The day had started so well. But now I was there, in the dark, lying in a putrid water that I felt flowing along my combat clothing and through my replica gas mask.....
It was with difficulty that I got up, before lighting the two lenses on my mask. Projecting a faint red light in front of me. Was I... in some kind of sewer? Judging by the smell and what I was guessing.
Alarmed, I started checking to see if my things were still there. Wallet, car key. Okay. Then my outfit, it seems that my cosplay wasn't missing anything. Even the flashlight that I immediately lit.
After several minutes looking for an exit, I finally heard some noise further away. Voices. Excited at the idea of being able to ask for direction, I accelerated my step until I saw light and people coming towards me. To my surprise, cosplayers in medieval armor and equipped with torches.
They stopped when they saw me and I greeted them, complimenting their group and the realism of their outfit. I could swear the swords they wielded in my direction were real if I didn't know better.
I was quickly disillusioned when they approached while trying to cut me up by shouting, in something like Latin? Okay, it's fun for two seconds, but now I'm getting really scared. Retreating to avoid staying in there range, I only encouraged the group to push the advantage. And I found myself with a group of angry pseudo knights chasing me through dark sewers.
My boots seemed heavier than usual, but at least they were waterproof and my feet stayed dry... On the other hand I tire quickly and the replica of the machine gun weighed its weight.
A light in front of me, followed by a second. Desperate to find help, I took no precautions and called without stopping running. My pursuers in armor seemed to be losing ground because I couldn't hear the rattling of their equipment as well as before. A glance over my shoulder pads, and I saw that they had stopped. Relieved I stopped to catch my breath.
An exclamation caught my attention. On the other side of the tunnel, two lanterns were approaching, held by two women in armour as well, but with succubus wings and horns? Accompanied by a troop of various cosplayers in a similar uniform. All females, and who watched us with big smiles. An icy shiver crossed my body. If such a group existed, I would have heard about it. It was really too weird, instinctively I backed away as much as they were moving forward. Machine gun in hand. It only shoots biodegradable plastic balls, but they're not supposed to know that.
In my ears, I heard the group chasing after me turn around and run away. I didn't have time to look at them because the second group chased after them, straight at me with my lamp pointed at them, as well as my machine gun...
Intimidated... I also turned around and tried to catch up with the knight's group, which looked less scary after all.
I don't know if it was my imagination, but I had the very clear impression that my pursuers were getting closer. After a few turns, the knights as the only guides, I saw them climbing a rope ladder to a hole in the ceiling. The last one give me scared look before rushing into it in turn. As soon as I grabbed the rope to pulled myself up, it fell into the water at my feet. "Oh oh...not good..."
As I turned around, I saw the group approaching me. Some of them seemed to speak to me, but I didn't understand anything about their language. Although it sounded Japanese like the animes on the internet.
Worried I was backing away, until I came up against the wall, with no real option to escape. They didn't seem so aggressive but I didn't think trusting them was a good idea... especially considering the look on some of them.
I inadvertently and nervously pulled the trigger... The burst that escaped from the weapon caught us all by surprise, me first. Desperate and in total misunderstanding I grabbed with my two-handed the machine gun, leaving the flashlight hanging from my wrist.
So I was stuck in a sewer, disguised as "Jin Roh", but with a functional MG42 and facing mamono... It was weird.
One tried to approach, I pointed my weapon at her, forcing her to stop suddenly. I could see fear on her face. A second one tried to slip towards me along the wall. My weapon turned towards her, stopping her attempt.
We were all stuck. Especially me, who no longer had the option of backing out. I could pull the trigger and get out of there by force, but.... Not knowing where I was or who they were... The option would only be chosen as a last resort, even if fear encouraged me to do so.
"Hello?" I asked, lowering my barrel slightly, to seem less dangerous.
They answered me with words I didn't understand. Some of them seemed to give me an order that came up over and over again. I watched them all through the two lenses of my mask. The red light that escaped concealed my gaze, preventing them from knowing where I was looking... or so I hoped.
The group finally retreats a few steps back. Relieved I took my breath again, keeping the gun pointed at the feet of the mamonos. I saw a woman leaving the group and standing a few meters in front of me. She spoke to me, but I obviously didn't understand anything. She tried to approach slowly, but I raised my barrel with each attempt.
After inspection I could notice her blue skin, the long ears that protruded from her helmet, succubus wings and a sharp tail... Strangely reminding me of MGE's demon. Damn as if I fall right into there universe...
"No... it's not possible... Am I dreaming? Is that it?" She replied once again in a language I did not understand. I met her eyes at this moment, beautiful red eyes. She spoke to me again, even if I didn't understand her words, I felt myself becoming calmer. She spoke again and a strange feeling seized me... I was no longer afraid, even if the situation made no sense at all. Once again she spoke as I stared at her, noticing that she had arrived right in front of me. She pulled away my machine gun and waved at me to follow her.
She didn't seem as vicious and dangerous as she did before. I was even reassured by her presence, she seemed welcoming and understanding...
Slowly I made the first step. She smiled and guided me.