Host, Please Be Honest! What Exactly Are You?

Chapter 642  Conspiracy

Run!!! That was all they thought. Their heartbeats shot to the roof and their bodies developed super speed in a blink of an eye. F***! They picked up their pace, but the shadows seemed to close in around them. Time seemed to freeze up with every breath they took. "I see it!"

There it was. The ladder they used… they could see its faint silhouette from where they were.

Like marooned survivors, they laughed maniacally, so happy to see their salvation close. It was so close, Freedom. Without knowing it, their bodies moved 4 times faster than before. Hahahahahah~

The scene made their lips exaggeratingly stretch to the corners of their faces.

But then, they heard it–

Grrrrww~

A low growl echoed through the tunnel, sending chills down their spines.

Oh no–

"Run, Goddammit, RUN!!"

The chase was on. What was that thing? They no longer acted tactfully, splashing water chaotically as they ran for their lives. Jimai threw her head over her shoulders, and saw a far-distant scene she would never forget in her life. Something was coming! Something that parted the waters maniacally. Jimai's body threatened to turn to noodles, if not for Dom who was dragging her away. "Run, Mai! Run!!!!" The duo have never felt so close to death than now. They felt as though they were dancing between death's doors with how close the parting waters were getting to them. This time, they didn't look back anymore, doing their best to sprint through the sewer. Adrenaline fueling their escape, as sweat trickled down their foreheads. The creature's snarls grew louder as it pursued them relentlessly. It was like a nightmare straight out of a horror scene. "Go higher!!" Dom yelled, pointing to his gun at the incoming chaos behind him. .

~Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bullets flew, and Jimai was already halfway up the ladder. "Dammit Dom, forget the shooting and hurry up!" Right! Dom kept his gun away, ascending the ladder like a rat. It was amazing to say that when they first ascended into the sewers using the ladder, they felt everything was wet and slippery. They feared that one wrong move and they would fall into the sewers below. But now, in their pique Monnet of fear, the body suddenly knew how to adjust in slippery conditions. In fact, during their run across the many tunnel paths, they were also incredible. They veered sharply, ducking into the sides of several passages. And now, ascending the yucky and slippery ladder, their breaths were ragged, hearts pounding vigorously.

Grrrwww~

The creature's growls echoed closer and closer, as though it was already at the base of the ladder. Son of a Gun!

Jimai felt the hard cold surface above her and almost wept with joy.

But wait, what was that sound? The sounds of metal clanging were getting closer and closer. Ahhh! Their guess was right. It was at the bottom of the ladder, about to climb up! "Mai, GET MOVING!!!"

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang~

Bursting out of the sewer exit into the cold night air, Jimai wasted no time grabbing the X-cross straps at the back of her partner who was right behind her.

Can you feel it? Goosebumps flooded their duo's bodies in the blink of an eye. Then, just when he was almost out, something slippery wrapped itself around his left ankle. "Die, bastard, die!!"

Bang, Bang, Bang, bang~

Dom was shot away like a maniac, aiming the greenish blue giant tongue that was trying to pull him back in. Jimai was also at his side, pulling him away with all her might. Gruuuuu~

The massive tongue that was now injured, it subconsciously let go of Dom's legs, flaring and dancing midair in agony. Only after dancing high in the air did they know how freaking huge and gross it was. Soon, it headed back into the sewers, wailing as it descended. However, something told them that this wasn't the last they would see of it. Bam! The duo quickly slid the sewer lid back in place, sitting the lid for fear the strange creature would like its tentacles out again. .

–Silence– None of them said a word, collapsing onto the pavement outside. They lay there for a moment, gasping for breath and trying to process what had just happened.

Did they really see– Crazy! Could it be that the aliens have finally landed on their planet without their knowledge? "I don't think it'll still come out?" Dom asked worriedly between breaths.

"No," Jimai shook her head. "It seems to like the darkness. Also, I don't know why, but I sense that it's in a weak state of hibernation right now." That's what she thought, after accessing its various movements. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Just what was that thing?"

"Not sure…" Dom shook his head in disbelief, a wry smile appearing in his lips. "I don't know… but those rats were right to run, right?"

–Silence–

Everything that happened here made them anxious for the future. No wonder those rats couldn't stay down there when the creature was awake. What did Jimai say about Hibernation? Why was she so confident it was sleeping/hibernating during some times of the days and nights? Don't you see what during the day, these rats run out at specific times and intervals? It happened like clockwork. They would run out continuously for hours and hours, stop for several more hours before rushing out again. It was amazing how incredibly silly how these rats would return into the sewers when they're no longer fleeing. But one can't blame these rats by calling them silly. Some days might run away from here, and head towards a different sewer entry point location across the city. So how were they to know that they would still meet other dangers in the locations they venture into? Like that, the Rat fleeing and returning loop continues. Of course, many rats also chose to perch in workplaces and homes… finding their way in the 67th floors of various apartment buildings and toilets.

How did they get far up so fast? The vents? The pipes? Sighs… The city was going crazy with all this rat business. …

Back in their vehicle, the duo were still shaken by their encounter.

Of course, they fled the scene as fast as they could, since they were still doing 'illegal' business. Luckily, the location they chose to infiltrate was far away from most homes and residences. It was also surrounded by trees, which aided in muffling out the firing noises from their bullets. They were in one of the city's smaller parks, which was filled with trees and forest zones for bike riding, jogging, and whatnot. Of course, there were also a few ponds there, and trails for strollers.

Fortunately, there was no one around in that desolate space. The last thing they wanted was for anyone to rush over to investigate and then accidentally go into the sewers right now. Before entering their vehicle, they had also pretended to leave before sitting in the woods to watch if anyone was approaching. A pert of them also wanted to see if It was only then that they left the park, moving sneakily across the roads and streets, avoiding any cameras till they reached the vehicle. Phew~ So far so good. The duo sat in the car, their bodies still shaking uncontrollably. Within the tremors, the two shared a silent understanding that whatever lurked beneath the city, was far from ordinary.

— And though they had escaped with their lives intact, they knew that this was only the beginning of something far more sinister lurking in the shadows below their beloved city. A sea monster? An octopus? Don't be ridiculous! That thing is definitely a failed science experiment or an alien. Now that she was thinking about it more, she felt it was likely a failed scientific experiment including an Octopus and who-knows-what. Science was always the answer to everything. This, she could stake her life on!

So who's responsible? Dammit!

"I'm telling you, we've got to tell the Captain what we saw," Jimai advised. No matter how crazy it seemed, they've got to get the word out. The more she thought about it, the more anxious she grew. "There's no time to waste! We need to seal off the place.. every sewage ways in the city!"

"Whatever's down there is dangerous."

"We need to get a team on it first thing in the morning." No! Jimai was even more excited. What morning? They needed people on it now! Who did it? Follow the money… follow the money… Jimai's brains as already flooded with all sorts of conspiracy theories. And now, she who used to despise conspiracy theorists, was now wondering just how the giant creature came to exist. Who has the most to gain from turning their city into a Rat zone? The terrorists? Their enemies from foreign governments? Hiss!~

Jimai sucked her breath when a sudden thought popped in her head. Could it be a failed experiment made by their government? Is that why the superiors from far above sent down word that no one should be to head into the sewage ways? Did they already know of the matter, preventing any worker or anyone from even going in and taking a look or checking it out? (@0@)