The truck's engine shrieked as it struggled to maintain power. It was only natural since they had been traveling for miles now. However, it didn't quell Layla's frustration. She punched the steering wheel as the truck came to a stop. It refused to move another inch.
"Damn it! Just move a little further!" She complained.
"We may be out of gas but we should be grateful that we haven't been caught by the Apocrypha," comforted Almarie.
"I agree. Besides, walking around for a bit isn't a bad idea. We've been driving for hours now. My back's gonna pop open if I sit like this any longer," supported Zane.
Layla sighed as she slumped her head against the steering wheel. She had to admit that even she was tired. Her plan of getting a boat and leaving for the Caribbean had completely fallen apart. While trying to find a boat, they had a few run-ins with the Apocrypha that nearly cost them their lives. If Layla wasn't such a skilled driver, they would have surely been caught. There were just too many Apocrypha in Florida to make a proper escape.
"I'm so tired that I could sleep for weeks... Next time, someone else will do the driving..."
"Well, you're the best driver among us. My driving skills aren't that great since my family wasn't wealthy enough to afford a car for me to get more practice in," argued Zane.
"Where are we anyway?" Quickly inquired Almarie.
Layla sighed, "We're in Atlanta, Georgia. This is Barton's Wood Road to be exact. Right outside of the Fernbank Forest... Anyway, everyone ready to go?"
Zane and Almarie nodded nervously. Leaving the truck felt sickeningly dangerous but they didn't have much of a choice.
"Do you have any weapons, Almarie?" Asked Layla.
"Just a pair of surgical scissors," she answered as she wrapped a surgical mask around her face.
"Good enough, I guess."
A second later, they all climbed out of the truck. Layla and Zane had their guns tucked away at their sides, ready to be drawn the second they sensed danger. Carefully, they looked around to ensure that the surrounding area was safe enough to explore.
They were surrounded by many tall trees that stretched dozens of feet into the air. They were quite slim with very few leaves hanging from their branches. Chimes jingled from the calling of the wind and dead leaves rustled across the asphalt road. The sky was covered in a thick blanket of grey and the air was chilling.
Slowly, Zane took a step forward only to hear the sound of metal answering beneath his foot. Startled, he lifted his foot to see a sign with the words "DEAD END", lying on the ground covered in blood stains.
"Uh... So what now..?" He asked timidly.
"We need to find a house that might have some supplies left," answered Layla with a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
It was slowly becoming evident just how scared Layla truly was. No one could blame her. They had nowhere to go and they didn't have a final destination in mind. They were simply moving around aimlessly, doing their best to survive.
Almarie was also a bit nervous being around Layla and Zane. Since they were the Apocrypha's prime targets, she didn't believe that hanging around them was very wise. There would be a lot more Apocrypha coming after them than anyone else. It was like walking around with sheep in a forest full of wolves.
"Hey, I have a question," began Almarie.
"What is it?" Queried Layla.
"I was informed that you two had been injected with a Chimera's blood that allows them to keep track of you. Then doesn't that mean they'll find you, no matter where you go..?"
They stuttered before answering. It was hard to give Almarie a reassuring answer when they weren't very certain themselves.
"You're right," answered Zane softly. "We were injected with that Chimera's blood and because of that, it can track our every move. Even as we speak, there's a possibility that it knows where we are. But I don't believe that the Chimera that injected us with its blood will reveal our location to the other Apocrypha... It promised it wouldn't. I know that it could easily be lying to us but I feel like it's telling the truth for some reason..."
Almarie became even more worried hearing this. Zane's words weren't very reassuring.
"If you're afraid of being around us because of that then it's understandable. No one would blame you for avoiding us. It's the most rational decision," comforted Layla.
"I... Um... Sigh... It's a hard decision to make but it's not like I have anywhere else to go right now. I also don't have another group to go back to. If I were to leave then I'd be left by myself. It's risky, no matter how I look at it... But for now, I think I'll stay with you."
