Chapter 2

A man emerged from inside the guardhouse, holding a gun in his large hands. His expression was a mix of astonishment and anger. His thick eyebrows gave the impression of a perpetual scowl on his square face. But what was truly unsettling was his size. If he were not over two meters tall, then all my years of studying mathematics would amount to nothing.

“Hello,” I greeted amicably, realizing he was approaching. As pathetic as it sounded, I figured it was best to get straight to the point. “I received the message.”

The stranger stepped across small debris on the sidewalk, but his boots made no sound. It was almost as if he floated—or had been trained to move without drawing attention. A stealth predator. I wondered how long he had known I was there or if I had been too oblivious to notice him watching me approach by car.

Though legends spoke of supernatural and mythical creatures, there were also rumors of humans who ventured beyond the borders and never returned, forming groups of survivors who resorted to whatever means necessary to stay alive—including cannibalism. But surely that was nothing more than a story to scare children.

Or so I thought, as I took in the man’s sheer physical presence. I was not sure whether to hope he was a human deserter from the fields or something far worse—something hiding in a human form. Either scenario was dreadful for someone armed with nothing but their 1.6-meter frame and a backpack full of sandwiches.

“Message from what?” the stranger asked, now just a step away. He was not wearing a military uniform, and he did not speak like an officer. The way his eyes bore into me made me take a step back. His voice was deep yet carried an almost melodic undertone, surreal in its cadence.

I lifted the map in my trembling hands, but he did not bother to glance at it. His dark eyes studied every inch of my pale face. I felt cornered.

“The stars brought me here,” I said honestly. To my surprise, he did not laugh or dismiss me outright. “I am looking for something, though I do not yet know what it is.”

“You and who else?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why would a human leave their hiding place alone?”

I blinked, stunned by his question. The stranger tilted his head slightly, studying me with even greater intensity. Alarm bells rang in my head. He was not one of the fugitive humans. But he did seem very interested in food—and perhaps that food was me. I took another step back.

“I am not alone,” I lied, hoping it was not too obvious. “I am just scouting the area for my group.”

“A group,” the stranger repeated, loud enough for his companions to hear. If they mocked me or made any sounds, I did not notice; I did not dare look away from him. If I were going to die, I would stare death in the face until the end. “Then why do I only smell your human scent?”

“My scent?” I forced a laugh, though my mouth felt like sandpaper.

Before I realized it, more men appeared, encircling me without making a sound. I was trapped in an arena where I was clearly the main attraction. My eyes darted back to the stranger, and in that split-second, he seized the moment to close the gap I had tried to create.

In one swift motion, he was right in front of me, invading my space completely. I did not even notice my wrists were in his iron grip until pain shot through them. I wanted to scream, but no sound came out—not that anyone would hear me.

“You said you received a message,” he growled, his voice a chilling mix of roughness and melody. “Yet all I smell is fear and despair.”

It was not surprising he could tell. I was sweating profusely, and my legs trembled beneath me. This was not part of the plan—though, in hindsight, how had I ever thought I could pass through this city without attracting attention?

What unsettled me most was that, despite his massive size and unnerving presence, this man could have easily passed as an ordinary citizen—if not for his predatory demeanor. But he was not ordinary. What kind of creature was he?

“The stars sent me here,” I said with conviction, though even I knew how ridiculous it sounded.

The men around him tilted their heads in unison like curious dogs. The eeriness of the motion sent a shiver down my spine. Were they hybrids of some kind? Super-evolved humans who had resorted to cannibalism to enhance their strength? My mind raced with possibilities.

“Very well,” the stranger said, lifting me higher as if I weighed nothing. From this vantage point, I could see the large warehouse behind the guardhouse more clearly. It was not just a warehouse—it was full of people. Men. Women. All tall and powerfully built. Every face was turned toward me, their expressions cold and calculating.

“Since the stars sent you to us,” he continued with a sinister smile that revealed yellowish teeth, “how can we refuse such a willing slave?”

“Slave?” I gasped, my eyes widening in horror. “No, sir. I am not a slave. I am here to find medicines or herbs—anything that can heal my people. Our people.”

The stranger laughed, a low, haunting sound that made my stomach churn. If my knees had not already been shaking, they surely would have given out now.

Without releasing me, he turned and began walking toward the military barracks, his men following closely behind. The circle of onlookers grew larger. Their eyes—of varying colors but uniformly malicious—tracked my every move. I scanned their faces, desperate to find someone who might listen, someone who might have a shred of mercy.

“Please,” I begged as he finally set me down, and I stumbled to stay upright. “I need to— no, I want to speak to your leader!”