A NEW ERA

Then another flashback struck him—this time of how he had acquired the clothes he now wore. He had first noticed a child, pleading with his mother for the expensive clothes displayed in a shop window. When they walked away, unable to afford them, curiosity overcame the Kaiju. The green child, the oddity, had stumbled upon the scene and felt an inexplicable urge to claim the garments for himself. He wanted to blend in, to not be called a monster humanity deemed him at first sight. He found himself moving to the reflective surface, face pressed against the glass so hard his forehead nearly cracked it. Without thinking, he picked up a brick and shattered the window, snatching the clothes within.

The roar of engines stirred him out of his little reverie. Dog walkers passed by, listening to their Walkmans, while a banker sat on a nearby bench, engrossed in a conversation on a giant brick phone. Now, the Kaiju stood transfixed, staring with large, empty amber eyes from the middle of the pavement. Around his waist, a fanny pack was slung like a belt over layers of clothing.

The sun, hidden behind fluffy clouds, cast its light onto towering buildings. Sunlight reflected off the pristine glass panels of commercial offices, momentarily blinding onlookers. Crowds moved purposefully like a time-lapse, the noise amplifying as shops opened and customers rushed in. Neon signs for clubs and bars flickered to life. The world seemed boundless and more varied than before—mysterious, exciting, and a bit frightening. Moving unnoticed among the throngs was a novel experience for him.

To his utter amazement, the disguise worked!

No one regarded him a monster. His eyes sparkled with pure delight. But then, a thought intruded—how many years had it been since his colossal mistake landed him in captivity? Ah, five years. Five years locked away in that detention facility, a hellish compound masquerading as a prison. Tortured by endless experiments, both safe and unsafe, known and unknown, he had been separated from society. Yet now, finally, he was free. Free to roam, free to live. This was what freedom looked like, felt like. He almost couldn't believe it himself.

He gazed around absent-mindedly, marveling at the strangeness of the place. The great city of Stonehaven reminded him of a treasure nestled within a fortress. Situated snugly at the foothills of the Alps and divided into upper and lower towns, it was a perfect blend of old and new worlds. The novelty of being among people never seemed to wear thin for him. They lived their lives fretting over concerns that seemed trivial to a being who knew little of the world—or at least, had no recollection of it. Yet it was these same ordinary people who had built great cities and civilizations, developing culture and art beyond anything the Kaiju himself could ever have hoped to imagine.

He reveled in the bits of sightseeing he allowed himself, admiring the beauty of a town with technological advancements that paled in comparison to those back at Home. Downtown Stonehaven bustled with activity, its architecture and population a testament to its traditions. Tall, stylistically crafted buildings lined cobblestone streets, and an elevated railway track offered transportation to those eager to explore further. This sector was a cultural melting pot, with shops and stands featuring goods from around the world. But like all places, Stonehaven had its secrets—hidden deep in its canyons and valleys lay the Undercity, an underground realm known as Undertown.

The place to which he had come was indeed a treat to behold, reminding him again of the vaguely familiar sights of Home—wherever 'home' was.

He ventured further down the street, wary of being followed or caught. He had been here before, many times, or so it seemed. Yet he couldn't remember why. His mind felt foggy, too clouded to recall much of anything. As the sun began its descent, the sky above mixed with different colors, the sign of day's departure and the night's slow visit again.

He walked twenty miles that day, following a clear footpath where many had walked before him and many more would follow. He ate nothing but pieces of dry bread and drank water he begged from kind strangers. By the end of the day, he was exhausted and grateful to collapse into bed. If the old torn carpet he lay on could be called a bed, and at the back of his head, a garbage-filled bag which he propped well again and used as pillow for comfort. He lay there on the make-believe bed, believed finally to have found respite—no running, at least for now. Oddly bright and beautiful tonight, it is, something he was still not entirely used to about Stonehaven.

From the outskirts of town, clutching his wounded body, he had seen the dazzling array of city lights and couldn't help but wander over. It was a short hike, and by the time he could feel blisters forming on his feet, he was close enough that it didn't matter. With a few more steps, he stood amongst the tall buildings and trees.

Under the burning glow of the night sky now, the stars seemed to look upon him, and he couldn't help but smile as they twinkled in their bright and tiny spark. So far, so good, they seemed to say. A fresh new start. A fresh new beginning. As he gradually drifted off to sleep, he mused on his situation. Today had been a hard day, but everything would be okay from here on out. Hope tomorrow would be better. Soon, he closed his eyes and fell asleep with a small smile on his face.

He could think it already - The day, the glorious day that he would be accepted finally into society and prove to those, to everyone who doubted him, called him A MONSTER, to be totally in the wrong.

It didn't seem fair.

Still, the pursuit of a dream rarely ever is, he had learned as much over the years.

But one day, one day though, history would look back on him kindly. Of this, he could be certain. These various people would cheer his good name and clap for the good he'd do, like the hero he was. Overcomed with unconditional praise, the likes of which he had never once experienced, not in his life, not ever, everyone would chant his name;

Whatever it may be.

And he would smile, waving joyfully at them with shared praise and fervour.