Almost immediately, another creature raises its glowing hands, the eerie black-and-white energy forming into another spear. Obinai's breath catches as he watches it arc through the air, its trajectory terrifyingly precise. The spear lands among a group of fleeing people, the impact sending shockwaves through the street below.
Obinai's heart stops. His vision narrows as he recognizes the figures in the crowd—Mr. and Mrs. Howell, the elderly couple who ran the corner bakery. The bakery had been a second home for him and Mya, a place of warm cinnamon rolls and kind smiles on cold mornings.
The spear strikes them mercilessly, the energy rippling outward in a devastating explosion. Obinai sees the couple crumple to the ground, their bodies twisted unnaturally. Blood pools beneath them. A severed arm lies just feet away, its wedding band catching the dim light for a moment before being swallowed by the smoke and dust.
"Mya, don't look!" Obinai shouts, his voice breaking. He lunges toward her as she leans over the fire escape railing, her small frame shaking violently.
But it's too late. She catches a glimpse of the carnage below, the lifeless bodies amidst the debris. Her face pales instantly, her stomach lurching. She doubles over, gripping the railing tightly as she throws up. The sound is raw, her sobs breaking through the retching.
"No, no, no…" she cries, her voice muffled between gasps. Tears stream down her face, leaving streaks in the grime that clings to her skin.
Obinai wraps an arm around her trembling shoulders, pulling her close and shielding her view with his body. His own legs feel like they're about to give out, but he plants his feet firmly, holding her steady. His voice shakes as tears blur his vision, but he forces the words out.
"It's going to be okay, Mya," he whispers, his tone hollow but desperate. "We just… we have to keep going. We have to."
Mya clings to his shirt, her small hands clutching the fabric as if it's the only thing anchoring her to reality. "They're dead," she chokes out between sobs. "They're all dead."
Obinai squeezes his eyes shut, trying to block out the image of the Howell's lying broken on the ground. "I know," he says softly, his voice cracking. "I know, Mya. But we can't stop. We have to keep moving."
He gently guides her down the fire escape, his arm still wrapped protectively around her. The rickety metal stairs groan under their weight, each step trembling as if mirroring their fear. Obinai keeps murmuring reassurances, though his voice falters with every word.
"Stay with me, Mya. We'll get through this," he says, his tone fragile but persistent.
The city below wails, sounds of terror and destruction that presses against their ears. The glow of fires casts flickering shadows across the building walls, the light fractured by billowing smoke. Another creature moves in the distance, its massive form casting long, ominous shadows that stretch toward them like grasping fingers.
As they near the second floor, a sudden explosion rocks the building. The fire escape shakes violently, the metal structure vibrating with a menacing growl. Dust bursts from the cracks in the walls, cascading down like a choking veil.
Obinai grips the railing tightly, his knuckles white as he shields Mya with his body. The building's walls groan under the strain, deep cracks spreading like spider webs across the surface.
"Hold on, Mya!" he shouts, his voice strained as the fire escape sways precariously. He glances down, his heart pounding as he sees debris raining onto the street below.
"I can't do this!" Mya cries, her voice high and panicked. She clings to him, her small frame trembling uncontrollably.
"Yes, you can!" Obinai says, his tone firmer now despite the fear gripping his chest. "We're almost there. Just a little further, okay? Just a little further."
He forces himself to look away from the destruction below, focusing instead on guiding Mya down the remaining stairs. The echoes of screams and the relentless sounds of destruction fill the air, but he blocks them out as best as he can.
Step by trembling step, they descend, the fire escape groaning with every movement. Obinai's eyes dart upward, watching the cracks spread further across the building. The structure feels as though it's moments away from collapsing entirely, but he pushes forward, driven by the need to keep Mya safe.
When they finally reach the ground, Obinai pulls her close, crouching low against the building's crumbling side. His breath comes in ragged gasps as they move along slowly, and his arms shake as he holds her.
"You're okay," Obinai whispers, more to himself than to Mya, his voice trembling as he tries to keep them both grounded. "We're okay. Just keep moving."
Mya suddenly screams, the sound raw and piercing, her small frame seizing up with terror. She freezes on the narrow platform, her hands gripping the railing so tightly her knuckles turn white. Obinai, following closely behind her and focused on maintaining their pace, is caught off-guard by her abrupt stop.
"Mya, what are you—" he starts, but his foot catches on the edge of a step. Momentum overtakes him, and he stumbles forward, his body slamming down the next few steps. The sharp clang of metal echoes as he crashes against the fire escape, landing awkwardly on his side. A searing pain shoots through his leg, and he hisses, clutching at it instinctively.
"Obi!" Mya screams, her voice breaking with panic as she scrambles down to him. Tears streak her dirt-smudged cheeks as she kneels beside him, her small hands trembling as they hover over his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry, Obi!" she sobs, her voice choked with guilt. "I didn't mean to—I just got scared. I froze, and I thought I saw—"
"It's okay," Obinai cuts in, his voice strained but steady. He grimaces as he tries to shift his leg, testing its movement. Pain flares through his thigh, but he can bend it—nothing's broken. "It's not your fault, Mya. I promise, it's not your fault."
