The sun has just set in the human world, night was slowly making its way.
Then rain started pouring down, its cold droplets cooling the city from the hot day and welcoming a cool night.
Don lied there in an alley, as rats and insects came out as humans went to rest.
The dumpster nearby him was lively as the rats rummaged through the trash searching for something to fill there stomach.
That's when the rain poured down, it drenched his clothes.
Feeling the cold drops of rain he opened his eyes, and then propped himself up, his body felt heavy to him.
The dark alley went unnoticed by him as he shielded his eyes from the rain.
Slowly his vision adapted to the rain and the night's darkness.
He looked around, seeing the dumpster he moved to it.
Nearby there was an empty stall. It was shuttered close, but Its canopy offered him shelter from the rain.
Once he got himself to a dry area, he wondered how he got here, and the events which unfolded came back rushing to him.
'That lady, the alley, oh my god'.
He stood there frozen, then looked around.
He walked into the rain and looked up, there was a moon shining elegantly, accompanied by twinkling stars filling the sky.
He looked forward, there was no dead-end.
Turning his gaze to the walls he saw, that some of the windows of the apartments had there lights on.
When he sharpened his ears he heard the clatter of kitchen ware, and the yelling of the families.
The rain muffled some noise but, he could still hear it, and then he looked around.
His vision was blurred by the rain but he could see.
The alley was small, the walls weren't as high, there was turns and it wasn't silent.
And more than anything there was no khopesh wielding stripper with 2 red horns, who has never seen a toothbrush.
It was as if, this was a completely different place.
He felt relieved, but the fear he felt back then was still clawing at him,
'I need to leave, this place. I am still not used to it, anything might pop up out of nowhere, and i am also drenched and i definitely dont want to die from a cold, shivering all over'.
He ran towards the sound of passing vehicles, taking a turn he saw the light from the side, the streetlights were on. Illuminating the road for the late night vehicles.
As he moved towards it he remembered the system not responding and he narrowly escaping her blade at the last moment.
He checked his body, running his hand over his stomach and then the other through his back.
Feeling no pain and seeing no blood, he was dumbfounded.
"Maybe the system know's something".
He hurriedly called for the system.
For a moment the possibility of it never appearing made him worry.
But the familiar blue screen floating in the air, in front of his eyes, calmed him down. He breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hey, umm..... did you see what I saw?".
[What are you talking about?]
"Well, after running towards the child's cry i heard... I stumbled upon this weird place"
[Weird place?]
"It was this long alley, seemingly unending and had an eerie vibe. Not only that, there was this lady with 2 red horns in her head, and she charged at me with 2 swords".
[And this lady, who was she?].
"I dont know, she.... was ash colored, 2 very curved swords and she came out of nowhere, I tried running away, but I fell down and my whole body refused to even move"
"I was so scared, I mean scared shitless, I couldnt scream or even run away, hell I called you and you didnt come, that made me more scared".
[Ah ha, let me ask you something, did the sky turned dark all of a sudden?]
"Yes, yes it did".
[Well congratulations you saw a nightmare].
"No, no that is not the case. I saw it, i felt it in my bone, hell I am still shaking from the thought of it".
[You probably even wetted your pants, and you dont feel it because you were out cold].
Don felt humiliated as he looked at his crotch,
"That's not pee, its rain my clothes are drenched in rain".
[Anyway, you came in here running and slipped on a puddle of water and fell backwards, hitting your head, and you probably saw some IT back home, and you got scared]
"I tripped?", Don asked in confusion scratching the back of his head.
[Yes and you dreamed, I am so confident because, I have seen all the world, the demons do exist but what you described is not a demon, plus they will never be here]
"So it was all just a dream?".
The system's meme face came up and nodded.
"I guess, but i still can't believe it."
'So was the cry I heard also me mishearing something else'
He asked to himself.
----------------
Don walked through the footpath under the rain, drenched and in confusion of what to do next.
He know he decided to go to Martha but where Martha's house is or any information regarding her is unknown to him.
He did search her name on the megachat app but among the many thousands which popped up, not a single account had her as profile picture, and also many had a scenery instead of their photo as the profile.
He thought of calling Kerry but he didnt want to disturb her at night.
He decided to walk to a bus station nearby and spend the time there.
'If i am lucky, a cop will find me and give me shelter for the night, I really dont wanna be mugged and lose this phone she gave me'.
So he kept walking.
Slowly the no of vehicles he saw as they moved past him got fewer and fewer.
As the sounds of traffic died out, so did the entire city, and all its people. After all it was mid night by now and people must already be asleep.
Then from behind him he heard another car, hearing it slow down he turned and took a look.
A white sedan stopped near him, now he was afraid, maybe some guys will kidnap him. Or worse kill him for fun.
Strangers killing you at night for absolutely no reason is very possible.
Anyone seen American psycho.
In that Patrick Bateman kills a guy who was begging on the side of the road, after seeing him, and he doesn't even bat an eye.
Man Christian Bale rocked the character.
Anyway,
The cars door opened and a lady stepped out in the rain, seeing him walk away faster,
"Hey kid, its pouring over here and you dont even have an umbrella?".
Don stopped and turning his head back, while keeping his body forward, he said
"Yeah, I got late on my way back, its fine i will be home soon".
He resumed moving.
"Where do you live, I can take you there".
Don in frustration replied,
"Its okay, im fine".
As he moved forward, he heard the car door close behind him. 'Thank god, it could be a female Patrick Bateman.'
But the car rolled to him and parked next to him.
Don froze.
Rolling down the window, she talked again
"Let me take you home, hop in. Its night and raining".
"Its all right maam, I wi-,.....", he froze failing to finish the sentence as he saw who it was.
"M-martha....".
Hearing him and seeing the way his eyes widened, she replied,
"How do you know my mom?".
Don was confused, 'her mom?'.
Then his eyes trailed down, her hair was shorter, her breasts a tad smaller and she was wearing a jacket.
"I thought you were Martha".
"Oh thats my mom, I know I look just like her"
Then looking down at her breast she spoke
"Well not completely, hahaha"
"Hey get in and tell me how you know her".
She said as she reached out and opened the door.
Hearing that it was Martha's daughter he settled down.
Looking at her he saw that unlike lea she looked almost similar to Martha.
And she was right, her breasts was not as big, also her hair was a little darker than Martha.
But more than anything it was her face and her eyes, both were just as similar to her mother's.
And then her smile a spitting image of Martha, even the lips edge crinkled just like her.
Seeing him look at her in such fashion she let out a giggle,
"Are you comparing me to my mom? Hahaha"
Don snapped out of it, scratching the back of his head shyly, with a wry smile.
Through the rear view mirror he saw the back seat filled with shopping bags,
'Martha did say her older daughter was living away in another state, I guess she is returning with souvenirs.'
Taking the wheel in one hand she extended her right for a hand shake,
"My name is Rachel,... yours?"
"Don luther"
Don reciprocated.