Alex woke up at noon, as usual
"Another day in, I guess," he muttered, staring at the ceiling. At nineteen, being a foreign exchange student in Tokyo sounded exciting on paper. In reality, it was lonely. He didn't really have anyone to rely on, and he hadn't made any friends since arriving two months ago. He didn't feel like he fit in anywhere he went, Back in London or here in Tokyo. Nowhere really felt like Home.
After his mum passed away, Alex had wanted distance, something new. So he applied for the exchange program through his university back in London and ended up here.
It hadn't fixed anything.
Most days, he barely left his room. A lot of his studying was online, he had a few classes in person but Software engineering didn't involve much socialising.
His stomach growled.
"Time for breakfast… or lunch? Brunch?" he said, pushing himself out of bed. Food was simple. It was always the 7/11 down the street from his apartment. If he was feeling adventurous, he might walk the extra five minutes to Lawson's.
Alex decided he was not feeling adventures today. Standing in front of the convenience store shelves, Alex sighed. "What to get this morning…" Instant Ramen + Coffee always does the trick
Alex noticed something was wrong as he stepped out of the 7/11. Shopping in hand
The sky was a deep shade of red. Almost like there was a Fog high up in the sky but instead of water droplets, Blood.
And there was a slight blur in the bottom left of his vision. He didn't have time to focus on that
Everything froze.
A woman across the street dropped her phone. It bounced and cracked
Her hands started to shake
Alex frowned. "Hey - Are you Okay"
As he walked towards her he saw her turn and look at him. Her eyes were blood shot. She opened her mouth to answer.
And Screamed
Her jaw cracked. Then her body started shaking. Her bones were reshaping. She Collapsed on the floor. Alex looked on in horror because as she started to rise it was no longer a woman standing across from him, But a large creature with a beak protruding from where her mouth was, Her teeth seemed to still be human, but crooked and slightly misshapen. Her shoes had been torn to pieces and in their place were talons for feet. Small wings have started sprouting from her back.
As it raised its head to look at him, it smiled in such a way that Alex felt a chill run down his spine. Its beak had drool starting to drip from it
Alex snapped into motion, turning sharply and sprinting down the narrow alley beside the store. His shoes slapped against wet pavement as his breath tore from his lungs. Behind him came a high-pitched screech, shrill and furious, followed by the sound of claws striking concrete.
He risked a glance over his shoulder.
She was faster.
Too fast.
The alley blurred as Jake pushed himself harder, vaulting over a fallen crate without thinking. His heart hammered violently in his chest.
Just then he saw an opportunity
A fire escape ladder hung loose on the side of the building ahead, swaying slightly as if inviting him. Alex didn't question it. His body moved on instinct, feet slamming against the wall as he jumped, fingers latching onto cold metal.
The ladder groaned under his weight, but it held.
The screech behind him exploded into rage.
Claws struck the wall beneath him, sparks flying as the creature tried to follow, wings flapping uselessly on its back. Alex hauled himself upward, lungs burning, heart threatening to tear itself apart.
As he was climbing he felt relief at the creature's failed attempt. Before he reached the roof he heard cracking below. It managed to dig its fingers into the brick, and now it was coming.
Alex face Cringed "Oh Commonnnnn"
Alex was a 3rd of the way up when it caught him. Its long hand grabbed at his leg, but with some great act of luck from the universe the bricks crumbled under its other hand slightly. The creature managed to graze Alex's shoe before using its hand to keep itself on the wall.
Alex continued to climb. The creature didn't give up on its pursuit. Alex was one rung from the top when it caught him again but this time it didn't miss. Its finger nails dug into his calf, a warm feeling spread through his leg. Followed by pain. Alex screamed. Thoughts cycled through his head as his grip started to loosen on the ladder.
"This is it"
His mind cleared as time froze. Suddenly he wasn't there. He was standing in a field of flowers. The sky was a subtle tone of red, an orange sun high in the sky. And there in front of him stood a girl. Her pale skin was complimented by a pale red summer dress. Her hair was a subtle brown. But her face. Alex couldn't make out her features. "W-Who are you". The girl spoke but Alex couldn't focus on her voice "Its not your time yet Alex, Come find me"
Suddenly Alex was back again with the creature still clutching his bloody calf. His strength surged. Alex used all the might he could muster in that moment and kicked.
His foot landed on the creature's left eye, With a twist of fate the bricks gave way under its weight. Sending it plummeting towards the ground with a loud thud. A mixture of Blood pooled around it. The creature was dead.
As Alex pulled himself onto the roof, he collapsed onto his side, chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. His hands trembled violently, slick with blood.
He blinked.
Once.
Twice.
The faint blur that had lingered in the bottom left of his vision was no longer a blur.
A translucent icon pulsed there, sharp, unmistakable, real.
"Im seeing things"
Alex's breath hitched. He tried to focus on it, forcing his eyes to stay open as letters began to form beneath the symbol.
[LIFEFORM CONSUMED]
[ATTRIBUTES AVAILABLE]
[WARNING: BLOOD LOSS CRITICAL]
[HEALING STARTED]
His heart skipped.
"I… dont…understand" he whispered, unsure if this was a hallucination before death
The sounds of the city returned all at once.
Sirens wailed in the distance. Somewhere below, something roared. Closer footsteps echoed through the streets, frantic and uneven.
The icon flickered.
[YOU HAVE SURVIVED.]
Alex's vision darkened at the edges.
As consciousness slipped away, one final message burned itself into his sight.
[WELCOME ALEX TO THE HUNT.]
Alex lost consciousness as the world below continued to fall apart.
End of Chapter 1