Day 31: A New Routine
The sun hung low in the blood-red sky, casting long shadows over the ruined cityscape as Eli, Luke, and Cass moved through the wreckage. Though the routine of survival was familiar, fighting creatures as part of training was still new. This was only the second day of Cass's new regime, yet it already felt like something had shifted. Their days of simply hiding and running were over—now, they had to fight, learn, and prepare for what Cass said was coming.
Eli's muscles still ached from the battle the day before. He'd barely slept, the adrenaline and fear keeping his mind restless through the night. Fighting alone against these monsters, creatures they had once only avoided, was terrifying, but Cass had made it clear: they needed to be ready. This was about more than just survival now.
Luke walked beside him, his expression tense. Yesterday had been hard enough, and Eli knew Luke wasn't looking forward to what Cass had in store for them today. Even so, neither of them spoke against it. Cass had proven time and time again that her instincts were sharp, her survival skills unmatched. If she said they needed to fight, then they did.
"We'll stop here," Cass said suddenly, breaking the silence as they approached a half-collapsed building. Her voice was clipped and precise, as always, but there was an intensity to it today, a sense of urgency.
Eli exchanged a glance with Luke. Both of them knew what was coming. They were going to fight again. Cass's focus had been on getting them stronger, faster, and more capable. Whatever was coming in the next few weeks, she believed they couldn't face it without this training.
"What's the creature today?" Luke asked, his voice steady but edged with apprehension.
Cass turned toward the building, scanning the darkened interior. "Something more intelligent," she said, her tone matter-of-fact. "It won't just charge at you. It uses tools, weapons. You'll have to be more careful."
Eli frowned, his hand tightening around the hilt of his knife. "Intelligent? How intelligent are we talking?"
"It's not like us," Cass said, her eyes narrowing. "It doesn't speak, but it's aware. It can anticipate your movements, and it knows how to use the environment. Think of it like a predator that's learned how to fight back."
Luke's face went pale. "A predator… with weapons?"
Cass nodded. "It'll likely be carrying a pipe or some other piece of metal. You can't underestimate it."
The knot in Eli's stomach tightened. He had fought creatures before, but they had always been wild, feral things, driven by instinct and hunger. The idea of fighting something that could think, even in a limited way, made his skin crawl.
"I'll take this one," Luke said, his voice shaking slightly but filled with determination.
Cass regarded him with her usual sharp gaze, then nodded. "Stay focused," she warned. "It'll test your reflexes and how well you can think on your feet."
Luke took a deep breath, gripping his machete tightly as he approached the entrance of the building. The shadows inside were thick and heavy, hiding whatever lurked within. Eli stood back, his body tense, ready to intervene if things went wrong—though he knew Cass wouldn't let him. Luke had to face this alone, just like Eli had done the day before.
As Luke moved cautiously into the dim interior of the building, there was a low, guttural sound that sent a shiver down Eli's spine. It was coming from the creature—he could feel it. His heart pounded in his chest as he watched, his eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of movement.
Then, the creature appeared.
Just as Cass had described, it was thin and hairless, its pale skin stretched tightly over wiry muscles. Its body was hunched, almost monkey-like, but it moved with an unsettling grace. In its hands, it gripped a rusted metal pipe, its fingers curled tightly around the weapon.
Luke froze for a moment, staring at the creature as it studied him. Its eyes were unnervingly human, intelligent and aware. It didn't charge at him like the other creatures they had fought—it waited, watching him, sizing him up.
Without warning, the creature lunged.
Luke barely had time to react, raising his machete just in time to block the creature's attack. The pipe slammed into the blade with a loud clang, the force of the impact sending Luke staggering backward. His breath came in ragged gasps as he struggled to regain his footing.
"Don't hesitate!" Cass called from the sidelines, her voice sharp. "It's fast, but you're faster."
The creature swung the pipe again, aiming for Luke's legs. Luke dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the strike, but the creature was relentless. It moved with a predatory grace, each attack calculated and precise.
Eli's heart raced as he watched the fight unfold. Luke was holding his own, but the creature was unlike anything they had faced before. It wasn't just a mindless monster—it was thinking, adapting to Luke's movements, trying to outmaneuver him.
With a burst of determination, Luke swung his machete in a wide arc, catching the creature across the chest. The blade bit into its flesh, and the creature let out a screech of pain, stumbling back.
But it wasn't done.
The creature recovered quickly, its eyes narrowing with something close to fury. It lunged at Luke again, its pipe raised high, ready to strike.
This time, Luke didn't hesitate. He dodged to the side, then drove his machete into the creature's side with all the strength he could muster.
The creature let out a final, gurgling shriek before collapsing to the ground, its body twitching as the life drained from it.
For a moment, there was silence.
Luke stood over the creature, panting heavily, his body trembling with exhaustion. His machete dripped with the creature's dark blood, and his face was pale but determined.
Cass stepped forward, her expression unreadable. "Good," she said quietly. "You're getting better."
Luke nodded, though his breath still came in ragged gasps. "That thing was… different."
Cass's gaze softened, if only slightly. "They'll only get worse from here," she said. "This is why we train."
Eli stepped forward, placing a hand on Luke's shoulder. "You did great," he said, his voice filled with quiet admiration.
Luke managed a small smile, though the fear in his eyes hadn't completely faded. "Thanks. I just… I hope this training pays off."
Cass didn't respond. She simply turned back toward the horizon, her eyes distant.
"We'll train again tomorrow," she said, her voice calm but firm. "You need to be ready. We don't have much time."
Eli felt a chill crawl up his spine. Whatever Cass was preparing them for, it was coming soon—and they needed to be stronger than they had ever been before.