The path Aldric had pointed to before was an uneven, winding corridor that promised an escape from the carnage—a lifeline and a harsh reminder of their uncertainty. The group ran in a tight cluster, each footfall echoing in the dim light, which had grown slightly brighter. In the midst of their frantic sprint, Ava and Chloe exchanged troubled glances.
"This is not right," Ava whispered, voice trembling. "We left Elijahbehind, shouldering our burdens on him. We're weighing him down."
Chloe's eyes filled with regret. "I know. It haunts me that our fear and weakness have become his burden. It's not fair."
Lumien, running beside them, cut in firmly. "Fairness has nothing to do with this. He's just stronger, and we're too weak to help. We need to trust him this time—and from now on, rely on ourselves. We can't keep leaning on him if it puts us all in danger."
Merry chimed softly, "We're learning, aren't we? Let's just make it out of here, and then treat him to a meal." Uncertainty and pain colored her voice, but her words lent a thread of hope.
They pressed onward. After what felt like an eternity, they rounded a bend and discovered a surprising sight: a section of tunnel bathed in a muted, natural light. The oppressive darkness receded, replaced by a gentle luminescence that hinted they were nearing an exit.
As they slowed to catch their breath, a new threat emerged. In a clearing, creatures lurked; their eyes glowed a cold blue, and two wore the strange military uniforms of Vaharian soldiers—perhaps survivors from Aldric's missing unit. The group concealed themselves behind a scatter of rocks.
Hushed whispers passed among them. Chris eyed the pair warily. "We keep running into these things. They're everywhere."
Allen leaned in. "There are six of them. Two appear human—probably Vaharian soldiers; and the rest… monsters."
Chris thought a moment. "Lumien, Yusuf, and I can take on the soldiers quickly, grab their gear, it should make dealing with the rest easier."
A murmur of agreement. Then Mia's voice trembled: "Are you prepared to kill other human beings?" Her question halted them, forcing them to face what they'd been avoiding.
Lumien's gaze hardened. "They're not human. We have no choice if we want to survive." He tried to convince himself more than the others.
Mia didn't relent. "Calling a rock 'bread' doesn't make it edible. I'd choose my survival over theirs any day—but I refuse to hide behind excuses like they aren't humans so we can kill them. Reality will bite back."
A heavy silence followed until Allen spoke. "Then so be it. We choose to live."
With grim determination, the group prepared. Chris whispered, "Lumien, Yusuf—ready?" They nodded. He turned to Allen and the rest: "Stall them and protect each other."
In a burst of coordinated action, Lumien, Chris, and Yusuf surged from cover toward the soldiers. Allen and the others moved against the monsters, faces set with fear and resolve.
The fight was swift and brutal. Lumien dodged the first soldier's swing and grappled to disable him while Yusuf snatched at weapons. Chris engaged the second. The corrupted soldiers fought stiffly, staggering under the assault. Yusuf yanked a dagger free—and froze, the weight of what he was about to do crashing down. Mia's words rang in his mind. Lumien called to him, but Yusuf stood paralyzed.
Chris acted without hesitation. He grabbed the dagger and delivered a killing blow to the first soldier, allowing Lumien to rise and strike the second. With a brief nod between them, they finished the fight. Both soldiers crumpled, their uniforms tattered, eyes dim.
Meanwhile, the slower, clumsier monsters closed in on Mia, Chloe, and Merry. Isla, trembling but determined, fought alongside them. Allen rushed to cover, parrying a heavy swing. Mia and Chloe improvised weapons; Merry kept their attackers at bay with quick, desperate strikes.
The corridor rang with clashing steel, guttural roars, and pained cries. Amid the chaos, they noticed something astonishing: with each injury, their wounds knit faster, their reflexes sharper. An imperceptible energy surged through them—a gift or a curse they couldn't yet define.
Finally, Chris and Lumien subdued the fallen soldiers. Yusuf, eyes hollow, whispered, "I'm sorry..." His voice trembled with bitter mourning.
Lumien didn't pause. He pried a blood-stained blade from one body and handed the other to Chris. "Let's finish this."
They gathered around to tend wounds. Ava offered a soft apology: "I'm sorry—I couldn't". Jasmine kept her quite
Allen replied gently, "It's natural. We all have our moments."
Suddenly, heavy footsteps echoed from the corridor behind them, growing louder.
"Someone's coming," Lumien whispered.
Their brief respite shattered as ominous footfalls approached, leaving them to wonder if the next threat would be mightier than the last.