Three years. That was the exact duration Klaus had spent in prison. His crime? Killing his boss, whom he had caught sleeping with his wife.
May 4th, 2035—the day of his release. The cell was a mere 4x4 box containing nothing but a filthy bed, a cramped toilet, and a tiny ventilation shaft.
The guard approached, slamming the gate open with force.
"Your file is closed. Get moving."
The guard spoke with absolute coldness. Those three years had been hell, yet Klaus had climbed to the top of the prison's hierarchy. But the day it ended, that miserable life was finally behind him.
He exited the prison with haste and enthusiasm, yearning for the sun and the sight of ordinary people. The moment his foot stepped outside the prison walls, the sun bathed his face. His red eyes glinted, and he felt the sensation of freedom for the first time in three years.
His parents had died when he was fifteen, so he had lived his life in solitude.
The air of freedom felt light. People were walking, children played and ran, the chatter of women filled the air, and merchants advertised their wares.
"Finally, I will live a quiet life, far from any trouble," Klaus exclaimed with relief and excitement, heading straight for his home.
He arrived at 8:35 PM. The house smelled musty, like an abandoned ruin.
"Damn, I have to clean this."
Klaus cleaned the house, and with it, the atmosphere changed. He prepared dinner and wine, then sat watching television until 10:00 PM. He jumped into bed and fell into a deep sleep for the first time in three years.
The alarm went off at 6:00 AM. Klaus opened his eyes slowly, staring at the ceiling. He felt something suspicious—an eerie unease—but decided to dismiss it and enjoy his life.
He prepared breakfast and turned on the TV. It was tuned to an unknown channel showing five mysterious figures wearing smiling black masks.
"Hello, everyone."
Even their voices sounded strange; they did not sound human at all.
"Citizens of Estanzia, this is the Fifth Hand Organization. Today, May 5th, 2035, we announce the fall of your state."
Klaus was taken aback by their words; it seemed illogical.
"It looks like a hack."
But suddenly, the five figures placed the severed heads of the country's President and Ministers on the table in front of the camera.
"What... the...?"
It was real. The head of the President was sitting on the table.
"Prepare to bear the sins of the past and face the future."
The broadcast cut out, and sounds of screaming began to filter in from outside. Klaus rushed out, only to be shocked by the scene before him.
A lone child was crying in the middle of the road; his screams were annoying yet painful to hear. A car had exploded, igniting the neighbors' houses, while the screams of the people trapped inside were ceaseless. A man was vomiting blood, and an old woman scrambled to find a safe place. An injured mother clutched her infant son.
It was a harrowing sight.
"What the hell is happening?"
Suddenly, a woman collapsed in front of him.
"Hellllp me!"
Her skin was melting like water. The smell of burning flesh began to invade his nose. She started screaming like a madwoman as pain overwhelmed her body. Klaus noticed another layer forming slowly underneath the melting skin. Then she fell to the ground; the woman had lost her life.
After witnessing this, Klaus vomited violently from the horror of it. He tried to compose himself, but suddenly, he felt an immense pressure. Breathing became difficult.
He saw a shadow beneath him. It was a creature, approximately three meters tall. Its form was twisted—it had legs where its arms should be, and arms where its legs should be, with a single eye in the center.
Klaus slowly looked back. Despite its massive size, he avoided looking directly into its eye... he felt that if he did, he would never be the same again.
The sounds of people around him began to fade gradually. He felt his chest about to break.
"Damn, damn, what is this, for God's sake?"
He froze in place, trying to calm himself and analyze the situation.
Three meters tall. Breathing was difficult. He made his decision...
Run.