HEART TO HEART (16)

"Hello?" Lucy's voice echoed through the streets as she tried to call out for someone. She was in Downtown Brooklyn, and it was night. Normally this would have been a dangerous place to be out and about, but there was nobody else outside with her. The streets were completely empty. There weren't even any cars around.

This was strange. The city was always alive, even during the late hours, but the whole place looked like it was abandoned. Lucy almost thought it was, except the lights were still on in most of the buildings.

"Is anybody out there?" Lucy called out again. No response. "Can anybody hear me?" she screamed. Nothing.

Lucy didn't know what to make of the silence. It was so unusual to see a city block as familiar as downtown deserted at such an hour. As she continued to venture through the uninhabited streets, she got the feeling that something was watching her. Lucy felt her skin begin to crawl. She wasn't sure if it was the isolation, or if something was actually out there.

When Lucy walked under the Brooklyn Queens Expressway she began to feel something wet dripping on her. At first, she thought it was just water and paid no attention to it, but a couple of seconds later she noticed the coppery smell and the reddish color of the liquid.

Blood?! Lucy thought as she looked at her hand.

She looked up and was met with the sight of several skinned bodies hanging underneath the expressway. Most of the bodies had been half eaten, and some of them were missing their heads.

"... Hahahahahahahahaha..."

Lucy heard a laugh echo through the streets. A cold chill ran down her spine when she heard the familiar voice chuckle.

Without a second thought, she began to run. As she did she began to feel something raining down on her. Lucy looked up and saw many more bodies hanging off the sides of the buildings. The sky turned red with their blood as the deluge continued. The ground beneath her feet was slippery with it and Lucy had to be careful not to slip.

"... Hehehehehehehehehe ..."

Lucy heard the laugh again, this time it was closer. Lucy saw something moving out of the corner of her eye. She looked up and saw a shimmer of heat moving on the rooftops. Nightmare was coming for her.

Lucy ran. She had no weapons to fight the creature with, and she knew that fighting it with her bare hands was a foolish idea.

Nightmare laughed again as it began to bombard her with plasma bolts. Lucy felt the heat of the projectiles as they combusted behind her. She felt her legs becoming weak, and her lungs growing tired, but she couldn't stop. Nightmare wasn't going to, and if she did she was dead.

Suddenly one of the plasma bolts exploded behind her sending her flying through the air, to land at the corner of the sidewalk. She didn't bother to look behind her as she got back up and ran. Lucy managed to put some distance between herself and the Hunter. She could tell by how much quieter his laughing had gotten. She didn't know how she was managing to outrun it, but she didn't complain.

Lucy hid behind a dumpster in an alley. She waited there for a couple of moments and listened.

The Hunter's laughing grew fainter and fainter. All she could hear now was the splashing of blood raining down from the rooftops above. Lucy looked back out at the street behind the dumpster. It was empty. Lucy sighed as she slowly got back up.

As Lucy was about to leave the alley, she heard something behind her. Something that sounded like wet meat being torn apart by a hungry mouth. Lucy turned around and saw Nightmare. She did her best to resist the urge to scream when she saw it.

The monster's body was crouched down low, and its back was turned to her. There was a body hanging above him, but it wasn't like the others. It was the body of another Hunter. Its blood glowed green as it dribbled down on the monster below it. One of the Hunter's arms was missing. Lucy saw something glowing in Nightmare's hands. She did her best not to puke when she saw the monster tear off a piece of green flesh with sharp teeth.

The creature still hadn't noticed her. Lucy took the opportunity to slowly back away. As she moved, her foot accidentally bumped the side of the dumpster, causing her to fall. Metal screeched as she brushed against it. The sound alerted the monster. Lucy glanced around and caught a short glimpse of the monster's bloody face before she got up and ran. She could see the hungry look in Nightmare's red eyes as they locked onto her.

Before she could even make it to the street, she was enveloped in what felt like a net which began to constrict around her, restricting her movements. Lucy tried to tear through it, but the metal cut her hands and feet as she tried to push back. Her side began to scrape against the ground as she was pulled back into the alley.

"NO! PLEASE! DON'T!" Lucy begged as she kicked and screamed.

Nightmare laughed as it watched her kick and claw desperately.

"PLEASE! LET ME GO! LET ME GO! PLEASE!" She screeched with tears in her eyes as she saw the monster prepare its wrist claws.

"M-M-Mommy... Daddy..." Nightmare's projected voice laughed at her.

