Derek's voice echoed through the air as he screamed at the top of his lungs, "Hey! Wake up, you hobo!" But Asher remained motionless.
A creature loomed at Asher's feet, its gaze fixed on Derek as it began to move towards him. Derek's eyes locked onto the scene, and he sprang into action.
He sprinted across the water, using a float board to reach Asher's side. Dropping to his knees, Derek swiftly began administering CPR, his hands moving rapidly as he fought to revive his friend.
Meanwhile, the creature seemed eerily calm, its relaxed demeanor a stark contrast to Derek's panic.
Seizing the opportunity, Derek focused on reviving Asher. After what felt like an eternity, Asher suddenly coughed up blood and sat bolt upright.
Relief washed over Derek's face. "You scared me to death, hobo!" he exclaimed, a smirk spreading across his face.
Asher's eyes narrowed, a hint of amusement dancing in his gaze. "It's Asher, not hobo," he corrected, his voice laced with dry humor.
The creature however not welcoming their reunion charges at them. Derek seized the moment, swinging his crowbar with all his might at one of the exposed support beams. The metal connected with a resounding clang that seemed to shake the very air. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a groan that started low and built to a deafening roar, the building began to collapse.
"Run!" Asher screamed, already in motion. Derek sprinted in the opposite direction as tons of concrete and steel rained down. The creature realized its danger too late – its attempt to escape was cut short as the building crashed down upon it, crushing its armored body beneath an avalanche of debris.
The dust cloud that arose was blinding, forcing both men to cover their faces with their shirts as they continued to run. The sound of the collapse seemed to go on forever, echoing off the surrounding ruins like thunder. When it finally settled, they found themselves several blocks away, gasping for breath in the growing darkness.
"Think... think it's dead?" Derek managed between breaths, hands on his knees as he tried to recover.
Asher wiped sweat and dust from his face, looking back at the new mountain of rubble that had joined the city's ruins. "If it isn't, I really don't want to stick around to find out."
They could still see the cloud of dust hanging in the air, illuminated by the last rays of sunlight. Somewhere in the distance, something responded to the sound of the collapse with a cry that neither man wanted to investigate. The ruins held countless mysteries and horrors, and they had survived one encounter with its impossible inhabitants.
The aftermath of their encounter with the ant-scorpion hybrid left Asher and Derek exhausted, their muscles aching as they picked their way through the urban wasteland. The moon had risen fully now, casting an ethereal glow across the broken cityscape, transforming mundane ruins into ghostly sculptures of mankind's former glory.
"My hands won't stop shaking," Derek muttered, flexing his fingers repeatedly. The remnants of his makeshift spear still weighed heavily in his backpack – a reminder of how close they'd come to death. "I keep seeing those eyes, man. Those thousand reflecting eyes."
Asher nodded, understanding all too well. His own adrenaline was still ebbing away, leaving him with that hollow, post-survival feeling he'd grown familiar with over the years. "At least we learned something new – they're getting bigger. And smarter."
They were traversing what had once been a commercial district, picking their way through the skeletal remains of shopping centers and office buildings. Faded signs advertised products that no longer existed, their cheerful messages now seeming like mockeries of a lost world. A department store mannequin, bleached white by years of sun exposure, stood sentinel in a broken window display, its plastic smile eerily visible in the moonlight.
"Hold up," Derek suddenly whispered, grabbing Asher's arm. There was movement ahead – subtle, but unmistakable. Two shadows detached themselves from a doorway about fifty yards ahead, moving with the cautious grace of experienced survivors.
Asher raised his crowbar instinctively, while Derek retrieved a backup knife from his boot. But the figures made no aggressive moves. Instead, one of them – clearly female – raised both hands in a universal gesture of peace.
"Easy there, boys," called out a voice that managed to be both melodious and hard-edged. "We're just passing through, same as you."
The girl stepped forward into a shaft of moonlight. She was tall and athletic, with close-cropped brown hair and a face that might have been beautiful Her companion, a short man with a beard, kept his hand near what looked like a machete but made no move to draw it.
"Name's Kira ," the girl continued, maintaining a careful distance. "The quiet one here is Yuno. We've been tracking something big moving through this sector – wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?"
Asher and Derek exchanged glances. Asher recognised them from the facility. He smiled at the recognition of possible dream keepers
"Actually," Derek said, lowering his crowbar slightly, "we might have been responsible for some of that noise. Had a run-in with something that shouldn't exist about half a mile back." He gestured vaguely in the direction they'd come from. "I'm Derek, by the way. This is Asher."
Yuno spoke for the first time, his voice carrying a slight Asain accent. "Let me guess – some sort of hybrid creature? We've been avoiding them for the past few hours tryung to decipher why we are here also Trying to understand the pattern of their evolution."
Derek's eyebrows shot up. "Studying them? You mean there's actually a method to all this madness?"
Kira nodded, moving closer but still maintaining a respectful distance. The moonlight caught on something metallic around her neck – what looked like scientific instruments on a chain." Do you know why we are here please. I am starting to panic. All I can remember is being at that facility with a woman named Rachel.
Yuno spoke up, "Based on my research on Dream Keepers, I believe we're potential candidates. We've avoided the syndrome so far, and we're all 18, which fits the profile."
The others nodded in agreement. Derek shared his perspective, "Honestly, I thought the syndrome was just a political stunt, given my dad's involvement. But when my sister contracted it, I realized it's real."
Asher's expression turned sympathetic. "I think Dream Keepers are somehow immune, chosen individuals. But what bothers me is the facility's true purpose."
Kira chimed in, "Same here. I'm confused too." kira's curiosity sparked. "Actually, I have a question. When I blacked out at the facility, I thought I heard a voice saying something like 'Dream Keeper Level 1' or 'Ability unlocked.' Am I the only one?.
The air was thick with tension as they traded uneasy glances. Confusion and relief wrestled on their faces. And then, without warning, an unexpected answer pierced the silence.