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When last we saw our protagonist, they acquired the shotgun, that single piece of equipment explicitly mentioned in their inaugural checklist. With a monster hot on their tail, this comes not a moment too soon, though let’s be honest, they probably would be better off were they to have the shotgun in hand much much sooner. But here we are. You can catch up with Part XXX here: Backstage at the Calamity, Vol. I No. XXX: More Volume II Prep and the Groundskeeper, Part XXX. Now, how will our protagonist deal with the creature? Or will the creature deal with our protagonist? Let us find out.

This is so fucked. I have to decide to meet this thing at the doors to the elevator or let it come running for me and blast it when it gets close. If I meet it at the doors, I may have only a split second to figure out its position and fire before it eats me, but I will have the element of surprise. If I wait for it, then I may have to contend with whatever is left of its tongue. The elevator comes to a halt and the doors open, making my decision for me.

The creature crawls forward, inching its way toward me. Something about it seems off. There's blood spattered across its head and dripping out of its mouth, but I don't think this would be enough to stop it. I remember its ferocity in slamming against the elevator doors when I was on my way down; no, there's something else going on. Is it biding its time, savoring the few moments before it kills? This doesn't seems right either, as it moves in a subdued way, not in calculating predator kind of way.

There is no warble. That's what’s off about this. There's no menacing sound to herald my impending doom. In fact, the only sound I can hear coming from this thing as it crawls toward me is a low hissing sound. Steam is billowing from its body. More understanding clicks into the place. The marble, the elevator, the low temperature. This building is designed to hamper and entrap these monsters. I imagine if I held off on dusting, even the phantom spiders would have worked to slow this thing down.

The extreme menace that I faced not moments ago was now struggling to move well. Even so, it moved forward, intent on getting its kill. With a touch of confidence returning, I walked up to meet it, and as it opened its mouth and primed its arms to leap and devour me, I pulled the trigger, sending a spray of shrapnel into its open maw, tearing its head apart. Its body slumped, and the hissing sound stopped. The iridescent scales lost their lustre, and the whole thing turned a sickly green.

I let go of the breath I was holding, unaware I was holding it to begin with. I pump the shotgun, priming the next shot, throw on the safety, and head to the elevator which has already gone back up. I push the button to call it back down and turn and look at the creature's body.

Well, that's one down. And if more have not joined the others up top, then I have two more to dispense of. I don't know what I'm supposed to do with the body, or even if its safe to handle, but I know I'll have to deal with it eventually. First thing's first though, and that's to kill the others. The elevator arrives, the doors open, and I step inside, making may back up to the top.

The mausoleum, the terror of our protagonist only so many chapters ago, turns out to be a harbinger of doom for the creatures that haunt the cemetery when the flowers are left out. Who would have thought? Well, now we know, and now our protagonist knows. But will it be enough to save them from the remaining two? There’s only one way to find out! Read Part XXXII here.