Quickly, I pivoted and struck it's back. My dagger sliced through the air, finding the creature's flank. It howled—a sound filled with both pain and anger, startlingly human-like in its distress. The air filled with the metallic scent of its blood. As the colour blue was shown instead of red blood; at least that confirmed whatever I just sliced wasn't human.
I didn't pause, even as the creature recovered and lashed out again. It's clawed hand swung wide, and I ducked, feeling the rush of air as the claws missed my head by inches. It was close. I could have died, I would have died. I had never killed a human or humanoid creature before, but I couldn't hesitate; I couldn't falter now. I needed to live, to go back home. I would not be trapped here forever. I had a future, one I had built and worked for. I couldn't let it end. I would not, I will not.
Rising, I thrust my other dagger upwards, aiming beneath its outstretched arm. My blade sank into soft flesh, and the creature roared in pain. It staggered, movements becoming sluggish.
Despite it's size and ferocity, the creature's efforts grew more desperate, its attempts to defend growing feebler. It was in pain, it was fatigued. No matter how brutal and feral this thing was, there was a limit.
In a last desperate effort, it lunged at me, jaws wide open to reveal rows of sharp teeth. I sidestepped swiftly! no different than playing rugby, letting its own force drive it past me. I seized the moment, driving my dagger deep between its shoulder blades.
The creature's final cry was almost pitiful as it collapsed onto the damp forest floor, stirring up leaves and earth. It lay still, the mist beginning to reclaim it as if the forest itself was absorbing the memory of this encounter.
"Bring it, bastard!" Ellie's voice rang out, her bow now wielded like a melee weapon as she slammed it against one of the white fiends' faces, knocking it to the ground.
I noticed the people inside the tavern, too frightened to venture outside but shouting. "Hurry the fuck up, get inside!" Their cries weren't helping much, but at least they hadn't yet barricaded the windows. If they did, it would be reasonable on their end, though not mine.
I watched Maxwell, using a branch as a makeshift weapon to defend himself. It seemed somewhat effective, as most of the creatures surrounding him backed off. I looked at his arm. Was it the stick or the wood, or maybe Maxwell's abilities? I didn't know, and I didn't have time. I needed to get both of their asses inside. There, we could at least deal with the problem together or die trying.
"Max, you deal with the left, I'll deal with the right, and Ellie can handle the middle group. We need to stay in a semi-circle while walking back towards the tavern. Fall back now," I commanded.
"Y-yes, sir, I guess," Maxwell replied uncertainly.
"Don't hesitate, be sure. Now, hurry," I urged.
As both of us regrouped with Ellie at the forefront, it seemed like we had a chance. Most of the creatures backed off as I grabbed another branch off the ground. At least my conjecture was right; maybe we have a chance.
"Ellie, do you copy?" I asked, receiving no response. "Ellie, do you copy?" Still no response. She just kept hitting the one on the ground or any that came too close, acting just as feral as the creatures that had overtaken her. We didn't need an outburst of rage right now.
"Fuck it," I muttered, disregarding personal space as I grabbed Ellie's shoulder, ready to bring her back to the main group. But to my surprise, her eyes met mine, and I froze, instinctively. It felt like instinct, the way my father used to look at me, and I would freeze, overwhelmed by fear.
Was I doing it again? Sure, I had frozen in place before when I saw Ellie in class or in the hallways, but this wasn't the same. This was different. I was scared, angry.
Why? What happened? Why was she giving me that stare?
But what came next was a huge surprise. With a swing of her bow, she struck at my head. Though it was only a wooden bow, it felt like a brick of steel flying at the side of my head at a high speed. I saw only black, my body airborne, spinning. Too many questions flooded my mind, yet even with the pain and confusion, I had time to look at Ellie. Why?
"Jay!!!" Tommy's shout pierced the chaos. "You bitch! I'll fucking kill you!" I saw Tommy jump out the window, while the others in the group held him back.