Rain fell in soft droplets, soaking the leaves that were beginning to darken in the night. Nova took a deep breath, the scent of wet earth mixing with the tension that filled the air. Beside her, Axel tightened his grip on the knife he carried, his eyes still focused on the forest.
"We have to move now," Axel whispered, glancing towards the cannibal camp they had just left.
Nova nodded, then shifted her body slowly to avoid making noise. They were still hiding under the roots of a large tree, watching the shadows begin to move. The hunters had spread out, searching for them in the dense forest.
CRACK!
The sound of a snapping twig made Nova hold her breath. Axel immediately signaled her to remain silent. In the darkness, a tattooed wild man passed just a few meters from their hiding place. His body was covered in wounds and bite marks, his eyes wild, like someone who had lost their sanity.
The man stopped.
Nova could see clearly—the man sniffed the air, like an animal looking for prey. Her heart pounded.
The rain began to fall harder.
"I don't like this..." Nova whispered softly.
Axel gripped her arm. "Wait a moment."
The tattooed man stood still for a few seconds that felt like forever. Then, with a quick motion, he turned and ran in another direction.
Nova exhaled softly.
"We move now," Axel whispered.
They crawled out of their hiding place, their bodies soaked by the rain. Axel pulled Nova towards the darker side of the forest, avoiding the main path. Even though they made a trap in the river before.
"Where are we going?" Nova asked.
Axel pointed towards a hill that was faintly visible in the distance. "We'll climb up there. From the top, we can see this whole area and find an escape route."
Nova stared at the hill. The distance was quite far, and with the increasingly heavy rain, the journey would be even more difficult.
They began to run, avoiding slippery branches and tree roots. Their footsteps were almost inaudible under the rain.
Suddenly, shouts echoed from the hunters.
"THEY'RE OVER THERE!"
Nova looked back.
Several wild men ran towards them, their bodies glistening in the rain. Their faces were filled with anger and hunger.
Axel pulled Nova faster. "Don't stop!"
They ran through the increasingly dark forest, with the sound of footsteps behind them growing closer. The rain covered the sound of their breaths, but also the sound of their enemies.
Nova could feel her heart pounding wildly. If they were caught now...
Suddenly, Axel pulled Nova aside, into a narrow gap between two large rocks.
Nova almost tripped, but Axel held her up.
"We'll hide for a moment," Axel whispered, holding his breath.
Nova followed, pressing her body against the cold rock wall.
A few seconds later, the hunters passed them, running at full speed. They didn't notice Axel and Nova hiding just a few steps away from them.
Nova closed her eyes, praying they wouldn't be found.
After a few minutes, the footsteps began to fade.
Axel peeked out. "They're gone."
Nova breathed a sigh of relief.
However, before they could move again...
CRACK.
A strange sound echoed from behind the rocks.
Nova turned to Axel. "What was that?"
Axel shook his head, then raised his knife.
Nova held her breath, her ears sharply picking up the sound behind the rocks. Axel gripped his knife tightly, his eyes keenly watching the dark gap in front of them.
CRACK.
The sound came again. This time closer.
Nova glanced at Axel warily. "Maybe it's just an animal?" she whispered.
Axel didn't answer. He moved slowly, sharpening his hearing. His heart was racing, but still controlled.
Suddenly, something burst out from behind the rocks.
SWISH!
Axel reflexively swung his knife. CRASH! The creature fell to the ground, rolling towards Nova, who spontaneously jumped back.
It wasn't human.
Nor was it an animal.
A gaunt figure with pale gray skin, its eyes pitch black like bottomless holes. Its mouth was half open, revealing sharp teeth covered in dried blood.
The creature growled softly, as if just waking from a long sleep.
Nova shuddered in horror. "What the hell is that…?"
Axel held the knife in front of his body, ready for the worst. The creature moved slowly, like it had just risen from the dead.
However, before they could react further...
BRUAAAGH!
A rumbling sound echoed in the distance, followed by a loud scream that reverberated through the forest. Nova turned towards the sound quickly.
From where they stood, she could see flashes of red light in the sky.
"Their camp..." Nova murmured.
Axel nodded. "Looks like something's happening there."
The creature suddenly moved. SRAK! It crawled quickly towards them, its claws ready to tear.
Axel didn't wait any longer.
SWISH!
The knife in his hand flew, piercing the creature's neck. Black blood spurted out, its body convulsed before finally collapsing to the ground.
Nova held her breath, her heart still pounding. "That creature... it's the same as the ones we saw in the bunker."
Axel nodded. "And it seems they're not the only ones."
The rain fell harder. Lightning flashed in the sky, illuminating the darkness of the night in the distance. Nova felt a bad feeling creep over her body.
"If their camp is in chaos, this is our chance to escape," Nova said.
Axel thought quickly. "We can take advantage of the chaos. But first, we have to get out of this forest before they realize where we're going."
They continued their journey with quick steps, slipping between the wet trees. The rain at least helped dampen the sound of their footsteps, but it could also be a trap if they slipped or lost their way.
Nova looked around carefully, searching for a safe path they could take.
Nova almost lost her balance when the ground beneath her became slippery with mud. Axel quickly grabbed her hand, saving her before she fell.
CRASH!
Suddenly, something fell from a tree—a human figure hanging upside down, its face decaying with wide-open eyes. Nova screamed softly, backing away in panic.
The corpse... was still wearing clothes from the cannibal camp.
"Looks like they're not just hunting us," Axel said in a low voice.
A terrifying thought crossed Nova's mind. Could they be the ones being hunted now?
Heavy footsteps echoed from the left. Nova turned and saw one of the camp hunters walking towards them, his body trembling.
However, something was strange.
The man's gaze was empty. His body was covered in gaping wounds. His hands were raised as if asking for help, but...
From behind his body, another hand appeared.
Then... the creature's head.
CRACK!
With a horrifying sound, the man's head was gripped and pulled back before his body fell to the ground.
Nova and Axel froze.
The creature stared at them.
Axel immediately pulled Nova.
Without thinking, they ran again as fast as they could.
Behind them, the creatures began to chase.
TAP! TAP! TAP!
The sound of their footsteps cut through the increasingly heavy rain. Nova could feel her breath quickening, but she couldn't stop. If she stopped, they would die.
Suddenly, in front of them, something appeared—a high wire fence covered in wild plants.
"A gate!" Nova exclaimed.
Axel quickly looked for a gap. They couldn't climb the fence in a short time.
Nova saw something on the right side. "Here!"
There was a small hole in the fence, large enough for them to pass through one by one.
Axel immediately crawled in first. Nova followed, but before she could get through completely...
SWISH!
The creature's claws scratched her jacket back.
Nova screamed, her legs kicking hard.
Axel quickly pulled her from the other side, and they fell rolling on the ground.
The creatures growled from behind the fence, scratching the wire angrily. However, they couldn't get through the fence.
Nova was breathless, her body trembling. She looked back at the creatures.
They... weren't trying to break through.
"They can't get out of there," Axel murmured.
Nova stared at the fence in wonder. "What does this mean?"
Axel scanned his surroundings. They were in a different place now. No longer in the forest.
Nova began to realize something. The road in front of them was straight, with the remains of asphalt covered in moss. Small buildings were visible in the distance.
Axel looked at Nova. "We don't know where we are yet."
Nova bit her lip, trying to organize her chaotic thoughts.