Grey: Monsters

What the hell are you saying, B!?"

"Exactly what you heard. But what fascinates me is how I wasn't able to detect it from this range. Strange."

"You're messing with me, right, B? Right!?"

"It's getting closer. It seems like it's following my signals."

"It's following you? Can't you stop the signals or… Yes! Can't you shut down, like before?"

"I can't. Unlike back then, now you're fully active. If I do the same thing, we'll both die. I think the best course of action is to fight."

"Fight?! Fight something I haven't even seen face to face? Even your memories of them are messed up."

"I'm sorry about that."

"Don't be. Let's focus on getting out of this house."

I said that, but deep down, I knew there was no getting out. Instead, I started searching for weapons—sticks, rods, anything I could use to defend myself.

I knew there was no way I could win against whatever was coming in a physical fight. But wait a minute…

"B-three!"

"Yeah?"

"You know my physical capabilities, right?"

"Indeed."

"Then you should know I can't win against your kind, right? So why are you urging me to fight?"

"Yes, I am fully aware of your physical limitations. But I never urged you to fight alone…"

***

A creature closed the distance from the base of the house. Its features were striking and impossible to ignore. It stood a towering nine to eleven feet tall. Its body was covered in black scales, with red hues between each one. Its hands had four fingers, each tipped with long, sharp claws, mirrored by its feet. A long, sinuous tail extended from its back.

Its eyes were like those of an insect, stretching backward nearly to the base of its head. Four tentacles protruded from its back, motionless and ominous.

This beast approached the house and stood in front of the door. The door frame only reached its chest. It arched its back, bending unnaturally as it entered the house. Its gaze swept the room before stopping at the stairs.

It paused for a moment before ascending. Its weight threatened to break the stairs, but it continued its ascent without concern.

The creature entered the living room, scanning the area. Its eyes focused on the couch behind which I hid. It approached, then stopped.

"I don't understand why one of us would inhabit a human body. I trust you have a good reason. Care to explain yourself?"

Its voice was deep, and I could understand it.

'B, I told you this wouldn't work.'

'Perhaps you've forgotten that you were the one who suggested hiding. I suggested we fight.'

'Fuck you, B!'

'Fuck me? What does that mean?'

"You don't have anything to say?" it asked. Then, with a swift motion, it struck the couch, sending it crashing through the wall, causing the house to rumble. It would collapse any moment now.

The Nephilim and I locked eyes. Its head was like that of an insect—an ant, perhaps. It tilted its head, as though inspecting my features.

"Are you not in control of this human body?" it asked.

Hearing those words sent a single message to my brain: Run.

After hearing that, I knew my chances of survival were practically zero.

I bolted toward the large hole in the wall where the couch had smashed through and leaped out. Upon landing, my knee dislocated, sending a sharp, intense pain through my body. But then, suddenly, it snapped back into place. I was caught off guard, but I didn't have time to process it.

I forced myself to my feet and started running again. I was so painfully slow, and worse, I was reaching my limit.

"Why didn't I exercise more?!" I cursed as I kept running, my legs burning with effort. Suddenly, something landed in front of me with a thunderous crash, kicking up dust and debris. The force of its impact sent me sprawling backward, rolling across the ground.

"Human, can you explain why you are housing one of us in your body?"

The creature emerged from the dust cloud, walking toward me. I was too terrified to speak; my mouth wouldn't move.

"Oh, humans don't understand our mode of speech? Very well, then."

One of its tentacles lifted and straightened, revealing a sharp, pointed end. Without warning, it impaled my chest, right through my heart, lifting me into the air like a rag doll as blood poured from the wound.

"Speak. Why allow a human to control you?" it asked again, as my vision blurred and I slowly began to lose consciousness. My limbs went limp, and a chilling coldness spread through me. I was dying.

Then, an image of my mother flashed before my eyes—the picture she'd sent me that day. Now that I think about it, I have no idea where that picture is.

Suddenly, I felt a burning sensation in my chest, rapidly spreading through every part of my body. Strength surged back into me, fueled by pure rage. I was furious for no reason, a fury so intense that I wanted to kill the beast in front of me. I wanted to tear it apart, limb by limb. I wanted to destroy it. I wanted to consume it.

Arrgghhhh!

My mouth opened wide, unleashing a roar that matched the one I'd heard that day.

I pulled back my fist and slammed a powerful punch into the Nephilim's face, sending it flying miles away.

"Awesome," I whispered to myself, though I had no idea what was happening. But that punch—it felt amazing!

The only thing I knew for sure was the intense heat radiating from me, and the overwhelming rage coursing through my veins. I looked at my hand, and to my shock, it was no longer human. It resembled the Nephilim's.

My skin was gone, replaced by hard scales with glowing patches of red and purple. I had grown in size—massively.

"Oi, B-three! What's going on?"

"As you can see, this is our form when we are united."

"Our form…?"

That struck me, I hadn't performed any task in a team since my elementary school days

"Then what's with this heat? And why do I feel so angry all of a sudden?"

"About that–it's coming."

"Huh?"

Before I could react, the Nephilim appeared in front of me, landing a vicious blow to my face. I was thrown through the air, crashing into the remains of the house, but I didn't stop. I flew for miles before finally skidding to a halt.

"Damn," I muttered, holding my jaw. I was surprised it was still there.

"That punch was insane—"

It appeared again, this time grabbing me by the neck and lifting me into the air. With its other hand, it transformed its fingers into sharp blades and sliced off my limbs before plunging the blade into my chest.

"Arrgghh!"

Pain clouded my mind

"I don't understand why a human is harboring one of my kind, but I can't let you live after witnessing you using our power for yourself. Now, be gone."