Chapter 113 - When You Fail (1/2)

The bug like creature hovered, moving like a blur back and forth. The way to the truck was blocked. Looking at the bug man that was in front of them, Kat and Laz both felt their spines growing cold. Laz also knew that if he figured out what had happened to Jon, there was no way Kat didn't. Looking over at her briefly, he saw her angry face fighting off the tears as she tried to lock down the bug man's position so she could attack it. He could already see her body crouching down and assuming a fighting stance.

Looking at blurred images that the creature was making along with it's green armored body and death dealing arm blades, Laz didn't feel as though this was a fight they could win.

He couldn't help but laugh.

How did it always come to this?

Would she bring him back again?

He found that when he thought about it, he wasn't really afraid. Especially because he knew she would be watching.

The red light that was blazing out of his eyes began to spread, causing his entire body to light up. The dark hue of the light was strong enough to light up the entire street as the black flames flared to life on his hands.

He was going to go all out. Without the gun or any other way to fight back, this was all he could think of.

He wasn't going to be stupid though.

*When you have the chance, get back to the truck. I will follow you once your safe,* Laz sent out to Kat.

*You want me to run? This thing killed my dad! I'm going to fucking end it...* Kat snarled back.

*If your dad died, how much of a chance do we have? You want to die too? Trust me, it's fucking painful.* It might have been harsh, but it was the only thing Laz could come up with just then. He knew how it felt to have the all the blood leave you while a massive hole in your stomach was exposed to the outside world. Besides pain and the shock that comes with it, numbing you, all you feel is the endless, mind breaking cold. He didn't want her to go through that.

*So you want to do this on your own?* Kat shot back, as the bug man seemed to slow down.

”You two... your like me...” The creature spoke with a weird, raspy, nail on chalk board kind of voice, cause both Laz and Kat to freeze in their tracks.

”Holy...”

”Mother...”

'This thing can talk?' They both thought when words failed them.

”Become my followers and you will live. Resist, and you will die,” the bug man offered.

”W what? Who are you?” Kat managed to say.

”Like you. I'm human. I was human. Now... I am them. Each and everyone one of them is me and I am them,” The creature move it's arm in a way to indicate the various people that had caught up. They formed a half circle around them but didn't get any closer.

”Some are dead, some chose life. But they are all humans. And they all obey me. For you though, you will still be you if you follow me,” the bug man offered.

”And what the hell is this thing?” Kat asked, pointing at the monster that was in front of her.

”I grew it. It is my masterpiece. I will have more soon. Many more...” Although Laz wasn't sure, he felt like the creature might be laughing.

*If these are all puppets that are being controlled...* Kat started out.

*Then where is the puppet master?* Laz finished.

Both couldn't help but look around, but nothing stuck out. All they saw were the lifeless eyes of the controlled staring back at them.

”I'm not here. My main body is far away. And yet, I am everywhere all at once...” The creature continued laughing...

Despite their quick conversation, Laz had kept his power going. He got the feeling that the only reason it had even bothered to talk to them was because of him. He got the feeling that the puppet master felt fear towards his black fire.

*Stick with the plan. Get ready,* Laz communicated. They knew that there was no way they would be unharmed if they followed this beast. And Jon's body was probably still laying around somewhere in the bitter cold, freezing.

Kat and Laz both got into position to run for it. The creature figured out the talks had failed.

”Pity, but even dead, you will still be of use. I can turn you into more reapers..” They quickly figured out how this thing was grown.

”Go!” Laz yelled as he was about to make a run for it.

”Shit!” Kat, who had been paying attention to their surroundings didn't move forward, but instead jumped at Laz. The bronze colored light from her hardened bronze body lit up, meshing with the blood red light Laz was giving off. She tackled him to the ground before he could stop her.

BANG, BANG, BANG.