By the time the group gathered at the edge of the camp, the sky had turned a dull gray. Orion, Elara, Ren, and the others stood in tense readiness. Their eyes darted between Marlow and the shadowy wilderness. The atmosphere around them tense, carrying a faint, eerie rustle of leaves that felt like a warning.
Orion exhaled slowly, his breath a visible mist in the heavy air. This day felt different, he could sense it in the air, it was as if the air became suffocating, thicker and more oppressive.
Elara standing next to him, her rifle slung across her back, stepped into view. Her red hair was pulled back in a tight braid, though strands had begun to escape and frame her face, adding to the exhaustion etched into her features. She was pale, her usually steady hands trembling ever so slightly. Her eyes were shadowed from lack of sleep, but beneath the fatigue lay an unyielding resolve.
Marlow stepped before them, jaw set, his eyes dark. "You know the plan," he said, his voice low and resonant, cutting through the thick tension in the air. "Move fast, stay close, and don't get cocky."
Orion's gaze lingered on Elara, a flicker of concern in his eyes. "Ready?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. He could see the tension in her posture.
Elara met his gaze, a playful smile curving her lips. "As much as I could be." she replied, her voice laced with a quiet confidence that belied the tension in the air.
Sensing his worry over her, Elara reached out and gently cupped his cheek, her touch a soothing balm on his troubled spirit. "Hey," she murmured, her thumb tracing a soft line along his jawline. "I will be fine."
Elara's smile widened, a spark of warmth flickering in her eyes. "We'll see this through," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "Together"
A moment stretched between them, charged with unspoken emotions, a silent promise that they will get through this.
Ren's voice, laced with a dry humor, cut through the air as she cleared her throat loudly. "Alright, lovebirds, " she said, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword "Save this lovey-dovey stuff until you get a room later... preferably one with a reinforced door. "
A blush crept up Elara's cheeks as she shot Ren a playful glare. Orion chuckled, the tension momentarily broken
Orion then turned his gaze toward the others. The Vanguard—Ren, Ronan, Anya and a few others—were gathered near the edge of the camp, every one of them had lost something—someone—to the creatures that had descended upon their world. And every one of them knew that today, they might lose more.
The group moved quickly through the city, or more precisely the wreckage of what had once been a city. Some buildings lay crumbled, overtaken by wild growth, the streets were cracked and uneven, as if nature itself had turned against humanity and broken ;streetlights here and there, their wires hanging loose in the mist.
They moved quickly, the minutes blurring together. After what felt like an eternity, Marlow stopped.
"Crawlers," He whispered, his eyes narrowing as he pointed toward a distant building. Orion followed his gaze. Something was moving—a shadow darting behind a broken wall.
Marlow then made a quick motion to spread out, and the group fanned into position, their spears and knives at the ready. The old plaza was just twenty minutes ahead, but they'd have to lead the creatures right into it, when the army is attacking. Their timing had to be perfect.
"Twenty targets at six o'clock, ten at nine. We have almost fifteen minutes to maneuver before the army comes. Maintain absolute silence. Any unnecessary noise could compromise the entire operation." Marlow said, his gravelly voice cutting through the tense air.
"On my mark, we run for the plaza," Marlow said to them, watching the horde close in. They needed to lure the creatures to the plaza.
A sudden, shrill screech pierced the air. A Crawler, its chitinous body glistening in the dim light lunged at Jaxon, its jagged claws slicing toward him. He barely dodged in time, his knife flashing out in a well-practiced arc. The bone-crafted blade cut through the creature's exposed joint with a wet crack. Black blood sprayed across the ground as the beast let out a guttural wail.
"Move while defending! They're after us now" Marlow shouted orders, and the group then took off, sprinting toward the plaza, while taking defensive formation quickly, the group snapped into action, adrenaline jolting them forward through the crumbled streets, always keeping an eye for any sudden attack from each corner they turned, each alley they crossed.
Ronan, his broad shoulders and imposing stature were a reassuring presence in the face of the unknown, moved with a determined stride, his gaze fixed on the path ahead.
Behind him to the right was Ren, who moved with a dancer's grace, her sword always on the ready, her senses were on high alert, every shadow a potential threat.
Behind him to the left was Jaxon, casting nervous glances over his shoulder. He could feel the creatures' presence, lurking just beyond their vision, waiting to strike.
Three Crawlers emerging from the shadows, their clicking limbs echoing in the oppressive silence. Their eyes, glowing with malevolent hunger, locked onto the group.
