Chapter 26: Parasite Rouge

Petty laughed. "What are you saying? We need to think first about how to inform the others of the situation and the thing going after them," said Petty with a shy expression.

Nathalie was shocked. It was a complete 360° change. Her cold demeanor had reverted to the shy and frightful person she once was.

"Never mind," Nathalie stood up, waving her hand to show she was alright as Petty tried to stop her. "We shall talk about Jonas later," she added, eyeing Petty, whose expression shied away. "Let's find a way to report to Linus and the others."

"Talking about that, I might have found a way," said Petty. Nathalie looked at her, confused.

Linus heard the echoing screech and slowed down, allowing the others to catch up. When Levi reached his speed, he immediately spoke, sharp as ever.

"You heard it too?" Linus nodded in response. They both looked behind. Benjamin was still struggling with his bike, but he was rapidly mastering it.

Sebastian appeared more relaxed, glancing around like a tourist. Among the four, he had the most honest reaction. Coming from the 21st century, seeing all this advanced tech and futuristic layouts was not only intriguing but also exciting.

Linus and Levi weren't paying attention to them, but to something far beyond. Soon, they slowed and came to a stop, forcing the others to do the same. Benjamin was the first to notice.

"What's wrong? Why the abrupt stop?" asked Benjamin, already grasping the bike's functions.

"Is there a problem?" asked Sebastian, noticing Linus and Levi staring behind them. This prompted him and Benjamin to turn and look back as well.

The surroundings went quiet. That's when they heard it too.

"What was that?" asked Sebastian, a little spooked by the faint and distant echo. His question was more of a fear reaction than a request for an answer.

"I don't know, but it's approaching," said Linus.

"I propose we leave this place as fast as possible before whatever that thing is catches us," said Benjamin, taking the initiative to speed away.

Sebastian nodded and followed. Levi followed next. Only Linus paused for a moment before riding away.

As their speed increased, the screech became clear—as if the unknown creature realized it had been discovered.

Kyaaaa!

The screech reached them instantly. They looked back and saw something moving rapidly toward them. Though it was still far, the helmet's zooming feature allowed them to see its figure.

Linus and Levi, who had digested knowledge from the animal and parasitic kingdoms, immediately freaked out.

"Full speed!" shouted Linus, accelerating. Levi didn't hesitate and followed close behind.

Their expressions turned grim—especially Linus. Based on data from the past, he recognized the creature. It mimicked a well-known fictional monster that killed, parasitized, and deformed DNA. It could even mimic behaviors. A nightmare.

However, this one had a weakness. Unlike the fictional version, which could parasite all organisms, this variant could only infect one at a time. But its voracity made it a fast eater.

"If that thing is after us, then a large perimeter around the dome is already lifeless," said Linus as he caught up with the others.

"What do you mean?!" asked Levi.

"Despite its nature, it instinctively targets organisms with intellectual capability," Linus explained.

"So it's after our brains!" shouted Sebastian.

"Exactly. A parasitic brain-eater. Its final form is based on the creatures it feeds on."

Linus let out a dry laugh. "The funny part is its name. The person who discovered it gave it a badass one:

Demônio's Wrath."

The surrounding was dark, filled with the noise of utensils, footsteps, and loud music. The door opened, light flooding into the space. A girl picked her drink from the fridge.

She opted for a cold beer can, closed the fridge, and turned toward the others partying with excitement. As she opened the can, the white foam poured out. She drank and sighed in satisfaction, then shouted to her friends.

Music boomed. Snacks, games, and illicit substances were scattered around. A typical youth party. Couples kissed, others danced, chatted, or fooled around. The atmosphere buzzed with youthful energy.

"Okay guys, I have to head home. My parents will be worried," said a tired, slightly drunk girl, waving goodbye as she left.

She walked down an empty street, uneasy, feeling like she was being followed. She turned—nothing.

"I must be too drunk. I'll take sleeping pills when I get home," she muttered, sipping from a water bottle. A shadow passed behind her.

Unaware, goosebumps crawled across her skin. Her vision narrowed, fighting the drunken haze. She looked into the bush and saw a face—staring back at her before disappearing.

Terrified, she ran. "Help!" she shouted hysterically, but no one came. Every house was dark.

She turned a corner. A flash—then darkness. She collapsed, nose bleeding.

"So, this is how someone reacts in certain situations?" The assailant lowered his blood-covered bat. He stared down at the bleeding girl.

"I may have gone overboard," he muttered. Taking out a phone, he called an ambulance, gave a location, then removed a smiling mask.

Underneath was...

Levi.

"Yes, okay. Please hurry," he said, hanging up and breaking the phone. He placed the parts in a plastic bag and walked around her.

Putting his mask back on, he murmured, "I'm sorry. I need to do a good job for the money your friends paid me."

He lifted the bat. "You need to find better friends."

Swoosh!

In the dark, the sickening sound of bones and flesh being smashed echoed.

By the time the ambulance arrived, Levi was long gone. The responders were shocked at the sight—a girl with a smashed face and shattered limbs, lying lifelessly on the concrete.

The next day, Levi arrived at school as if nothing had happened. He went to class, hearing news and whispering about the incident. Soon after, a bank notification chimed.

"I can pay for my other classes with this," he said cheerfully, walking away.

Little did he know, tomorrow would be the last ordinary day.

*

The feeling of being followed but not knowing by who or what—is that the feeling they all had when I chased them? Levi questioned, speeding behind Linus.

"We're almost there!" shouted Linus. The core came into view, and as expected, its building door was already open.

"Guys!" Sebastian shouted in panic. The three looked behind and paled.

Far behind them, a strange mucus-like creature with numerous human and beast-like limbs raced after them, rapidly closing the distance.