TL/ED: Hamsterminator

Now hold on a moment!

Before waking up in Lost City, Jin wasn't the type to get hit on. He was squarely on the side of doing the hitting.

His success rate? A whopping 100 percent!

...is what he wished it was. More like 90.

Actually, maybe 80.

Would've been nice if it was 70. Or 60.

Using the binary logic of success versus failure, 50.

But sadly, the truth was a bit lower than that. A .400 hitter.

Or rather, someone who dreamed of being one...

Enough. Let's stop there.

Anyway, Jin wasn't used to situations like this.

The shell he wore was handsome enough, so there was plenty of plausibility.

But the actual owner of this body had never lived off his looks for the past thirty years.

Thus, he had no immunity to sudden attention like this.

And on top of that, she'd cut straight to the chase. Just flat-out declared she liked him.

If a normal approach was something cliché but at least gave the other person time to mentally prepare, like 'I've been watching you for a while now...'

This was the ultimate aggressive approach.

A borderline heretical declaration of 'I've said my piece, now you answer,' stripped of all pleasantries, was more than enough to freeze Jin's brain on the spot.

His blank eyes blinked dully as if buffering.

And so, the one who broke the silence was one of the thugs watching this farce.

"The hell's going on here? You two know each other?"

A thick hand slapped down on the table.

The motion made the scorpion tattoo on the back of his hand flash into view.

What was this, you ask?

It was the mark of a Scavenger based in Mute Town, also known as District 49.

Their boss was Haneta of the Scorpion.

A master of Poison Art who could freely manipulate all manner of toxins, he was famous for loving scorpions so much that he'd grafted a long cyberware prosthetic onto his coccyx (tail bone).

The general consensus was that he was a powerhouse with few rivals in the area.

And here was the important point.

A boss's status was reflected in his underlings' status.

So when the servant of a great house glared at them, well?

These fucking two don’t even react?

Haneta, as in Haneta.

The reaction wasn't what he'd expected, and his momentary confusion quickly gave way to a dangerous look.

They were ignoring his symbol?

This wasn't just ignoring him.

It was ignoring the boss.

And by extension, ignoring the entire Scavenger crew.

So the man made up his mind.

The bitch he'd planned to have fun with later could wait.

First, he'd mess up that pretty face.

Fucking bastard.

If you're born handsome, you should at least have some sense.

"You son of a bitch... How dare you make a move on my woman?"

The moment the guy spouted that legendary bullshit and reached for the pistol at his waist.

Crack!!

With a sickening sound, the man's body went rigid.

The stupid expression on his face, like he had no idea what just happened, was a bonus.

His trembling eyes slowly drifted downward, and there it was: a dagger piercing straight through the back of his hand.

"AAAAAGH!"

The scream came late.

The skewered hand splayed open in pain, looking almost like a scorpion going stiff in death.

The fact that the dagger happened to be lodged right in the body of the scorpion tattoo only added to the image.

But the man couldn't even think about pulling the blade out.

The person who'd stabbed it through was still gripping the handle tight.

"...You! You! Crazy bitch!!"

As he writhed in agony, the woman turned her head toward him.

Raising her long lashes, she said:

"You're in the way."

The unexpected situation and line left the entire Scavenger crew collectively dumbstruck.

Jin was just as taken aback.

What was this?

He unconsciously furrowed his brow, and when their eyes met, the woman smiled.

That's when it happened.

“Hey, you motherfuckers......! Stop staring like idiots and do something! Fuck! Anything!”

The man's voice, screaming at the top of his lungs, snapped the Scavengers back to attention.

“Fucking piece of shit...!”

"Think you can act up just because you've got a pretty face?"

In an instant, they pulled out knuckles, hammers, knives, and the like. Strangely, though, all that hostility was directed squarely at Jin.

"Wait. Why me?"

Jin's eyebrows twitched with confusion.

The Scavengers lunged at him.

The first one wore brass knuckles.

He swung wide, aiming for the jaw.

Maybe he thought it was a guaranteed hit.

Thump.

When his fist was caught in the other man's palm, his eyes went wide.

"Huh...?"

Before the stupid sound could even finish leaving his mouth, his hand crunched and crumpled.

As if it had been fed into a compactor.

"Gaaah...!"

His captured hand crushed together with the knuckles, drool dripping from his mouth.

"Bastard!"

Meanwhile, the hammer-wielding Scavenger swung down with all his might.

It was clearly an all-out attack, but Jin found it almost laughable.

It reminded him of a beastkin who used to swing around a massive hammer incomparably bigger and heavier than this.