"PLEASE! DON'T! PLEASE! PLEASE! NOOOO!"

/

"NOOOO!" Lucy screamed as she woke up. She looked around, she was in her bedroom on Mute's ship.

Lucy shivered fearfully as she checked herself for cuts and marks. Aside from the ones that were still healing from her fight at Walker's base, there weren't any new ones. Lucy was confused for a moment. She'd felt Nightmare cut her.

Lucy heaved a sigh of relief once she realized it was all a bad dream. She wrapped her arms around her legs as she began to cry. It had all felt so real to her. She was just so thankful that it hadn't been, but at the same time, it terrified her knowing that the monster that took her parents was still after her.

As she sat there sobbing, Lucy heard growling coming from the corner of the bedroom door. She jumped back when she heard it. Her fear died down when she saw that it was just Mute.

Lucy drew in a soft breath and continued to cry.

Mute growled as he came into the room.

"I'm sorry, Mute. I'm sorry," she apologized to the Hunter tearfully. "It was a bad dream... I just had a bad dream."

Mute tilted his head to the side as he knelt down beside her. She was startled when the Hunter gently placed his clawed hand on her back. With a sob, Lucy threw her arms around Mute. Normally she wouldn't have done that, but she was too upset. She didn't want to be alone.

Mute growled as she wept on him. Lucy expected him to pull her off or something like that, but he didn't. Instead, he softly closed his arms around her. She looked up at the Hunter with tearful eyes. Instead of being angry like she thought he was, he looked concerned, curious even. He wiped her cheek with his thumb and observed the wetness on his fingers shortly before returning his attention to Lucy.

"I'm sorry, Mute... I was so mean to you... I'm sorry..." Lucy sobbed as she pressed her head up against his chest. Mute gave a low growl as he placed a hand softly on her head.

After a few minutes of sobbing, she took her hands away and wiped her face. "I'll be fine, Mute... I'll be fine," she said.

Just as she was about to roll back into bed, Mute gently picked her up with both arms and commenced carrying her from the room. Lucy was a little surprised by the Hunter's action.

"Mute... what are you doing?" Lucy asked.

He didn't respond, just growled softly but she wasn't sure what to make of it.

Mute came to one of the doors of the ship. Lucy hadn't been allowed to enter this area before, so she didn't know what was inside. Mute tapped on three hidden symbols before the door slid open.

The room was a little smaller than most of the other rooms on the ship but it was still bigger than her bedroom. Inside she saw a weapons rack, some oddly shaped furniture, and a trophy wall.

This wall had several Hunter skulls on it. Lucy could tell they were Hunters because of the shape of the skulls and the mandibles.

Lucy thought for a moment before she remembered the photos Walker showed her. Nightmare had killed five other Hunters and eaten them which must have been why Mute was in pursuit. He must have been some sort of Enforcer Hunter from where he came from, and he killed other criminal Hunters. It made sense to her once she thought about it. Some detective I am, she thought to herself, amused.

Mute brought Lucy over to a large, cushioned slab, and laid her down on it. The cushioning on the slab was soft, unlike the hard, rough one on her bed. Mute sat down on the bed with her, before taking a long fur cover and folding it over both of them. Lucy blushed as Mute wrapped his arms around her tightly.

"Mute?" Lucy said confused. The Hunter's answered with a soft low growl as he looked down at her.

Lucy saw the sadness in his eyes. She remembered the mask he was crying on earlier. He was lonely just like she was.

"I'm... I'm sorry, Mute. I know how it feels," Lucy said as she wrapped her arms around Mute.

Mute growled softly, but Lucy wasn't scared or angry by it. It comforted her to know that there was someone close to her who knew what it felt like to hurt as she did. That there was somebody who understood the pain she'd been through.

"Thank you, Mute," Lucy said with a gentle, tearful smile before closing her eyes.

/

Mute wasn't completely sure why he did what he did. He was fully aware of what he was doing, and he knew why he was doing it. He missed Ki-vei'ri, and he didn't want to be alone. But it still felt wrong.

He tried to remember the elders' teachings. They'd told him not to act on his emotions ,not to let them show, and he tried not to. Emotions made one weak. Lucy was also a troublemaking abomination, so she didn't deserve his empathy. But despite that though, he couldn't help but feel pity for her when he saw her earlier. Not only had her loved ones been killed by a Bad-blood, but she was lonely too.

