Chapter 169: CH 169: Stuck like a statue

Words : 1052 Updated : Oct 12th, 2025

Chapter 169: CH 169: Stuck like a statueThe initial two beasts that appeared at the mall had begin a relentless assault on the mall’s reinforced glass, as they aimed to find their way in. Their massive bodies crashing against the glass with a ferocity that seemed to shake the very foundations of the building. The glass creaked and groaned under the pressure, and it was clear that it wouldn’t hold for much longer. The people inside watched in terror as the glass began to crack, the sound of shattering a hair’s breadth away. If the glass gave way, the consequences would be catastrophic, and Chris knew he had to act. But Chris couldn’t move, his body was frozen in mid-air as if turned to a stone statue. He strained his muscles, but his limbs refused to budge, leaving him helpless and immobile. Yet, the beasts closed in, their jaws snapping mere inches from where he was. Though, he couldn’t move, he realized that he could speak. With no other option, he summoned all his strength to let out a desperate yell, hoping someone inside would hear him. The beasts seemed to be everywhere, their snarls and growls growing louder, and Chris knew his time was running out. Yet, the weight of responsibility settled on Chris’s shoulders as he gazed at the old folks huddled inside the mall. They had been safe before his group’s arrival, and he couldn’t bear the thought of them meeting a grisly end because of him. With a surge of adrenaline, he let out a blood-curdling yell. "Everyone, run!! Get out!!!" The words tore from his throat, raw and desperate, as he hoped that the people inside would hear him. But despite the ferocity of his cry, the people inside the mall didn’t react. They stood frozen, their eyes fixed on him with a mix of concern and fear, their faces pale and pinched. Chris’s words seemed to fall flat, lost in the vacuum of soundproof glass that separated them. He had been certain that his yell would shatter the glass, figuratively if not literally, but now he realized his mistake. The soundproofing of the glass had muffled his voice, rendering it inaudible to those inside. Chris’s face contorted in frustration as he understood the cruel irony – he was shouting at the top of his lungs, yet his words were as silent as a whisper. The beasts closed in, their snarls growing louder, and Chris’s desperation turned to despair. Panic clawed at Chris’s chest as he struggled to comprehend the situation. He was trapped, unable to move or escape, while the beasts closed in for the kill. His gaze darted towards the people inside the mall, and he couldn’t understand why they weren’t taking action. Didn’t they see the horde bearing down on them? The reinforced glass was on the verge of shattering, its cracks spreading like a web, and yet they stood frozen, their eyes fixed on him with a mix of fear and hope. Why were they relying on the glass to save them? It was a fragile barrier, barely holding back the tide of snarling, snapping beasts. Chris’s frustration boiled over as he realized the futility of their situation. He was stuck, unable to move or warn them effectively, and they seemed oblivious to the danger. Yet, the questions couldn’t help but swirl in his mind like a maelstrom - why was he frozen in place? What was happening to him? The beasts drew closer to him, and Chris’s mind reeled with the impossibility of his situation. The sound of shattering glass seemed imminent, and Chris’s heart pounded in his chest like a drum. He strained against his invisible restraints, desperate to break free, but his body remained stubbornly still. The beasts’ eyes seemed to gleam with anticipation, and Chris knew he was running out of time. The glass would shatter, and when it did, the consequences would be catastrophic. As Chris’s mind reeled with questions and fears, a sudden stillness fell over the scene. The beasts that had been attacking the mall’s glass facade ceased their relentless barrage, their bodies motionless. The horde that had been closing in on Chris from all sides halted their advance, their paws suspended in mid-air. Chris didn’t notice the change at first, his focus consumed by his own predicament. But as the silence grew, Chris’s gaze wandered to the beasts, and he saw that they had stopped in their tracks. They sat or stood, their eyes fixed on him with an unnerving intensity. The sudden lack of movement was jarring, and Chris’s confusion deepened. "What’s going on?" he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why did they all stop?" He looked around, expecting some hidden signal or cue that would explain the beasts’ sudden change in behavior. But there was nothing – just the beasts, frozen in place, their eyes locked on him. The silence was oppressive, and Chris’s skin crawled with unease. A low growl rumbled from the throat of one of the beasts nearest to Chris, and to his astonishment, he felt a shiver run down his spine as he comprehended the meaning behind the sound. "What should we do, master?" The words echoed in his mind, and Chris’s eyes widened in incredulity. Was he losing his grip on reality? Was he hallucinating? He stared at the beast, his mind racing with doubts. But before he could process what was happening, another beast growled, its voice a deep rumble that seemed to vibrate through the air. "What should we do, master?" it asked, echoing the first beast’s words. Chris’s confusion deepened as more beasts began to growl, each one conveying a different message. Some asked questions, while others seemed to be waiting for instructions. And to Chris’s amazement, he understood every word. The beasts’ growls were no longer just mindless snarls; they were communicating with him, and he was somehow deciphering their language. Chris’s mind reeled as he struggled to wrap his head around this bizarre phenomenon. He felt like he was trapped in a dream, where the laws of reality no longer applied. The beasts’ eyes seemed to bore into his soul, and Chris knew that he had to respond, but he was still grappling with the implications of what was happening.

Chapter 169: CH 169: Stuck like a statue

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