DemiDemonDarla

Chapter 5: Supernatural Attack

>>>>> The night in Celestia was thick with tension. Something was off, and Darla Arcania could feel it in her bones. The air felt heavier than usual, as if the city itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen. Darla had been patrolling the streets for hours, but tonight, her instincts were sharper, more on edge. She wasn't easily rattled, but her gut was telling her that something dangerous was lurking just out of sight.

She leaned against the side of her patrol car, taking in the empty streets around her. The cold wind cut through her jacket, biting at her skin, but she barely noticed. Her dark brown eyes scanned the area, always alert. Celestia wasn't exactly a peaceful city—crime was a constant companion—but there was an unusual silence tonight. Even the usual hum of the city had dulled, and the flickering streetlights cast long, eerie shadows across the pavement.

Darla was about to radio in to check if her partner Lionel had any leads on their current case when something caught her attention. A flicker of movement in the alleyway ahead. Her hand instinctively went to her holster as she straightened, her muscles tense and ready.

"Stay sharp, Arcania," she muttered to herself, her voice barely audible over the wind.

She slowly made her way toward the alley, her eyes narrowing as she approached. There was no sound, no sign of anyone, but the sense of something wrong grew stronger with every step she took. Her heart pounded in her chest, not from fear, but from the adrenaline that was coursing through her veins. Darla Arcania wasn't one to scare easily, but she also wasn't one to ignore her instincts.

As she reached the entrance of the alley, the shadows seemed to deepen, as if the darkness itself was alive. She stopped, scanning the area, her hand gripping the handle of her gun. The alley was empty—at least, it looked that way. But Darla could feel it. Something was there.

Suddenly, a sharp, unnatural chill shot through the air, and Darla's breath caught in her throat. She had felt cold before, but this was different. This wasn't just the wind. It was an almost otherworldly presence, something darker, something far more dangerous.

"Who's there?" she called out, her voice firm despite the unease creeping up her spine. Her eyes darted from one shadow to the next, searching for movement.

For a moment, nothing. Then, a low growl echoed from the depths of the alley.

Darla's fingers tightened on her gun, her body tense as she prepared for whatever was about to come out of the darkness. The growl grew louder, more menacing, and suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. It wasn't human.

Standing at least seven feet tall, the creature that stepped into the dim light was unlike anything Darla had ever seen. Its body was twisted and grotesque, with long, sinewy limbs and skin as black as the night. Its eyes glowed with a fiery red light, burning with malice as they locked onto Darla. The thing snarled, revealing a row of jagged, razor-sharp teeth.

Darla's heart pounded in her chest, but her training kicked in. She drew her gun and aimed it squarely at the creature's head.

"Stay back!" she warned, though part of her knew that her words were useless.

The creature didn't respond. Instead, it lunged forward with terrifying speed.

Darla fired. The bullet hit the creature square in the chest, but it barely flinched. Panic started to creep in as she emptied her clip into the monster, each shot landing but doing nothing to slow it down. She could feel the raw power radiating off of it, a dark and malevolent energy that seemed to thrum through the air.

The creature snarled again, and before Darla could react, it swiped at her with one of its massive claws. The force of the blow sent her flying backward, her body slamming into the brick wall of the alley with a sickening thud. Pain shot through her ribs, but she gritted her teeth, refusing to let the pain slow her down.