Slowly, Darkin's eyes flutter open, and before him stands Zralky, poised to finish him off. A sharp, unbearable pain pierces his head. Trapped and vulnerable, he can hear the creature's heavy, ragged breathing just inches away from the car.
Zralky's arm stretches out, ready to strike the car when, suddenly, he is stopped by an immense arm — the arm of Thomas. The blow is so powerful that it sends Zralky crashing into one of the garage walls, the impact shaking the entire room.
"Damn you, do you really think I'll let you kill my son?" Thomas's voice booms through the garage.
Darkin, stunned and disoriented, stares in disbelief at his father's words. Just minutes ago, Thomas had been determined to end his life.
"Could this be the symptoms of the transformation?" The question echoes in Darkin's mind, the thought forming as he watches his father. His behavior, erratic and shifting, gives him cause for concern. What began as one strange encounter has now morphed into something even more terrifying.
Though he remains trapped, Darkin no longer feels the same terror that once gripped him. The fear he had first experienced when facing the monstrous creature — his infected grandmother — has faded, replaced with a grim acceptance.
With a savage roar, Zralky rises again, his lungs filled with fury as he charges at Thomas, who laughs, a grotesque sound that fills the air. In his free hand, Thomas holds a syringe, the needle glinting in the dim light, preparing to inject it into his own neck. But Darkin can no longer focus on the struggle between his father and the creature. His mind is consumed with one singular goal — escape.
The seatbelt finally gives way, releasing him from the car's constraints. He pushes himself out of the vehicle and, in a blur of instinct, grabs his gun. He raises it, aiming at Zralky. But a moment of clarity washes over him. This is not the answer. His hand falters, and the golden weapon slides back into its holster. Instead, he sprints toward another car. It's green, with a brand he doesn't recognize, though his fractured memory prevents him from fully grasping the significance of the logo.
Though he struggles to remember, he knows how to open the car and even how to drive it. He touches the dashboard, when suddenly, a deafening crash shakes the air. Darkin whips around, his heart lurching as he sees his father on the ground, trying desperately to rise and face Zralky — who is now consumed with rage.
The creature's roar is so grotesque it seems to echo in every corner of the garage, a sound that chills Darkin to his core.
"I have to use this moment to get out of here. It's now or never," Darkin tells himself, taking a steadying breath. His hand brushes against the car, commanding it to open the door, then selects flight mode.
Thomas's eyes burn a deep, menacing red. Even though Darkin is inside the car, he watches in horror as his father slowly transforms, his monstrous shape taking form on the car's security screen. His veins swell grotesquely, and his body expands, an inhuman, grotesque transformation unfolding before Darkin's eyes.
Thomas glances briefly at Darkin's car, then fixes his gaze once more on Zralky, who charges forward with murderous intent, determined to end his father's life with a brutal strike.
"It's the result of the bite," Darkin thinks, the terrible realization sinking in.
He takes a deep breath, his heart pounding, and with one final, desperate cry, he shouts at his father:
"I love you, Dad!!"
For a brief moment, Thomas's eyes widen, even as his transformation rages on. Darkin feels a fleeting sense of peace at uttering those words. He closes his eyes, bracing himself, as he knows what's coming. His father will take the blow. There's no escaping it now.
The deafening roar of his father reverberates through the garage, a guttural sound that rattles everything around him. But then, through the cacophony of chaos, Darkin hears a faint, trembling voice:
"I love you too, son."
The words linger, but Darkin says softly, almost to himself:
"At least I didn't have to kill you." His voice is barely a whisper, the gravity of the moment too much to bear. With a final, decisive motion, he grips the steering wheel. The car surges forward, like a rocket, breaking free from the confines of the garage. The sky opens up, and Darkin escapes, leaving behind the two beasts, locked in their savage battle.
As the car soars through the air, its destination uncertain, Darkin is overwhelmed by a single thought: Where are my wife and daughter? He knows the journey ahead will bring answers — but he regrets not searching the house. Perhaps there, among the remnants of his past, he could find clues, something to help him regain the memories he so desperately needs to change the fate of what remains of humanity on Earth.
"Trace your destination," the car's electronic voice announces as Darkin approaches a towering golden structure. At the top of the tower, a blinding light pulses with an intensity that seems almost otherworldly.
The light at the top of the golden tower feels eerily familiar, and for a fleeting moment, Darkin experiences a strange déjà vu. He stares at the tower, slowing the car, then lands it to get a closer look.
"This tower feels so familiar. But…" he murmurs, almost to himself.
An idea strikes him, as though a puzzle piece has fallen into place. He recalls that this car — this intelligent, almost sentient vehicle — might hold the answers he seeks. With a decisive gesture, he asks:
"What's the name of this tower?"
The car remains silent. He repeats the question, his voice tinged with impatience.
"Car, what's the name of this tower?"
"Processing information… The Tower of Orge. It was the first tower built in Moamba and is responsible for supplying the entire country with electricity and cutting-edge technology. It has withstood the impact of many wars and is one of the nation's most important structures…"
"Car, stop," Darkin interrupts, his voice sharp. "I just wanted to know the name of the tower, not its entire history."
"You assigned me the designation: Lorfy," the car responds matter-of-factly.
"Alright, Lorfy," Darkin replies, chuckling to himself. It's both funny and unsettling to hear a car insist on being called by name. He can't help but laugh, even if it's laced with a sense of unease.
Darkin steps out of the car, and for a moment, he stands still, utterly stunned by what his eyes behold.