Supervillain Idol System: My Sidekick Is A Yandere

Meanwhile, miles away on the same road that Don and Amanda had driven down not long ago, an old pickup truck carrying hay rumbled along, driven by an elderly farmer whistling a cheerful tune.

The sun was just beginning to rise higher in the sky, casting long shadows across the fields as the truck made its way down the road. The farmer, a grizzled man with a weathered face and a baseball cap pulled low over his eyes, was in high spirits, humming along with the radio as he navigated the familiar route.

But his contentment was short-lived.

Without warning, a powerful force slammed into the side of his truck, sending it careening off the road and into a nearby field. The farmer barely had time to react, his hands gripping the wheel tightly as he tried to regain control. "What the—" he began, but his words were cut off as a loud thud echoed from the roof of the truck, denting it downward with a sickening crunch.

Panic seized the farmer, his heart racing as he tried to make sense of what was happening. The truck shuddered to a stop, and the only sound was the heavy breathing of the terrified man and the distant rustle of the wind through the crops.

Then, he heard it—a low, guttural growl, a sound that sent a chill down his spine. Before he could react, a massive hand, covered in matted fur and ending in razor-sharp claws, reached down and ripped the roof of the truck open like it was made of paper. "AH—!!"The farmer let out a scream, but it was cut short as the creature's hand grabbed him, yanking him out of the cab with brutal force.

The farmer's hat flew off as he was lifted into the air, his eyes wide with terror as he finally caught a glimpse of his assailant. The creature's face was inches from his own, its hollow eye sockets glowing with an ominous light.

Its mouth opened wide, revealing rows of jagged teeth dripping with saliva, and it let out a roar that rattled the very ground beneath them.

The farmer's screams echoed through the empty fields, but there was no one around to hear them. The creature's grip tightened, and with a savage snarl, it hurled the farmer's body into the distance, sending him crashing through the corn stalks like a ragdoll.

The creature watched for a moment, tilted its head as if listening for any signs of life. When none came, it let out a satisfied growl and turned, bounding off into the fields with unnatural speed and agility, disappearing as quickly as it had appeared.

The only evidence of its presence was the mangled truck, now lying on its side in the field, and the trail of destruction left in its wake.

———

Back on Amanda's farm, Don wiped the sweat from his brow as he and Amanda finished loading the last basket of fresh produce into the back of her truck. The midday sun beat down on them, casting long shadows across the farm. The air was thick with the earthy scent of soil and ripe vegetables, and Don could feel the heat seeping into his skin.

Amanda, standing beside him, adjusted her hat and leaned against the truck bed, catching her breath. "So," she said with a teasing smile, "how do you feel after a little farm labor?"

Don shrugged, trying to play it cool. "It's okay. But working like this in the sun every day? That's gotta be something else."

Amanda laughed, the sound light and easy. "It is, but thankfully the farm isn't that big. And after a hard day's work, there's nothing better than a dip in the lake nearby." She paused, giving him a playful look. "You wanna try it?"

Don's interest was piqued, and he was about to respond when the sound of tires crunching on gravel caught his attention.

He turned to see a police patrol car slowly making its way down the dirt road toward them. The car was standard issue, with black and white paint, the local department's insignia emblazoned on the doors, and a light bar on top, though it wasn't flashing.

Don inwardly cursed the timing. He could tell Amanda was about to ask him about going for a swim maybe even skinny dipping, and now that opportunity was slipping away. But more than that, the sight of the police car filled him with a sense of unease. Something about this didn't feel right.

Amanda, however, didn't seem too surprised. She pushed off the truck and casually walked toward the car as it came to a stop beside them. Don followed suit but kept his senses high alert.

The door of the patrol car swung open, and out stepped a young-looking officer. He had blonde hair neatly combed under his hat, sharp brown eyes hidden behind aviator sunglasses, and a toothpick dangling from the corner of his mouth.

As he approached, he adjusted his belt, his hand brushing against the holster at his side.

"Heya, Charlie," Amanda greeted him with a familiarity that suggested they'd crossed paths more than once. "What brings you here?"

Charlie didn't return the greeting. Instead, his gaze shifted to Don, his expression hardening with suspicion. "Who's this?" he asked, his tone far from friendly.

Don raised an eyebrow, wondering, 'What this guy's problem?'

He kept his face neutral, but he could feel the tension building in his muscles, ready to spring into action if needed.

Amanda's eyes narrowed at the question, and she crossed her arms over her chest. "That's none of your business, Charlie," she said, her voice firm. "Did you drive all the way out here just to ask me that? Because if you're here to ask me out again, the answer's still no."

Don almost smirked as he realized what was going on. Charlie was clearly interested in Amanda, and now that he saw Don with her, the officer's jealousy was obvious.

Charlie frowned, spitting out the toothpick with a flick of his tongue. "It *is* my business," he shot back, leaning against the side of his car. "As an officer on duty, it's my job to ask about any suspicious-looking people. Especially after the murder."

Amanda's expression shifted from irritation to concern. "Murder?" she repeated, her arms uncrossing as she took a step closer.

Charlie adjusted his hat, then leaned back casually as he pulled out a cigarette and lit it. He took a slow drag before speaking. "Yeah, you didn't hear? Old man Barny was found dead by the road near McKenzie's fields just a few minutes ago. Whoever—or whatever—got him tore up his truck real bad. Came by to check on you, make sure everything's alright.

But now," he added, his gaze sliding back to Don, "I'm starting to think I might've found a suspect."

He puffed a cloud of smoke in Don's direction, the insinuation clear.

Don felt a surge of anger and the instinctive urge to defend himself. His entire body tensed, and for a moment, he considered putting Charlie in his place.

But before he could act, something else caught his attention. His ears twitched as a rustling sound came from the fields near Amanda's house, followed by the unmistakable sound of a low growl.

He didn't have time to question what it was.

The creature's roar echoed through the air, sending a chill down his spine. In an instant, the monstrous form burst from the tall grass, charging toward them with terrifying speed.

Charlie's cigarette dropped from his mouth as his eyes widened in shock. "What in tarnation is that?!" he yelled, fumbling for his gun.

Amanda's face drained of color as she took a step back, her voice trembling as she yelled, "It's a mutant!"