Mute had sensed that she was a loner, but he could also tell that she didn't want to be alone either. She felt out of place amongst other oomans, she didn't want to be around them unless it was necessary, because they did not understand her. Or they just did not care. Mute understood that feeling well. It was one of the reasons why he had become an Enforcer for his clan, and perhaps it was the same for her. It was no wonder she was the way she was.

Mute growled at himself. He felt ashamed for being so disrespectful to another enforcer. Mute knew that she was an enforcer. While he was stalking her, he noticed she only went after oomans who wronged other oomans. The two had more in common than he originally thought, and he felt ashamed for misjudging her because of it. They were both lonely enforcers. If he could speak, he would have told her he was sorry for being so impatient, even if she couldn't understand.

He also felt sorry for wanting to kill her earlier. All because she was different. So what if she was an abomination, she hadn't chosen that path. She'd been forced into it by that rogue.

As he thought about this, he also felt a sense of guilt. He was abandoning the teachings of the ancients all because he pitied some ooman. But Lucy was no ordinary ooman. She was a Hunter just as he was. Although she was stubborn and brash, he didn't fault her. He was just as brash and stubborn as she was.

Mute felt Lucy stir in her sleep. She rested her head on his arm. Her face was still wet. He found it strange that oomans eyes watered when they were sad. His didn't. Mute used his claw to gently wipe some of it off before rubbing it between his fingers. He looked back down at Lucy and saw her smile. She was thankful for his company. Mute couldn't deny that he liked being close to her as well.

Mute clicked his mandibles softly as he gently rested his clawed hand on her head. Lucy's hair was soft to the touch. He liked the way it smelled too.

With a tired growl, Mute closed his eyes. For once he could sleep soundly knowing he wasn't alone.

/

Lucy woke up to the sound of metal being pounded. Mute was working on something in the armory. With a tired groan, Lucy stretched her arms before getting out of bed. She was a little surprised by how refreshed she felt. Normally she felt like shit when she woke up, but that was not the case now.

Lucy entered the armory and saw Mute pounding away at a piece of metal. He was working to replace the equipment they'd lost back at Walker's base when it exploded. It was frustrating work, but it was what it was.

"Mute," Lucy said. "Mute," Lucy said, this time a little louder.

The Hunter stopped when he heard her. He set the hammer-like object down as she approached. She had something she wanted to say to him.

"I'm... sorry for the way I've been acting. I apologize for being so impatient with you," she spoke with her head low. Mute growled. Lucy wasn't sure if he understood, but she was pretty sure he got the message.

Mute kept his own head low as he slowly made a series of hand gestures. Lucy couldn't understand, but somehow she knew he felt the same way she did.

"It's all right, Mute. I was being a bitch too," she excused him. There was a short pause between them before she continued. "I want to try and communicate with you again," Lucy said as she signed it.

Mute gestured with his hand. Lucy couldn't understand it.

Lucy sighed patiently. "I want to try and understand what you're saying," she said again as she signed with her hands.

Mute gave another series of gestures that she didn't understand. They stood there frustrated for a moment before Mute made another hand gesture, one he copied from her. I don't understand.

Lucy stood there and thought for a moment before an idea came to her. She made another series of hand gestures, ones that were easier to follow. I know, but I want to understand you, she signed.

Mute nodded his head. He understood. They were finally getting somewhere. From there they continued.

Over the next couple of weeks, Lucy and Mute continued to learn about each other's languages and how to convey their thoughts. Lucy taught Mute how to understand the English and Japanese languages, and she also taught him American sign language. Meanwhile Mute taught her "Silent Hand". From there he was able to teach her how to read and write in his language.

Learning so much from one another was no easy task, one which ate away a lot of time, but their patience with one another held firm. Once they were able to understand each other, things became simpler. The two engaged in conversation often, and they discovered more about one another as they spoke.

The two began to trust each other more because of this. Mute even gave Lucy access to the other rooms that were previously off-limits to her. One of these rooms was the cargo hold, where he kept all of his food and the materials he used to make their weapons and armor. Mute told her what was safe to touch in there and what wasn't, and he also explained how to handle the items that were dangerous. While Mute was forging new weapons and armor for them, he also taught Lucy how to use some of the tools to forge the equipment. The work of replacing the gear they'd lost went a lot faster after that.

Mute also gave Lucy access to the trophy room and even allowed her to touch his trophies.

