My research proves equal parts useful as it does terrifying. The few documents regarding Mertem’s still remaining from the mid 1900’s state their attacks were animalistic, primal, going for the easiest prey to reserve energy. Nowadays, thanks to the Optix Force, they've made a few adaptations that give them a fight or flight response. Well, mostly fight. As big as I appear to most humans, I don't pose a threat to a Mertem at first sight. I’m fast approaching, so I better figure out how. Sparks hit. My eyes widen but my brows furrow shortly after. Bad sparks. It's a hound, a hunting hound on edge. Does it…Oh god. It does have a tail.

  My head drops with a sigh. I’m less fearful of my death and more so how stupid dying doing this would be. I pick up my pace and pivot to the left, right behind the Mertem. I look away knowing this is not a sight I want to see. Before I know it, my hand tugs its tail. Although it's evident I’m not holding it back, the Mertem still stops dead in its tracks.

  It doesn't waste a second, whipping me in front of it with a swift flick of its tail. Its mouth of fangs rushes at me. I land a sharp roll. Maybe I could escape its grasp now if it were to catch me. I leap just to be safe. It's teeth clang as it bites at nothing. It turns its head to me with a glare and growl. Backing up, I’m reminded of the narrow walls housing the market. My nails scratch away course pebbles lining the brick behind me. A shivering cold flows through my face as I feel a drop of sweat fall. It inches closer forcing me to jolt back, but it comes to a sudden halt.

  We have the same thing on our minds, just for different reasons. As it pivots, I do too. The people’s screams grow distant each second. It’s off. I’m alive? Sucks I don't have time to rejoice, immediately trailing the beast. My breath staggers, but there's no time to slow down. I’ll have to regain composure while, well, not being composed.

  Its goal is to kill as many people here as possible, isn't it? I’m a person, it had a clear shot at me, so why not kill me? That has to be its goal, it's the only one that makes sense. If it wasn't, then why the hell is my face a faded red from that poor Merchants dried blood? A large part of me still hopes it's tomato juice. Although it's stupid, I'll brainstorm possibilities. Is it after a specific target? I glance back at the bloodstained pavement. Definitely not that. What if it was the opposite?

  It hits me. It is after as much bloodshed as it can conjure up. Good thing it's relatively easy to distract. If I could calm the crowd, make them think rationally, I could save them all. I look side to side frantically hoping for a solution.

  To my left I actually find one. A faded brown rusting ladder. I hard turn and leap onto it, climbing like rising lava was below me. I jump onto the roof, wasting not a moment more before rushing toward the Mertem. My focus is split between the Mertem, my pace, and when I’ll have to jump a rooftop.

  The Mertem’s darting faster than it was before. Jump.

  At this rate, it’ll trail far past me if– Jump.

  No. No! I can't keep– Jump.

  Now I see it. The jumps are overexerting me. If I try, I mean really try, I could catch up. But this next jump has to be my last. I breathe in. Jump. Breathe out, and I’m off.

  There's a feeling like I’m floating, the air bending to my will. Only once I feel that do I know I’m moving fast enough. But I’m only human, one who's chasing a Mertem. There's no time for second guessing. Without hesitation, I dive.

  I clamp onto the Mertem’s back, its slimy surface fighting against me. It lets out a furious roar signaling my time is running out. I rush closer to the Mertems mouth, gripping its right side before it closes. My heartbeat halts for a moment as its mouth inches closer to closing in on my hand, but I manage to pull it back. I almost scream out, barely keeping my composure as I direct it to a wall on its right.

  “Split up!” I shout. To no one's surprise, everyone continues to play follow the leader.

  Groaning, I make sure the Mertem’s relatively secure in the wall before I jump off. Think, Roy. A furious growl followed by wooden tussling shakes me up. Okay, don't think, Roy. Act.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  Unstable brick, flaking wood. No. This isn't what I should be noticing. The ground can't lead me astray. In the panic, surely something useful dropped. I pivot ever so slightly to the Mertem who’s quickly wiggling its way out of its makeshift prison. Turning my attention back to the ground, my eyes dart around in a hurry. A cane. Keys. Cane. Keys…Damn. That’s it? Just a cane and a pair of keys? I’m not granted much time to roll my eyes when a fierce roar escapes the Mertem. Oh yeah, the Mertem escapes too. Great.

  I shrug, immediately grabbing the cane and keys. I divert my attention back and forth between following close behind the Mertem and examining the tools in hand. Obviously my mind is ballooning with scenarios and opportunities because a cane and keys just gives me so much to work with. Okay, so it doesn't, but maybe I’m not thinking broad enough. What do I have on me?

