The guard couldn't move. His mind went completely blank. "…What the hell is that?" The words left his mouth without thought. The monster stood in front of him. Massive. Unreal. Its glowing eyes locked onto him. Unblinking. Unmoving. For a second— nothing happened. Then the creature tilted its head. A small movement. Too small. But it broke something inside him. His body reacted before his mind did. He stumbled back. One step. Then another. Air rushed into his lungs— sharp. uneven. "…No…" His heel scraped against broken concrete. His balance faltered— And that was enough. He turned. And ran. Not fast. Not controlled. Just— desperate. His steps hit the ground unevenly as he tried to gain speed. Behind him— nothing. No footsteps. No roar. No sound at all. That silence— was wrong. Too close. Too heavy. Like something was already there. Right behind him. His instincts screamed— don't turn. Don't— He turned. The monster was already there. No movement. No sound. Just— there. Right behind him. Its arm moved. A short swing. Nothing wasted. BOOM. The impact landed on his side. For a fraction of a second— his body froze in place. Then— CRACK. His ribs collapsed inward. His torso twisted violently. The force lifted him off the ground— and threw him across the warehouse. His body hit the concrete— then stopped moving.
