The howl that ripped through the creature would haunt her forever-if she survived long enough to be haunted by anything at all. It wasn't just a sound; it was something more primal, a shriek that burrowed into her bones, vibrating through her mind like claws scraping against her very soul. She fought the urge to scream in return, biting down on her lip hard enough to draw blood.
As the monstrous thing recoiled from her attack, she slapped the nanotech suit over the gaping cavity where her arm used to be. The suit hissed as it sealed itself, numbing the searing pain that threatened to overwhelm her. But the numbness wasn't enough; she was dizzy, on the brink of unconsciousness, fighting to stay upright as her blood continued to pump through the shattered remnants of her arm.
The sudden silence in the room might have offered relief if it wasn't for the unmistakable sounds of the door behind her finally giving way. Wood splintered and cracked, the oppressive atmosphere pressing down on her with the reminder that she wasn't alone.
Of course, she thought bitterly, why stop at losing an arm when I can be torn apart by an entire pack?
The dim firelight still flickered weakly behind her, casting grotesque, elongated shadows on the stone floor. As she turned her head, the sight of four more creatures storming into the room sent a cold shiver down her spine. They were almost indistinguishable from the first beast, except for the back fur, their skin pulled taut over sharp bones, grotesque limbs stretched unnaturally, teeth gnashing as they spotted her. Not that she was interested in phylum of these monsters.
Hungry eyes gleamed with the promise of an easy kill. She barely had time to register their hideous forms-sharp claws, gnarled muscles, and a hunger that radiated from them like heat-before they lunged
So this is how I go, she thought, the weight of impending death heavy in her chest. Not as a hero, but as a snack.
Typical.
But then, just as they lunged at her, the black beast slammed into them with a force that made the ground shake. The other monsters screeched, more in surprise than fear, and the hall turned into a battlefield in seconds. Claws scraped against stone, limbs tangled in the melee, and guttural growls echoed off the walls. The black creature was a blur, faster than any of them, using its massive form to drive the others back toward the door.
The floor beneath her vibrated as the creatures battled. Her vision wavered, blurring with each drop of blood that spilled from the remains of her arm. The suit had stemmed the worst of the blood loss, but she was far from okay. Her pulse pounded in her ears, drowning out the noises of the fight for a moment.
She struggled to stay upright, every breath feeling like she was inhaling fire.
The black beast roared again, louder this time, as if fueled by some primal rage that couldn't be sated. It launched itself at the remaining creatures with a ferocity that left her stunned. One of the smaller beasts let out a scream as the black monster's claws sank deep into its back, hoisting it into the air and slamming it against the stone wall with a sickening crunch. The creature's limbs twitched for a moment, then fell limp.
Three left.
She blinked, trying to focus, trying to comprehend why this massive creature hadn't turned on her yet.
Her legs threatened to give way beneath her, and she used the last of her strength to stumble backwards, leaning heavily against the cold wall. Her vision tilted, and the room felt like it was spinning, a carousel of chaos she couldn't get off of.
The two remaining monsters attempted to flank the black beast, their sharp claws glinting in the low firelight. One of them leapt onto its back, sinking its teeth into the dark fur. The black beast howled in pain, swinging wildly as it tried to shake its attacker off. The second creature darted in from the side, slashing at its legs. The attack nearly brought the massive creature down, but with a roar that shook dust loose from the ceiling, it lashed out in every direction, throwing both of its attackers to the ground.
Without missing a beat, the black beast pounced on one of the fallen monsters, its jaws clamping down on the creature's throat. Blood spurted from the wound, spraying the nearby walls and her face. She could barely react, her body numbed from shock and exhaustion. The beast's savage attack left the creature gurgling, its body convulsing as life drained out of it.
Two left. No... just one now.
The last monster, the largest of the remaining pack, growled low, its eyes flicking between her and the black beast. It seemed to hesitate for the first time, backing toward the door. The standoff stretched out in the blood-soaked room, every second feeling like an eternity. The black beast stood tall, its breath heaving, blood dripping from its maw. For a moment, she thought it would go for her next, that maybe it had just been toying with the others before turning its hunger on her.
She could hear bones crunching-none of them were hers this time-and the sound of flesh tearing. The fight was brutal, raw, like watching wolves tear each other apart. Blood splattered across the floor, pooling beneath the chaos. It was happening too fast to track, and her half-conscious brain was trying to process why they were even fighting each other in the first place.
Great, she thought, barely keeping her eyes open, they're eating each other. How considerate.
But then the last creature bolted, scrambling through the shattered door and vanishing into the darkness.
The black beast let out a low growl, its form visibly trembling with the effort of restraint, before it slowly turned its gaze to her.
Her heart skipped a beat.
For a moment, their eyes locked. The room was deathly quiet, save for the crackling of the fire behind her and her own ragged breathing. She half-expected the beast to lunge, to tear her apart like the others.
But instead, it just stared, its glowing eyes filled with something she couldn't quite place-recognition?
Pity? Or perhaps something more primal, something that connected them in this moment of carnage.
With one last grunt, the beast turned and limped toward the door, disappearing into the night, leaving her alone in the wreckage.