The two also trained together in the kehrite, Mute's training dojo. Mute felt that it was a good idea to prepare Lucy for when they had to face Nightmare again. Lucy thought it was a good idea too. Naturally, things were tough, but Lucy proved to be just as tough as the circumstances in which she found herself. Mute was impressed by her vigor and dexterity, especially under stressful conditions. At one point, Lucy even managed to pick him up and throw him out of the ring. Although he took it easy on her in that round, it still surprised him, nonetheless.

After weeks of preparation the two finished work on their new equipment. With their work completed. they decided to spend the rest of the evening in the kehrite and share stories.

"... So the asshole decides it's a good idea to try and move his gun on me, even though I already have the shot on him. Naturally, the guy's backside becomes a stain on the wall, but just when I think it's over, the dealer, who's high off his own supply, comes barging out of the closet at me, cleaver in hand. I try to move my Beretta to get a shot, but by the time I'm able to get the shot, he's already on top of me trying to cut my head off. So I'm on the floor now fighting for my life, I'm holding him by the wrist, fighting to keep from getting slashed. Finally, I move my knee into his crotch, giving me the space and time I need to disarm him, break his nose, and put him in a headlock. I was this close to killing the son-of-a-bitch at the time for what he did, but the boss wanted him alive. Obviously, I decided that having a job was the better option, and I left the guy cuffed to the boiler pipes until backup arrived. Anderson gave me a thorough chewing out for going in without a partner or backup, but in the end, I was given the promotion. And that's how I became a detective," Lucy explained.

Mute clicked his mandibles together with interest as he congratulated Lucy with a hand gesture. (Ell-osde' nau'gkon v'dai) You fought well

"Thanks," Lucy said as she sat down beside the training ring with Mute. "So what about you, Mute? Any tales of blood and glory you'd like to share?" she asked curiously.

Mute clicked his mandibles in thought for a moment before he got up and went into his trophy room. He came back out with one of his trophies and handed it to her. The skull was short with a flat, serrated beak, and no eye sockets. The thing's nostrils were huge hinting that it may have hunted via smell, and its spine was long and flexible. It was so long that Lucy couldn't hold the whole thing in her hands and had to coil part of the creature's spine around her wrist.

(Te-osde' s-di Czeba-suar) It's a Czeba-suar, Mute signed.

"Woah," Lucy exclaimed, "What is it supposed to be exactly?"

It was a little difficult for Mute to describe, but from what Lucy could understand from his description, it looked like a cross between an eyeless turtle and some sort of crustacean.

(Tak-osde' Ta-osde' kv'var-nin ju'dha sja'gya) I hunted it on a water planet, Mute continued.

"Hmmm," Lucy had suspected the creature was aquatic in nature.

Mute then proceeded to give a physical description of the fight through body language and a strange dance. He used weapons during the demonstration, and even used the skull and spine to show how the creature fought.

The creature swam through the water quickly using its flipper-like appendages. The creature could smell him, there was nowhere the Hunter could hide from the beast, and he could not outswim it, but that was not his intention. He fought the beast back with all his might using only a smart disc and his claws. The creature used its neck to constrict him as its beak and pincers tore into his flesh. However, he managed to inflict a painful wound on the creature's throat.

The monster was persistent though, and it attempted to drag him down into the depths, but before it could succeed, he cut its hind flippers off. He then proceeded to tear its exoskeleton apart before slicing its underbelly open. Mute finished the story by throwing his arms in the air before giving a shrill hiss.

"Nice," Lucy complimented as she applauded him.

Just as he ended the story though, Mute accidentally let out a funny-sounding grunt, causing Lucy to laugh hysterically. The action took Mute by surprise, he'd never heard her laugh before. It sounded so strange yet at the same time so... so... genuine. She sounded like she was actually happy. Mute felt a smile crease his mandibles, he liked the sound of her voice.

Lucy was laughing so hard, she was making Mute click his mandibles rapidly in a fit of laughter.

"Damn, Mute. That's so funny..." Lucy chortled.

After a couple of minutes, Lucy was able to compose herself again. "Woo, screw me," she tittered.

(Ell-osde' s-di v'dai?) Are you all right? Mute asked.

"Yeah, I'm all right," Lucy replied with an exhausted but content sigh.

Lucy sat there for a moment to collect herself. "I haven't felt like this in a long time, Mute," she said with a soft smile.

Lucy remembered a moment with her parents at the aquarium. Her father made funny faces similar to the ones the fish were making, while her mother tickled her with her "octopus arms." Lucy could remember laughing so hard that her parents had to carry her out.

