Episode 5: Lost Labyrinth (1): Struggles and escape (4)

I didn't understand. It wasn't logical.

"Why did he help me?" I murmured to myself.

He was walking in front and came to a stop. Reaching his hand back to stop me, we crouched down a little hiding in the shadows of the buildings. Right around the corner, there was another group of soldiers.

On our way here, we avoided a lot of them but this time it was different - they were directly blocking the path forward. He looked around for a moment then turned around facing me.

"Hey, listen."

"Umm," I replied.

"You're going to stay here. I know you've got a gun so take it out and prepare for combat."

"Do we... really have to fight them?"

I knew I was speaking nonsense. After all, they were after our lives, or to be precise, my life.

"Ah... never mind..." I spoke quietly.

"It's inevitable. We need to get out of here first and I don't see any other path."

The cloud of dust was approaching us from behind.

"It's a perfect chance. Let's wait till this smoke reaches them. I'll hide in the smoke and you stay here. Do you see this flashlight on my gloves? It'll be my signal. At that moment, I'll have distracted them, shoot them from behind."

"But..." I glanced over at the group of soldiers. "Two of them have helmets and they all have body armour... I don't think my shots will..."

It was a sad truth.

"I've always been hesitant when it comes to combating and shooting, although I did shoot one of them back there... That's an exception..." I thought to myself.

"The range... it's too far." I told him but that wasn't the main point. My hands were trembling and I could start to see blood on my hands.

"Hey." He grabbed on to my hands. "Get a grip, you're fine now."

The blood disappeared; it was a hallucination.

"I'm going crazy..."

"It's okay now. Listen. I'll do something about the two soldiers wearing helmets. Try to shoot the other ones on the leg, arm or if you can... the head."

My eyes widened. I still couldn't get over the fact I shot someone in the head just a few moments ago; I was slightly trembling again.

The dense cloud of dust was getting closer and it was time.

I stepped back, while crouching, and waited for him. The cloud covered him and he dashed forward into the open area.

* * *

The soldiers were all laughing and chatting.

"Hey... how long do you think this will last?"

"Ahh, who cares? Hahaha."

"I guess so, hahaha."

One of the soldiers wiped his gun. "Hey, be careful."

"Be careful? of what? ghosts? bhahaha."

"No... I have a bad feeling," he replied.

"Man... you're always so grumpy. No wonder you couldn't get a-"

*Bang*

The soldier, who was wiping the gun, jolted and stood up looking into the distance. He took aim and looked into the scope.

"Hey! Hey!" one of the soldiers screamed.

"Shit! He's been taken out!"

"Get into position!" the soldier, who was scoped in, shouted. "That cloud of smoke..." He placed his glasses on over the goggles and turned it on. "You're not hiding from me..." he said softly.

The glasses tracked infrared radiation and he could see the figure of the guy hidden in the smoke.

I peeked out towards the soldiers and I saw one of them aiming directly into the smoke; his fingers were ready to fire.

"No!!!" I aimed the gun out and towards his arm with full concentration.

*Bang* *Bang*

*Fling* *Ding* The bullet cartridge fell on the floor rolling away from me.

My eyes were wide open.

I hit.

His arm was slightly retracted as he dropped his gun and it hung off his shoulders freely. Using the other hand, he covered his arm and retreated back towards the other soldiers and the rest stepped up encompassing him.

I quickly shifted my gaze towards the smoke looking for signs of life. I scanned the floor but I couldn't see anything - no blood. The cloud of dust gradually lifted but he was gone, disappeared.

I crawled backwards a little hiding into the shadows again away from the soldiers' field of vision.

"There's someone here! Go get them!" one of the soldiers said waving his hands directing the others.

They began to tread slowly towards me holding their guns up but I saw it.

Behind, like the shadows, something crept up; it was him.

He took his knife out swiftly dragging it across the first victim. I could see his bloodthirsty eyes glowing. He gave no mercy as he slit their throats one after the other; the victims had no chance to scream for help, to scream for aid.

The soldier, who got shot in the arm by me, spoke up, "Hey, come back here don't go alone-" he said looking up. He saw a tall, dark figure. His eyes blurred but he saw the blood flowing out from the victim like a fountain. His eyes shook, "A... a demon..."

The 'yo' guy slowly turned his head looking down at the injured soldier. He was smirking a little.

I couldn't see his facial expression from my location. "It must be terrifying," I said.

The 'yo' guy slowly walked up towards the last soldier swinging his blade as the blood dripped off staining the floor.

The soldier panicked but they pulled the gun from behind him using his left hand; he was unable to hold it still - it wasn't the hand he usually uses. Trembling restlessly, he tries his best to aim and pulled the trigger.

"AHHH!!!!" the soldier screamed.

But, they all missed.

"A demon... a demon!!!" the soldier shouted.

The 'yo' guy continued to step forward as if he was immune to bullets.

I reached out my hand and started to walk into the light subconsciously.

It was a mistake.

After his eyes shook a little, the soldier shifted his gaze towards the corner of his vision and he stared straight at me. I stumbled back but it was too late; he pointed the gun at me.

The 'yo' guy's face darkened. He lobbed the blade as he panicked his way back towards me, running at me.

"Hey!!! Get down!!!" he shouted.