I Bet Maki Would Be Proud of My Score!

I opened my eyes and saw a blackness before my eyes. But it wasn’t the pure black that had smeared my face when I pressed the button—this black had some contours now.

Looks like I died after all. Damnit! Ahhhhhh, you stupid macho weirdos! Aw man, what a bummer. But oh well, on the other hand, it’s not like I enjoyed that world all that much. Yeah, exactly, it was a real piece of shit. Seriously awful. I couldn’t take it!

...

But maybe… I’ll miss all the weirdos I met in those few days. Maybe... just a little.

I sighed and sat up. No point in drowning in cheap melancholy and nostalgia. Looks like I got tossed somewhere again. This time I’m not signing anything! Curse you, Lumir!

I looked right, left, and then straight ahead. It looked like I was in an open area bordered by tall black walls. The ground and sky were black too. But it was still distinguishable. You wouldn’t believe how many shades of black there are.

I got to my feet when I heard a groan behind me. I swiftly spun around.

A few steps away, something hung tangled in chains. It looked like a person. The chains rattled every time the figure moved.

I cautiously approached and tried to focus on the face. It was a tall man; his bald head glistening was under some unidentified light that surrounded us. It was... it was covered in scars. Suddenly, a bloodthirsty face turned toward me.

"You... you little brat. So, they did prepare you, after all. Clever little trap, I wouldn’t have thought of that. But just wait, you bastard, I’ll tear you to shreds!"

Wow! I’m not dead. I’m not dead! I guess it trapped me in the box with him. I didn’t expect that. Either those sly foxes didn’t tell me on purpose, or this was some kind of accident. Either way, looks like the target’s secured and I just need to cash in the reward!

Smiling, I plopped down onto the ground and watched the squirming prisoner.

"Ah, isn’t this great. What a lovely landscape, I’d love to come here on vacation," I chirped. "Not much sunshine, but I never liked that anyway. What about you?"

"You little shit! I’ll crush you like a bug!"

"Not a fan of heat either? Well, then we’ll get along just fine. But no need for that now—our good friends will be picking us up in just a few minutes. Can’t wait to see them, can you? Wow, never thought I’d be looking forward to three buff guys coming to get me."

"Before they get here... you’ll be... bloody... MUSH!"

The silence was ripped apart by the sound of tearing fabric followed by an inhuman howl. The figure in chains began to bloat and grow, losing all human features. His arms stretched, claws sharpened, and his face elongated, revealing sharp fangs in a gaping maw.

Without a single sound, word, or thought, I swiftly got up, turned around, and started running at a speed that would make even Usain Bolt green with envy. Only after a few seconds of sprinting did my brain start screaming.

WEREWOLF! It’s a f**king werewolf! Are you f**king kidding me?! I’m going to kill those bastards!

Behind me, I heard the snapping of metal links, a thud, and a long howl that made my hair stand on end.

I sped up even more.

To my immense luck, I saw an exit from the open area, dove into it, and almost smashed my face into a wall. I managed to bounce off just in time and darted to the right where the hallway led.

After I took another corner, I quickly realized I was in some kind of weird labyrinth. But that was more of an advantage than a drawback. Sure, if there’s an actual exit here, I doubt I’ll find it with my goldfish brain—but I don’t need to. I just need to survive. Hurry up already, you fatasses!

Behind me, I heard pounding footsteps and growling. Before I turned the next corner, I saw the dark, inhuman figure appear only a few meters behind me.

Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii! Heeeeeeeelp mommy!

I darted around a few more corners before I was fairly sure I’d lost the monster for at least a moment. I leaned over my knees, wheezing like a broken locomotive as quietly as I could.

I haven’t run this much since the sports festival in fourth grade. And even then, I was only putting in the effort because of Maki, who I had a crush on. I remember tripping, scraping my knee, puking, and fainting right on the track. And that b*tch never stopped laughing at me for the rest of elementary school. Maaaaan, those were the days. No life-and-death werewolf chases back then.

Not far away, I heard loud sniffing and slobbering. I stopped pondering about fates of betrayed boys and cruel woman hearts and started running again.

Of course it’ll find me! It’s a wolf—they’ve got perfect smell. I’ve got to confuse it somehow.

I easily tore off a piece of my uniform (Another damn proof of how little that cheapskate Lumir cares about his employees. He doesn’t even get us decent uniforms!) and tossed it around one corner while heading off in another direction. I did this a few more times and kept running.

Even with the adrenaline pumping through my body, I was getting more and more tired. Despite the cold air, I was drenched in sweat. Eventually, I collapsed to the ground and gasped for breath.

I listened but heard absolutely nothing. The silence around me was unbearable—my wheezing sounded even louder within it.

Where the hell are you guys?! You got me into this mess, so get me out of it! (Let’s ignore the fact I agreed to this job voluntarily, and even with enthusiasm).

I pulled myself to my feet to keep going, when I heard a faint tapping sound. It sounded like claws clicking on metal.

But the ground here isn’t made from metal, so where—

I ducked at the last second as a black shadow swooped down from above and landed just in front of me.

It climbed the wall!?

I wanted to turn and run, but this time the creature was faster. It leapt on me and pinned me to the ground. I stared into a mouth full of drool and razor-sharp teeth. The werewolf made a strange, guttural hee-hawing sound, like it was laughing at me.

Yeah, I guess deserve that. I’m an idiot. I deserved it from Maki and from this monster too. I’m a dumbass and I never learn. Please, just make it quick.

I closed my eyes and accepted my fate. Then suddenly, I heard the ring of steel. I opened my eyes in a flash and saw that the wolf’s mouth had clamped down on a sword—not my throat.

"Not so fast, fur face," came a sturdy voice from above me.