Zyran was again holding Alora by the waist, to prevent her from falling due to the unsteadiness of the trembling building. "Alora, you said there was a way out of this place and that only the owner of the building knows how to open the steel alloy shields, right?".
Alora desperately tried to ignore Zyran's masculine scent and began to speak, albeit difficultly "Y-yes, the owner of this building should have a way to open the alloy shields. Currently the one with the highest authority within the building is the manager".
"Since he has the highest authority, then he also knows how to... Huh?". As Zyran was speaking, he suddenly felt a tug on his back. He instinctively looked back and saw the waitress that served them earlier. 'What was her name again?... Ah yes, Sofia'.
"Can I help you with something?". Zyran couldn't think of a reason that would lead to this waitress coming to them.
The waitress had her head down as she spoke, as if purposely avoiding Zyran's eyes, Zyran only recognised her through her brown hair. She was the only waitress he saw that had short brown hair. "If you want to get out of here, please follow me". As soon as she finished speaking she left, expecting Zyran and Alora to follow behind her.
Zyran didn't immediately follow her. Yes, he wanted to get his sister out of this dangerous place but, what were the chances that someone just so happened to offer them a way out just as they were looking for one. And to only tell them about it. It was too suspicious 'Is she a demon?'. It was known that some demons are capable of posing as humans, so can she be one?. Okay, if she was a demon then why the heck is she working in a restaurant. A weird fetish? demons are a weird bunch so it should be it.
Sofia stopped after noticing that the Gravel siblings weren't following her, she could still hear the constant blows on the shield 'It won't hold for long', she thought. She walked back to them, not willing to allow others to listen in on their conversation. "Why aren't you following me? Don't you want to get out of here?". She asked with concern, though Alora was aware that the concern was mainly meant for her brother.
"Why are you helping us?". Zyran decided to simply ask the question that's been plaguing his mind. While Alora decided to keep silent, she was already aware of the reason why.
"That..." Sofia found Zyran's questioning tone to be hurtful to her, even when she knew that it was warranted. She started fidgeting, not knowing how to handle the situation. 'Should I tell him?'.
In Alora's eye's she looked really pitiful. Not being in the mood to watch any of this anymore, Alora decided to intervene. "Z, We don't have much time, so I think we should follow her. Don't forget that we don't even have a choice in the situation". She looked at the alloy shield that was riddled with a dozen fist shaped dents on it's surface. 'That thing might collapse at any moment'.
"Alright". Zyran trusted his Sister, if she thinks we should follow this waitress, then we shall. Though I'd still have to keep my eye on her, just in case she turns out to be 'that'.
Sofia sighed in relief. She looked at Alora, giving her a thankful glance. Which Alora ignored. "We should go". She then began to lead them again, unlike last time, they followed her.
While Sofia was leading the Gravel siblings away, no one noticed them leave. They were too busy fixing their gazes on the alloy shield. Some had even begun to lose hope, while others tried to think of a way out, only to come up with nothing. While the extreme one's, those to scared to face the demons, wanted to commit suicide. Can't feel pain if your dead, right?. It was mostly the women who entertained this idea, knowing full well how they'd be treated as play things.
Sofia led the Gravel siblings into the restaurants kitchen. Once in there, they noticed the restaurant manager standing by the back exit that also had an alloy shield.
"Dad, we're here". Said Sofia, while leading the siblings to the Manager.
""Dad?"". Questioned Zyran and Alora.
"Oh, I forgot to mention this, the manager is my father?".
"Are these the two people you wanted to bring along?". The manager who's been quiet, asked Sofia. He didn't seem pleased in anyway to see Zyran and Alora, he almost did a good job at hiding it. Unfortunately his tone gave it away.
Sofia internally sighed and ignore her father's obvious annoyance. "Yes, this is Zyran and... His sister". She obviously knows Alora's name, she just didn't feel like saying it.
Alora noticed this small detail but didn't mind it at all 'I prefer it better when your filthy mouth doesn't utter my name anyway'. She thought to herself.
"Since your here, we should leave". The manager then took out a blue card and then swiped it on the device next to the alloy shield. The alloy shield then started rising up, showing the all familiar outside that Zyran and Alora started to miss.
The manager took a step outside followed by Sofia. However, Zyran and Alora stayed put.
"Why aren't you coming?". Sofia was starting to believe that the Gravel siblings have an issue with following people.
"We are not going to leave all those people to die". Neither Zyran and Alora are cruel enough to abandon all those innocent lives.
"We don't have time for this". The restaurant manager started massaging his forehead, 'Why is today so much of a headache for me?'. "Listen you two, You should be smart enough to realise that such a large group of people moving in the streets will be noticed by the demons, we'd all get killed. The other staff already left..."
It was then that Zyran and Alora noticed that the kitchen was empty, everyone was gone.
"I was supposed to leave with my daughter a while ago but she wanted to bring you two along. So don't waste this opportunity. It's either you come along with us or you stay here and die along with everyone else. I know you might think this is cruel but, it's how things are. Make your choice quickly, the shield will automatically lower itself in 30 seconds".
Zyran looked back at the entrance that led out of the kitchen. He felt conflicted at what to do. ' Let's be logical, the old man's right. That many people moving in the empty streets would immediately be noticed by the demons. And it's not like staying here with them would help either. We would just be wasting our lives...' he looked at Alora 'My sister's life'. As cruel as it might be, Zyran decided to do what must be done. He wasn't willing to lose his sister too and so, he grabbed Alora's hand and walked out.
Alora, who was also in deep thought, was taken off guard when she felt Zyran's hand on her own. When he led her out, she knew that he had already decided for the both of them. 'Will I ever forgive myself for abandoning all these people? Maybe or maybe not. I guess, I'm no different from everyone else'. She thought.
Immediately after they both walked out, the alloy shield lowered again. While at the same time, at the restaurants main entrance. The assault on the steel shield door stopped. The whole shield was littered with dent's all over it's surface, the once impenetrable shield was now reduced to this poor state.
"Why did it stop?".
"I don't know, it must've gotten tired".
"Does that mean were now safe?".
"I think so too..."
Just as everyone was starting to sigh in relief, happy that whatever monstrosity out there had given up on attacking the shield. The steel alloy shield was suddenly pierced through by something sharp, that resembled massive claws. The claws then gripped the shield from the area that was pierced and started pulling from side to side, widening the gap.
The sound of metal being bent was all that resounded, as people watched in horror as a red bulky beast of a demon slowly appeared in their field of vision. Crimson red skin, four bulky arms, piercing red eyes and two sharp canine teeth protruding from the lower jaw. The demon looked terrifying, like someone's nightmare came into reality. It's ferocious gaze was causing their very souls to shiver from the spiritual level. They stood there, watching in complete fright as the beast slowly bent the alloy shield, widening the gap by the seconds.
Just as everyone thought that their end had finally arrived, something strange happened. The huge bulky demon suddenly stopped stretching the alloy shield and froze for a few seconds, as if sensing something. And then it suddenly disappeared from the entrance, as if it was never there in the first place. The disappearance of the demon was followed by a sudden spike in heat in the surrounding area, as if the sun was taking a stroll in the city.
A few seconds later...
'BOOOM!'
There was a huge explosion accompanied by a bright flash of light.