Chapter 6 - Survival

He desired to be with her greatly but that would have to wait, after all he can only see her again if he survive.

 

"Damnit… Is there no end to these beasts?" Mr. John cursed, at this moment he lost all resemblance to his earlier scholarly look, his glasses are broken and he is covered in Nightcrawlers blood.

 

Aaron seized a broken piece of chair leg and thrust it deep into a Nightcrawler that its claws outstretched for a girl. The creature writhed, screeching in agony.

 

The sound seemed to spur the others on, their attacks becoming more frenzied and violent. The floor was soon slicked with Nightcrawlers blood, their writhing bodies piling up.

 

"What are you waiting for? Finished the injured Nightcrawlers!" Alex shouted towards the panicking people that supposed to act as support.

 

'We can't continue like that… we need a distraction…' Aaron grimaced at the thought of one of them acting as distraction, surely nothing like a peaceful dead awaits them.

 

"Aaron we need a distraction… and then someone would kick open the back door!" Mr. John shouted.

 

"What?!" Aaron is dumbfounded, there is another door these idiots let them risked their lives here trying to create some space for them to escape through, he is even asking him to act as a distraction!

 

"I will do it!" A girl named Jane shouted before someone could stop her, she is already pushing a table forward while running towards the Nightcrawlers!

 

The sight seems a little comical for Aaron but he suddenly understood her plan, this girl doesn't plan on dying, she is planning on using the table as a battering ram!

 

"Alex-!" Aaron is about to signal for Alex to help but the muscular kid is already on it. "On it!" He shouted back with a grin as he took his position beside the girl, with his help, the table moved at an amazing speed!

 

Aaron is quick to react and jump out of the way, the table-turned-battering ram slammed unto a couple of Nightcrawlers pushing them back and have blocking the door!

 

The opportunity was enough for Mr. John to kick open the door, the students ran out at full speed.

 

"Go! Go!" He shouted pushing the teachers and students through.

 

Alex and Jane both ran after the group, Aaron is the last to move, it took him a few seconds from the ground, he would've have just laid back and fall asleep if not for the constant snarling of the Nightcrawlers constantly reminding of the impending doom.

 

The group raced down the hallway, their footsteps thundering against the tiles. Aaron held the rear, spinning around to force the oncoming horde of Nightcrawlers from time to time!

 

'At this rate they would catch up… and everything would be for naught' Aaron gritted as he threw himself into the fray, a feral snarl tearing from his throat.

 He moved with a ferocious grace of a wild ancient beast, his makeshift club swinging left and right, shattering bones and skulls with sickening cracks.

 

At this moment he don't know why he is going this for this group… but it doesn't matter, he felt it's just like his responsibilities and he is never the one the run away from those!

 

"ARGH!!!" Aaron screamed as claws struck, the Nightcrawlers are relentless, seemingly impervious to pain and fatigue, not to mention the dim and flickering light of the hallway limits Aaron's vision.

 

As for the Nightcrawlers, they are like a fish in water when there's darkness!

 

They surrounded him, their teeth bared and their eyes burning with hatred!

 

"Not today!" Aaron growled, diving beneath the arms of two Nightcrawlers and springing back to his feet, his weapon still clutched in his hand!

 

A sharp pain shot through his body with a the appearance of a nasty wound on his back, he pain made causes him to make a mad dash for the exit with the Nightcrawlers hot on his heels!

 

"Aaron!"

 

"Run faster!"

 

He could hear the rest of the group screaming for him to hurry and he didn't dare hold back nor look back. If he did, he knew he wouldn't be able to keep running!

 

Finally the school entrance come into view.

 

"Come on!" Aaron roared, putting on a burst of speed. "Let's get out of here!"

 

The group was huddled beside the gate, their faces are pale and fearful, their eyes fixed on the horde of Nightcrawlers behind and to his shock, and there is no bus nearby!

 

Despair, guilt and regret clawed at his heart, they lost lot of people while defending the class and on the way here and now there is no bus?!

 

Just as Aaron is wallowing in despair and regret, a deafening roar of gunfire erupted!

 

"Stay down!" A voice bellowed and the group hit the ground as a group of heavily armed soldiers poured into the school. The Nightcrawlers were caught off-guard, their ranks decimated by a hail of bullets.

 

Aaron watched as the monsters howled in agony, their twisted bodies falling to the floor like dominoes! The soldiers advanced, their gun blazing, until every last Nightcrawler lay lifeless!

 

In the aftermath of the carnage, the soldier helped the survivors to their feet. One of them approached Aaron, a middle age man with a few streak of gray on his head and nicely trimmed beard, there is a grim look on his face.

 

"We've heard of your great deeds. You did well, Aaron" The soldier said, patting Aaron on the shoulder. "You've saved lot of people"

 

Aaron forced a smile. "Thanks, but it wasn't just me. We did it together." Aaron motioned to the people that managed to escape, coincidentally Jane and Alex were nearby as well.

 

"Jane…" The soldier said with affection in his eyes.

 

"Dad!" Jane exclaimed and ran towards him with arms outstretched for a hug.

 

Alex glance at Aaron and Aaron return the glance with a helpless smile, they both shrugged and left the father-daughter duo alone.

 

"Well… I'm interested in what the old geezers would say about this" Alex tried to start a conversation with Aaron as they were led to a nearby vehicle along with the other survivors.

 

"Old geezers?" Aaron is confused.

 

"Yeah the scientist, I bet they are cooking up theories…" Alex smirk, "With no evidence to back it up as usual"

 

"Still, I'd be glad if they can come up with a reasonable explanation. From what I've seen so for… the human guns are capable of severely injuring this creatures, as long as they don't evolve or undergone any mutation… we'll definitely wipe them out" Aaron turn silent before continuing, "But that is highly unlikely"

 

"Let's just hope for the best" Alex sighed and sat beside Aaron in one of the vehicles.

 

Aaron nodded but he couldn't help but think back to his daughter…