Mya sniffles, her tears falling faster as she wipes at her face with shaky hands. "I didn't mean to—"
Obinai reaches out, gripping her shoulders firmly but gently. "Mya," he says, his voice soft but insistent. "Listen to me. We can't stop. I need you to focus, okay? We're almost there."
He nods toward the pathway at the bottom of the fire escape, where the door to the building's interior looms just a few steps away. The dim light flickers, casting eerie shadows across the walls. Around them, the city continues to scream.
Obinai glances toward the street below and quickly averts his eyes, his stomach churning. Amid the chaos, mangled bodies lie scattered across the pavement, limbs twisted unnaturally, pools of blood reflecting the glow of nearby fires. A child's toy, a bright red ball, rests eerily untouched in the middle of the carnage.
His breath catches, but he forces himself to look away. "Come here," he says quickly, pulling Mya closer. He angles her small frame toward the fire escape railing, positioning her so that her back is to the gruesome scene.
"What is it?" Mya asks, her voice small and frightened. She tries to turn, but Obinai tightens his grip on her shoulder.
"Nothing you need to see," he says firmly, his voice cracking slightly. "Just keep your eyes on me, okay? Don't look back."
Mya hesitates, her brows knitting in confusion, but she nods, her trust in him unwavering.
Using the railing for support, Obinai pulls himself to his feet, grimacing as his injured leg protests. He swallows the pain and puts an arm around Mya, guiding her slowly down the last few steps. Each movement feels agonizingly slow, every creak and groan of the metal grating beneath them amplifying his anxiety.
"We're almost there," he murmurs, more to himself than to her. "Just a few more steps."
As they reach the final platform, another explosion rocks the building, sending a shower of dust and debris cascading from above. Obinai instinctively shields Mya with his body, his heart pounding as the fire escape sways precariously.
"Go!" he urges, his voice rising in urgency. He gestures toward the door at the bottom of the escape, his hand shaking. "Get inside!"
Mya hesitates for only a moment before nodding and scrambling toward the door. Obinai follows closely, his injured leg nearly buckling under him, but he forces himself to keep moving.
When they reach the doorway, Obinai quickly glances back, his eyes narrowing as he takes in the looming shadows of the creatures above. One of them lets out a deafening screech, its massive form silhouetted against the flames consuming the city.
Obinai clenches his teeth, ignoring the sharp pain shooting through his leg, and shoves the heavy door open. The oppressive heat and chaos from outside are instantly muted as the door swings shut behind them with a dull thud, enclosing them in the dim, flickering light of the building's lower floor.
For a moment, the air feels cooler, heavier, as though the walls themselves are holding their breath. Dust motes float lazily in the weak beams of light filtering through cracked windows. The silence inside is deafening.
Obinai leans against the wall, his breath ragged as he presses a hand to his throbbing leg. Mya hovers beside him, her small hands fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. "Obi," she says softly, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Do you think… do you think Mom and Dad made it?"
Obinai exhales sharply, the weight of her words pressing against his chest. He looks down at her, noticing the way her fingers tremble and her eyes dart nervously to the shadows in the hallway. He places a steadying hand on her shoulder, squeezing it gently.
"They said they'd meet us here," he says, his voice firm, almost defiant. "So we're going to find them. Together. Okay?"
Mya nods quickly, but her eyes glisten under the flickering light.
The hallway stretches before them, the walls cracked and sagging in places. Pieces of plaster and dust fall periodically, the faint sound of crumbling debris punctuating the silence. The dim glow of emergency lights paints the space in eerie shadows, and the buzzing hum of the failing bulbs fills the air with a persistent, grating noise.
Mya steps forward, hesitating only for a second before turning back to Obinai. "Can you walk?" she asks, her voice tinged with quiet determination.
"I'll manage," Obinai replies, wincing as he shifts his weight onto his injured leg.
Without a word, Mya moves closer, wrapping an arm around his waist and letting him drape his arm over her shoulders. She's smaller, but she braces herself against his weight with surprising strength, her movements deliberate and steady.
"Guess I'm the big sister now," she murmurs, a weak attempt at levity that barely hides the quaver in her voice.
Obinai chuckles softly, though the sound is more a shaky exhale. "Don't get used to it," he says, his lips twitching into a faint, fleeting smile.
They make their way down the corridor, their footsteps muffled against the cracked tile floor. The hallway feels endless, each step heavy and deliberate. The ceiling sags ominously above them, the occasional groan of the building settling making them both flinch.
The dull red glow of the exit sign ahead catches their attention, casting distorted shadows that dance across the walls. Mya glances at it, her brow furrowing. "Almost there," she says, her voice soft but steady.
As they approach the exit, Obinai gently pulls away from her, wincing as he steadies himself against the wall. "I've got it," he murmurs, lifting a hand.
"But—" Mya starts, her hand reaching out toward him.
"I'm fine," he cuts her off, though his voice is softer this time. He forces a small smile as he places his hand on the door handle. "Just… stay behind me."
Mya nods reluctantly, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. She stands just a step behind him, her small figure tense as she watches him brace himself.
Obinai hesitates, his hand hovering over the cold metal of the door handle. He takes a deep breath, the sound shaky in the stillness, and glances back at Mya. Her wide eyes meet his, filled with a silent plea he doesn't know how to answer.
He turns back to the door, his grip tightening on the handle.