Zane gave a sigh of relief hearing this. Layla, on the other hand, didn't have much of an opinion. On one side, it was good to have a doctor who could take care of them if they were injured. But on the other hand, traveling with a third person also brought its disadvantages. There would be more mouths to feed and more supplies would be needed to keep them going. It was also a little difficult to tell whether or not they could trust her.
"In any case, let's get going," prompted Layla.
The trio then began their journey down the lonely streets. A sickening feeling hung silently in the atmosphere. This resulted in Zane becoming a little paranoid. He took constant glances behind him to ensure they weren't being followed. It felt as if a worm was wriggling its way up his back.
After a few more minutes, they stumbled upon a grey two-story house. It was 50m in diameter and 30ft tall. It had a small balcony hanging just outside of the second floor that looked perfect for a lookout spot. The house was almost in perfect shape apart from a few broken windows and cracked walls that were reinforced with sturdy wood. The perimeter was also surrounded by a tall spiky fence that would make it difficult for most to climb over.
"This house looks like it belonged to someone of great wealth," muttered Almarie.
"Should we check it out?" Inquired Zane.
"We could give it a shot but we should also be careful. A house as big as this one is sure to have its fair share of enemies. Get your weapons ready just in case" warned Layla.
Slowly, the trio approached the front gate with their weapons in hand. There was a sturdy padlock attached that seemed strong enough to withstand even bullets.
"Damn it... Getting in doesn't seem very easy," murmured Layla.
"Maybe break it down from the hinges?" Offered Zane.
"That would make way too much noise. We need to think of something a lot quieter."
Just then, Almarie glimpsed a shadow peeping out through one of the windows. However, it disappeared almost as quickly as she saw it. A chill was immediately sent crawling up her spine.
"Uh... Hey, I'm not sure if it was just my imagination but I saw something by that window just now..."
"What..?! Are you sure?" Quickly queried Layla, pulling Almarie and Zane into a nearby shrub of bushes.
"I'm not sure... It disappeared as soon as I saw it so my eyes could just be playing tricks on me due to paranoia."
"I'm starting to think that we should just leave. It's not worth the risk if the Apocrypha are inside. Especially if they've already seen us," said Zane.
Layla hissed in frustration. A large house like the one before them was certain to have a lot of leftover supplies. Leaving it behind seemed like a waste but she knew Zane was right. However, before she could make a decision, a sudden shout from within the yard startled them.
"We know you're out there! Come on out and you won't get hurt! All three of you!"
The trio froze in disbelief. It was as they feared. They had been spotted.
"Humans or Apocrypha?" Asked Almarie quietly.
Zane gulped, "Hopefully humans. We'd have a better chance of negotiating."
"Damn it. Let's take our chances and confront them," proposed Layla.
Zane and Almarie were frightened to hear this. Making such a rash decision was uncalled for.
"What? Layla, that's crazy! We're taking too many risks here!" Argued Zane.
"Listen, we need supplies. We can't afford to keep running around without anything in our stomachs. I'm going to bet on the chance that they're all humans. If they are then we can find a way to steal some supplies."
It sounded risky but Layla had a point. There was no guarantee that they'd find supplies elsewhere. Not to mention that running from the Apocrypha on empty stomachs wouldn't be very efficient.
Reluctantly, the trio agreed before stepping out into the open with their hands above their heads. This was when they saw three men standing in the yard, all armed with assault rifles.
"Who the hell are you three?" Asked the man in the middle. He was quite tall with short bleached brown hair. His eyes were grey and he had a slightly shaved beard. It was easy to say he was in his mid-thirties.
"We're just passing by. We saw your house and thought it would make a nice base for a few days at best. We didn't know anyone was here."
"What supplies you got? The silver-haired girl beside you has some sort of bag. What's inside?"
"Nothing of importance."
