"Shit!"
"Get us the hell out of here!"
Layla and Zane screamed among one another. A newly discovered Chimera emerging from the cloud of Apocravirus. Its roar rattling the windows of the truck. Its hooves beating against the asphalt like a drum. It charged at them full speed.
Layla hastily flung the truck in reverse. Her foot slamming down onto the gas. The truck engine roared like a lion and the tires screeched against the road like sharp fingernails to a chalkboard.
"Do you have a gun??" promptly asked Zane.
"Gun, yes! Bullets, no!"
Zane hissed. The Chimera was quickly gaining on them. It being half-horse made it no surprise.
Just then, they began hearing screaming from the back of the truck. Bullets echoed through the area as Tyrone released a barrage of bullets at something. Serenity's scream blasting through their eardrums like a nuke.
"Stop reversing!!" shrieked Nick.
Zane threw his eyes onto the side mirror. He had no idea as to why they were telling them to stop. Was it because they didn't know of the Chimera in front of the truck?
His question was immediately answered as a shiver danced its way up to his spine. Behind them, was another Chimera just like the one in front. The Chimeras had them in checkmate the moment they entered the cloud of Apocravirus. It was an unwise decision for them to enter the area.
"Layla! Forward!"
"What?? That thing will kill us!!"
"And that other one will also kill us!!"
"What the hell do you want me to do??"
"I don't fricking know!! Fly!"
Zane's wish almost came through, as the Chimera behind them smashed into the back of the truck. The truck lifted into the air, balancing on the front tires. The truck groaned from the immense force. The others tumbling over one another like a stack of dominoes in the back.
Zane and Layla both had their foreheads bash into the dashboard. They were in for quite a beating.
It could only get worse as the other Chimera, slammed into the front. The windshield became netted with broken cracks.
Layla, for once actually screamed. Fear seeping into her body like water. The Chimera was about to flip the truck over. If that were to happen, then all hopes of escaping would become null. Zane and Layla had no idea what to do. They had no bullets, nor weapons which could even hurt the Chimera.
However, they still had Tyrone. Tyrone laid on his back and aimed his gun at the Chimera. His rifle blasting two holes into its arm. The Chimera was forced to release the truck in agony.
The truck fell to the ground with a huge thud. It bounced up and down as gravity helped it settle. Layla had to take the chance. She couldn't wait for it to recover. Her only choice was pushing through the cloud of Apocravirus. Her hand pushed the gearstick into drive and her foot married the gas pedal. The Chimera in front groaned as it tried to keep the truck from moving. However, the engine was more powerful. It pushed the Chimera back, throwing it out of the way.
"Go!" ordered Zane.
Layla wasted no time. She pushed the truck deeper into the sea of Apocravirus. The air scratching against their lungs. They had no choice but to persevere.
Layla could barely see where she was going. The view was so terrible, that she couldn't see anything until it was right in front of them. She slammed through street signs, drove through potholes, and almost flipped the truck over, due to the rubble in the road.
Regardless, she knew she wasn't about to lose the Chimera so easily. Their hooves clopped against the road, notifying her they were not far behind.
Suddenly, she heard Zane shout atop his voice;
"Layla! Watch it!"
Layla squinted her eyes to get a better view of what was in front of them. Her eyes widened as she saw a small jewelry store before them. There was no way she could stop in time. Even if she managed to, the Chimera would catch up to them.
"Hold on!" she cried— her words directed to those in the back.
Zane flung his arms in front of his face, bracing for impact. The truck slammed into the jewelry store. Diamonds, pearls, gold, and other precious rocks flying through the air. The windshield of the truck finally shattered, sending a piece of glass zooming past Layla's face. A small cut making its home on her left cheek.
Finally, they busted through the back of the building. The sound of glass 'ringing' through their ears. They were lead out into an open, grassy area. Sunlight looking down on them once more. They had exited the cloud of Apocravirus successfully.
Layla took a deep breath as she eased the speed of the truck. They had made it out alive. She looked over to Zane who constantly glanced behind them. Layla smiled as she nudged his shoulder.
"You don't have to worry. Remember they can't bear sunlight."
Zane turned his head towards her. A slight smile drew across his face. He patted his lap and picked up a diamond ring that had fallen into the truck. Cheesily, he looked back at Layla and handed her the ring;
"Marry me. Your driving just kidnapped my heart."
Layla's face became flushed with red. Zane's line was cheesy but romantically done. "Shut up, Zane. I decline."
Zane laughed at Layla's refusal. It was easy to see that she was forcing herself to decline. Just then, interrupting the two, came a shout from the back.
"Drive!!" cried out Anastasia.
Zane and Layla were stunned. They were in the pelting sunlight. There was no need for them to continue driving at high speeds, or so they thought. To their horrendous surprise, their eyes met upon the two horse-like Chimera, continuing their pursuit.
"What the hell??" cursed Layla as she sank her foot into the gas pedal.
"How are they running in sunlight? This makes no sense!" hissed Zane.
Layla pondered as she drove. Were the Chimeras attempting to bear the pain to follow them? No, that was unlikely. It would be suicide for them. Her memories then flashed across Apollo. She remembered how he was with them the entire time, yet sunlight never once bothered him. Did certain Chimera have heat resistance? Did that mean the two Chimera chasing them were Rank 5?
"Zane! I think those two are Rank 5! They've got heat resistance!"
"Tsk! Honestly doesn't surprise me. The way they're built is pretty abnormal."
Layla needed to get off the grassy plain. There was no way she could outrun them when they had hooves. It was the perfect place for them to demonstrate their speed.
Layla recklessly swung the truck through a wooden fence— putting them back on a straight open road. Both Chimeras weren't far behind. The others in the back constantly screaming for Layla to drive faster. Layla was however going as fast as she could. The truck's engine screamed as if it would explode.
"Zane! How far are they from us??"
Zane looked behind them. They were now only a few feet away. Just then, Zane saw one of the Chimera leap into the air— disappearing from his field of sight. He instantly knew what was about to happen. The Chimera was trying to crush them. He swung his head back to Layla with a hurriedness in his eyes.
"Layla! Swing the steering wheel to the left! Now!"
She had no idea what Zane was planning, but she did what he said nevertheless. She flung the steering wheel to the left, almost putting the truck on two wheels. Immediately, a loud 'boom' sounded through the area. The Chimera landing right next to the truck, tearing off the right mirror. It had missed them by mere inches. It roared in rage as Layla fought to regain control of the truck. The tires screeched and the truck danced on the road leaving tire marks.
They had dodged the first attack successfully. However, that was not all. The others in the back then let out blood-curdling screams. Before Zane and Layla could turn their heads to see what happened, they heard a huge crash. The truck slowed down dramatically due to a sudden weight increase. One of the Chimera had managed to land atop of it.
Things could only take a turn for the worse when they saw the second Chimera run-up to their side. It slammed its body into the truck violently. The vehicle cried as it began coming apart. It tilted until it was on its side, flipping like a pancake. Fiery sparks fled through the air upon contact with the asphalt and the truck. It bounced and rolled like a ball. Everyone inside being tossed around like ragdolls. This continued until the truck came to a halt in the grassy field.
Smoke and glass drowned them like the ocean. The Chimera approached the truck, ready to finish them off. Their hooves pounding against the ground like thunder. The group had nowhere to go. Death approached them, ready to claim its prize.
The truck was in complete ruins. It laid stagnantly on its side. Steam and smoke mixing with the fresh air. Blood was splattered and bones had snapped. A sea of pain was flooding those on the inside. Six now remained as one had died.