She also remembered a time when two cops were booking in a convicted rapist. He was fighting the cops who were handling him, and Lucy and Amy came to help. During the scuffle, the idiot made the mistake of smacking Lucy in the jaw. Lucy ended the altercation with a well-placed kick to his groin. The guy was on the floor, squealing like a pig the whole time as he held his crotch. Lucy and Amy were in hysterics as they carted him off to his cell.

Lucy chuckled as she remembered those moments. She turned to Mute with a gentle smile.

"Thank you, Mute."

(Ell-osde' n'jauku.) You are welcome, He signed.

Lucy looked down for a moment before Mute tapped her shoulder for her attention.

(Ell-osde' Tak-osde' ki-sen'di, po'so fir'rira, Lucy.) Thank you for being my friend, Lucy, Mute signed.

Lucy paused for a moment before she responded. You're welcome, Mute. Thank you for being my friend too, she signed before embracing him in a warm hug.

Lucy felt honored. It had been a long time since she'd found someone whom she could trust and care for as a friend. It felt strange to her, but at the same time, it was comforting.

Lucy felt the Hunter's arms wrap around her gently. She felt his hot breath run down her neck as he growled softly. She liked the way it felt.

After a few more moments the two got ready for bed.

"Good night, Mute." Lucy said as she left.

(V'dai m'kwe.) Rest well, Mute replied. (Gua-j'in, Kod-osde' kv'var Nightmare.) Tomorrow we hunt Nightmare.

(Ki'sei.) I understand, Lucy replied before resting on her bed.

Lucy was nervous about the hunt that would come, but she wasn't as worried as she was before. Nightmare had plagued her for so long, but now she had a friend who would have her back every step of the way. They would make that monster pay for what they did to her family and Mute's friends.

We're coming for you, you ugly son-of-a-bitch! So get ready! Lucy thought with a cocky smile before drifting off.

/

"We just got these in, sir." Detective Kandowski said as he handed Anderson photos of footprints that had been taken at Governors Island.

"What the hell are these?" Chief Anderson said frustratedly.

"I don't know, sir," Kandowski muttered.

"Dammit, Kandowski! Have you found anything substantial? All I've seen from this case so far are footprints! That's all I've seen now for the past week and a half!" he complained.

"No, sir." the detective replied.

"Great! Just fuckin' great!" Anderson cursed.

The feds had been on his ass since the Governors Island base had been destroyed. He didn't doubt it was their fault. They just wanted someone to point the finger at if something got out that they didn't want to get out, or at least that's what he thought anyway. If that was the case, Anderson needed someone to pass off the blame to in his place.

"Any signs of Ishikawa?" Anderson inquired.

"No, sir," Kandowski replied. "Eguchi's been looking for her now for the past two weeks since she woke up. Hasn't found anything. Ishikawa hasn't even used her phone or a credit card since she disappeared. For all we know she's just gone."

"If she's smart she'll stay that way. Once anyone sees something tell me. No doubt, Ishikawa's the one responsible," Anderson said.

"Need a coffee, sir? You look tired," Kandowski said.

"What I need is sleep," Anderson snapped, "But yeah, a coffee would be good."

"Starbucks?"

"Yeah, go get me a Espresso."

For as bad as Governors Island was, that wasn't what was keeping Anderson awake. Several reports had come in over the last week that Pit Vipers were getting slashed to pieces. Anderson had seen some of the bodies himself. They looked like they'd been torn apart by Freddy Krueger.

For all anyone knew it could have been the Jamaicans or the Serviteurs, but Anderson wasn't so sure. They didn't skin their victims. They may have taken the heads, but the skins and spines? There were also bite and claw marks on some of the bodies, indicative of an animal attack. But what kind of animal, especially in Brooklyn, could have done that to a man?

Anderson wasn't sure what was going on, but he was sure Lucy had something to do with it. Her position on the matter had been made very clear. Perhaps after she was attacked at her apartment, she went rogue and was now on a killing spree. He would have given her a medal for it had she hadn't skinned the bodies and strung them up all over the place. Plus there was also the matter of Governors Island.

"You've got a lot to answer for, Lucy Ishikawa," Anderson spoke to himself as he looked at the picture of the footprint. "Just you wait and see. When I get my hands on you, I'm gonna-."