The next moment, the hammer arcing down from above was suddenly blocked by the sole of a shoe.

Jin, now lounging back in the sofa, had simply raised his leg in a kick.

Clang―――

The hammer trembled in a long, wavering vibration.

The unspent force transferred straight into the hands gripping the handle.

"Ag⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠h!"

The Scavenger's face twisted in pain as he lost his grip on the hammer.

In that moment, Jin snatched an ashtray from the table and hurled it.

Crack!

The guy's head snapped back, and he slammed the back of his skull into the floor.

Meanwhile, the last Scavenger with a knife rushed in.

“F, fuck!”

Jin dodged the desperate thrust with just a tilt of his head, then swept the guy's shin.

A satisfying crunch of a clean break.

The Scavenger crumpled, clutching his leg that had snapped like a reed, rolling across the floor. Seeing this, the man with the pierced hand grabbed the pistol at his waist with his other hand.

But he didn't draw it.

Before he could, his eyes met Jin's.

"..."

In that calm gray gaze, he saw a certain line.

The boundary between life and death.

And at the same time, he understood.

If he drew that gun, he would definitely cross it.

"I-I... We were wrong. We'll leave quietly. Please forgive us."

His arm went slack. Jin made a strange expression at the sight.

Oh. Good instincts.

Today was a good day, so he'd been holding back, more or less.

But there were limits to that. If his opponent kept coming at him without learning their lesson, he'd planned to just kill them.

He'd set that standard for himself. And this sharp-eyed one hadn't crossed that line.

Right. A man needs to have sense.

Jin nodded and turned his gaze forward.

"That's what he says."

"......"

The woman was silent for a moment, then raised the hand holding the dagger.

As the blood-stained blade slid out, the man clutched his gushing hand and stumbled backward.

"...Let's go. Grab the youngest."

When he said that and hurried out,

the others, faces pale as death, dragged the guy with the broken leg out by hooking his head under both their armpits.

Watching their retreating figures, Jin suddenly felt wronged.

"...Why the hell did they attack me?"

That's when it happened.

"Here."

The restaurant owner, who had silently watched the fight, set four Coke Floats on the table and walked away.

Oh right. Jin's eyes went wide, and he pulled a straw from its wrapper and took a long sip of cola.

Then he added,

"Next time, just ask me for help. All that nonsense about liking me or whatever just made those guys flip out even more. And the knife... Never mind. Forget it."

At his deep sigh, the woman tilted her head.

"I don't really understand what you're saying. I really do like you. I've been looking for you."

"Oh, come on. N⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠ot this again."

Jin narrowed his eyes.

Is something wrong with her?

Skin so pale he could see the veins, assertive features, and calm black hair falling to her chest.

She was exceptionally beautiful, sure.

But aside from that, everything she did was just...

She'd shown up with a bunch of thugs and suddenly declared she liked him.

Then out of nowhere jammed a knife into some punk's hand.

A few screws loose was an understatement, so Jin's defense mechanisms kicked in without him even realizing it. You meet a pretty face with a rotten core and your life goes down the drain.

Of course, he'd also loaded up some unwarranted pity along the way.

"Whatever. You like Coke?"

Before he could even get an answer, Jin pushed one of the glasses across the table, then popped a straw into it and held up his hand like a blade.

"Try it. It's a bit less sweet than regular Coke, but mixed with ice cream, it's pretty good."

The woman blinked her jet-black eyes, then took a sip from the straw.

With looks that seemed more suited to cutting steak in an elegant restaurant, she actually gulped it down quite well.

Satisfied by the sight, Jin ordered ten more hamburgers from the owner and turned his head.

That's when.

"I'm curious about you."

The woman set down her Coke, already nearly half gone, and spoke.

"What's your name?"

Got to hand it to her persistence.

Jin let out a dry laugh and answered.

"Jin Evernight."

"...Jin Evernight."

The woman repeated the name as if savoring it, then added with a faint smile:

"I like it."

“Yeah? Good for you.”

At this point, Jin was past caring.

He'd been startled at first, but declarations of affection without context no longer sparked any reaction in him.

Still, something was clearly off with her, so he figured he'd at least fill her up with food before sending her on her way.

"Go ahead and pick whatever you want. If it's not enough, I'll order more."

He gestured at the junk food now filling the table and immediately dove into his meal with enthusiasm.

He'd once inhaled twenty skewers at a street stall and drawn a crowd.

His ability to make anything look delicious tended to boost the appetite of those around him. Maybe that effect was working again?

The woman reached out a slender hand and grabbed a hamburger.

Then, without any dainty picking, she took a surprisingly proper big bite.

