Catalyst Chapter 1: Retail Therapy

Read chapter 1 of Catalyst by dumbhd on NovelPedia.

The news anchor clears her throat. Washington DC – Channel C Morning Broadcast, 2025 June. Her voice is steady, but the tension underneath it is impossible to hide. “Two weeks ago, highly wanted serial killer Terra Umbral, also known by his aliases: "The Dragon-Killer And "The Crimson" — was sighted in New York City. Thirty-two recent deaths have been linked to him — and DNA evidence now matches patterns from earlier incidents across multiple states.” On the screen behind her, a digital map appears, pulsing with red markers like a spreading infection. “Authorities estimate his total connected fatalities at approximately nine hundred. California: twenty confirmed. Arizona: thirty. Texas: fifty. Oklahoma: four. Kentucky: sixty. Idaho: thirty-seven confirmed, with additional unverified cases. And northern-state regions collectively reporting between five hundred and five hundred fifty casualties.” A rough drawing of a grinning young man with a scar on his face and deeply unsettled, crazed eyes appears next to the map. The anchor glances down at her notes, visibly unsettled. “A visual pattern of his movement was created by an anonymous analyst known only as ‘E.’ According to this model, Terra’s next appearance is predicted to be…” A crowd has gathered outside a storefront, faces pressed to the glass as dozens of mounted screens play the broadcast. Terra pushes through, brushing past a man leaning in too close. “Hey! Watch it, pal!” the civilian snaps. Terra stops. His hood shadows his face — except for the faint, unnatural crimson glint in his eyes as he turns. “What?” he asks softly. “Didn’t hear you. Come on, speak up.” The man’s confidence evaporates. He looks away. Terra grins faintly and continues walking, hands in his pockets. The broadcast finally reveals the prediction: “—Washington, D.C.” Terra exhales sharply through his nose, amused. “Washington, huh? Always wondered what it’s like here…” He looks toward the distant skyline, eyes narrowing with a half-crazed smile creeping back onto his face. “Fun.” He chuckles under his breath and disappears into the crowd. Terra weaves through others, standing out because of his ragged appearance.; a hooded cloak covered in dried blood, his reddish-crimson clothing, and the scar across his nose bridge. He flashes his signature smirk as he makes it to his destination, Cool-Mart. He always changes his clothing prior to entering a new city, but this time he doesn't need to. He was stealthy, quick, and sly, and all they have on him is a sketch. Terra takes out a scrunched-up paper, straightening it to reveal a mission paper stating: Find this gem! The gem's appearance is roughly drawn, along with a drawing of the supermarket and an arrow pointing the gem to the door. Under it: Inside the storage room. - Jug. "Alrighty-oh!" Terra casually paces across the street, passing a red light. A pedestrian notices him jaywalking. "Watch out!" The civilian waves their hand frantically as a sedan speeds towards Terra. Terra stops in the middle of the road, the car honking and swerving desperately to avoid him. He simply glances at it, a bored expression on his face. "Uh-oh! You're gonna miss me!" A jagged tendril of crimson flesh explodes out of his palm. It snaps forward like a whip, slamming into the side of the speeding car. With a sickening crunch of metal, he forces the vehicle off its path—shoving it directly onto the sidewalk where a crowd was waiting for the traffic light. Screams boom, cut short by the thud of the impact. Terra chuckles, rubbing his nose as he watches the smoke rise. "Strike!" Terra walks into the supermarket, staring at the line and rolling his eyes. "Lines are for simpletons, am I right, me?" He nods to himself before walking to the end of the line, tapping his foot, surveying the room. "It's Terra-Time." He casually pushes past the people in front of him. They argue, yelling indignantly as he reaches beneath his cloak, his fingers wrapping around the hilt of his sword. At