Day 41: Eyes in the Dark
The sun had long dipped behind the horizon, but the oppressive red glow of the sky still lingered, casting long, jagged shadows across the broken cityscape. Eli felt a cold knot in his stomach as they moved through the ruins, every step feeling heavier than the last. The encounter with the looters earlier had left them all on edge, and though the group had melted back into the shadows, it didn't feel like they were truly gone.
Cass walked ahead, her eyes sharper than ever, scanning the darkness for any sign of movement. Luke, usually more talkative, had barely spoken since they left the looters behind, his bow at the ready, his face tight with tension. Even the stranger, who had proven herself in the fight just the day before, was unusually quiet, her gaze constantly flicking toward the shadows around them.
They weren't alone. Eli could feel it.
The feeling of being watched clung to him like a second skin, the hairs on the back of his neck standing up with every step they took. The ruins felt more oppressive now, as if something was lurking just out of sight, waiting for the right moment to strike. Every creak of rubble, every shift of the wind made his heart race. He wasn't imagining it—the looters hadn't gone far. They were still out there, watching, waiting.
"They're following us," the stranger said quietly, her voice barely audible over the sound of their footsteps. She had been walking a little behind Eli, her eyes scanning the ruins with the same focused intensity as Cass's.
Eli glanced back at her, his hand resting on the hilt of his knife. "I know," he muttered. "They're waiting for something."
Cass didn't respond, but Eli could see the tension in her shoulders. She knew it too. The looters hadn't let them go out of the kindness of their hearts—they had let them go because they were planning something.
The group kept moving, the ruins around them closing in, the buildings taller, more twisted. Eli's heart pounded as they weaved through the debris, his mind racing with what might come next. The looters were waiting, and if they attacked again, Eli knew it wouldn't just be a request for supplies. This time, they'd come prepared.
The night was deep and still by the time Cass finally stopped, her eyes sweeping the area around them one last time before she turned to the group. "We'll rest here," she said, her voice low but firm. "But stay on guard. I don't trust that we're alone."
Eli nodded, exhaustion creeping into his bones. The tension of the day had worn him down, but sleep didn't feel like a luxury they could afford. He glanced around, taking in the small, collapsed building they had chosen for shelter. It was cramped and broken, but the walls would offer some protection, at least for the night.
Luke settled against a pile of rubble, his bow resting in his lap, his face pale but determined. "I'll take first watch," he said quietly, his voice strained. "We're too exposed out here."
Cass nodded but said nothing. She moved to the entrance of the building, her eyes never leaving the dark streets beyond. Eli sat down near her, leaning against the cold, cracked wall. The stranger settled a few feet away, her body tense, her eyes flicking toward every small sound.
Despite the exhaustion, sleep came in fits, disturbed by every creak of metal or whisper of wind. Eli's dreams were restless—filled with shadows and eyes, with the feeling of being hunted. Every time he drifted off, he woke again, his heart racing, the fear of being caught off guard keeping him on edge.
Hours passed in tense silence, and just as the faintest light of dawn began to break through the sky, Eli woke to the sound of distant rumbling.
His eyes snapped open, his body instantly alert. For a moment, he wasn't sure what he had heard—just a low, deep sound, almost like the earth itself was moving. He sat up, glancing at Cass, who was already on her feet, her eyes sharp and focused.
"What is that?" Luke asked, his voice groggy but filled with concern. He had been watching the streets when the sound had started, his bow at the ready.
Before anyone could answer, the rumbling grew louder, the ground beneath them vibrating slightly. Eli's heart pounded in his chest as the noise became clearer, more distinct—heavy footsteps, the thud of something large moving toward them.
Cass's face tightened, her hand gripping her knife. "Get ready," she said quietly. "They're coming."
Eli scrambled to his feet, his pulse racing as he grabbed his knife, his eyes scanning the area. He had no idea what was coming, but the rumbling didn't feel like something small. It felt massive, dangerous.
And then they appeared.
From the far side of the ruined street, a group of figures emerged from the shadows—half a dozen of them, the looters from before. But this time, they weren't on foot. They were riding something.
Eli's breath caught in his throat as the creatures came into view—massive, hulking lizard-like beasts, their thick, scaly bodies low to the ground, their heads massive with wide jaws and jagged teeth. Their legs were muscular, built for speed, and though they were muzzled, Eli could see the raw power in their movements. They were dangerous, even controlled.
"Lizard dogs," the stranger muttered under her breath, her eyes widening. "I've seen them before… but not like this."
The looters rode the creatures with ease, guiding them through the rubble as they approached. Their leader—the man with the scar—was at the front, his crooked grin returning as he spotted the group.
"Well, well," he called out, his voice booming over the rumble of the creatures. "Look who we found again. Told you we'd be watching."
Cass stepped forward, her body tense, her knife at the ready. "What do you want?"
The man grinned wider, his eyes flicking to the supplies they carried. "We were nice yesterday. Let you go. Figured you might want to show some appreciation."
Eli felt the knot in his stomach tighten. They were surrounded, outnumbered, and those lizard creatures didn't look like the type that would give them time to negotiate.
"You want supplies," Cass said, her voice cold. "You already know we don't have enough to share."
The man shrugged, his eyes gleaming with malicious intent. "Well, maybe today's a good day to be generous, huh?"
Luke, his bow already drawn, glanced at Eli, tension written all over his face. "What's the plan?" he whispered, his voice tight.
Eli had no answer. They were trapped, and Cass, for the first time, looked uncertain.