The ground shook with every step the thing took. The roar filled the night, louder than the wind, louder than the groans of the scattered dead. The creature's eyes glowed like burning coals, casting flickering light over the ruined street. Its shape was huge, hulking, all muscle and shadow.
Ayla felt the heat of its breath before it even reached them. The air stank of rot and blood.
Kade grabbed her arm, pulling her back toward an alley. The girl clung to his side, too terrified to scream. The stranger stayed at Ayla's other side, blade raised, though even he looked pale beneath the grime and blood.
"What is that?" Ayla said, breathless.
The stranger didn't take his eyes off the beast.
"A mistake."
The creature charged.
They ran.
The bus behind them exploded into splinters as the beast crashed through it, metal and glass flying in every direction. The force of it sent them sprawling, but they scrambled up again, lungs burning, legs shaking.
Ayla pushed past the pain in her shoulder, pushed past the fear that clawed at her throat. The only thing that mattered now was moving, staying ahead of the thing that hunted them.
They darted through alleys, over piles of rubble, past wrecked cars and broken fences. The beast followed, unstoppable, crashing through walls as if they were paper, its roars shaking the night.
"We can't outrun it," Kade said, breath ragged.
"We have to," the stranger said.
They rounded a corner and found themselves in a wide courtyard, ringed by shattered buildings. There was nowhere else to go.
The beast came into view at the mouth of the alley, its massive frame filling the gap, its eyes locked on them.
Ayla felt the weight of its gaze, felt the promise of death in it.
The stranger stepped forward, sword ready.
"Kade, get them out of here."
"No," Kade said at once.
The stranger didn't look back.
"I'll buy you time."
Ayla shook her head, her voice fierce despite the terror in her chest.
"No one stays behind. We face it together."
The beast pawed at the ground, breath steaming in the cold night air.
Kade lifted his knife, standing at Ayla's side.
The stranger hesitated, then gave a sharp nod.
"Fine. We hit it hard, we aim for the eyes. If we're lucky, we blind it long enough to escape."
The creature charged.
They scattered, blades flashing as they struck at it. Ayla swung the broken pipe she still held, aiming for one of the burning eyes. The pipe connected with a crack that echoed through the courtyard, and the beast howled, rearing back.
The stranger's sword bit deep into its shoulder, black blood gushing out. Kade drove his knife into its side, but it barely seemed to notice, too consumed by its rage.
The beast lashed out, massive claws tearing through the air. Kade was flung aside, hitting the wall with a sickening thud. He groaned but didn't rise.
Ayla ran to him, heart in her throat.
"Kade!"
The stranger kept the beast's attention, moving fast, striking where he could, but the thing was too strong, too fast.
The beast lunged again, this time catching the stranger across the ribs. He fell hard, his blade clattering across the ground.
The creature turned toward Ayla and Kade, breath heaving, eyes burning with hate.
Ayla stood over Kade, pipe raised, knowing it wasn't enough, knowing she would not back down.
The beast charged.
And a shot rang out.
The beast staggered, snarling, black blood pouring from a fresh wound in its neck.
Another shot.
The beast reeled back, confused now, anger turning to pain.
A figure stepped from the shadows at the edge of the courtyard, rifle raised, calm and steady.
Ayla blinked, trying to see through the smoke and dust.
The figure moved closer, and she saw a woman, tall and lean, face half hidden by a mask, eyes cold and clear.
"Move," the woman called, voice sharp as steel.
Ayla didn't hesitate. She grabbed Kade's arm, pulling him upright as best she could. The stranger rose too, bleeding but alive.
The beast roared, charging again despite its wounds.
The woman fired once more, hitting it square between the eyes.
It dropped to its knees, still breathing, still dangerous, but slowed.
The woman didn't wait. She turned and ran, motioning for them to follow.
Ayla ran. The stranger ran. Kade stumbled beside them.
The beast's roar chased them into the night, and they had no choice but to keep moving, deeper into the city, with no idea who the woman was or what waited ahead.
And behind them, the beast rose again.