"Please, please, let this work," I whispered frantically, my heart pounding in my chest as I searched the chaotic landscape.
Finally, amidst the destruction and carnage, I found the lifeless—no, unconscious—form of James. With trembling hands, I checked for signs of life. The faint breath, the weak heartbeat - he was alive. Relief washed over me, momentarily overshadowing the crushing guilt that threatened to consume my thoughts. What would I do when he woke up? What could I possibly say to make this right? No, stop it, Ellie. Focus.
Pushing aside my emotions, I hoisted James over my shoulder, his weight bearing down on me. Then, with a burst of adrenaline-fueled strength, I rushed towards Thomas, scooping him up with my other arm. Carrying two nearly full-grown men was no easy feat, and the creatures quickly took notice. Maddie's efforts to distract them were short-lived as they saw their precious prey being snatched away right under their noses.
With desperation fueling my steps, I ran, somehow managing to maintain my balance despite the load. Maddie's voice rang out across the battlefield "Over here, little shit!" She waved her arms wildly, trying to draw their attention, but their focus remained fixated on me.
"Hurry!" Khaza's urgent shout pierced through the chaos.
Maddie sprinted alongside me, our destination clear, our goal shared: reach the shelter, no matter the cost. We were so close, the promise of safety within reach. But just as I thought we might make it, one of the vile crawlers caught up to me. Its claws raked across my leg, sending me tumbling to the dirt. Blood poured from the gash, and the creature pounced, its fangs ready to tear out my throat.
In that heart-stopping moment, a massive figure intervened, using his own body as a shield. "Thomas, what are you doing?" I gasped, stunned by his selfless act.
"Bitch, get him out of here. Get James inside now," Thomas growled through gritted teeth.
Though grievously injured, Thomas fought on with every last ounce of strength he possessed. One of the grotesque white creatures had latched onto his arm, its jagged teeth shredding flesh and muscle. Crimson blood gushed from the wound, splattering the damp soil beneath him.
Maddie's desperate scream cut through the air, "Get away from us, leave us alone!" The horde pressed forward.
"Kill yourselves," Maddie commanded, blood trickling from the corners of her mouth as she pushed her abilities to their limit.
To our horror, the creatures began to comply, clawing at their own skin, peeling away flesh, and slicing into their throats and bellies. But some, particularly the one still savaging Thomas's arm, remained defiant.
In a shocking display of primal ferocity, Thomas leaned in and bit back, his teeth sinking into the creature's throat. With a twist, he ripped out its voicebox, spraying blue blood across his face. "You taste like fuckin' fried chicken, motherfucker," he spat, bits of flesh flying from his lips.
The creature fell lifelessly to the ground, but the others, now on the brink of death themselves, surged forward like a pack of ravenous wolves. Maddie's self-harm spell was weakening, its hold on them slipping.
Just as they closed in, a gunshot cracked through the air, making me jump. Everyone was on high alert, nerves frayed to the breaking point, a gunshot was indeed unsettling.
"Khaza, about fucking time, you cunt," Maxwell barked.
"Fuck off, I've never shot anyone before. Plus only one round - it took awhile to reload," Khaza retorted defensively.
"You shot at me, you quack!" Thomas accused, his voice laced with pain and anger.
They finished their bitter exchange, all of us worse for wear. Blood loss was taking its toll, and the situation was barely under control.
"Maddie, are you okay?" Maxwell asked, concern etched on his face. She didn't respond, her voice stolen by the strain of her powers.
"Damn it, let's see if this works. Pillar of light!" Maxwell raised his hand, energy surging through his veins. Instead of a single beam, the output radiated outward in a blinding circle around the tavern. It didn't heal, but it stopped the bleeding.
"Get inside now!" he ordered.
We struggled to our feet, Maddie and I staggered through the window..
"Quick, quick, hurry!" Khaza and Max urged, helping us get the other inside.
The pillar of light holding the creatures at bay was already fading, its protective glow diminishing with each passing second. We needed to fortify the windows, to create a barrier between us and the horrors outside. But before I could spring into action, a strange phenomenon caught my eye.
The shattered glass and splintered wood that littered the floor began to reform, the pieces knitting themselves back together into their original pane and frame. As the creatures outside dared to touch the restored window, their bodies disintegrated, atom by atom, reduced to nothing more than dust on the wind.