"I'll be the one to decide that. Open it and show us what's inside. If it's anything good then we might just take it and let you leave with your lives."
Layla hissed in frustration. She wasn't doing a very good job at bargaining with them. She regretted not telling Almarie to leave her items in the bush before stepping out.
"Come on, Noah. It's obvious that they don't have much on them. Just look at them! We can let them go. They seem to be much worse than we are," persuaded one of the other men.
Zane's breath froze in his lungs as soon as he heard the second man's voice. It sounded very familiar. Quickly, he glanced up at the stranger to see who he was.
He was around 19 years old with cool blonde hair that was dyed black at the sides. He had cloudy gray eyes and stood around 6ft tall. Zane immediately noticed who he was.
"Nick?!"
The stranger quickly looked over at Zane in shock.
"Wait! There's no way! Is that you, Zane?!"
"It's me! I haven't seen you in like 4 months!"
"Dude, I can't believe it! Ever since you left school to go back home and help your family, you didn't even shoot me a text to let me know if things worked out!"
Zane laughed as a feeling of relief overcame him. Since he knew Nick, it would be a lot easier to negotiate.
"Zane, do you know these guys?" Asked Layla curiously.
"Well, just Nick. He and I were roommates back in college. We were best friends until I had to leave to help my family a few months ago."
Layla's confidence immediately skyrocketed. Since Zane and Nick were friends, it was the perfect opportunity for her to negotiate.
"Noah, was it?" She began to the other man. "I have a proposal!"
Noah frowned with suspicion, "And why should I accept a proposal from you?"
"As you can see, Zane and Nick know each other. They're best friends. We're just trying to survive like anyone else. We might not have much right now but if you let us join your group, I promise you won't regret it. I have a lot of information on the Apocrypha and I'll tell you everything if you let us join you."
Noah narrowed his gaze with suspicion. It was a tough call to make. He wanted to know more about the Apocrypha but he also wasn't too keen on taking in more strangers. There would be more mouths to feed and resources would be consumed a lot faster. However, he also had Nick who was nagging him to take them in. Because of this, he reluctantly agreed.
"Sigh... Fine. But you're not one of us until I decide you'll be of use to us, got that? I'm only giving you a chance because I have a big heart. Don't step on it!"
"Thank you so much! I promise you won't regret taking us in!" Praised Almarie gratefully.
"Okay, everyone! Come on in!" Prompted Nick.
Nick then unlocked the gate, allowing the trio to come inside. Zane and Almarie were thrilled to see this. However, in truth, Layla had no intention of joining them. She simply wished to grab some supplies whenever she had the chance and leave.
A second later, they were led to the front door of the house where the third man was standing. As soon as they got close, Zane froze as if he had seen a ghost. His heart felt like it had fallen into his stomach and a terrible feeling fueled him with anxiety.
"Zane, is something wrong?" Quickly asked Layla, taking notice of his strange reaction.
Before Zane could answer, the third man stepped forward cheerfully.
"Zane! I couldn't believe it at first but it really is you! I'm glad to see that you survived, lad!"
"B-Bob..?" He stuttered.
"How have you been, lad? You're as pale as a ghost! Haha!"
Zane could hardly find the words to speak. It didn't make sense. He was certain that Bob had been taken by the Apocrypha after they had crashed on the first night of the invasion.
"Bob, h-how did you get away from the Apocrypha..?"
Without a second of hesitation, Layla grabbed Zane's arm and pulled him away as fast as she could. This alerted everyone that something was wrong.
"What do you mean he was taken by the Apocrypha?!" She asked quickly.
"He was the first person I ran into after losing my parents... But he was taken by the Apocrypha not too long afterward... I saw it with my own eyes..!"
"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Hold on! Bob, what does he mean you were taken by the Apocrypha? You never told us anything about that!" Exclaimed Noah.
A moment of stifling silence filled the air as all eyes shifted onto Bob.
