A Stranger at Sujay's Lane
The Sujay Lane was eerily quiet, its cracked road flanked by towering ruins on either side. The convoy moved cautiously, their headlights piercing through the encroaching darkness. Each mile closer to the hospital seemed to thicken the air, the oppressive weight of the City pressing down on them.
In the lead truck, Elias's knuckles whitened as he gripped the wheel, his gaze fixed ahead. Lara, sitting beside him, glanced nervously at the map. Lyn was in the backseat, her hands fidgeting in her lap as she stared out the window.
Then, out of nowhere, a figure appeared in the road ahead.
"Elias, slow down!" Lara exclaimed, her voice sharp with alarm.
Elias hit the brakes, bringing the truck to a sudden halt. The convoy behind them stopped in unison, their engines idling in the heavy silence.
The figure was a man—tall, muscular, and clearly injured. He staggered toward them, his leg bent at an unnatural angle, blood dripping from a deep gash on his forehead. Despite his wounds, he was well-dressed, his backpack strapped tightly to his back.
"What the hell is he doing out here?" Jack's voice crackled over the radio.
"Keep driving," Margot said firmly. "We can't risk it."
"Elias, we can't just leave him," Lyn pleaded, leaning forward. "Look at him. He's barely holding on."
Elias hesitated, his jaw tightening as he weighed the risks.
The man stumbled closer, raising a hand and slapping it against the truck's windshield. Blood smeared across the glass as he banged on it desperately. His voice was hoarse, panicked. "They're coming! Please! Please help me!"
Margot's voice came through the radio again, sharp and resolute. "Elias, don't stop. This could be a trap. You know what's out there."
Jack chimed in. "She's right. We can't risk the group for a stranger. Keep moving."
Lyn's eyes welled with tears. "Elias, please. He's human. Look at him. We can't just drive away."
Elias glanced at Lara, who gave him a conflicted look. "It's your call," she said softly.
Taking a deep breath, Elias made his decision. "Stay in the trucks," he ordered, stepping out.
The man stumbled back as Elias approached, his hands trembling. Elias narrowed his eyes, letting the faint glow of his demon-like irises ignite—a trick he had developed to discern human from shadow. The man recoiled slightly, but he didn't change form.
He was human.
"Who are you?" Elias asked, his voice low but firm.
"My name is Roman," the man gasped, clutching his side. "Please, you have to help me. They're coming—those things. They killed my group. Please…"
Elias studied him for a moment longer before turning back to the trucks. "Lyn, move to Caleb's truck. Lara, get the medical kit."
Lara climbed out, carrying the kit to the backseat as Elias helped Roman hobble to the truck. Blood dripped onto the ground as they moved, leaving a dark trail behind.
"Sit here," Lara instructed, her tone calm but brisk. She opened the kit and began cleaning the deep gash on his forehead. Roman winced but didn't protest, his breathing ragged.
"You're lucky you're still alive," she muttered, her hands steady as she worked.
Roman gave a weak chuckle that turned into a grimace. "Luck? If you call being the last one alive luck, then sure."
As Lara bandaged his wounds, Roman began to speak, his voice trembling with exhaustion and fear.
"We were…a group of six," he said, his eyes unfocused. "We came from the west, traveling for weeks. We thought we could make it to Dunewalk—heard it was safer there, more civilized. But…" His voice faltered, and he swallowed hard.
"What happened?" Elias asked, his tone sharp.
Roman shook his head, his face pale. "They got us. The shadows. But it wasn't just the usual ones. There was something else out there. Something bigger. It wasn't human—it wasn't even close."
Lara exchanged a tense glance with Elias. "What did it look like?" she asked.
Roman's hands clenched into fists. "It was massive. Four-legged, like some kind of giant wolf or…or dog. Its eyes glowed red, and it tore through our group like we were nothing. I only escaped because…" His voice broke, and he looked away.
As Roman's story ended, his body slumped against the seat. "He's lost too much blood," Lara said softly, her hand resting on his shoulder. "We need to get him to safety."
Elias nodded, climbing back into the driver's seat. "We keep moving. Everyone, stay close."
The convoy resumed its journey, the road stretching ahead into darkness. Roman's breathing grew shallow as the miles passed, his strength fading.
Then the night came.
The sun dipped below the horizon, plunging the world into an unnatural gloom. The oppressive shadows seemed to grow thicker, the outlines of the City blurring into a dark haze.
In the truck, Lyn clung to Caleb, her eyes wide with fear. "They're here," she whispered.
Elias tightened his grip on the wheel, his sharp eyes scanning the road. "Stay focused," he said, his voice steady.
A low, guttural growl echoed in the distance, sending a shiver through the group.
"They're watching us," Roman murmured weakly, his voice barely audible.
Elias's gaze flickered to the rearview mirror, catching a glimpse of movement in the shadows. "Everyone, stay ready," he said, his voice cutting through the tension.
As the convoy pushed forward, the shadows began to close in, and the true danger of the City revealed itself once again.