Before the man could finish his sentence he heard something that sounded like an explosion coming from the front of the precinct.

He looked over at the door and saw Kandowski's body lying on the floor. His dead eyes met Anderson's for a brief moment. A hole had been blown through his chest cavity. Everyone in the lobby reacted instantly. Officers went for their sidearms, while others ran to the armory. Some of the officers ran outside to confront the attackers and keep the crowds safe.

Just as they went out the door though, three of them were shot down by orange lights.

Anderson saw one of the projectiles tear straight through two officers. The third officer exploded into pieces when he was hit.

The other officers backed away from the door. Suddenly they saw something move in front of the lobby door. It was like a shimmer of heat but in the shape of a man. None of the officers took chances and proceeded to fire at the door. They didn't care if anyone was caught in the crossfire. If they didn't get out of the way it was their own fault. They continued spraying until the front of the lobby was nothing but rubble and debris.

Some of the officers went to check out the scene.

"There's no body!" one of them said.

"No body?! What the fuck do you mean there's no body?" another officer demanded.

"I'm telling you man whoever it was shootin' at us he ain't here! Nothin's here man!" the officer answered, right before he was enveloped in a net. The officer was pinned to the wall, as the net began to tighten around him. He screamed in pain and terror as it slowly cut through his body armor and into his skin.

Some of the officers went to help but were slashed by something as they did. The shimmer of heat! The thing gave an evil chuckle as it turned to the other officers.

"OPEN FIRE!" Anderson said when he saw the creature's eyes flash red. The officers did as they were told. The figure jumped away. Their shots hit the poor officer who was trapped in the net.

The shimmer of heat landed in between the officers and began cutting them down with a double-edged spear. The figure moved with the grace and skill of a ballet dancer and the speed of a cheetah. Some of them tried to hit it, but they accidentally ended up shooting their fellow officers instead. Some of the officers arrived in SWAT gear and tried to repel the being with riot shields, but the figure easily tore through them.

As the fighting continued, Anderson retreated to the armory. He grabbed a shotgun and as much ammunition as he could carry, before heading back into the lobby. Once he got there though, everything was quiet. The fighting had stopped. There was nothing but rubble, bodies, and empty cartridges lying on the floor.

Anderson saw blood dripping down to the floor. He looked up and saw several officers' bodies hanging upside down. Skinned. He'd only been gone for a few minutes. How could that thing have killed them all and hung their bodies up so quickly?

Anderson continued to look around the room and saw puddles of green. He crouched down and touched the substance before rubbing it between his fingers.

While he was examining the strange fluid. He heard a gut-wrenching sound coming from behind. Something that sounded like meat being torn apart, and bones being broken. He spun around, his shotgun at the ready. Just as he turned though, he was splashed with red.

Anderson fell to the floor, accidentally dropping the shotgun. He looked up and saw the shimmer standing next to a body it had just skinned. It then revealed itself to him in a shower of sparks. It was a tall, dark skinned humanoid with red stripes. The creature was wearing some type of armor with bone belts tied around its waist and shoulders. It reminded him of some sort of jungle warrior.

The creature had one of the officer's arms in its hands. Anderson watched in horror as the monster took a bite out of it. The creature's mandibles vibrated rapidly in an evil laugh, spitting chunks of gore from its mouth.

Anderson grabbed his shotgun and unloaded on the beast. Most of the buckshot bounced off the creatures' armor, and the few pebbles that did hit it did nothing to faze the monster. Green ooze squirted from the wounds. The creature touched the wounds with its claw. It looked at its green blood momentarily before licking it up with its forked tongue. The creature laughed again as it did so.

Anderson moved to shoot the creature again, but as he was taking aim, something on the monster's shoulder jerked forward. A blast of orange light erupted from the thing's shoulder, blasting Anderson's shotgun to pieces. Anderson was blown back. He felt an awful pain in his side. A piece of shrapnel from the shotgun was lodged there. He ignored the pain as he got up and ran.

As he did so though, he was caught in a net which began to constrict on him, tearing into his skin. Anderson screamed in pain as it continued to tighten. Shortly, the thing stopped. The net wasn't going to kill him. Anderson tried to fight his way out, but the net cut him more as he tried to struggle.

"... You've got a lot to answer for Lucy Ishikawa..." the monster mimicked his voice as it prepared its wrist blades.

"NO! DON'T! PLEASE! NOOOO-" Anderson screamed as the monster slowly approached.

"... Just you wait and see..."