Chapter 30 SEVEN: A SHADOW IN THE DARK

“Sir, there was a reported case of a loose beast running around the city.” Frank said as he walked into William’s office with a file in his hand. “Two women have been confirmed dead already. Their bodies were found on the street, torn to shreds.”

William shot a glance at him. “Your lab rat that’d escaped recently?”

“Possibly…”

“We must terminate him before he harms anymore civilian.”

“That will be a bit of a problem, sir.” he looked at him, shrugging his shoulder. “During the genetic transmutation process which we performed on Mr. Shade, we altered his genetic makeup in such a way that would make him hyperactive and incredibly strong. This means Mr. Shade is nearly impossible to destroy.”

“You should have thought of that before you created him.” William muttered. “You made him, so figure out a way to stop him. I won’t have all those deaths pinned on me.”

It’s early hours of the morning. Madelia and Dreda were walking down the cold, dark sidewalk lined by long shadows cast off by the streetlights. They were returning from a rave. It was the first dance party they had attended without Natasha.

They were awfully quiet, looking sad and depressed as they walked down the highway. “Do you think Natasha will be alright?” Madelia mumbled, wrinkles visible across her forehead.

Dreda shock her head sadly. “Heard she is going to be tortured to death in just a few hours.”

“Oh, no.” She gasped, and her expression turned pensive. “Is your dad really doing anything about this?”

“You know my dad, always so busy with work. He has an entire city to look after.” The smile she gave afterwards made her cheeks ache. “But when I talked to him about it, he showed great concern. Promised he’d hire a private detective to look into it critically.”

“I really hope they find her soon. I’m so done with going to funerals of the people I love.” Madelia fretted. “There is no way we’re losing Natasha that easily.”

Dreda spotted a store at the corner of the road. “I gotta grab something from the soda store over there. Wait here for me, I’d be back in a jiffy.” She got off the road and entered the store.

Madelia stood alone in the middle of the dark, lonely street, staring sightlessly into the darkness. She glimpsed something—or someone, staring at her from across the road.

Curiosity kicked in. She started walking across the road towards it. Slowly, Madelia was leaving the light into the region of total darkness. And when she had gotten really close, she stopped to stare. Observed a shadow watching her from the dark, her eyes narrowing.

Two bright yellow eyes appeared from the darkness. They were fixed on her.

Gasping, Madelia startled backward, almost stumbling onto the asphalt. Ripples of fear travelled down her spine as she took in sight of a figure silhouetted in the darkness, walking towards her.

Stepping away from the dark, its face became visible in the light. Shady. He was half-human, half-animal. Looked over her with predatory eyes and a cocky smile crossed his lips. Shot a venomous glance at her. His smile became a wide grin.

His deeply coloured, yellow eyes scared Madelia away. She quickly turned to run, but he pulled her back. Wrapped his arm around her neck and licked his lips. Madelia could have sworn Shady was standing several meters away from her; there was no way he could have gotten to her so quickly—not from that distance.

She tried to scream, but he suppressed it. Covered her mouth with his coarse and calloused hand.

Madelia muffled a cry, her chest heaving rapidly.

Shady pulled out his tongue to lick her neck, sniffing the fear that rose from her. It smelt pleasant.

Madelia whimpered in his arm, her body trembling. His breath against her neck caused her body to shudder. Shady opened up his mouth, and sharp, pointy fangs protruded. Her eyes were shaking as he lowered his head to taste her fleshy neck.

Suddenly, six hooded figures fell from above and surrounded them. Shady quickly turned to look at their gazing mask, his eyes darting around. He quickly let go of Madelia and stood in a defensive position, glancing at the new threat.

Madelia ran past the hooded figures, her chest heaving. She ran without a backward glance. Her breath felt short. Anxiety overwhelmed her. Huffing and puffing, she ran across the room to meet Dreda. She fell into Dreda’s arms, her body trembling.

“A guy just tried to eat me.” she tattled, her eyes wide in fear.

Dreda glanced down at her, confused.

The six hooded figures stood surrounding him, gazing at him from behind their masks. They did nothing. They said nothing. Their hands were hidden inside the big black garment they wore. There was a strange uneasiness that came with the quiet’s tranquillity.

Shady stood in a defensive position, ready to attack anyone that comes at him. He heard footsteps approaching. The hooded figures parted, and he glanced at C-Rex, walking towards him.

C-Rex held a mask in his hands as he walked towards Shady. And standing before Shady, he extended his arms towards him. “Join us!” a husky voice echoed from behind the mask. “Become Beocraft, and we shall give you a new identity.”

Shady took the mask from him and glanced at it. His eyes were drawn to the letter ‘M’ which had been marked on it. Took up to his face. Pressing the mask to his face, his body structure started to change rapidly.

Another masked figure came from behind and clothed Shady with a black hooded garment.

“Become Beocraft,” its deep baritone caused the night to tremble. “Become M-Rex.”

Slowly raising his head to gaze at them, he nodded. The voice that came off his lips was not his own.

“I accept.”