At that very moment, instinct took over, propelling us into a frenzied burst of movement.
With a collective cry of terror, we scattered in all directions, seeking refuge wherever we could find it.
Some dashed towards nearby shops, their only hope of sanctuary in the familiar confines of brick and mortar.
Others darted into nearby buildings, their feet pounding against the pavement as they raced to escape the encroaching nightmare.
The cafe owner and I , along with a handful of others, surged towards the nearest apartment building.
Adrenaline surged through our veins as we sprinted towards the entrance, the sound of our footsteps drowned out by the pounding of our hearts.
We burst through the doors, our breaths coming in ragged gasps as we scrambled up the staircase, each flight feeling like eternity as we raced against time and terror.
As we ascended the stairs, the silence was shattered by the deafening crash of glass breaking.
Instinctively, they turned towards the sound to witness a horrifying sight: a creature, its twisted form silhouetted in the sun lit day, had shattered a window along the staircase.
Before anyone could react, it lunged towards a woman, its razor-sharp feathers slashing through the air with horrifying precision.
With a heart wrenching scream, the woman was dragged down, the creatures relentless grip tearing her apart limb by limb.
Horror and helplessness gripped the others as we watched in stunned disbelief, the sickening sound of flesh being rent apart echoing in the narrow stairwell.
But our terror was far from over
Another creature, lightning-fast and armed with stone cutting claws, materialized be for them, blocking their path to the apartment rooms.
With unmatched effortlessness, it lunged towards a man, its claws slicing through the air like a knife through butter.
In an instant, the man's head was severed from his body, his lifeless form collapsing to the ground in a bloody mess.
I was so scared, I had goose bumps all over. The veins in my neck popped out as if my blood was being sucked out.
Shock and dread washed over us as they realized the magnitude of the danger they faced.
But amid the chaos, one man's grief turned to rage.
With a primal roar, he hurled himself towards the creature, his desperation lending him strength.
In a daring act of defiance, he crashed through the shattered window disappearing into the light with the creature.
Breathless and trembling, we burst into the apartment hallway, our hearts pounding with primitive urgency for safety.
But our relief was short lived as we realized the doors were locked tight, mocking our frantic attempts to escape.
Fear surged through us, fueling that desperation as we realized we dashed past the reception thus not being able to grab the keys.
The cafe owner went back and with the look of sheer determination, he charged towards the door.
"I am not dying today!"
The men present, joined the cafe owner and also hurled themselves at doors. Their shoulders slamming into unyielding wood bone - jarring force.
But the doors remained unmoved, mocking their futile attempts to break free.
As they desperately slammed against the door, a chilling sound pierced the air - a deep, resonant groan that crawled under their skin, making every hair stand on end.
This was followed by a series of thunderous thumps that grew louder and more frantic with each passing second.
The ominous sound of danger approaching was unmistakeable.
Then, the terror escalated: slimy tentacles began snaking along the walls.
The cafe owner and I exchanged a glance of recognition - it was a sight we had seen before, one that almost became fatal.
Panic surged through me, locking my muscles in fear but the urgent need to survive pushed me past my paralysis.
Heart pounding, I sprinted back towards the way we had come and seized a fire extinguisher from its mounting.
First was luck, a second time, that thing is gonna kill me.
I swung at the doors knob, hitting it again and again. Metal clanged and echoed down the hallway.
Finally, the knob gave way with a satisfying crack.
We didn't pause to celebrate: the moment the door swung open, we all rushed inside, slamming it shut just as the tentacles reached the threshold.
******
As the door clicked shut, sealing us away from the horrors outside, an oppressive silence filled the room.
Everyone was huddled together, chests heaving with ragged breaths, faces streaked with sweat and tears.
The echoes of our frantic entry lingered in the air, mixing with the soft, uneven panting of those around me. Shock was etched deeply into every face.
"What is happening? What is going on" .
The silence was finally broken by a young woman's trembling voice.
