The sounds of branches snapping, and the feeling of the sharp rocks and bone fragments under Eli's boots did nothing to ease his ragged breaths and the rapid beating of his heart. Each step on the uneven downward sloped growth sent bolts of pain rushing through his legs. Behind him, an abomination which seemed to be an unholy mix between a large bear and a spider with a grotesque spine like appendage growing from its backside lunged at him with monstrous intent.
Eli darted past a twisted tree, its roots protruding out of the earth like jagged spikes. The air smelled damp, a mix of decaying wood with faint traces of blood filled his nose. His heart pounded like a machine gun going off in his chest.
[The Aberrant is closing the gap], A.M.Y's crisp voice rang from the slim DECON device strapped to my arm, [Eighty meters behind and gaining]. The sound of her voice does nothing to ease my nerves.
[Heart rate approaching 190 BPM. I recommend an immediate change in course.]
"No shit, maybe warn me before I'm being chased down by some spider thing!"
[I did, approximately 42 seconds prior to this encounter]
Lacking the energy to argue, Eli keeps running down the hill, A sharp whistling sound reaches his ear, followed by a large crash sending a torrent of wooden splinters cascading into his side, causing him to momentarily stumble before pushing forward with startling speed.
"What the hell was that?!" Eli shouts with gritted teeth, a burning sensation radiating from his left arm, where there are now multiple wooden splinters lodged into his flesh.
[Multiple projectiles are being shot in your direction at high velocities, the Aberrant chasing you seems to be turning the bones on its tail into long range weapons in attempt to subdue you]
"Damnation, why doesn't it just grow wings at this point!" Eli groans while ducking behind several trees to dodge the needle like bones being shot at him at ridiculous speeds.
Eli glanced over his shoulder, The Aberrant was massive, easily eight feet tall with a grotesque, elongated frame. Its skin was ghastly pale and stretched tightly over its muscles, with massive dark vein-like patches bulging from its forearms across its body. From his back, extended a large boney tail growing the needle like projectiles with terrifying efficiency. Its face was a nightmare, where eyes should have been, were eight hollow sockets which seemed to absorb all nearby light. Its mouth was a jagged mess of uneven, broken teeth. A low, guttural growl escaped its maw as it lunged forward, clawed paws tearing into the earth for traction.
The forest wasn't helping, the steep incline of the hill made every step a gamble. Loose rocks slid under him, tree roots snagged at his boots, and the dense fog seemed to cling to everything, making it almost impossible to see where he was going. The air was humid and thick, making every breath feel like he was drowning.
[Sharp left in ten meters] AMY instructed with a rushed tone. [There's a clearing ahead with less obstructive terrain].
"Got it", Adjusting his path, Eli's boots skidded on the mossy ground. The beast's animalistic roar tore through the trees, closer now. He couldn't afford a second of rest.
As he ran, Eli's thoughts spiraled.
'How did it come to this?'
Seven years ago, the world went to shit when the P0-83 virus appeared out of nowhere and decimated over 40% of the population in under a year. Eli was only 14 when it first hit, he saw plants, animals, and humans alike get taken over by it and turned into monstrous abominations-Aberrants- in front of his eyes.
[Oxygen saturation decreasing. If you continue at this pace- ]
"Yeah, I know!" Eli snapped, his voice tainted with irritation. "I don't need you telling me how close I am to kneeling over."
There was a pause, a rare moment of silence from her. Then in a tone which seemed almost chiding, she said, [Apparently, you do Eli ]
"Forget it, what's the plan now? I won't be able to run away like this for much longer!" Eli shouts as he continues to duck behind trees and stumble forward to escape the abomination.
[Ravine ahead. Twelve meters. You'll need to jump. ]
Eli's heart sank. "Ravine! Are you kidding me?"
[Not in the slightest. Adjust Trajectory now or you will die. ]
He pushed himself harder, legs burning as he closed the distance to the ravine. The ground fell away sharply, revealing a gaping chasm. Fog obscured his sight of the bottom, but the faint sound of rushing water suggested that falling from here would not end well.
"You better be right about this AMY..." The Aberrant roared behind him, its claws digging into the earth as it closed the gap. Eli didn't think anymore, he couldn't. He simply leapt.
Time seemed to flow slowly. For a brief moment, he felt weightless, suspended over the dreadful void. Then gravity took hold, and he slammed into the opposite ledge. Pain shot through Eli's body as his chest hit the ground, knocking what little air in his lungs out.
[The Aberrant has not attempted to jump, you are momentarily safe.] Amy reported after Eli managed to gather his bearings and move away from the ledge.
"Momentarily? That's reassuring." Eli sighed as he slumped down below a nearby tree. As he rested, his gaze fell to the DECON device on his arm. A.M.Y's interface glowed faintly with a dim blue light.
"Stupid robot..." Eli groaned, holding his left arm which is riddled with the wooden fragments from earlier.
Amy's response was immediate [Incorrect. I was programmed to prioritize your safety above all else. My systems indicate that this sentiment should foster gratitude from you]
Eli lets out a bitter laugh while placing his palms in his head in frustration, "Yeah, thanks for keeping me alive so far AMY..."
Before he could rest for any longer, the Aberrants' animalistic roar reached his ears, echoing from the other side of the ravine. It paced along the edge, its hollow face turned toward him as if it could sense his exact location.
"Its not going to give up, is it?" Eli said to nobody in particular
[It will likely attempt an alternate route, i recommend immediate movement.]
Eli forced himself to his feet, wincing as pain flared in his arm, blood oozed from the gash left by the earlier projectile, staining his brown jacket with a crimson hue, "I'm all ears if you have any suggestions."
[There is a cave 15 meters to your right, the entrance is narrow enough to prevent the creatures entry]
Eli didn't hesitate. He turned sharply, moving as fast as his weary body could manage. The pain in his arm flared with every step, but he pressed on, knowing that it was his only option. The cave entrance loomed ahead, a narrow gap in the rocks, barely wide enough for him to fit through.
He scrambled toward it, his heart hammering in his chest, blood flowing freely from the gash on his side. The Aberrant's roars echoed again, but it was too far away. He made it to the cave just in time, slipping inside, and collapsing against the cool stone walls.
His body ached. His arm throbbed. His side was a mess of blood and raw pain. And yet, it wasn't the physical pain that bothered him the most-It was the dreadful feeling emanating from the pit of his stomach, as if his body was desperately trying to warn him of something.
Eli sighed, resting his head against the cave wall. "It's spreading, isn't it?"
[Yes. The virus is progressing in your system. The autoimmune systems I have been using to suppress the transformation are still effective, but there are limits.]
He didn't need to hear the rest. He already knew.
It had been three months since he had first been infected. Three months since he happened upon his oh so great AI assistant in an abandoned DECON factory.
He wasn't sure how much longer he could keep it up.
"You're really my last shot, aren't you?" Eli said quietly to the device, his voice hoarse from exhaustion.
[Yes, Eli. My systems are preventing the complete transformation, but without further intervention, the virus will continue to spread.]
"Ah... to hell with it all" Eli groaned, his situation was truly depressing.