Day 63: A Sinister Circle
The air in the warehouse crackled with tension, the silence thick enough to cut through. Eli stood near the entrance, his knife clenched tightly in his hand, his pulse racing as Vince and his crew stood just inside the door, weapons drawn and ready. Every fiber of Eli's being screamed for action, for movement—but Luke hadn't made a move, and neither had Vince. It was a standoff, and Eli could feel the weight of it pressing down on everyone in the room.
Vince's mocking smile stretched across his face, the kind of grin that knew it had already won. His eyes scanned the warehouse, lingering on the supplies stacked against the walls. The Black Fangs were clearly in control of the situation, their numbers and weapons making them a terrifying force.
"You think you can fight us off?" Vince said, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. "That's bold."
Luke didn't flinch, standing firm as he stared Vince down. "We're not giving you everything. We've got nothing left to survive if we do."
Vince raised an eyebrow, his smile never faltering. "Everything? I didn't ask for everything. Just most of it. After all, you owe us for the tribute you skipped." He took a step closer, his eyes narrowing as he locked onto Luke. "But maybe you're too stubborn for your own good."
Eli's heart pounded, his breath catching in his throat. He knew Vince wasn't here for negotiation. This was a power play, a show of dominance. And as much as Eli wanted to act, to fight, he knew they were outmatched.
Cass, standing beside Luke, didn't back down either. "You're not getting what you came for."
For a moment, Vince's smile wavered, his expression hardening. He glanced at his men, then back at Luke, as if weighing his options. Eli braced himself for the fight he thought was inevitable. His grip tightened on the knife, his muscles tensed.
Then, suddenly, Vince's smile returned, wider and more sinister than before. "Fine," he said, his voice low and almost amused. "You want to keep your supplies? Go ahead."
Luke and Cass exchanged a quick, uncertain glance. Eli's heart skipped a beat. Something didn't feel right.
Vince turned on his heel, motioning for his crew to follow. "We'll leave. Don't worry."
The Black Fangs moved to the door, filing out one by one, their faces a mixture of frustration and smug satisfaction. Eli watched, confused, as they retreated without a fight. His instincts told him not to trust it. This wasn't how Vince operated. He didn't just back down.
Cass's voice, cold and steady, cut through the silence. "What's your game, Vince?"
Vince paused at the doorway, turning back to face them, his smile still in place but with a gleam of something darker in his eyes. "No game. You want your supplies so badly? Keep them. We'll leave you alone."
Then his tone shifted, lower, more menacing. "But out here, nothing stays hidden for long. You've been safe in this little warehouse… but we both know the creatures out there aren't far away. And they're always hungry."
Eli felt a chill run down his spine. There was something in Vince's voice, something that made his stomach twist in knots. He glanced at Luke, who was watching Vince carefully, his jaw clenched.
"What are you talking about?" Luke demanded, his voice hard.
Vince chuckled as he stepped outside, his crew following. "You'll see."
The heavy steel doors clanged shut behind the Black Fangs, leaving the warehouse in tense silence. Eli's mind raced as he tried to piece together what had just happened. Why had Vince left so easily? It didn't make sense. There had to be a catch.
Cass stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "Something's wrong."
Before anyone could respond, the roar of motorcycles filled the air outside the warehouse, their engines revving loudly, echoing off the metal walls. Eli's heart dropped as the sound grew louder and louder, the noise becoming almost deafening.
"They're circling the warehouse," Luke said, his face growing pale.
"They're trying to draw something out," Cass added, her voice tight with realization.
Eli's blood ran cold. He understood now. Vince hadn't come for the supplies. He had come to make sure they wouldn't survive.
The motorcycles outside continued to roar, the sound bouncing off the walls, growing louder and more menacing with every second. Eli could feel the vibrations in the floor beneath him, the engines revving with malicious intent. The Black Fangs weren't leaving them alone—they were drawing attention. And in this part of the wasteland, that could only mean one thing.
Creatures.
The wasteland was teeming with them—monstrosities that roamed the ruins, attracted by noise and chaos. Vince knew that. He wasn't just trying to scare them. He was luring the creatures straight to the warehouse.
"They're trying to bring the creatures here," Eli said, his voice barely above a whisper, his chest tightening as the reality set in. "They're going to draw every one of them in the area right to us."
Luke's face twisted in anger. "That bastard."
The motorcycles continued to roar, their engines screaming into the night. Eli could feel the pressure building, the sense of something approaching. His mind flashed back to the creatures he had encountered in the past—the grotesque, mutated beasts that stalked the wasteland, waiting for easy prey. Vince was giving them exactly that: a loud, vulnerable target.
Cass clenched her fists, her eyes darting around the room. "We need to reinforce the doors and windows. Now."
Everyone scrambled to action, pushing crates and metal barriers against the doors and windows, trying to seal the warehouse as best they could. Eli joined in, his heart pounding in his chest. He could hear the howling winds outside, mingling with the relentless roar of the motorcycles.
The noise was unbearable now, a constant drumming in Eli's ears. He glanced at Luke, who was stacking supplies near the door, his face tense with concentration. They didn't have much time. The creatures would come. It was only a matter of when.
"They're not just going to leave, are they?" Eli asked, his voice tight.
"No," Luke replied, his voice hard. "Vince wants to make sure we don't make it out of here. If the creatures don't get us, he will."
Eli's stomach twisted. The creatures were unpredictable, vicious, and relentless. And Vince was counting on that.
Suddenly, a distant, guttural howl pierced through the rumble of the motorcycles. It was faint at first, but it grew louder, sharper. Eli's blood ran cold.
"They're coming," Cass whispered, her face pale.
The motorcycles continued to circle the warehouse, the engines revving louder, almost as if in response to the howls in the distance. Eli's mind raced as he grabbed his knife, his knuckles white around the hilt. He could feel the fear clawing at the edges of his mind, threatening to overwhelm him.
But he couldn't let that happen. Not now. Not when everything was on the line.
Another howl, closer this time.
"They're almost here," Luke said, his voice grim.
Eli took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. Vince had set them up perfectly. Now, they just had to survive.
The motorcycles roared louder outside, and the creatures were coming. It was only a matter of time before they reached the warehouse, before they tested the doors, before the real fight began.
And Eli knew, deep down, that this was going to be the fight of their lives.