Chapter 11 - Misunderstanding

Before I could utter a word, the floor beneath us began to collapse. We nearly lost our footing, but thankfully, I managed to grab Raymond and pull him away as the ground disappeared behind us.

Screams and cries for help echoed through the mall. People clung desperately to anything they could reach. The windows, balustrades of shattering glass and crumbling walls was deafening.

Raymond, despite being an athlete, struggled to move quickly toward the exit. I shoved him through the fiberglass door, which had failed to open automatically. He stumbled, his tokens scattering across the ground. Our eyes met, and I shouted at him to keep running. We were on the third floor, and the exit led to an overpass that descended into the stairs outside the mall complex.

I helped others escape, including a grandmother and her grandchild. As much as I wanted to save more people, my abilities were limited. I couldn't do it all.

I caught up with Raymond, and together we watched as nearly the entire building vanished into the ground. Lives, livelihoods, everything was gone in an instant.

"You have to leave. They're going to be here," I said, bracing myself as my eyes locked onto a group of transmogrified dogs. Their eyes glowed red, saliva dripping from their jaws as they prepared to pounce. They must have been pets from the mall's pet store, but now they were anything but harmless.

"How are you going to deal with them?! Those things are huge, man!" Raymond exclaimed, his voice trembling at the sight of the monstrous creatures. They were no longer cute or cuddly, just pure menace, unlike their original appearance.

The largest dog, a brown beast, growled and lunged at me, aiming for my arm. I dodged swiftly and landed a solid blow to its head. Raymond grabbed a stray steel pipe and began beating the corrupted animal until it stopped moving.

The attacks came in waves, synchronized like a wolf pack. My eyes tracked their every move, my hands and legs evading their snapping jaws and foaming mouths. Raymond did his best to stay out of my way, focusing on ensuring any fallen creature stayed down.

"This is just like playing a game," Raymond managed to joke, our backs pressed together. "Except I'm the damsel in distress, which is a bummer."

I laughed. "You've always been the princess, bud," I teased, drop-kicking another corrupted dog.

"Ha ha," he replied dryly, stabbing one of the creatures in the chest. Purple blood spurted from the wound.

A hollow, gurgling sound erupted from the crevice. I knew it was time to go. "We have to get out of here. They're calling in the big shots," I said. Dealing with the monsters from above ground was one thing, but the creatures from the caves were on another level. My inflated stats were helpful, but I'm still without special powers.

"Bet," Raymond said, and we bolted for the nearest transport.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

We made a quick stop at his house so he could grab his essentials. He called his girlfriend while I told him we need to bring my e-bike.

"Mind if I bring my girlfriend along?" he asked, stuffing clothes into a suitcase and slinging a backpack over his shoulder.

Raymond had always been there for me, never questioning the favors I asked of him. His request was trivial in comparison.

"What can you do now? Fly? Teleport? Mind control?" he asked as we headed to his girlfriend's place in his pickup truck, now loaded with tools and equipment.

"None of those," I admitted, and he snorted at how underwhelming it sounded. I filled him in on what had happened since the e-bike broke down, leaving out the part about me coming back from the past.

If he knew about the future, he'd ask too many questions - and his future wasn't exactly bright.

We arrived at his girlfriend's place, a gated compound housing several homes for extended families. The pickup was too large to fit inside, so we parked outside and closed the gate behind us. Her relatives eyed us warily, but Raymond's cheerful wave put them at ease.

His girlfriend was waiting outside, ready to go. She was bubbly and cheerful, and beside her stood another girl, her belongings packed and ready. I shot Raymond a look, but he avoided my gaze. He hugged his girlfriend, whispering sweet nothings.

"You already know Tiara," Raymond said, gesturing to his girlfriend, then shifting to the girl beside her. "This is Rohda, her cousin." His eyes gleamed, and he raised his eyebrows twice.

I extended my hand for a handshake, but Rohda surprised me by pulling me into a hug. "Are you that guy from the video?" she asked excitedly. Raymond must have shown her the footage.

"Uh..." I stammered, my heart racing.

Raymond gave me a disappointed look and leaned in to whisper to Rohda, "Sorry, he's been chaste since birth."

Her eyes widened, and she giggled. "I can change that," she said, making my heart skip a beat. Raymond flashed me an "okay" hand gesture and winked. We'd definitely need to talk once we reached the tower.

Rohda handed me her bags and continued chatting. I demanded an explanation from Raymond, but he shrugged, saying Tiara's parents wouldn't let her go without a chaperone. They believed having both girls together would ensure "nothing" happened.

I chuckled, it was rare these days for couples to abstain. Then my face fell as I realized Raymond's comment about my chastity was spot on. Despite past relationships, I was still... inexperienced.

We climbed back into the pickup, now with two additional passengers. With the front seats occupied, Rohda and I had to ride in the truck bed. She climbed in first, and for a brief moment, I caught a glimpse of what was under her skirt.

I coughed and looked away, but she grinned innocently, patting the space beside her. I opted to sit across from her, claiming it was to balance the vehicle's weight.

She frowned. "Are you, perhaps, gay?" she asked bluntly.

I was taken aback. "No, no... What makes you think that?" I replied, genuinely offended. I found her attractive, so her question stung.

"If not, then can you kiss me?" she asked in a sultry voice. At that moment, I would have rather been fighting monsters than dealing with this. It was going to be a long ride to the port.