"Yes?" she insisted, fear in her belly.
"You're a human, aren't you?"
Nicole didn't immediately assimilate what this individual had just asked her, because despite what was happening, she still refused to accept that this place was anything but human, but she had to now, quickly, so as not to waste time and get out.
From their expressions, their behavior, they already knew anyway, so it was better not to take them for idiots, not to mention that he'd asked in that tone, otherwise…
CHAPTER 3
She felt confused, but finally opted for frankness. "So what?"
"Then it's perfect. For us," he clarified, shaking his head.
Nicole was so distraught she thought she was dead. Maybe she was, after all. But if that was the case, why this pain , not to mention this repulsive looking individual asking her this kind of question?
Deep down, she knew she wasn't, and that she'd just been transported to another living world. So she had to calm down first and take things one step at a time.
However, the chief hadn't finished speaking. "My idiot stooge is right. Your skin is really white, made for tearing."
This time, the veil was torn away, there was no longer any possible doubt.
Now, the boss was staring at her in a way that reminded her of a snake. Indeed, it was with no more surprise, but only terror that she saw his eyes—still riveted on her—turn yellow and his irises narrow until they became slits similar to those of felines and reptiles.
A monstrous grin appeared on his face and he lowered his arms to take an alarming stance, that of an animal ready to pounce on its prey.
Nicole trembled with terror, her mind already paralyzed in the face of this mortal danger.
She tried again to make her predator listen to reason, taking all the bills she had out of her pocket and handing them to him.
"Here, take it, it's all I've got. Please, I'll leave them with you, so let me go."
But the chief didn't even glance at them, but rather leaned on his back foot to prepare to pounce on her. This would be the end.
Then, as if whipped by this terrifying thought, Nicole snapped into action, turning on her heels and running away as fast as she could.
She was no Olympic champion, but she could be proud of her fitness. Half the bar's patrons, led by this man—their repulsive, murderous boss—set off in pursuit. Soon they would catch up with her, and she didn't dare imagine what they would do to her the moment they got their hands on her.
She was also aware that she couldn't continue at this pace; she needed a refuge of some kind, but precisely where, she did not know. She was in an unknown town whose name would not have the slightest meaning.
As Nicole moved deeper into the road, the shadows seemed to grow thicker, the air heavy with a palpable sense of unease. She could feel the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end, but her primal instinct was warning her that it wasn't just because of her repulsive and dangerous pursuers. She had the sensation of a massive, overwhelming presence, and looked around to see where it was coming from. That's when she saw it. The building. The captivation was inexplicable and extraordinary. Nicole could never really understand it. It must have been that. Paradoxically, among all the dilapidated buildings with varying degrees of illumination that surrounded this immense deserted square, animated only by Nicole and her sordid hunters, this building, more imposing than the others and strangely isolated, was plunged into total darkness.
So, Nicole chose it and made sure she reached it with her life.
The gate was closed by indestructible-looking chains, but Nicole managed to squeeze through just as the chief grabbed her by her coat, tearing off the end as he tried to pull the young prey toward him.
She was in the yard, but had yet to enter the building.
She had to make a terrible effort to cross the yard, which was in an even worse state than the cobbled road. When she reached the building, she looked at the walls for a door. The first door was so sealed that there was no chance of getting in that way. The second was no better.
Nicole was desperate to find another. A quick glance back showed that her ruthless pursuers had also managed to squeeze through the narrow gap in the gate and were already closing in on her.
She had to find an entrance at all costs, for she had heard it clearly, despite her growing terror.
"Chief, are you sure?"
"She's a human, you moron! Do you know how long it's been since we've had a human!"
"But this place!"
"Well, we just have to make sure we catch her before she enters the building, so hurry up!"
"Yes, sir!"
Nicole obviously had no idea what this place was, what it contained, but it was terrorizing her pursuers so much that they had to catch her before she entered it.
So, her only chance of getting to safety was to do so.
The third door was the right one. She could feel it intuitively. From the moment she'd landed in this place outside the human world, she'd lived by instinct alone.
The door was solid. She struggled to open it, but kept pulling. She knew she could do it. This hope drove her.
Persisting, sobbing silently in despair, she finally got the door open, or at least ajar enough to get through.
The door made a horrible, high-pitched squeak, but the young woman didn't care. She'd done it. She opened the door. She hesitated for only a second, wondering if what lay inside was ultimately more horrible than her pursuers.
But she told herself it couldn't be worse.