The air was damp and foul, like the slow rot of something long buried underground. A breeze passed through the dead leaves, carrying with it whispers that sounded like quiet voices.
In the bushes, on the trees, on rooftops and inside abandoned train cars… red shadows moved slowly everywhere, like starving ghosts.
Mavrick's hands were steady, but his heart was racing. It was seven against one—no, seven armed enemies, plus one beneath his feet.
Unless he was some kind of quick-draw cowboy, he stood no chance. The gun in his hand wasn't built for speed, and he didn't even know how many bullets were in it. Sure, he liked machines, but it was gears and precision he loved—not weapons built for killing.
He sighed quietly to himself. There was no way out—unless a miracle happened.
His eyes drifted to the night sky."If only some god could help me now…"
The men facing him seemed to sense his unease. One of them, Jack, sneered.
"Scared? Drop the gun and we'll leave your body in one piece."
Instead of backing down, Mavrick gripped his weapon tighter.
Lee was clearly unhappy with his companion's stupidity. With a grin, he casually positioned himself between the two opposing sides, striking the pose of a mediator. This way, he avoided being in the direct line of fire while keeping his pistol hidden at his back, ready to draw at any moment.
"Everyone, put your guns down! Let's talk this out!"
Mavrick's lips curled into an unconscious smirk. If he lowered his gun, it would spell his end. But now that Lee had stepped in, there was no need for courtesy. He raised his gun and aimed it squarely at Lee's nose.
"Whoa, whoa," Lee flinched, though he tried to play it cool.
"Hey, hey," Lee said, dodging nervously as the gun barrel stayed locked on him like a shadow.
"That's not fair! I've been helping you all along, and this is how you repay me?!" he added, pretending to be angry.
Mavrick, though lacking much experience with people, felt deep down that Lee was like a venomous snake lurking beneath fallen leaves, ready to strike at any moment.
And sure enough, the other side still hesitated to make a move. Once again, they were stuck in a tense standoff.
Lee studied Mavrick's face carefully under the moonlight. The kid was clearly nervous, but not wild like Earl—he wasn't about to lose control. That gave Lee a bit of relief. He even pulled out a cigarette and offered one to Mavrick. When Mavrick didn't react, he shrugged and lit one for himself.
He was proud of how calm he looked. Maybe the higher-ups would be impressed by his cool under pressure.
But then, one of the hunters on the edge of the group sniffed the air. He frowned and sniffed again."Do you guys smell that? Something… bloody."
"Don't try to scare us," another hunter growled, but he tightened his grip on his knife and glanced around. The wind was picking up, and the grass began to sway.
Joe, standing in the back, tilted his head."Do you hear that? Something's… dragging."
Before he finished his sentence, even Mavrick heard it—a wet, dragging sound from the darkness. Like something soft and heavy being pulled through the dirt. The bloody smell was stronger now.
Hunters started looking around nervously.
"Don't panic!" Lee called out, sensing the growing fear."We're just imagining things!"
"Damn it…" Earl cursed under his breath. His shoulder and neck were stiff, aching. The foot pressing down on his back had loosened just a little. He scanned the area, wondering if he could roll away, maybe risk the explosion. His armor was top-tier—surely it could take it. If he escaped, he swore he'd tear Mavrick apart, inch by inch.
But Mavrick noticed Earl's subtle movements and stomped harder. Earl gasped in pain.
*BANG!*
The sudden gunshot made everyone flinch. Tension spiked like lightning. Guns were raised, fingers trembling on triggers.
"Who fired?!" Lee shouted.
"I—I saw something! A huge shadow!" Joe was pale with fear.
"A person?" Lee asked quickly.
"No! Bigger than a person! Way bigger!" Joe wiped sweat from his face.
"What are you talking about? I don't see anything!"
Now everyone was scanning the trees, eyes wide.
"Don't panic!" Lee said again, but his voice was trembling.
Then, a soft scream came from behind the group.
Everyone turned.
A young hunter with a knife stood frozen, his mouth open like he wanted to speak—but before he could, something yanked him into the darkness. His bones cracked loudly, then silence. The forest swallowed him whole.
"AHHH—!"
The leaves rustled wildly, then fell still.
-----------------
"Something's wrong—they're behind us!"
Someone shouted, panicked."It's a trap! We're being attacked from the rear!"
Everyone froze. They turned quickly, eyes locked on the dark, thick jungle. From the shadows came a rustling sound—like something creeping slowly, or a huge beast licking blood off its prey.
Bang! Bang bang!
A few people fired blindly into the darkness.
"Calm down! Calm down! It might just be an animal…"
Lee's voice shook slightly, but he tried to hold the group together.
He raised his gun, aiming into the trees—but just then, a shadow flashed by. It was much bigger than a human and moved far too fast.
Only five of them were left now. They stood back to back, and somehow Mavrick and Dr. Chan ended up outside the circle.
Suddenly, the darkness moved.
Something large and black dropped silently from the treetops. Despite its size, it landed without a sound. It hung upside-down from a branch, and one sharp claw shot toward Jack's back like lightning.
"Ahhh!"
A sharp pain exploded in Jack's back. His whole body went stiff, lifted into the air. Reacting out of instinct, he yanked the chainsaw starter and swung upward.
Buzz—!
The chainsaw sliced deep into the monster's arm, spraying blood across his face. But then it hit bone—and stuck. The creature's bones were tough, like metal. Then came a piercing screech that made Jack's brain go numb. His hand slipped, and he fell to the ground.
"They're above us!" someone screamed. Bullets flew.
Bang!
A bullet shot from the side, grazing Lee's cheek. It nearly tore off his ear.
"Who fired?!" Lee roared.
One of the hunters stood shaking, eyes wide, his rifle still smoking."They're… they're in the trees! Up there!"
Everyone went quiet. All they could hear was the wind moving through the leaves. No sign of the creatures.
"Jack, are you okay?" Lee asked, still watching the trees.
No answer.
"Jack? Jack!"
Joe ran over and nudged Jack, who was kneeling on the ground. Jack collapsed forward, dead. His hunting jacket was ripped open, and a huge hole was in his chest.
"Jack's dead! His heart's gone!"
Joe shouted, terrified.
Then everyone heard it—that wet, slurping sound. Something was chewing. Swallowing.
"Screw this, I'm out!" one hunter yelled, turning to run. But Lee grabbed him.
"Are you crazy? Running is even more dangerous!"
"Staying here is suicide!" the hunter snapped. He was trembling, eyes darting, barely in control.
Just when Lee thought they'd calmed down, Joe suddenly sprinted toward a distant building. That was enough to set others off—more hunters started to panic and run.
"Idiot…" Lee cursed under his breath."Don't run! Stay in a circle, guns facing out—they won't dare come close!"
He stared into the dark, voice low:
"…There's something here."
Mavrick was shaking. He'd seen the creature clearly when it attacked. It had no skin—just raw muscle stitched together with black cracks running all over it. It looked like someone had peeled it alive, then sewn it back up. It had no lips. Its white teeth were fully exposed, and its eyes glowed red inside deep sockets.
Mavrick's hands trembled.
"They're too smart… and too terrifying…"
"If they're dead… maybe I can escape?"
The thought passed through Mavrick's mind—but he didn't believe it.
He shook his head slowly and whispered to himself,
"No… I won't make it out either."