I fondly recall my childhood, a time when I was merely a young child. I would nestle into my grandmother's comforting lap as she shared enchanting tales from her own youth. These stories were a mixture of eerie folklore and mystical wonders.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgdVNlGO6O
She'd regale me with accounts of peculiar creatures lurking within murky, putrid swamps, guiding unsuspecting individuals of all ages to their doom. Her voice would weave mesmerizing stories of mischievous fairies, who, with enchanting melodies, enticed children away from their homes into magical realms.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4aUWm0IWF
Yet, it was her tales of cursed men, transforming into fearsome beasts beneath the glow of a full moon, that sent shivers down my spine.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS87ndfjmEy
Those nights, sleep eluded me as the terror gripped my imagination.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynJQhKvv8l
Now, as I reminisce about those days, I can't help but smile, for I know that monsters are nothing more than fanciful stories, right?"
***
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyzYzbhlMK
"Stop, you little bastard!" I shouted, my voice carrying through the bustling streets of Eldenwood.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNdSeSfRea
I sprinted as if my life depended on it, hot on the heels of a scrawny kid who owed me some cash.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp27RMm25Wo
"Stop chasing me!" The little guy squeaked, his glasses threatening to take a dive, his backpack barely clinging to his shoulders. "I swear, I've got no money for you today!"
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKLNijXs4N
"Then prepare for a thrashing!" I bellowed, my logic as straightforward as it gets.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRG1O4Gg8ps
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡej2ROyAZkH
Now, if you're scratching your head, wondering what kind of character I am, I'll admit it—I'm what you'd call a bully. Yeah, I know, not exactly a poster child for charm and manners. But let's face it, I needed cash, and I'd discovered that the quickest way to acquire it was by, well, giving people a not-so-friendly reminder of their debts. So here I was, stuck in this ridiculous chase.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0vV1dxkat
"Hey, Howard, you bastard, quit the marathon!" I roared, bulldozing my way through the crowd, completely indifferent to the curious glares and eye rolls I received along the way. Trust me, I was used to it.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRXVHkVOPm
I chased that slippery little weasel through one winding street after another, hurling a flurry of curses in his direction, some of which, in hindsight, didn't even make sense.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfyvhFkDAq
Our little cat-and-mouse game eventually reached its climax as I cornered Harold in a narrow alley with no escape routes.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghNz1jfimn
"I win," I declared triumphantly, advancing toward him and cracking my knuckles with an arrogant smirk.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oi332je0c
"Please...Leyton Please." the trembling fool stammered.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CocG6fXDt
"You made me run a marathon through this town, sweat trickling down my entire body," I grumbled, my annoyance growing by the second. "Trust me, you've got this beating coming."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHRURvF37r
I inched even closer, cracking my knuckles like I was preparing for a heavyweight bout, just to make sure Howard knew he was in for a pounding.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uyJwB8VQp
I couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh, watching him shake like a bowl of jelly. Pathetic, really. He was the poster child for an easy target, and I, well, I was just the guy to deliver.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHgwSSVgVq
"Hey, Howard, maybe if you beg real nice, I'll consider giving you a beating that's, uh, minimal," I taunted, though not a single word of that was true.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWCEcHBwrt
"Let's just get this over with," I said with a smirk, preparing to deliver the punch of the century right in front of Howard.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFav7ecolBL
"Stop."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYXmHIzZ6I
Slowly, I turned around, my eyes widening as I heard a feminine voice from behind. There she stood at the alley's entrance, a girl with long brown hair, rocking a black shirt that boldly declared "Wild Moon" on the front, complemented by black jeans and some fierce black leather boots. A white backpack rested on her back.
I have to admit, she was kinda hot, and the more I looked at her, the more that thought held true.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUCoTCZCAA
This mystery girl shot me an angry glare, her hands clenched into fists. "Get away from him!" she shouted.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBFzbT7Bnv
I lowered my fist, somewhat taken aback, and shifted my attention to this unexpected addition to the scene.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHs5BAaUxD
I couldn't help but maintain my cocky smile, not particularly worried about this girl who had seemingly taken an interest in playing the hero.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIOZBd1G5W
"Listen," I began, my grin growing wider, "how about you don't sweat the small stuff." I chuckled. "You should be focusing on, well, us." I strolled confidently in front of the mysterious girl, hands on my hips.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1nOEmE7Ze
"Us?" She raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1JQKMje9w
"Yeah," I continued with a casual shrug. "I haven't seen you around this charming little town." Eldenwood was tiny, surrounded by acres of forest and mountains. It was the sort of place where everyone knew everyone else, so I could tell she was a newcomer.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2yCm6vsDD
"How about I give you the grand tour?" I suggested, flexing my muscles subtly, hoping they'd be noticeable through my clothes. I mean, hey, I did work out, after all.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YfUhxVxQP
The girl's smiled wildly as she stared at me, her teeth on full display and her eyes carrying an unsettling intensity.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPhuvX4hA8
I had a strange sensation wash over me, something that froze me in my tracks. A chill crawled up my spine, and my arm was covered in goosebumps. What was this feeling? I wondered, my gaze locked on the girl.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo71k63IN0Z
"You little rat," she hissed, her voice barely above a whisper, but her words seemed to echo through my very being, sending a shockwave of fear throughout my body. I felt numb, and it hit me like a ton of bricks—I was afraid.371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAnQi8IovA
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKi5aXPysWD
"If you want to court me, little rat," she continued, her face drawing closer to mine, "you'll need to be more than just a pest."
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXbKl464k0
I clenched my teeth, sweat trickling down my face. Why was I so terrified of this girl?
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0qc0gjBhJ
"A pest," I repeated, my anger rising, my fist clenched, ready to strike. "Y-you little... Bitch!" I yelled, ready to throw a punch at her face in a mix of fear and defiance.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjC7AcaKnW1
I didn't hold back, my fist descending with determination, my target locked on the girl's face.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqyV22b7On
But to my astonishment, the girl didn't flinch as my fist drew nearer. Her gaze remained locked on mine, unwavering.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2nMv9poWq
It felt like time had slowed to a crawl. One moment, my fist was inches away from her face, poised to strike, and the next, she swiftly raised her hand, her index finger extending and making contact with my strike.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqdUvYEdhV
"What the...?" I muttered in disbelief, unable to push my fist forward. I struggled relentlessly, but it was futile. One finger had halted my advance.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpAhPmUnsN
"A pest is a pest," the girl remarked, her smile widening as she found my predicament rather amusing.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAcRlsxWvQ
My frustration boiled over, but my efforts were in vain. I couldn't overpower that single finger.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVAG85u9T8
Meanwhile, the girl used her free hand to casually brush her brown hair away from her face. It was clear that my struggles were beginning to bore her.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOASkK4g0l
With remarkable speed, her finger retracted, and she seized my fist with the same hand.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVjdbNU1i9
"Ah!" I cried out in agony as her grip felt like an unyielding vice, causing my knuckles to crack. I crumpled to my knees, overwhelmed by the searing pain.
371Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVD2vEf3BD
"You're weak," she stated, her eyes looking down at me disapprovingly. "I don't like weak men."
***
Author notes: Please support my work on Patreon for early access to new chapters. https://patreon.com/DarkMatteromniverse
ns216.73.216.116da2
→ Request update
and then Add to home screen.