I landed on my feet, kneeling on the cold, steel floor, the putrid stench filling my nostrils. It was very dark in here, only a minimal amount of light illuminating the
sewer from dimly lit bulbs lining the walls. I looked up at the hole I dropped in from, noting that I was able to scale this wall to get back up if I needed to. I surveyed
the area around me, noticing that steel bars blocked the way behind me, so I could only go forward. My grip on my gun tightening, I started to walk.
I stayed on the walkway on the right side, the center of the sewer a semi-circle, sewage water flowing down it slowly. I did my best to ignore the putrid stench and the
slimy feeling from under my bare feet, convincing myself that at least my footsteps weren't echoing. As I made my way down the path, I stopped when I noticed the
water next to me became disturbed, as if something was moving beneath it. I stared intently at the water, hoping that it wasn't anything I should be worried about, but
I was soon proven very wrong, as something big just jumped up from the water, landing on the walkway in front of me. Once I got a good look at it, I realized that it
was a very big toad! It looked like the size of an SUV! I merely looked at it as it croaked out deeply, opening its mouth to reveal a long tongue with two ends. I
swallowed at the sight of it, taking a few steps back slowly, hoping it didn't see me. I then cringed as the toad looked at me, the two of us remaining motionless. What
should I do? If it's like the rats, then it's hostile, right? I tried taking another step back when the toad suddenly croaked again, its tongue shooting out of its mouth like
a rocket. I gasped out, trying to jump backward out of the way, but the tongue wrapping itself around my ankle while I was in the air, pulling me down on the floor. I
coughed out as my back slammed on the cold steel, my gun flying out of my hand and sliding some feet away from me. I cursed out when I noticed and I tried to
crawl over to it, but I fell right back down on my chest when the toad pulled on its tongue, dragging me on the floor over to its mouth. I screamed out as I slid on the
floor, my hands flailing as I tried to grab something to hold onto. I then noticed some more steel bars blocking another route on the wall next to me, so I quickly threw
out my hands as I passed it, grabbing onto a bar. I stopped sliding, but the toad wouldn't let up as it pulled on my leg harder and harder. I wrapped my arms around
the bar as I held on with all the strength I could muster, my leg feeling like it was about to get ripped right out of its socket. I screamed out in pain, looking over at the
toad as it started to walk over to me when it realized I wouldn't move. I quickly looked around, trying to figure out how to get free when I saw a glass bottle on the
other side of the bars. I had no time for second guesses, so I took a deep breath and tried to reach for it with my right hand, since it was closer, holding the bar with
my left arm. I stretched out my hand as far as I could, clawing at the floor in desperation, the toad getting closer all the while. "Just a little more!", I muttered to
myself, giving myself one last push, my fingers finally grabbing hold of the neck! The toad was now standing over me, so I wasted no time. I smashed the bottle
against the floor, my hand getting cut up in the process, but I ignored the pain as I looked up at the toad, my feet being lifted up into its mouth. Taking a deep breath,
I let go of the bar, the toad pulling most of my body into its mouth. I reached up with my free hand and grabbed hold of its top lip, stopping myself. My lower body felt
like it was tangled up in a very warm and slimy cocoon, and it was definitely one of the most disgusting sensations I ever felt. With a grunt, I thrust the broken bottle
into its upper jaw, a shrill shriek echoing through my body as I felt the toad's grip on my legs give way. I kicked myself out of the toad's large mouth, landing hard on
my back. Wasting no time, I stood up, staggering a bit as I ran the opposite way for my gun. I picked it up off the floor and spun around toward the toad, firing a few
rounds into it. The bullets hit home, the toad swaying on the spot as blood trickled down from holes in its body. With one more croak, it finally fell down, dead.
When it finally died, my shoulders slumped as I fell on my knees, my gun lowered. Shit. That was too close… I started to cough and gag once the smell of the toad's
mouth made its presence known, but I held back the urge to puke my brains out. "I don't get paid enough for this shit…" I muttered to myself, standing up shakily. I
then felt a burning sensation cover my hand, and when I looked down at it, I saw the cut that I got from the glass close and heal right before my eyes. "Again... What
does this mean?" I asked myself, sighing out. Once I regained my composure, I continued my way down the path, determination filling my chest.
I came across more rat and toad monsters on my way through the sewers, but I was ready for them, my experiences from before helping me to plan out strategies
for fighting both types. After I shot down another rat, I reloaded my gun again. "I'm running low on bullets. I need to finish this fast." I told myself as I walked down a
bend in the sewer, but I stopped walking when I heard what sounded like crying. I quickly ran down the way, turning the corner to see the same little girl I saw in
Carnegie Hall! She was standing in the water, her hands to her face as she sobbed. I quickly made my way over to her, my soft footsteps alerting her as she looked
up at me. "You're the little girl I saw at the theater! Are you hurt?" I asked her as I made my way over. But the girl turned away from me and ran through a gate in
the wall. "Wait! Don't go!" I shouted out as I hurried after her. When I reached the gate, I saw the girl run through another gateway to the right, so I hurried after her,
kicking up water everywhere as I did. However, once I turned into the gateway, I noticed it was another dead end, the path down the way blocked with steel bars, and
waiting for me at the end wasn't the girl but… "EVE!" I shouted out angrily, sprinting over to her. I quickly scanned the area as I made my way to Eve, but that little
girl isn't here… I didn't have time to think on this, however, as I reached the end where Eve hovered. "HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!" I shouted, pointing my gun at her and
glaring at her intensely. But at that moment, my body started to get hot again! I grunted out in pain, grimacing from the heat, but I kept my stance, my sight not
leaving her for a second. Not now! Eve started to laugh at the sight of my pain, giving me a cold sneer. "Aya's ready to take me on just by herself. Well, even if you
did have more people with you, they'd just BURN, right?" she said mockingly, her voice shrill. I then flinched as she lifted her hand, thinking she was going to attack
again, but she merely pointing one long claw at me. "Everyone else… but YOU… YOU are…" she continued, but then she said no more, chuckling to herself. I growled at
her angrily, taking a step forward, my gun aimed for her face. "Tell me, Eve! Why? Why me? Why am I the only one…?" I asked her, almost pleadingly. I needed to
know already! I needed to know why I was the only one who isn't getting burned! Why my wounds heal like they do! Why my body gets hot from time to time! I felt
like I was going insane! But Eve merely smiled that evil smile again, shaking her head slightly. "You'll find out. Eventually…" she replied, placing a large hand on her
chest. "And even if you don't understand, don't worry. Your mitochondria will… They've always known…" she replied, hovering up a little higher, looking down at me,
her smile now gone. I think this is the first time I saw her serious… "I'm going to give you some time… some time to think and some time to evolve… And the day shall
arrive when you will… AWAKEN…" she told me, turning to leave. I growled again, anger flaring up in me again. "HOLD IT! I won't let you get away!" I shouted out as I
fired a few rounds at her, but they just stopped in midair again. She hovered over to the steel bars, her body suddenly turning into some kind of slime! I gasped out in
shock as I watched the slime glide through the steel bars, Eve's body reshaping on the other side. I ran to the bars, holding one in my hands as I looked up at her
angrily. She turned to look at me once more, before flying off, out of sight.
