Getting to Clara’s house was easy.
With bicycles, they made it in less than five minutes. It was around a kilometer away at most but Sean never bothered to measure it so he didn’t know for sure. The sun was up above, basking the world in its golden light. It was noticeably warm and the wind that should have cooled them off blew hot.
As someone who’d lived for nineteen years, Sean knew how to ride a bike but that didn’t necessarily mean he was good at it. Liz was. She was faster and better, pedaling like a madman so she could catch up to him within a few seconds even if he left her in the dust. But as she didn’t know Clara’s place, Sean was at the front and Liz followed.
She also lived in the suburbs —that was where they’d met. Rather, that’s where Sean noticed her, just the two of them standing at the bus stop, waiting for the last bus. Then they started talking and the rest was history.
“We’re here,” said Sean as he stopped. They were near a white, two-story house. It was the simple kind, with nothing extra. There was the garage and the house. All its curtains were shut and nothing inside could be seen.
Liz made a quick circle around him and stopped as well. They were on the surprisingly empty road. There weren’t many people around these parts but some could be seen in the distance —too far to matter.
“I’ll wait,” she said, keeping her bicycle up by standing on one leg, slightly tilted to the side.
Sean got off the bike. It was easier than getting off a horse, that much was for sure. The backpack was more a nuisance than anything else despite its weight so he put it on the ground. The dagger was in the backpack now. He couldn’t really put it in his pocket as it was too large to be put there and he couldn’t ride a bike with one hand.
“Here goes nothing,” said Sean and breathed out. His heart was thumping like a basketball bouncing on the ground. Except, this was from inside him. He slowly walked toward the door. Each step he took made him more excited. Deep inside, Sean knew that she wasn’t home but he hoped.
He stopped before the door and hesitated.
Should he open it?
“Hurry up!” yelled Liz from behind and Sean turned to look at her. He nodded his head and turned to the door again. With sweaty hands, he tried the handle.
It opened.
It was the kind that opened inward and it creaked as it slowly but surely hit the wall with a small noise.
It was dark. The design was quite similar to Chris’ place —most of the houses here were uniform in the neighborhood.
He could barely make out anything past the sunlight let in by the door but his olfactory senses picked something up.
It was a disgusting odor like shit, but sweeter.
Sean’s thought process halted and his eyes widened. His hands clenched themselves almost automatically till it strained and teeth were clenched.
No… that couldn’t be…
She couldn’t have died.
Then he breathed.
One, two, and…
On the third, he shouted —it was loud, more a roar than anything else. It echoed across the neighborhood. His throat was strained but he didn’t care. He felt his blood rush and it felt hot, much like when his Heart Factor was awakened. Except this was more feral and primal as if it was meant to be.
Then Sean heard movement from upstairs.
Sean lunged at the sound, not even caring enough to pull the dagger out of his backpack.
He had his Magic and no dagger was better than that.
He’d killed giants and could slaughter humans like sheep if he wanted to. He wouldn’t. Usually, that is. Now?
He wasn’t his usual self.
“Wait!” shouted Liz from behind but Sean didn’t hear her. Rather, he did. He just didn’t care. His brain refused to react.
He scaled the stairs in 2 large leaps. At the top, he saw it. It was pitch black but he could see two red eyes glowing in the dark very much like smoldering embers. As Sean’s eyes met the orbs, he felt his body tense up and started to be replaced with fear. It was a primordial on —a fear of the unknown.
His body was afraid, shivering, and ready to escape.
His mind wasn’t.
Skill ‘Presence’ has been activated!
Skill ‘Killing Intent’ has been overpowered.
Status Effect ‘Fear’ has been inflicted upon the target.