell into a hushed stillness, the weight of her words hanging heavily in the air

Suddenly, the main door of the house burst open with a thunderous bang, echoing through the room like a thunder strike. A shiver ran down Ethan's spine, the chilling sound cutting through the tense atmosphere.

His heart pounded as he instinctively moved toward the source of the noise, each step heavy with dread. Reaching the doorway, his breath hitched, and his mouth fell open in shock at the sight before him.

The air seemed to still as his wide eyes took in the figure—or figures—looming in the entrance, their presence exuding an unnatural and foreboding aura.

 "I – impossible! D-Daniel Willington?" [Ethan stammered; his voice filled with shock.]

Roman Schitzwit stepped forward, his mouth hanging open as well. The sight of the man standing before them was utterly unbelievable. It was because the main character of 'The Monster' now stood right in front of everyone.

The man himself radiated an aura—fearless, confident, and undeniably captivating. He wore a black trench coat that flowed effortlessly as he moved. Beneath it was a crisp white shirt paired with black pants. His jet-black hair fell neatly onto his forehead, framing his striking blue eyes that seemed to glow with an otherworldly power.

In his hand, he held a device that gleamed with a brilliant white light, sending tiny sparks outward. His gaze shifted from the device to Ethan, locking onto him with a weight that made Ethan's heart skip a beat. The intensity of his stare was overwhelming, carrying an unspoken authority.

As he approached Ethan, the device in his hand began to glow faster and brighter, its light pulsating rhythmically with his steps. The way he moved exuded confidence, an aura that could leave anyone in awe. With a face so handsome, it was easy to imagine girls swooning at the mere sight of him.

Roman Schitzwit had crafted Daniel Willington to be the perfect embodiment of charm and strength in The Monster, but now, standing before him in real life, the character was alive. Pride swelled in Roman's chest as he saw his creation brought to life in such a breathtaking form.

Daniel stood directly in front of Ethan, his piercing gaze filled with curiosity and disbelief. As he stepped closer, the device in his hand gleamed brighter, its radiant white light almost blinding. His eyes flickered between the device and Ethan, the confusion on his face growing deeper. With a frustrated sigh, he slipped the device into his pocket and looked back at Ethan.

"I just… don't understand. Why would this device choose you of all people?" [He said, searching Ethan's eyes for any sign of worthiness.]

Ethan's heart skipped a beat as he processed Daniel's words.

 "What is he talking about? The Device? Choosing me?" [Ethan thought, his mind swirling with questions.]

Daniel looked at him for a moment before stepping back. His gaze shifted to the others, eventually landing on Sara. Sara's heart skipped a beat as she met his gaze. Ethan had always told her how handsome Daniel was, but she'd brushed it off, reminding herself that he was just a fictional character. Yet now, standing before her, Daniel felt real—too real. Her heart raced.

Daniel briefly looked away from her, then returned his focus to Ethan and Ava.

 "You both have your memories back, right?" [Daniel asked.]

 "H-How did you… know?" [Ethan said, his voice tinged with shock.]

 "His device…" [Roman Schitzwit interrupted.] "You rewind time, don't you?"

Daniel looked at Mr. Schitzwit for a moment, his mind swirling with questions.