Life expectancy (1)

On the border of the self-proclaimed student district, that territory of several kilometers surrounding the school that was proclaimed as its domain by its inhabitants, mostly young people, there was a place commonly called the abandoned district; the ruins of the old city where abandoned factories and laboratories were the only thing you could find due to a great earthquake years ago.

For obvious security reasons, it was a prohibited area not only for students, but for anyone. And somewhere in that space outside the law, someone was running, full speed, through the corridors of an old building, chasing their soon-to-be cornered prey.

The pursuer carried a silver pistol in their right hand and, in their left hand, a three-pointed ninja star looking piece of cold metal with strange engravings.

Darkness covered their entire body, not even the moonlight reached that dirty corner, the unnatural brightness of their weapons was the only beacon among the oppressing dust and darkness.

The trial had begun, the process was routine for the young-looking executioner; truthfully, it would be more correct to call her a hunter. The hunt had begun.

—Don't you think it's time to end this game? Do you still think you have a chance of achieving something on your own? —She said firmly, ready to pull the trigger at any moment—. There's something I want to ask you about your creator.

She threw the object that looked like a ninja star, getting it stuck in the wall without much force about ten centimeters above the cornered prey that showed no fear. On the contrary, it said with a petulant and threatening tone:

—Who do you think you are to speak to a superior being like that!? —The cornered figure crossed his arms, as if it were embracing its own male body with all his strength, trembling abnormally.

A lightning bolt came down from inside the room, from the object embedded in the wall, revealing the face of the haughty being. Inhuman. That was undoubtedly what was cornered, monstrosity.

Not just the face, but his entire figure was revealed for a second. Two grotesque accumulations protruded from his back, giving the impression that two monstrous limbs would burst out at any moment in a rain of blood.

His face too looked cracked, as if it were going to fall apart and show what lies behind the skin.

Ignoring the suffocating presence, the hunter tightened her grip on the pistol handle and then recited some words murmuring, and a tearing cry of pain came from the cornered being.

—Insolence! Treating a holly being like this is…!

The circle engraved on the artefact emitted its light again. Orange sparks and blue-white discharges covered the body of the creature.

—AGHHHH!!! —Howled once more the so-called superior being.

—What information have they been feeding it? —Pondered the hunter for a moment, and with a pained expression, continued—. Why don't you pray, kernel of deep?

—… I'm going to kill you in the most horrible way you can imagine.

—I see. It's a shame, but that —It seemed as though the creature wanted to keep talking, but the hunter interrupted him without consideration and continued—, I can't imagine it!

The sound of a gunshot reached every corner of the old building. Minutes later, light footsteps were heard, and a figure emerged from the main entrance into the moonlit, lonely streets. She held a cell phone in one hand, pressing it to her ear.

—Did you let it escape? —Said a voice from the phone—. It's not like you to do things halfway.

—Precisely so. It's fine this way, it's a clear message. Next time he'll have to attack me with everything.

—Too reckless. The results are everything, but I don't approve of your methods, they are very risky.

—It doesn't matter how; I won't let anyone else get hurt. This is the way to reduce possible victims —Said the hunter—. I'm going to put an end to this sick experiment.

Even now, it seemed that at any moment more of those creatures would jump out from any hole in the abandoned district like cockroaches.

—That determination could end up killing you, Maika —said the person on the other end of the phone.

—Don't worry, I chose this job, it's my problem and how I solve it too. Eliminating all monsters is the only way to force him to come out.

—But I do.

And with that last exchange, the conversation came to an end.

There is much we do not understand about the world, much that we cannot comprehend. Complicated questions based on this premise generally lead nowhere, so it is best to leave them for later.

The truth is that this story starts like any other, a series of events and consequences brought us here, and it is from this day that it really begins.

The terrifying night was left behind, and ignorant of those events was he; this day belonged to no one else.

It was not a special date on the calendar, but perhaps a meaningful day, so Aiden was excited.

—Well, today is a great day! Since I've never been able to do anything about it, I can only overcome it with this cynical optimism!