The first Crawler lunged at Jaxon, its jaws snapping shut inches from his face. Jaxon reacted with lightning reflexes, drawing his sidearm and firing a rapid volley. One shot found its mark, punching through the Crawler's chitinous hide. It screeched in fury, its attack momentarily disrupted before Anya drove her sword into his neck.
The second Crawler, a hulking monstrosity, charged towards Lysa. She reacted quickly, her movements fluid and precise. She hurled a knife made from a Crawlers bones, burying it deep into the creature's eye.
The third Crawler wasn't deterred. It zeroed in on Orion, its beady eyes locked onto him. Orion gritted his teeth, steadying himself as it closed in. He waited until the last possible second before attacking the creature's nech, The creature evaded the attack and slashed its claws at him, missing him by inches. Then with a swift motion, he aimed for the creature's neck, his sinking into its flesh before it faltered as it stumbled and fell.
"Everyone alright?" Orion gasped, leaning heavily against a nearby wall.
Elara lowered her spear, her gaze immediately drawn to the crimson stain spreading across Orion's side. "We're fine..." she exclaimed, rushing towards him. "but your stitches reopened!"
He ripped his shirt, the fabric tearing as he pressed it to his side, knowing the act was more about grounding himself than stopping the bleeding. Each ragged breath felt like a reminder of the pain clawing at his side, but he couldn't afford to dwell on it now.
"Orion, we need to get you out of here," Elara urged, kneeling beside him, her expression a mix of concern and resolve. "You're not in any condition to fight."
"I'm fine," he grunted, determination hardening his voice as he forced himself to stand straighter.
She quickly rifled through her pack, pulling out a small first aid kit. "Keep still," she commanded, her tone brooking no argument. "This is going to sting," she warned, her voice gentle as she began cleaning the wound.
As she cleaned the wound with steady hands, Orion focused on her movements, trying to drown out the rising pain.
"They've stopped. Why aren't they attacking?" Orion said, his brow furrowing.
The creatures were close. He could hear them. The guttural, inhuman noises they made echoed faintly in the distance, but they weren't moving in yet. As if they were waiting for something.
"Are they flanking us?" Ren asked, intensity visible in her eyes. Her hand hovered over her sword, fingers twitching with the need for action.
"Or maybe they are trying to lure us into a false sense of security?" She asked.
The creatures had never behaved like this before. Their attacks at the start have always been feral, chaotic. But over the time, they started to coordinate, as if some unseen hand was guiding them. Orion's thoughts drifted back to the impact site, the place where the comet had crashed—where all of this had begun.
The crater had become a focal point, a place where the creatures had gathered in droves. At first, it seemed random, a mere coincidence. But now, with everything that had happened, it was impossible to ignore the connection. The creatures weren't just roaming—they were guarding something.
Orion came to a sudden stop, his eyes narrowing as pieces of the puzzle began to snap into place.
"The impact site," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the distant hum of the ruined city. "They're protecting it." he added.
"What are you talking about?" Marlow asked confusion evident in his furrowed brows.
Orion's mind raced, his heart pounding. "They wouldn't normally be lying in wait. Whatever's at the impact site, it's controlling them. That's why they haven't attacked yet. They only engage when they think we're heading there."
"We need to split up," Orion said, his voice firm. "It's the only way to confirm this."
Marlow's weathered face creased in thought, his gaze sweeping over the ravaged cityscape. "Splitting up is a risk, you shouldn't approach the impact sight. Just lure them into following you before heading to the plaza." he rasped.
Marlow said, then pointed towards the two diverging paths, his eyes narrowed in concentration. "Orion, take Ren, Jaxon, Ronan, Mira, and Khalil down the avenue and head east. If they follow, lead them to the plaza. Elara and the rest of you are with me. We'll head west."
Marlow's gaze softened slightly as he met Orion's eyes. "Are you sure you're okay with this wound?"
"It's nothing," Orion muttered, trying to appear unaffected. "It's just a scratch. "
Orion turned back to Elara, who had been watching him in silence. Her eyes, once fierce, now held a softness, a vulnerability she rarely showed. "I'm going with you," Elara insisted, stepping forward. "I won't let you face this alone."
"No, you need to stay back," Orion said, his voice firm but gentle. "You're needed here. The Flyers could attack at any moment."
Elara's eyes softened as she reached out to touch Orion's arm, her voice barely a whisper. "Come back to me, Orion. I can't lose you too."