"Hello. How are you?"

I didn't know who asked, all I knew, was that I was always miserable. - "I'm okay." - I uttered, as usual.

"Mmm... okay... but you look, like you could use some help."

"Thanks, I'll be fine." - I wouldn't, but who could change that?

"Mmm."

"Eh?"

"Are you sure?"

"I said, I'm fine."

"Okay, I'll come back to ask again tomorrow! Have a good day!"

My alarm beeped and I opened my eyes, the dreams are short-lived, so I quickly forgot about the conversation. It was late Saturday, but I still had to work. My night shift was coming. I didn't bother bathing, it was a job in the sewers. Reducing giant rats population, fixing some pipes. Nothing changed, a routine work.

I equipped my steel-plated boots and shin guards, then grabbed a trusty spear. In my backpack were rat poison, baits, and a few Molotov cocktails. You always had to take the latest, in case of a swarm.

Was I hungry? You bet I was, but I couldn't afford an extra meal. I had to partition my earnings, otherwise, there would be no money for the rent. In my pocket, was a metro ticket. Today, I would travel to Deepwater labyrinths. I hated that place, it was full of crooked and narrow pathways, and you were often forced to crouch or crawl to move between junctions. That was a lethal trap. Fortunately, due to the nature of the place, swarms were almost non-existent there.

In the metro, I put my headphones on, listening to ambient music. A calm melody calmed my nerves, I didn't want to think about the risks involved. I wanted to drift away.

“Excuse me...” - It sounded like a familiar voice, but I didn't know that person, or rather, child.

I took off my headphones, wondering. Why out of all people, me? - “Yes?”

“Are you a rat hunter?” - The girl stared at my spear.

Unfortunately. - I wanted to say, at first. Then, I thought about just denying the fact. In the end, I confirmed. - “Yes.”

“You're my hero!” - The child smiled brightly.

A hero. I was nothing like that. I was just a worker, trying to make the ends meet. If you only knew how many regrets I had in life. I wasn't capable of helping anybody, not by my own will. What was there to say? I stood silent, hoping that the kid would leave.

The kid, however, stared at my belt.- “Are those Molotovs?”

I nodded.

“Swarms are scary. My friend used to live at the Deepwater harbor. A swarm ate him, there were not even bones left.”

I shuddered. That... that was horrible, an above-ground swarm. Rarely, but it happened. The little girl, how did she cope with the news? I didn't know what to say, in similar situations, I doubted all words of consolation that I could say. Death was a tragedy. I despised death, and even more, one at such a young age. One thing struck me as odd, though. - “Did you say... Deepwater harbor?”

The girl nodded.

There was no above-ground swarm in deepwater harbors... since the industrial era. The girl must've been mistaken. - “Surely, you didn't mean any other district?” - I inquired.

“No, it was the Deepwater harbor.”

For sure, the kid had some info wrong, but I wouldn't dwell on that. - “I understand, I'm sorry... for your friend.”

The kid waved her head. - “No need to be, he's in a better place now.”

How clueless she was. The kid died the most gruesome death known to me. I couldn't accept that attitude, but If that's how she coped with it, perhaps it was for the better to move on. - “If you say so...”

“I'm sure. I talked to him yesterday.”

That, that was just sad. I felt sorry for the kid. - “I'll... make sure to keep the Deepwater harbor safe, so it doesn't happen again. I promise.” - I didn't know why did I say that, perhaps I hoped it'll give the girl some hope.

“I know - because you're a hero!”

A hero. That label would stick to me like a bad omen. The words once heard, wouldn't leave.

The girl wobbled lightly on her feet, that's when I realized she was hiding something behind her back.

“I have a gift for you, hero.” - The girl said, then extended her hands. She was holding a paper star, like one of a sheriff. - “I love stars, but there are none in the sewers, so I thought you would like one too.”

I involuntarily accepted the gift, without a word.

“The stars are a symbol of hope...” - She folded her hands. - “...may their light favor your prayers.”

I wasn't religious, but that blessing... it kind of, felt nice. - “...and yours.”

The girl smiled brightly, revealing her pearl-white teeth. At this moment, it was my stop. The passenger crowd started to leave I had to keep it short.

“I have to go, job calls.”

“I know! Goodbye. I hope we see each other again!”

These words were haunting like they implied a worse alternative. - “Me... too. Bye.” - I let it slide, knowing that she did not understand.

[ … ]

My helmet with a lantern illuminated the dark tunnels, how many rats it was already? Twenty? Thirty? I lost the count.

I had to sneak through side pipes, today, they were numerous and unusually aggressive, like something have irritated them. I only hoped that the placement of rat poison was correct, the strategy was usually left to the logistic department, to management, with their cozy jobs and above-average pay. I never understood that, why was their effort more valued than ours? I didn't undermine the intellectual value of their job, but the risks and actual work you had to put into the realization of their ideas... wasn't it as worthwhile?

I jumped down the drain, smelling as fragrantly, as usual. The stench of watered-down urine and feces, It's one of many aspects that I hated about my job, I would spend hours getting it off me, and it was almost never enough.

Then I heard a low hiss and turned with my spear ready. My eyes widened, it was a monster like never before. The rat was reaching three-quarters of my height and its tail was easily thrice my as long.

I have to keep cool, no sudden moves. Spear in ready.

It stared at me with its black eyes, its sharp teeth protruded scarily from its mouth. One bite and I would likely bleed out here. Even If not, these infected wounds would not heal... and blood attracted other rats.

The rat pounced closer to me, but still not far enough to attack. I still wouldn't budge.

The rat calmed down and lowered its head, smelling the floor around me. Did it realize that I did not want to fight? Was it ready to ignore me, and hopefully go away?