Her words though quiet, cut through the stillness, voicing the terror and confusion that had gripped each of us.
She turned her wide, frightened eyes towards me. I could see the desperate search for answers in her gaze.
Wiping away a tear that had managed to escape, I managed a shaky breath before admitting
"I am just as confused as you are".
As the calm settled inside the room, a sudden cry of anguish from outside shattered it. Curiosity mingled with dread compelled us to creep towards the window.
Peering through the glass, the scene that unfolded was one of merciless slaughter; the creatures were relentless, their attacks brutal as they decimated any human in their path.
"There's no escape from those things" the cafe owner murmured, his voice heavy with a resigned terror.
This place will only provide us refuge for so long....we need to get out of here!.
It's only a matter of time before they find us.
A glimmer of hope sparked briefly when a teenage girl frantically searched through her pockets and continued on to dump the contents of her school bag on the floor.
Her eyes lit up as she exclaimed "yes!"and she quickly dialed 911....
The line rang hopelessly into a void — no answer came.
With growing desperation, she tried the fire department, but again, there was no response.
The reality of our isolation hit hard as the phone slipped from her trembling hands, clattering to the floor.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as she faced the grim acknowledgment that we were utterly alone.
#####
As night began to fall, casting long shadows across the room, a gnawing hunger began to settle in our stomachs.
One guy with dreadlocks, his face etched with concern, broke the tense silence.
"We need to go out to find food. I doubt there's anything here. This place looks like it hasn't been inhabited since the '90s".
The teenage girl couldn't help but scoff.
"How dumb are you? Have you not watched any survival movies or apocalypse films?
Did you not see how terrifying those creatures are?
If you go out there, you'll die!"
The guy with the locks bristled at her words.
"You dumb mouthy little ——"
But before he could finish, the teen interrupted with a laugh.
"It's funny how you call me dumb but think facing creatures faster and stronger than you a smart decision."
Tension crackled in the air as the guy in the locks shot himself towards the girl, his fists clenched in anger, only to be held back by the others in the room.
Rainbow - colored hair girl chimed in with a sigh,
"If we don't get killed by those creatures, we'll surely die of hunger".
Just then the cafe owner intervened, throwing bags of chips and soda into the mix.
"Calm your horses. No one is going anywhere. There's enough food here to keep us filled for some time".
As we sat munching on our meager snacks, the air suddenly filled with strange noises - a low, mechanical buzzing.
In response, some of the creatures outside began to stir, their movements growing more agitated, their roars echoing through the night.
"What now?" The guy with locks grumbled, frustration evident in his voice.
Curiosity piqued, we once again crept towards the window, peering out into the darkness beyond. To our astonishment, we saw a fleet of drones hovering in the sky, their sleek forms cutting through the air.
The drones came to a halt, hovering in place as tiny speakers crackled to life. From the speakers emerged a voice, distorted yet unmistakably human.
It spoke with authority!
"Welcome to the future, citizens of the realms of progress. As we stand on the precipice of a new dawn, let us not falter in the face of adversity.
I am aware of the threats that loom over our great city, the creatures that encroach upon our sanctuary.
Rest assured, our forces are mobilizing to confront these abominations head on. We will not yield, we will not surrender until the menace is eradicated from the streets.
In the wake of these harrowing events, my heart goes out to all those who have lost loved ones to these unfathomable horrors.
Their sacrifice will not be forgotten, and their memory will inspire us to persevere in the darkest times. Together, we will mourn their passing and honor their legacy.
Citizens of the realm of progress, in the face of adversity, let us seize the present moment with resolve.
As the voice concluded the address, the familiar slogan echoed softly throughout the room, spoken in unison by those gathered: "for the future is now".
It was a phrase they knew well, a reassuring mantra that accompanied every message from their leader.
With the address finished, the drones vanished into the night, leaving behind a renewed sense of hope.
The guy with locks, his gaze fixed on the creatures outside, spoke with quiet defiance, "your days are numbered, you filthy creatures"
....