I ran.
My feet pounded against the cold, smooth marble floor, my hand gripping the jagged metal pole tightly. My heart thundered in my chest, and my breath came in short, panicked bursts. This was it. The moment I'd only ever seen in action films—the chance to act, to take control. The chance to face the giant.
In my mind, scenes from my favorite films played out. David vs. Goliath. Small man, big monster. It was always the same: one determined soul, armed with nothing but willpower and wit, taking down a far stronger opponent. I'd seen it so many times, idolized it. Now, it was my turn. The saber-tooth was my Goliath.
I had some experience in fighting—boxing, mostly—but nothing like this. No gloves, no ring. Just a massive beast, claws like daggers and teeth sharp enough to slice through anything.
But in my head, I was already playing the hero. I had to. The idea of failing was too much to bear.
I surged forward, adrenaline flooding my system. I swung the pole, aiming for the saber-tooth's head.
I missed.
The beast's massive head turned at the last second. My strike barely grazed its fur. I felt my stomach drop. The saber-tooth didn't even flinch. It didn't even acknowledge my existence, except for the predatory gleam in its glowing red eyes.
Panic gripped me as I stumbled backward. What the hell am I doing? I could barely hold myself together, and here I was trying to fight a creature out of a nightmare.
Then, I saw him. Alex. The security guard. He was already locked in a deadly dance with the saber-tooth, his sword held steady as he circled the beast. He didn't hesitate, didn't falter. He was fighting with purpose.
"Watch its movements!" Alex shouted, not taking his eyes off the creature. "Don't rush in. Wait for your opening."
I tried to focus, my hands shaking as the saber-tooth's massive body rippled with muscle. It was faster than I'd anticipated. Its claws scraped the floor with a sound that sent chills down my spine, its tail flicking back and forth like a deadly whip.
"Keep your distance!" Alex barked. "Don't try to overpower it. Let it come to you."
I nodded even though he couldn't see me, trying to force my legs to move, to keep my distance. But the saber-tooth lunged again, a blur of motion. Alex was fast, blocking its claws with his sword, but it wasn't enough. The beast's teeth came down with a snap, missing Alex's face by mere inches. It roared, furious, and turned its focus on me.
I froze. My heart pounded so hard it hurt.
"Move!" Alex shouted, snapping me out of my trance.
I ducked, barely dodging the saber-tooth's next swipe. The floor seemed to tilt beneath me as I scrambled backward, my mind racing. How was I supposed to fight this thing?
I glanced around, trying to find something—anything—that could help. A student, just behind me, grabbed a nearby chair and threw it at the saber-tooth. It sailed through the air, crashing into the creature's side with a thud. The beast barely reacted, but it gave me a moment's respite. I needed to use it.
I gritted my teeth and lunged forward again, this time aiming for the creature's side. My strike landed, but it didn't have the impact I'd hoped for. The saber-tooth swung its claws toward me in retaliation, and I barely ducked in time, the air whistling above my head.
Another student, closer to Alex, grabbed a fire extinguisher and tossed it with a grunt. It struck the saber-tooth in the face, but the creature didn't back down. It roared and lashed out, forcing the students to scatter. The saber-tooth turned its attention back to Alex and me, its glowing red eyes narrowing.
I needed to find a way to make this work. I couldn't keep dodging forever. I had to fight. I had to act.
Alex's voice rang out again, steady despite the chaos. "Watch its movements! It's going to lunge. Wait for it."
The saber-tooth's massive body coiled, ready to spring. I could see it now, the pattern in its attacks. It was predictable, in a way. The creature was no different from an opponent in the ring. The key was timing.
I waited, my breath held, the pole still gripped tightly in my hands.
Then, the saber-tooth lunged, its claws slashing through the air like blades. I ducked under the strike, narrowly avoiding it. This time, I swung the pole with more force, catching the creature on its side. The hit landed harder than before, but the saber-tooth barely seemed to notice.
"Keep going!" Alex shouted, stepping in to engage. He swung his sword at the beast's chest, and it howled in pain, stepping back. The students behind us kept throwing things—chairs, a broken piece of glass, anything to distract the creature.
A textbook flew through the air and slammed into the saber-tooth's shoulder, forcing it to take a step back. It gave me the opening I needed. I swung again, this time hitting it square in the ribcage. The beast staggered, but it wasn't enough to bring it down.
Alex moved in. With a single, precise strike, he drove his sword deep into the creature's chest. The saber-tooth let out one final roar before collapsing to the floor, its massive form shuddering as it fell.
I stood there, panting, staring at the creature. The battle was over, but something didn't feel right. The saber-tooth's chest had cracked open, revealing a glowing red core inside. It pulsed with an eerie light, its red patterns still visible under the skin. It was unnatural.
"Something's wrong with these things," Alex muttered, eyeing the core warily. "We need to move, now."
We didn't waste time. The room was still chaotic, students scrambling for cover, trying to find safety. Alex led the way, pushing open a nearby door to a small storage room. Once inside, he quickly secured the door behind us, taking a moment to catch his breath.
The room was silent except for the sound of our ragged breathing.
Alex turned to face us. "I'm Alex," he said, his voice calm. "I served in Kingland's military. Right now, I'm your best chance at surviving this."
I nodded, still trying to process what had just happened. The adrenaline was starting to fade, leaving behind a cold sense of dread. This wasn't just a random attack. There was something deeper behind it, something we hadn't yet understood.
But for now, all we could do was survive. And as long as Alex was with us, maybe—just maybe—we'd have a chance.