"Yeah, my bad! I should have said something but I didn't think it was that important. It was very traumatic so I wasn't very keen on talking about it," he answered.
"How did you escape?" Inquired Layla sternly.
"My memory is a bit fuzzy... I just remember waking up on the side of the road after fighting them off. It was pretty darn difficult but I managed to do it somehow. I'm pretty strong despite how I look! Haha!"
"Well, I guess it isn't such a big deal then if you don't remember much," continued Noah. "As long as they didn't do anything weird to you, you're fine in my book. Besides, I'd hate to suspect you of something now since you brought us a bunch of supplies when you joined up with us."
Layla hissed. She was not about to buy into Bob's story so easily. It only made sense for Noah and Nick to have such a calm reaction since they didn't know much about the Apocrypha. However, Layla knew all too well what they were capable of. Due to this, quickly pulled her gun from her waist and pointed it at Bob.
"Drop your gun and show us your blood!" She demanded.
Nick and Noah jumped back in fright. Not knowing what Layla was thinking, they too grabbed their guns and pointed them at her.
"Ayo! What the f**k?!" Shouted Nick.
"What the hell are you doing, girl?! I knew we shouldn't have let you in! I'm always too nice for my own damn good! Drop your gun or we'll drop you!" Demanded Noah.
Layla had no intention of listening. Zane knew this all too well. However, he couldn't allow the situation to escalate any further. He had to do something before things got worse.
"Hold on! Let's not start a bloodbath here!"
"What the hell are you guys doing, Zane? I trusted you!" Yelled Nick.
"We can explain! I don't know why Layla would draw her gun without an explanation first but it's not what you think!"
"Stop being an idiot, Zane! If I said anything before I made a move, that thing would drop us like flies!" Argued Layla.
"What are you two talking about?!" Shouted Nick.
"Listen, Nick and Noah. There are some Apocrypha that can take the shape of a human being if they've tasted their blood! To make things worse, they can get access to their memories if they eat a human's brain!"
Nick lowered his gun in shock but Noah didn't believe her. He needed evidence before he convicted Bob of being an Apocrypha. He had been with them for a while and hadn't done anything overly suspicious.
"How do we know you're not lying?"
"Blood! Just cut him and reveal the color of his blood! If it's purple then they're an Apocrypha!" Quickly instructed Zane.
Noah looked over to Nick with his gun still pointed at Layla before slowly nodding his head. Nick took a deep breath before lowering his gun and taking a small knife from his pocket.
"Not so fast! If Bob's an Apocrypha then there's a chance you and Noah are too. Cut yourself first and show us your blood!" Demanded Layla.
"What? Don't be ridiculous! If we were Apocrypha then we would have killed you the second you harbored suspicion of us, wouldn't we? It's not like Zane and the other girl beside you are being very protective of you right now!"
Layla glanced back at Zane with a bothered sigh. Nick made a painful point. If he and Noah had been Apocrypha then they would have already killed them. Zane and Almarie had been far too trusting which could have easily been their downfall.
"Fine. You don't have to cut yourself then. Just hurry and cut that Bob guy."
"I don't believe you guys are Apocrypha either since you're the ones that brought this up. So let's just get this over with."
As Nick approached Bob, he realized that he was sweating heavily. He was rather nervous which made Nick a little more suspicious.
Carefully, Nick moved the blade closer to his skin. However, before he could get a clean cut in, Bob raised his rifle, ready to plunge holes into everything that moved. This startled everyone significantly but Layla placed a bullet right between his eyes before he could do any damage.
Frightened by the ordeal, everyone watched as Bob's body hit the ground with a lifeless thud. Purple blood spewed from his forehead before his body reverted to that of a Rank 3 Apocrypha.
"Shit! You're telling me that these things can hide among us with such accuracy?! We've been living with an Apocrypha for over a day and didn't even notice..." Trembled Nick.
