Astray

(Daniel's POV)

As Hunter disappeared into the fog, I sat leaning on a wall and holding my revolver for dear life.

I thought of what could have happened to the other two and only then it struck me.

'The fog monsters.' I thought.

Realizing what might happen to all three of them I got up as quickly as I could, considering the injured knee.

I started walking into the dense fog the others went into. I was barely able to see where I was stepping. It was scary.

I walked deep into the tunnel for about ten minutes until a loud roar came from behind me. Then it was followed by panting and footsteps that faded to my left side.

I turned around to see what was wrong. I saw a huge silhouette approaching me slowly. I instantly knew it wasn't any of the others as this silhouette was significantly larger than all of us.

Without thinking I ran into a tunnel to my right and kept going. I felt blood pumping through my body like no other time in my life.

Adrenaline took over my body as I could no longer feel any pain and I was running for dear life at full speed.

I could hear the monster's thumping footsteps behind me. It was very loud.

I saw a light at the end of the tunnel I was in but, there weren't any other tunnels for me to run into, which was very concerning.

As I quickly approached the light I was able to see a ladder leading to the light coming from up top.

I thought quickly as I had little to no time before I was on the ladder.

'Alright, alright.' I said to myself.

I leapt onto the ladder from a little distance to give myself a head start. Then I started climbing as quickly as my limbs could.

My right leg was pulled down with immense force from out of nowhere. I couldn't break the hold as I lingered on the ladder with both my arms wrapped around it just so I don't fall. I realized that I still had the revolver in my hand so I decided to leave it all to my luck. I barely held onto the ladder with one hand as the monster kept pulling me down, and with my other hand pointed the revolver between my legs. And without aiming I just took the shot as It echoed through the tunnel.

The monster screeched as it let my leg go. I was relieved as I started climbing again.

Then I started to hear steps on the ladder that weren't mine.

'No way !!!!' I thought to myself.

The monster started climbing after me, so I kicked it into another gear as I started climbing two steps at a time.

I could feel I was kinda getting away from it but still it was hot on my heels.

The ladder's height certainly didn't help as it was about as long as the one which I climbed when I escaped The Syndicate.

The manhole was now visible to me as I started panicking. I knew I had to push it out of the way or do something to get rid of it. Whatever it was it would take some time, and time is the only currency I can't afford.

I reached the very top and I realized the manhole was a lot heavier than I thought it was.

'Damn it.' I said to myself.

I looked down and saw the silhouette climbing up. I took a deep breath and aimed my revolver at its head and took a shot that rang in my ears.

The monster screeched so loudly I thought my ear drums would pop. Then it let go of the ladder and fell behind.

A loud thump echoed as it hit the ground and then silence.

I took another deep breath and turned my focus on getting out.

I carried the manhole away from the top and then climbed out of the dark and foggy tunnel.

I laid down next to the manhole as I was exhausted from the chase. Blood still pumping through my body as I breathed heavily whilst trying to catch my breath.

"Frickin hell that thing was hungry." I said out loud as I started laughing.

I was so happy that I wasn't devoured that I couldn't actually believe it.

"Shit." I said. "Where are the others?"

I thought about what could have happened down there.

'Maybe they will come. I will wait here for a while.' I thought.

I looked around to see I was in what looked like a small forest. I wasn't bothered by where I was but the thought of one of these monsters getting to any of them really crawled under my skin. I was really worried.

I leaned on one of the trees that were close to the manhole hoping to get some rest and wait for them to hopefully leave that dark place.

I closed my eyes not knowing how tired I actually was so I drifted off to asleep.

-------------------------

"Hey dipshit. Wake up." A woman's voice called over me.

I slowly opened my eyes and saw the end of a shotgun barrel right in my face. I panicked a bit but she pulled it away from me.

"Good morning sunshine. You look rusty." She said in a Scottish accent.

"Just tired." I said as I tried to get up.

She pushed the shotgun into my chest and forced me to lean on the tree again.

"Let me make something clear sweetheart. I am not to be messed with. And you try anything funny, your brain will blow up to a thousand pieces. Understood?" She said seriously.

"Alright jeez calm down lady." I said.

"It's Veronica. Nice to finally meet you Daniel." She said.

"How do you .... Know my name?" I asked.

"Oh well I ... Um .... Everyone kinda knows you around." She started. "Assassins were sent to take your ass down and I was one of them but I decided against it." She continued.

"Well ugh. Thanks, I guess." I said.

"You better get me a gift cause I could have just blown your head off your shoulders while you were sleeping." She said. "But now let's get out of here."

"I'm waiting for my friends to get out of there." I said as I pointed to the manhole.

"How long have they been in there?" She asked.

"A few hours. I think." I said.

"Well chances are they are dead. So let's get going." She said as she pulled me up.

"Can't we wait more?" I asked.

"No Daniel, we need to go. Now." She said.