A Friend’s Cruelty and an Enemy’s Courtesy

# Infinite Threat  ## Episode 2:“A Friend’s Cruelty and an Enemy’s Courtesy”
A completely black world stretched endlessly in every direction.
Nothing could be seen. No light could enter this place.
Then, suddenly, a single white light appeared.
Felix woke up in the darkness.
He looked down and saw blood flowing toward his legs. It was coming from a white box standing nearby.
Slowly, Felix walked toward it.
His hands trembled as he opened the box.
Inside, Monica lay dead.
Blood covered her entire body.
“MONICA!” Felix screamed.
He fell to his knees, crying.
“No… no…!”
Felix suddenly woke up from the nightmare.
He was breathing heavily, drenched in sweat.
Then the mysterious voice spoke inside his head.
**Mysterious Voice — calm, cruel tone:**  “Ah… what a beautiful dream. Why did you wake up so frightened, Felix? I can guarantee that you will see something far more cruel than this.”
**Felix — angry, frightened tone:**  “What do you want from me? Why are you torturing me?”
**Mysterious Voice — cold tone:**  “No, Felix. The real question is… what do you want? Why do you care about her so much? You are Cursed, and she is Blessed. You are both different.”
Felix lowered his head.
**Felix — emotional tone:**  “Why do I care about her? Even though she is Blessed, she cares about me. She is not like the others. She has never seen me as someone different.”
**Mysterious Voice — quiet, threatening tone:**  “Let us see, Felix… whether she is truly different from the others.”
Felix got ready for work.
Then, a message appeared on his phone.
It was from Monica.
> Hey Felix, sorry. In all the sudden confusion, I forgot to say it. Belated happy birthday, Felix.
Felix smiled as he read it.
**Felix — soft, relieved tone:**  “See? That’s why she is different.”
For once, the mysterious voice did not reply.
On his way to work, Felix read the news on his phone.
> **Ancient Temple in Vaelthorn Forest Vanishes Overnight.**  > The Protection Committee suspects that monsters may be responsible.
Felix’s expression became serious.
**Felix — worried inner voice:**  “That is the same temple… But what I brought back with me is more dangerous than any monster.”
Then he saw another article.
> **Sudden Disappearances and Murders of Cursed People Reported in Eclipse City.**
Felix froze.
**Felix — shocked tone:**  “What? Eclipse City? That is the city where I live. Oh, God… how much more am I supposed to suffer?”
The mysterious voice laughed softly.
**Mysterious Voice — mocking tone:**  “God? Why are you wasting your energy asking God? Perhaps God wants you to stay weak forever—always crying and begging powerful people for help. Aren’t you ashamed to be weak?”
**Felix — furious tone:**  “Shut your mouth! Aren’t you ashamed to have been imprisoned in that temple?”
Felix finally arrived at work and sat at his desk.
Then Monica called him.
“Felix,” she said.
Before he could answer, Felix saw a horrifying image.
Monica’s body suddenly burst apart. Blood covered the screen of his phone.
Felix stared in terror.
Then someone called out to him.
“Felix? Felix, are you all right?”
Felix blinked.
The horrible sight was gone.
Monica was still on the call, completely unharmed.
It had only happened inside Felix’s mind.
**Monica — concerned tone:**  “Why are you acting so weird? Did something happen?”
**Felix — nervous tone:**  “No. Nothing happened.”
**Monica — apologetic tone:**  “Did you receive my message? I’m sorry, Felix. I was shocked when I suddenly ended up in Vaelthorn Forest. In that confusion, I forgot that it was your birthday.”
**Felix — gentle tone:**  “It’s all right. I don’t think you did anything wrong. Anyway, thank you for the wishes.”
**Monica — serious tone:**  “I’m currently working on the civilian missing-person case in Eclipse City. Your city.”
**Felix — worried tone:**  “You mean the Cursed people missing case?”
Monica’s voice immediately became firm.
**Monica — angry tone:**  “Idiot! Why do you call them that? They are civilians whom I swore to protect. That is all.”
Felix remained silent.
**Monica — protective tone:**  “Do not call them that again. Be careful, Felix. I suspect that a high-ranked protector may be behind this. If anything happens, call me immediately.”
Monica ended the call.
Then the mysterious voice returned.
**Mysterious Voice — dark, calm tone:**  “Felix… do you think what you saw was only a dream?”
**Felix — fearful tone:**  “You mean… Monica bursting into pieces during the phone call?”
**Mysterious Voice — cold tone:**  “Yes, Felix. If you take advantage of me speaking calmly to you… that is what happens.”
**Felix — confused tone:**  “So you showed me the future?”
**Mysterious Voice:**  “No. Do you remember what happened back then? She was hurt, then recovered.”
Felix remembered Monica’s body melting in the cave.
**Mysterious Voice — merciless tone:**  “The same thing happened. She burst apart, then recovered. Afterward, her memory of it was erased.”
Felix’s eyes widened in horror.
**Mysterious Voice:**  “It was a punishment for what you said back then—when you called me worse than monsters.”
Felix could not speak.
The cruelty of Infinite Threat left him completely speechless.
Later that day, Felix finished his work and returned home.
As he walked through Eclipse City, he heard a frightened voice coming from an abandoned building.
**Unknown Man — terrified tone:**  “Please! Leave me alone!”
Felix stopped and looked inside.
A strange man was crushing another man’s head while the victim was unable to move.
The stranger slowly turned toward Felix.
He smiled.”
Felix stood frozen.
**Kael Veyron — calm, unsettling tone:“Hello, Cursed one. Don’t worry… I’ll give you freedom from your Cursed life. Please, let me kill you.”
Felix’s face turned pale.
He was frightened to death.
**End of Episode 2**