And as she chewed, she asked a question.

"Where are you coming from?"

"Me? Mute Town."

"What were you doing there?"

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"I'm curious."

"Look it up on the news later."

Jin said this while habitually fiddling with the tote bag on the seat beside him.

He'd tried his best not to think about it, but every time he remembered how much was in there, his hands kept reaching for it.

When he noticed the woman's gaze land on the bag, Jin quickly changed the subject.

"So where'd you come from?"

"District 12."

"Hmm?"

Jin quirked an eyebrow.

What a load of shit.

After all, the 10s Districts were practically a separate world within Lost City.

The mega-corporations, the so-called Megacorps, had built mountain ranges near the sky, looking almost like giant gods holding up the celestial dome.

And beyond that lay the territory of the City Government and the Seven Families.

Either way, it was a place that felt infinitely distant to ordinary people.

Certainly not somewhere that should come up in a rest stop diner near District 49.

So Jin didn't take her words at face value.

Not that he dismissed them outright, either.

"Must be nice, coming from a good place."

The meal continued.

Throughout, the woman kept asking questions as if there was no end to her curiosity.

No mat⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠ter what answer she got, it always ended with a smile saying she liked him.

Jin, now thoroughly accustomed to the pattern, half-heartedly fielded the questions while focusing on his food.

"How did you get that strong?"

“I just got t⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠ossed around a lot.”

"That's impressive."

"Yeah, yeah. I'm pretty damn impressive, I know."

How many more exchanges like this passed?

Eventually Jin finished eating and patted his bulging stomach.

"Oof. That was good."

Buuurp-

He let out a long burp and added.

"Thanks to you, it wasn't boring."

He scrunched his nose and was about to stand when the woman, who had been watching him silently, spoke.

"Jin Evernight. We'll meet again."

"Take care. And maybe think twice about the meeting again part."

Jin smiled faintly, paid the bill, and left the restaurant.

After carefully placing the tote bag in his bike's trunk, he started the engine and merged onto the highway.

Not a trace of hesitation. Enough to make an onlooker feel e⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠mbarrassed.

The woman watched through the window as he shrank into a small dot in the distance, murmuring.

"I never thought I'd meet him again in a place like this. He's improved so much compared to back then. No, it's beyond comparison. Growth like that in just a few months. Could he really have received Mana's Blessing?"

She pressed her delicate fingertips to the glass.

"...I want him. I want to make him mine."

Through her full, rose-colored lips, twisted desire dripped out in broken fragments.

“Jin. E. v. er. n. ight.”

Soon her trembling hand clenched into a bloodless fist.

"No. Not yet. A little longer. When he's ripened just a bit more..."

"......"

The restaurant owner, who had been silently watching the woman shudder, made a phone call somewhere.

Before long, modified vehicles began gathering at the rest stop one by one.

The people who stepped out flooded into the restaurant all at once.

Every one of them had scorpion tattoos somewhere on their bodies.

And the same went for the restaurant owner, whose chest was hidden under his shirt.

He spoke to the man with the bandaged hand.

"Relax. That bastard's gone."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

Watching the owner nod, the man relaxed and turned to look at the woman.

She still had her gaze fixed on the window.

As if she had no interest in them whatsoever.

"Fucking bitch. Think you're lucky?"

He cracked his neck and added:

"If you want to handle all of us, you won't have enough holes on your body to last the night."

At that moment, the woman turned her head, expressionless.

His fresh amazement at her beautiful face lasted only a moment.

For some reason, the view seemed to darken. The Scavengers rubbed at their eyes.

But the more they did, the deeper the darkness that rolled in to press down heavily on all sides.

It wasn't a lighting problem.

It wasn’t even late enough to turn the lights on.

"Wh-What? What the hell."

As the Scavengers exchanged bewildered glances, gasping at the incomprehensible phenomenon.

Someone extended a fingertip.

"Over there...!"

Naturally, every eye followed.

And they saw.

In darkness that seemed to swallow the world's light, a woman reaching her hand into the empty air.

Then she grasped something and brought it to her face.

It was a silver mask reminiscent of a crow.

One Scavenger, realizing something was wrong, tried to bolt.

An invisible force crushed him.

Squelch!

Everyone stared in horror at the corpse that was now nothing but grotesquely twisted limbs and a handful of blood.

From behind the mask, slowly lifting its gaze, came an androgynous voice.

"Haneta's going to have a rough day because of his men."

The next moment, a pair of jet-black wings spread wide behind the woman.

Ominous wingbeats that eclipsed the sun.

A black bird heralding the end.

Crow.

And with it came the darkness.