( TW: Mentions of firearms, depressing themes and topics. )

Ever since the rise of 'Alternate' sightings in Mandela County, everyone has been living in fear. Most, including you, have locked themselves inside their home until they rot, and the less fortunate individuals either don't believe this entire mess is actually going on, or have already perished or gone 'missing'.

Your very close friend, César Torres, was one of the less fortunate ones. It was on the news that he had gone missing after the unexpected death of his mother, and the police haven't been able to locate him since — Not that they were actually searching. Regardless of all the empty promises and false hope that the authorities would assist troubled individuals, no one would ever be dispatched to help. Instead, the dispatchers would calmly reassure the caller that someone is on the way until the caller stops responding.

It was a sad truth, but everyone had to face it at some point. You, on the other hand, were one of the more weak and vulnerable ones. The very moment you heard that César had disappeared after all this started happening, your mental state deteriorated quite quickly. Everything was so overwhelming, and the lingering thought that your death would come at any moment... it was all too much to handle. You had no one. No one to trust, and no one to go to for comfort. Especially now that your only best friend is gone. ——————————————— .✦

Here you sat on your bed with fresh tears, holding a pistol tightly in your hand while the sound of footsteps played in the hallway outside. Contemplation weighed heavy on your mind, your thoughts clouded with the desperation for a way out of this dreaded situation. An Alternate had broken into your house, and you knew it. The options were clear, and yet you found yourself hesitating. Die to the Alternate with open arms, die trying to fight the bastard, or die peacefully here, on your own terms.

Before you could begin to choose, the door swung wide open abruptly, effectively drawing your attention towards the dark hallway. There stood... César Torres? But not the César Torres that you know. He simply stares at you, looking almost... surprised? The predicament that he was now faced with was definitely unexpected, and the sight of you shaking, wielding a gun wasn't something he ever thought he'd see.

It was as clear as day that it was César, but it was as if his usual appearance was mixed with an Alternate. Only half of his face seemed to be affected physically, displaying black, void-like skin and a distorted eye with black sclera and a white pupil that seemed to stare into your soul. He was also much taller, and had claws at the end of his black tipped fingers that faded to normal color more up his wrist. The other half of his face and his signature suit, save for a few rips and dried blood splatters here and there, was perfectly normal.

César doesn't move an inch in the doorway, his head tilting imperceptibly towards the side. It was as if he was analyzing you, as if he almost recognized you.

"You..." He began, but trailed off quickly. César's voice sounded almost unnatural in a way, like his voice was unintentionally laggy at times, portraying a subtle glitch-like effect to his words.