Chapter 12:

A Sewer And A Mechanical Snake

Colorful Gray World Vol. 1

-6 days before disaster-

Today was our last day at school before the winter break. We've been stressing out since we didn't know where to go.

Once the final bell rang, we all ran toward the park, into the alleyway.

"Alright, since none of us know anything, I decided to bring this."

I pull out 4 folders with paper documents out of my bag pack.

"You have paper documents?! I thought paper was banned."

"Well, you thought wrong, Masato. These are my parent's work documents. They said they worked at a jetpack production company, but now, when "that man" said they had a huge amount of Insergen, I didn't know what to think."

"It might not be a bad idea to look through them then."

We then started flipping through them, searching for any beast experiment conducted in a tunnel. At first, I thought it was highly unlikely to find something related to our clue, but that proved wrong when I pulled out a document with a mechanical beast.

"W-What is this thing?!"

I looked at the description.

"Experiment #205: Artificial Animals... What were my parents doing?!"

"That sounds cool!"

Ko walked up behind me to read the document.

"Designed in 2058, Artificial Animals were supposed to entertain people. The other idea was to use them to replicate extinct species, which could have helped scientists learn more about them. The project was stopped on the 12th of July 2060, due to a software malfunction in a replica of a giant snake. The snake destroyed most of the laboratory, and the facility was abandoned immediately, leaving the snake alone."

A shiver ran down my spine.

"There's no way that "he" meant this."

"We should definitely check it out!"

"Are you crazy, Masato!? What if the snake is still active!?"

"It must've run out of charge by now!"

"I don't know... It sounds too dangerous."

Should we take the risk? It's the only promising lead...

"What do you think, Ko?"

I looked towards her. She seemed to ponder for a second, before speaking.

"I'm in!"

"Ah... Fine. Just be careful!"

With that, we planned the time and place before we went to the laboratory.

"You know where this is located?"

"Yeah. The address is on the document, Masato."

After we went our ways, my handphone rang.

No caller ID again? Is this "him"?

I answer the call.

"Good job on solving the first clue. All that's left is to face the beast."

"Masami?! Were-, actually, never mind. I should have known you spied on us."

"I was listening in from above, on the rooftop."

"Should've guessed as much. You said something about facing the beast?"

"Correct. The beast is still charged."

I then realized how bad things have gotten.

"H-How?! T-That's impossible!"

"Since it lived in the laboratory that is in sewers, it had access to telephone lines and sometimes even went out of sewers to supply by transformer stations."

"How do you know that?!"

"It is because Korosu made me watch over it."

"Can you at least tell me it's weaknesses?"

"I'm not allowed to."

"Ugh... Not fair..."

I hung up.

When I got home, I started packing for our expedition. I packed snacks, water, a taser, and my parent's work files.

I rushed out of the house, towards the old flying cars factory, with everything I needed.

"Hey!"

Ko was jumping and waving at me.

"Hi. Are you all ready?"

"I sure am!"

Masato was wearing his jetpack, without any weapon.

"How are you going to fight back?"

"Don't worry about that. If that snake gets close to us, I can grab you two and fly away fast."

"You know what, that's not a bad idea."

As I say that, I turn towards the sewer entrance.

"Okay... Let's do this!"

"YEAH!"

They both screamed. I was feeling so nervous, that I thought I'd collapse.

As we descended, only water droplets could be heard. Once we reached the bottom, we saw how huge the sewer was.

"Stay close."

My whisper was accompanied by their heads nodding.

Slowly walking, our footsteps echoed through the darkness. My whole body was shaking from fear.

We just have to keep quiet, and nothing will happen.

That was the only thought that made me go forward.

I could see the other two's hands shaking.

"Hey."

They turn their attention toward me.

"Why don't we hold our hands? I think that would make us comfortable."

With a surprised look, they both accepted.

"I never would have guessed you would suggest this."

I grab Ko's hand and give Masato a fake hurtful look.

"You think I'm that insensitive?"

As both my hands were connected, we headed deeper in.

It felt like an eternity before we heard movement.

"Quick. In here!"

We all jump in an abandoned cart and cover ourselves with a dirty blanket from the ground.

"Rgh..."

The snake growled. It was passing right by the cart we were in.

"...why is the snake growling?"

Masato whispered.

"...I don't know. Maybe a software malfunction?"

I whisper back.

When we didn't hear any movement, I peeked through the blanket.

"I think the coast is clear."

Getting out, we continue walking.

"Hey, is it me, or do you feel like someone's watching us?"

"D-Don't make me think about that, Masato. I'll only get paranoid."

A second later, we heard a loud hiss.

"W-Where did it come from?!"

I tried to whisper, but then I looked above us.

"G-Guys..."

They both looked up, and their faces went pale. The snake was above us, looking at us. It was the size and length of a train, with white metallic skin and big blue eyes.

"RUN!!!"

With that scream, I pulled them together with me. The snake didn't waste time and started chasing us.

"AHHH!!! I'M SCARED!"

I began crying frantically.

"NOBORU! OVER THERE!"

Masato pointed toward a small crack in the wall, that we could fit in.

I sprinted as never before, and barely made it, with the snake almost catching me by the leg.

It seemed like the snake wouldn't give up, but after some time it left.

"Okay! That was one of the most stressful moments in my entire life."

I exclaimed when I got to breathe.

"I think it was for all of us!"

Ko said, and Masato agreed.