"But how can this be..? I don't get it..." Mumbled Noah in disbelief. "Not only did he bring a ton of supplies for us but it didn't harm us despite having many chances to... I can't believe I had my daughter around something so dangerous this entire time..."
Zane glanced at Layla curiously.
"So it didn't even try to harm you this entire time..? That doesn't make sense... Why would it infiltrate your group simply to not do anything..?"
"I know what you're thinking, Zane. Get it from your head already. The moment you believe that some Apocrypha might be good is the moment you set yourself in a death trap. They're all the same! It didn't hurt them because it wanted to gain their trust before eventually killing them whenever it wanted to. That's the answer," decided Layla sternly.
"In any case, let's get its body out of here. We can toss it over the fence. Zane, was it? Help me with this. Nick, you take the two ladies inside where it's safe. We'll be right behind you," instructed Noah.
No one argued. Zane and Noah quickly tossed the dead Apocrypha over the fence into a small ditch beside the yard where it wouldn't be easily seen. They had to hurry as they knew that the earlier gunshot was bound to attract attention.
The two then quickly ran back toward the front door where Nick was waiting for them. However, as soon as Zane was about to step inside, a terrible feeling shot through his body like a rush of adrenaline. He immediately stopped in his tracks with cold sweat washing his face.
"Zane? What's wrong? Come on, we need to get inside before the Apocrypha gets here!" Hurried Nick.
Nick's words flowed through one ear and came through the other. Zane could hear something strange that had caught his full attention.
"Singing..?" He muttered.
Zane was certain he was hearing a voice. It was like a child singing and humming at the same time. It sent chills running down his body as if he was standing out in the cold. Leaves rustled by the yard as an ominous wind blew them past like an old cemetery. It felt as if someone was about to touch him in the back.
Feeling compelled to turn around, Zane's eyes made four with a strange little girl standing outside the front gate. She was dressed in a tattered white gown that was stained red with blood all over. Her long unkempt black hair hung over her face, hiding everything but a creepy smile. In her hand was a bloodied brown teddy bear that had a kitchen knife piercing its head.
Zane immediately prepared to run. He wasn't sure what was happening but he had a very strong feeling that the little girl wasn't human. However, this was when he came to the frightening conclusion that he couldn't move. It was as if his entire body refused to follow his orders. This was when the little girl started singing loudly for all to hear.
"La... La.. La... La.. La... La... Laaa..! La... La... La... La... La... La... Laaa..!"
By this time, Nick and Noah had both realized why Zane had stopped. They stared at the strange little girl in horror, not able to comprehend what was happening. This was when they realized that Zane was now slowly approaching the strange little girl.
"What the hell?! Zane, don't go near her!" Warned Nick.
"I... I can't help it... I need to help her..."
"Have you gone mad?! Who in their right mind would believe that a little girl like that needs help?! Don't be crazy, boy!" Shouted Noah.
By this time, Layla had made her way back out of the house. Her heart skipped a beat as she watched Zane approach the strange little girl as if he was some kind of zombie. She knew something was wrong. She knew Zane was naive but not nearly enough to do something as stupid as approach an unknown little girl so carelessly. She had to do something.
Zane felt lost in his own body. He could neither move nor even speak properly. It felt like he was in some kind of trance. The more he listened to the little girl's singing, the more he felt his grasp on reality slip away.
Suddenly, another voice came into play alongside the little girl's voice. It sounded a lot like an older woman had started singing as well, pulling Zane towards them even faster.
Zane struggled to adjust his gaze as he came to the horrific discovery that an older woman dressed in the same attire as the little girl had appeared beside her. They chuckled as they sang their creepy song making Zane want to run away from his own body. His heart pounded against his chest and fear overtook his soul.
"La... La... La... La... La... Laa... Laaa! La... La... La... La... La... Laa... Laaa!"
The duo continued to sing their cacophonous symphony, pulling Zane closer to death with each passing second. He was in trouble.