The rain still hammered against the walls of their safe house, the wind howling outside like some primal beast, but inside the group sat huddled around a makeshift table, the air thick with tension. Jason worked quietly, cleaning his tools after preparing the meat, while Zhang, Maria, and Carter exchanged glances, the memory of the monster they'd seen earlier still fresh in their minds.
"We need to move," Zhang finally said, breaking the silence. His voice was low but firm, cutting through the steady drum of the rain. "That thing we saw out there... it wasn't human. It was using bodies to lure people in. It's not safe here anymore."
Jason looked up from his work, wiping his hands on a rag. "You're sure about this?" he asked, his brow furrowed with concern. "We've been holding up fine here. We've got food, shelter..."
Maria shook her head, her eyes wide and serious. "It's not just the storm or the lack of supplies. That thing—whatever it was—could hunt us down. It's smarter than we thought."
Carter leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "We were lucky it didn't see us," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the rain. "Zhang pulled us down just in time. But next time, we might not be so lucky."
Zhang glanced out the window, where the rain continued to fall in sheets, obscuring the world outside. "It didn't go near the pool," he said quietly, almost to himself. The others turned to look at him, confused. "Think about it. It was moving toward us, but it stopped when it reached the edge of the water. Maybe it can't swim."
The room fell silent for a moment as they all processed his words. The idea hung in the air, a small spark of hope amidst the growing danger.
"If it can't swim..." Jason started, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Then maybe the water's our way out."
Zhang nodded slowly. "Exactly. We can't stay here forever. But if we can build a raft, or something sturdy enough to float, we could follow the river. There's a district a few miles downstream. We might be able to find a motorboat there and head to the next country."
Carter sat up, his eyes narrowing. "A motorboat? That's a long shot."
"I know," Zhang admitted. "But the river's our best chance. It's faster than trying to trek through the storm on foot, and if that thing really can't swim, it won't be able to follow us."
Maria crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. "We could gather materials from the forest. There's plenty of wood and rope lying around. It'll take some work, but it's doable."
Jason sighed, tossing the rag aside and leaning back in his chair. "So we build a raft. Then what? We're just going to drift downstream and hope for the best?"
Zhang's eyes hardened. "No. We're heading for a city underground. I heard rumors before the storm hit that there was a shelter—a real one, not like the makeshift ones we've seen. It's supposed to be deep, safe, and hidden from the chaos above. If we can reach that, we'll be out of danger."
Maria perked up at this, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "An underground city? How far?"
"Not far," Zhang said. "If we can get the motorboat, we'll reach it in a few days."
The group fell silent again, the sound of the storm outside filling the space between them. Jason tapped his fingers on the table, deep in thought. The weight of the decision hung heavy over all of them.
"Alright," Jason finally said, his voice low but steady. "We've got no other choice, do we?"
Zhang shook his head. "No. It's only a matter of time before the food runs out, and with that thing out there, we're sitting ducks."
Carter ran a hand through his damp hair, his expression grim. "Then let's do it. Tomorrow, we start gathering materials. We'll need wood, rope, anything that floats."
Maria nodded, already forming a plan in her mind. "I'll scout the forest in the morning, see what we can find. Carter, you and Jason can start cutting what we need."
Jason smirked, though there was little humor in it. "Guess I'll finally put that axe to good use."
The conversation grew quieter as they laid out their plans, voices blending with the rhythm of the storm. The flickering lantern light cast long shadows on the walls, making the room feel smaller, more cramped. But the murmurs of hope, however fragile, began to rise among them. They had a plan now—something to cling to.
As the night wore on, they continued to talk in hushed tones, outlining every detail. They muttered about the river's currents, the dangers of the open water, and how they would manage to find the motorboat they needed. Every now and then, thunder would boom outside, interrupting their quiet discussions, but they pushed forward, determined.
Zhang remained focused, his mind already racing ahead to the underground city, their potential safe haven. His thoughts lingered on the monster—its lifeless voice, the way it moved in the storm. It was still out there, somewhere, hunting. But for now, they had a direction, a glimmer of hope to follow.
"Get some rest," Zhang finally said, standing up from the table. "We've got a lot of work ahead of us."
The others nodded, their faces still tense but with a newfound resolve. As they settled in for the night, the rain continued to pour, the storm showing no sign of letting up. But the group remained silent now, each lost in their own thoughts, their muttered words fading into the sound of the storm.
Tomorrow, they would build their raft. Tomorrow, they would face the river.
And with any luck, they would survive.