Everything Makes Sense

"Arghhhhh!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Ethan gripped the monster's neck as it dragged him through the lake, and soon after, a cold sensation enveloped him before he lost consciousness entirely.

"Hey, wake up!"

"Can you hear me? Wake up, hey!"

Ethan opened his eyes to find a quite attractive woman in front of him in a blank space. "Are you that monster?"

"How cold and inconsiderate you are towards a defenseless woman like me."

"You attacked me."

"I was merely showing myself to you. Your smell is quite unpleasant, and I lost my senses for a moment. What kind of monster are you? You don't seem to be a vampire since they don't have a smell, nor are you a werewolf, as you'd smell like a wet dog.

Ethan frowned, looking at the woman, and asked, "Why did you attack those people and torment them?"

"Do you think they're innocent? The one who killed me was one of my first victims. That bastard ended up taking his own life after I infected him with a virus in his brain. Quite the fool; how can someone endure so little? As for the other, dying in an accident must be more than just bad luck."

Observing the woman, who seemed to have a clear conscience, Ethan was not deceived by her human appearance and tried with all his might to wake up from this illusion. "What about that man who was just walking with his daughter?"

"He intended to drown his daughter in the lake. I could feel those thoughts as clearly as if he were about to do it. Bad people don't always appear evil, and those who are good aren't always pleasant to others."

Ethan looked at the woman and asked, "Are you saying you're a good, dark entity?"

"I didn't say that. I'm an evolved monster, and you—well, not you, but the others—are humans, so naturally, we will never be allies." The woman said, and as if realizing something, she murmured, "Well, my time is up... You've done a good job; don't forget what side you're on, and always help your own."

"What do you mean?" As Ethan tried to stand, everything turned dark, and he found himself on what seemed to be the top of a hill.

"It's cold…"

Just as this strange sensation engulfed Ethan's body, he felt a radiant presence to his right and turned his head. The only feeling Ethan had upon seeing this simple yet unreachable man was one of absolute respect. Taking a breath of the cold air, he awaited what the entity was about to do.

"You're someone very special." The man in the gray suit walked towards the table where Ethan was seated. "Even after your apparent change, you try to remain the same."

As the man in the gray suit approached, Ethan could see him more clearly. Neat, clean, and with an emotionless expression. "A demon?"

The man in the gray suit showed a strange expression; his smile appeared on his face as if he had expected that reaction from Ethan, but there was nothing more than that expression on his face.

"You're very curious... What if we make a deal, as long as you kill someone for me?" After saying that, the man in gray approached Ethan, who remained silent.

Ethan felt nervous; this was clearly a demon making a small visit. He recalled how he had once killed a demon. That creature had a similar aura to this man, and the smell of burnt coal became more intense when it was near one.

"I don't make deals with demons." Ethan refused immediately, without considering anything. Seeing the man in the gray suit, he knew that strange sensation was the mantle of death surrounding him.

"Just call me Oleg. I have as many names on this devastated planet as there are stars in the sky. You're someone very special to address me in that manner." The man in the gray suit, who introduced himself as Oleg, said.

"You have a minimal sense of your existence... For something like me, an existence like yours, well" Oleg stared at Ethan and said, "There are many problems on this small planet, many beings who think of themselves as lords of life. This world is very small in a decaying solar system."

Ethan remained silent, knowing this was a dream and that he would soon awaken as the surroundings deteriorated.

Oleg looked at Ethan and, with a smile while his pupils turned red, said, "The human world as you know it will fall before hell; those who believe in God will be abandoned by their creator; and then the age of darkness will come for us."

"Still, I must refuse. We are enemies, so if you don't leave me alone, I will have to kill you." Ethan didn't know if he could manage it with just his pistols. Initially, he hadn't thought he'd face powerful beings, so he wasn't prepared, but with dignity, he wanted to maintain control of his emotions.

Oleg nodded, took a few steps away, and murmured, "Remember this choice you've made well; don't cry when someone close to you is about to die."

…

"Over here, quickly!"

Ethan opened his eyes to find himself on the shore of the lake, standing. "How is it that..."

"Sir, how are you?" A group of agents approached, holding high-powered weapons, but stopped when they saw that the monster had been killed by Ethan, who was soaked in water.

Ethan, still confused, looked at the monster's corpse and, recalling its words, sighed bitterly. "Search this lake thoroughly for more demons. Eliminate anything that moves near us."

"Understood, boss!"