  A burgundy jacket from the thrift store with three day old cologne (The date didn't go well, as you can imagine), some pretty baggy jeans with shockingly large pockets–Pockets! My free hand shuffles through my pockets until I find it. My trusty pocket knife. I carry it everywhere, which would explain the retail manager’s hesitance to hire me.

  Ahead of me, a group of people lack behind the rest. But the Mertem? It does no such thing. I’m barely keeping up with it now. Them? They stand no chance. I have enough energy left in me, though. If I wanted to steer it into another wall, I have no doubt I could. Now, it's a question of should. A Mertems skin is nearly as thick as the walls it crashed into. I could put enough force to crack a skull like a walnut into a swing of my knife and it would get up unphased. I need to be strategic, and sacrificing my stamina for a couple lives certainly isn't.

  Still, I can't shake the thought lingering in the back of my head; No matter how inconvenient, how risky it would be to save them, these are still human lives. That thought makes my heart plummet into my gut. That thought lingers, makes me sluggish, makes me weak. I can't afford to be weak, not now.

  Locking my eyes shut, I turn to a ladder and climb. A sharp pain rushes throughout my palms every time I touch the ladder. It refuses to stop there. My every vein, bone, down to my core is shaken. Still, I persist. I claw my way on top of the rooftop. Eyeing down the Mertem well ahead in the distance, I don't waste a second.

  With each jump across a rooftop, a weight tightens around my legs. With each jump, I saw off a piece of wood from the cane in hand. Finally, it's enough.

  Jump. I slip the cane through the keychain.

  Jump. Looking down at the bloody trail the Mertem has left, I let my guard down for the first time, forced to look away.

  A mistake that I won't make again.

  I grunt, cutting my hand as I slip the blade of my pocket knife through the keychain. With one deep breath and not a single one more, I jump.

  The speed of which I come crashing down wipes away any tears that wanted an escape. Everything tells me to blink, but I refuse. Arming my makeshift spear, I stare down the slender head of a Mertem from above, fully prepared to strike it down at all costs. And that? That I do.

  As soon as I feel the blade touch an inch of the Mertem’s head, I swing my foot onto the handle, shoving it down. Shortly after, I lose balance, falling onto my back with a moan. My rather rapid attempt to regain the moisture in my eyes pays off, because the moment I stop blinking I see something horrifyingly beautiful; Not only has the blade pierced the Mertem’s skull, but so has the wooden cane, which is practically a stake now. My heart stops for a moment. The Mertem struggles and wobbles, but ultimately, it falls. A giddy smile forms across my face, going ear to ear. I sigh with relief, joy, everything of the sort. Trying my best to ignore just how much every part of me is in pain right now, I stumble onto my feet.

  The crowd ahead steadily stops running, looking back in awe. Oh, wait, they're looking at me. Wow. With this newfound attention, I decide to do what's logical and awkwardly wave with an ever so slight chuckle. Clearly, I’m not the type to stay for interviews. So, what do I do now? Let the Force handle the cleanup. I’ve got groceries to pick up.

  “Woof.” An oddly young sounding male voice mutters behind me. He's definitely an adult…barely.

  Looking back, my eyes widen. Enzo Ricci, a short guy with kempt brown hair and some stubble across his lip. He's been the best Deus Gem user since I was in middle school. And he's standing right in front of me! Speaking of standing, I really hate doing that right now. He makes his way over to me looking around at the chaos as he does.

  “Clearly, I missed a lot.” He sneers. I shrug and nod.

  “Most certainly.”

  “So uh, did you do this, sir?” Without wasting a second, I rapidly nod with a smirk.

  “Yes, sir. Roy Placumer, nice to meet you.” He scoffs at my hand quickly averting his gaze.

  “Oh, sorry, that's my bloody one.” I lend him my left.

  “Yeah, we don't need to do that.” Whipping my hand back, I nervously clear my throat.

  “I’m curious though,” My eyes widen. “How’d you manage to pull this off, exactly?” He smirks. This is my chance. Make a good impression. A high value member of the Force is standing right in front of you. He wants to know about you. Don't screw this up.

  “I don't know, it was easy. I’m really tired and I have to pick up my dad’s groceries so I’m gonna leave before I pass out on the street.” And with that, I walk away immediately. Phenomenal, put me on the Force asap.

  “You know your hand is bleeding, right?”

  “Oh, yeah, yeah, I’ll deal with it.” At the very least, he knows I do well under pressure.