Soul Eater

I woke up in the middle of the night for no apparent reason. It was a bit strange, I'd never done anything like this before. I didn't think twice about it, though. I reached under the bed, pulled out my bag, grabbed my leather jacket from the chair next to it, put on my combat boots, and from the bag pulled out my treasure – a plasma pistol I'd bought before Judgment Day. I'd saved up for a long time before finally buying it. The next day, the world technically ceased to exist. I put the gun in my jacket's inner pocket.

Time to get ready.

I left the room, glanced at the clock in the dark hallway. 3:33, best not to wake anyone. I took the opportunity and climbed out through the hole in the wall. Why should I pay? For this... hotel... I emerged into the empty street. Some debris, carried by the wind, flew past me. I didn't notice what it was, probably nothing interesting. I headed towards the city center, I need to get a ride...

The streets were empty, people were afraid to go out at night, probably because of the rumors about aliens. They hide in the sewers during the day, and at night they go out hunting. I took out my gun, better not to take any chances.

In front of one of the buildings, I saw a transporter belonging to the Cleaners – the cleaners, good for their money... assassins supported by the authorities, probably taking someone to one of those camps where... what exactly? No one knows what's going on there. Next to the transporter stood two thugs armed with M16s, let's not be afraid to call them by their names. I hid in the darkness across the street.

I saw them leading the family away: children crying, a man hugging a woman who could barely walk, two thugs following them kicking them away. Why can't I do anything?

Too many of them, if there were only two, but not four... not four... One of the children started running, a girl, running towards me. I saw the terror on her face. The soldier raised his rifle... run, run faster, I thought, but she was running too slowly. The bullets tore through her body, a terrible sight. She fell to the ground, dead. Her mother fainted. What I did was stupid, but I didn't think about it at the time.

I quickly aimed my gun, I knew I would hit, I'd always been good at it. It literally dissolved, but that was how this weapon worked. I quickly aimed at the one next to me, facing me, and before he could raise his rifle, he too became a puddle of goo, flowing down the stairs. The other two stood still, as if they had turned to stone.

One dropped his gun and started running. Now the girl's father acted, grabbing the rifle, and despite a long burst, only managed to wound him in the leg, but that was enough. The soldier fell to the ground. I didn't care anymore, this guy would take care of him. During this incident, the last thug managed to regain his composure and turned towards me, but he didn't see me. Despite its aesthetic appeal, the black suit also has other advantages. I heard shots, and the man finished off the wounded man...

I looked at the soldier, he was terrified, and then I understood everything. They weren't murderers. If they hadn't killed themselves, someone would have killed them and their families. His fear split my skull. It was a powerful force. Sometimes I wonder if what I am is a reward or a punishment... In that moment, it was a punishment... He fell to his knees, whispered, "Please, don't..." and even though I was standing quite a distance away, I heard him clearly, heard his thoughts...

I've never understood people, they're strange creatures, but I felt sorry for him. The girl's father didn't understand this. He ran up to him, aimed, and shot... no, he didn't shoot, he ran out of ammunition... he dropped his rifle and started kicking the soldier. And me? I did nothing, I let him kill him, even though I could clearly hear his desperate plea for help. I hid in the darkness again, left them, walked away... We shouldn't interfere in people's affairs, but I had already done that, so I could see it through to the end...

I walked through the dark streets, passed a tenement building, and again someone called for help... screams, a gunshot, silence... I don't understand this world. They were punished, and they're still the same.

My thoughts were interrupted by some bum who suddenly lunged at me. I threw him to the ground, grabbed him, and bit into his neck. He wasn't tasty, but at least I'd satisfied my hunger and suppressed my human feelings. I was myself again, myself... so who was that? I reached the city center, the sun was already starting to appear over the buildings. I closed my eyes for a moment, touched the amulet around my neck. Some things never change, ancient magic still works, I no longer have to fear the sun...

I waited for the bus to arrive. It arrived, an automated vehicle. Strange, technology almost killed them, and they trust it again... I got in. The only improvement I noticed was the lack of a toll collection machine. At least that's what they've learned. The pursuit of wealth will be their downfall. It's a shame they learn so slowly. There was someone else in the vehicle, a sleeping old man. I sat down at the entrance, far from him. Old, withered, memories-filled feelings can be harmful. Only now did I begin to wonder where I was going, straight ahead, as usual... maybe someday I'd find out why we were here... but from whom? I'd fallen asleep.