Chapter III

I looked at Mr. Coleman wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I was at a loss for words, I shrugged.

A Soccer Mom holding a baby ran in the door and collapsed on the floor sobbing and rocking her baby.

Mr. Coleman and I looked outside. We saw a girl, about fifteen, across the street get run down by some dog monsters. She didn't even live long enough to hit the ground.

"I'm going to go put some pants on. I'll be right back." He walked towards the stairs, waited for Stew to storm up them and followed him up.

I tried to check on Soccer Mom but she just ignored me and kept on rocking. Her baby gave me a confused look and then ignored me too. That kid really liked Soccer Mom's necklace. I went to see what Mike was doing now that he wasn't yelling at people.

"Wasn't there anyone else out there?"

"Not anymore."

When I looked out the door I could see that all the monsters seemed to be gathered around what was left of the people that had tried running away. Suddenly every monster in sight looked up. There was a commotion down the street.

"Um, Mike?"

Someone was sprinting across the yard next to us. She was wearing a black and gold basketball jersey from our high school with matching running shorts. She leapt over the three foot tall fence between yards without slowing. Mike started yelling as soon as she was in sight. I joined in when the monsters started towards her.

She didn't even bother looking, just adjusted course and kept running. It was a good thing too. The dog monsters looked like they might be able to catch her, even as fast as she was going. Unfortunately not all the monsters were behind her.

As she made the leap up the stairs and on to the porch one of the squirrels jumped at her face. She got an arm up in time to deflect it a little but she missed the doorway. She slammed into the doorjamb, her head made an audible noise as she hit it. Luckily for all of us her momentum brought her the rest of the way in. When Mike slammed the door it only tapped her feet out of the way.

Mike threw his back against the door and yelled at me. "Get the squirrel!" Not something I had ever expected to hear before now.

I spun around when I realized that it wasn't next to the girl. It hit me on the chest before I had realized what was going on. I knew what was coming next though, the bastard started climbing. Just like the one outside had gone for the throat. I started smacking at it. I failed to hit it but it did get derailed and end up climbing on my arm. I didn't stop, just started flailing my arm around as it clawed around on my hand. I felt claws ripping at my wrist and suddenly a spike of pain.

‡ You have been wounded -7HP ‡

It had settled in my palm with its tail wrapped around for stability and bit my wrist for all it was worth. I took the chance to turn the tables.

"Touchdown Motherfucker!" It tore out of my wrist and hit the ground with a squeak.

‡ Hurl Skill Unlocked ‡

‡ First Skill unlocked, +1 Skill Point ‡

‡ Hurl - When you are so much bigger that Strength isn't an issue. Attack varies on surroundings ‡

I cut my celebration short when it started moving. I started stomping. Since it was trying to attack and not get away my third stomp actually hit the thing.

‡ [Stomp] Unlocked ‡

‡ First Martial Art unlocked, +1 Skill Point ‡

‡ [Stomp] - Why should you let your opponent get off the ground? Attack +150%. Cost: 5 Stamina. Attack +5% per level ‡

That one annoyed it. I could see it frothing at the mouth and sizing up my leg. It was coming for me. I also knew something else, hitting with my heel would increase the damage I dealt and I now had a much better sense of the timing of my stomp. If it wanted a piece of my leg it would have to come into range of my attack and I would be ready. It did.

‡ Target is Stunned ‡

I knew it wasn't dead this time. I wish I knew why it was stunned though.

‡ Stun - A physical status that has a chance of occurring when damage dealt equals 50% or more of total health ‡

It was good to know but I wasn't going to stop for celebration yet. Ignoring it I focused on the squirrel and lining my body up just right.

‡ Congratulations! [Stomp] is now level 2, +1 Skill Point ‡

‡ You have defeated Lvl(1) Shattered Squirrel +30XP‡

‡ Double XP for defeating your first opponent! ‡

‡ You unlocked Shattered(Minor) Bestiary entry, +5XP ‡

‡ You unlocked your first Bestiary entry! +10XP ‡

+ Shattered(Minor) +

As the Shadow courses into our realm it seeks a host so that it may survive.

+ The first are those creatures too small to resist it. +

‡ Congratulations! You defeated the first shattered creature you encountered with no assistance. Loner Title Unlocked ‡

‡ You unlocked your first Title! +50XP ‡

‡ Congratulations! You gained a level ‡

‡ +3 Attribute point(s) gained ‡

None of these made me feel much better about vomiting on the floor after I felt the squirrel’s skull crunch under the heel of my tennis shoes.

Steve came down the stairs followed by his dad. "What's going on guys?"

Mike seemed pretty busy holding the shuddering door so I answered as quickly as I could. "Mike's holding the door, Soccer Mom is in shock, baby is fascinated by shiny stuff, Runner girl knocked herself out coming in, and I killed a shattered squirrel. It was gross. Sorry I threw up Mr. Coleman."