Chapter 11 Keeping Watch

Koji readied himself, flinging open the doors to his tunnel and scanning for the rat's location. He spotted it at the far end, attempting to break into another vending machine, providing Koji with a moment to prepare his soda cannon. With everything set, Koji began taunting the rat, luring it closer to his position.

As the rat rushed towards Koji, he could feel his nerves shaking with nervousness. But he remained focused and when the rat was within range, he quickly hit the valve to fire the nail harpoon. However, as he did so, the cannon unexpectedly exploded, causing the harpoon to lose all of its velocities upon impact with the rat. Though it did manage to hit the rat, it merely bounced off. The force of the soda being released knocked Koji back into a pile of junk.

With a burst of adrenaline, Koji sprang to his feet and raced upstairs, the rat hot on his heels. As the crazed creature stumbled and tumbled after him, Koji's mind raced with desperation. He had no plan and nowhere to turn. But as the rat thundered up the stairs behind him, Koji saw his chance. With a flick of his wrist, he used his magic to activate the top row of vending machines, causing a soda can to drop down and strike the rat square on the head, just as it was about to sink its teeth into Koji's flesh.

With a loud thud, the soda can struck the rat right on the head, but it didn't kill it outright. The rat was left debilitated, stumbling, and disoriented. It tumbled from side to side until it eventually fell into the hole where the soda cans are dispensed from the vending machine.

As the rat scurried out of the vending machine and onto the walkway, a group of crows descended upon it, pecking it until it lay lifeless. Sensing the rat was diseased, the crows left it untouched and flew away. However, before taking off, one of the crows gave Koji a piercing stare, as if to warn him.

As Koji gazed into the piercing eyes of the crow, a chill ran down his spine. The bird's movements were slow and deliberate as it raised a wing to its face as if it was wiping away something from its eyes. Then, without warning, it extended the wing and pointed it directly at Koji. His heart pounded with fear as he realized the bird was signaling his inevitable fate, a fate that would be witnessed and celebrated by the watchful eyes of the crows.

The gesture seemed to convey a warning that Koji's fate would be the same as the rat's and that the crows were always keeping watch.