I waited for minutes and the rat turned its ears, scouting something deep in the tunnels, then skittered away.

I exhaled with relief. It asked to call the exterminators. An elite unit with a pay-grade high above mine. These... they could be called the real heroes, not me. I lifted my comm device and uttered a code – “G4, I repeat G4 at Deepwater labyrinths. Region W-44.12, N-56.41.”

The comms answered. - “Jaeger. We've got a huge swarm in the Underrails. We're trying to prevent an outbreak. You're on your own.”

“Requesting permission to return to the surface.”

“Denied. It's time you learned how to handle G-hazards. We all are trying our best here.”

The G-hazards were reserved for the exterminators. Common hunters, like me, never had proper training or equipment and they knew it well, but they still would risk our lives in rare situations like this. To maximize productivity. We were replaceable. After all, everybody could grab a spear and stab some rats.

There were still two spots left. I hoped I could handle that.

I still had doubts thought, why the giant rat would run this fast? What did it hear? My gaze rested on the dark depths of the maintenance area in front of me. I still had to do it, so I jumped down, into the waist-deep sludge and waded forth.

[ … ]

I had to crouch, the wide corridor ahead led straight to the old purifiers. The pipes there would transfer cleansed wastewater to the ocean. It was the last location, a crucial one since If anything got into the gates or mechanisms, we risked contamination of the coast.

After a long walk, I could straighten my spine. Nothing out of ordinary, the pavement around the large water tank allowed me to keep a fast pace. I walked straight into the wide tunnel to left, then headed to the control rooms, checking the indicators, one by one. I hoped it would be everything, but unfortunately, one lamp was red. Near the third floodgate, which automatically closed to prevent damage.

I planned to leave the bait and poison, wait it out, and check what happened. I walked out of the room, climbed down the stone stairs, and walked down a slanted path. Then I heard it, a gurgling sound right behind me.

Gurgling.

Why was it gurgling?

It couldn't be a rat, it couldn't be a swarm.

I prepared the Molotov, fearing the worst.

It moved slowly and was like a black blob or a tar, an amalgamation of writhing worm-like tentacles. Inside it, were rat skeletons and corpses in a state of decay. What was the code for that? I didn't know, but it was large, larger than the giant rat, and covered the width of the entire corridor. Its appendages hungrily reached towards me.

Should I toss a Molotov? - I didn't know, would it enrage it? Would it keep it away? The path behind and in front of me was blocked. I could either try to scare it away or try to open the floodgate manually. I picked the later option and tossed the flaming bottle in front of a monster.

It did not care about the fire and simply dragged its massive body through it.

...so I ran, ran as fast as I could until I was at the flooded canal. If I only could open the gate, there still was the rushing water that could carry me to the ocean... If I had enough breath, If I didn't crash into walls and break anything.

The control panel was there, I tried to override the system instructions, to no avail. Something was blocking a lever. I had no time, I had to set up it to open with me submerged, and hope for the best. I jumped into the water, ignoring the voracious sounds behind. I was focused and kept my cool... until underwater I noticed the same black worm-like sludge, writhing around the hydraulics.

It would be the end of me, I thought for a moment, but upon seeing how the black body shifts its mass into the waters, I panicked and wedged my spear into the hydraulics. It struck a narrow gap, close to the hinges. I pulled, and pulled, dislocating the dark mass.

I could feel the tentacles creeping upon my body, wrapping around it. I felt a sudden rush of adrenaline and pulled as hard as I could until my spear broke.

I thought it was over and closed my eyes, I would be devoured alive.

...but this was not the end. The mass dislocated, freeing hydraulics, even so slightly and the gate slowly opened. The surge of water pulled me out of the monster's grip and I was carried into the depths. I held my breath as long as I could and watched the world spin around me like it was ready to smash my body into a bloody pulp at any moment.

I couldn't breathe. What would be my fate? Where would the violent current carry me?

Life didn't run before my eyes, I was just asking myself questions.

“What did I regret most?”

I realized, that despite what I thought, I had no such thing.

My entire life? Being born me, being raised in an abusive orphanage, without even the slightest chance of a better start, of education, of starting a family?

These were just unlucky circumstances.

The problem was me.

I didn't know If the world wired my brain this way, without aptitude for change, for social interactions, for finding pleasure in simple things... or were it just my choices?

Even If they were... I found comfort in the routine, a painful one, but still comfortable. The change was futile, change was painful. It was already too late, and I was on my own, without money or perspectives.

Yet, I still did not want to die. I despised death. I despised that I would have to die now.

I despised knowing that If I were to survive, nothing would change.

Perhaps, it was for the better.

But I still refused, greedily holding my breath, until my vision darkened on its own.

[ … ]

...and the first thing I saw, drifting on the ocean, was a clear night sky full of stars. I felt relief, I felt alive. I knew I would have to return to my job soon or later, but I didn't let those thoughts bother me. I felt peaceful, at last, even If for a short moment. Perhaps it was the right way to feel, to take a breath, but I knew... some matters couldn't wait. I pulled out my comms and spoke.

“An unclassified entity in the Deepwater labyrinth. I repeat, unclassified entity.”

The comms answered. - “The boys are back, we can dispatch a backup.”

“I would advise caution. The weapons and the flames don't work.”

“Understood, return to the headquarters and give us a detailed report.”

“Acknowledged, but I will... need a boat.”

“A boat?”

“I'm stuck on the ocean.”

“Oh, for heaven's sake! Did you hear it guys? Our boy had been baptized and survived! I request a big cheer.”

The management gathered, shouting with excitation or cracking jokes. I just smiled, perhaps for no reason at all, but to share their joy, regardless of the motives behind it.

The stars sure were beautiful today.