Chapter Seven: Echoes Of Dread And A Dance Of Death.

As Ludachel observed the flickering stars above, a sense of foreboding lingered in the air, masked by the casual chatter of his new companions. The cool night breeze carried whispers of danger, a silent warning that made Ludachel's senses unknowingly tingle with alertness.

"Jax, have you seen Rin anywhere yet? It's not safe for her to be alone, especially when upset. She's the reason we're here, after all," Brain's voice wavered slightly, his concern evident despite the haze of alcohol clouding his thoughts.

Jax's response carried a veneer of confidence, masking an underlying uncertainty as he crosses his arms against his chest. "Rin can handle herself. She chose to be difficult, and she can deal with the consequences. I'm sure she's just sulking nearby," his words held a hint of bravado that faltered at the edges.

Ludachel, his gaze still fixed on the stars, interjected with a quiet but firm tone, "Brain is right, Jax. If you came with her, it's best not to let her wander alone. The night can be dangerous out here, as well as its people."

Although reluctant, Jax knew Ludachel was right so with a nod of understanding, Jax stood up from the addicting warmth that emitted from his seat beside Ludachel, "Okay fine, but don't let this one leave, Brain. I have a feeling he might slip away into the night like some fucking ninja." Jax laughs, clearly intoxicated but still shows resolve in his steps as he makes his way towards the other side of the fire in search of Rin, leaving Ludachel and Brain in the flickering shadows cast by the firelight.

In a complentative thought Ludachel turns his attention to the thin lanky boy beside him, as the said boy fiddles with his drink. "Why does Jax call you Brain? Or is that actually your name?"

Startled, Brain does a double take and sighs under his breath as if the question was something he heard repetitively. "Well, it's a nickname Jax gave me when we first met. I once asked why? and he said it's because the glasses I wear make me look smart."

Amused, Ludachel presses on feeling unusually talkative for the first time in never, "Are you then? Smart I mean."

"Not exactly, no." Brain says reluctantly, avoiding his eyes.

"Huh how odd, I thought nicknames were meant for a person's tribute of character."

"Well, I never stated Jax was smart either." The boy joked with a huff, his glasses fogging up in the process.

Slightly smiling at his words, Ludachel allowed himself to relax, his mind drifting back to the unsettling dream that haunted him earlier unwantedly, but his thoughts didn't linger for long as a sudden shift in the atmosphere sent a sudden ripple of alertness through him. A familiar, putrid odour drifted towards them, triggering Ludachel's instincts to spring into action.

"Deathtem!" Ludachel's voice cut through the night, urgency lacing his tone as he swiftly pulled Brain to his feet, his movements quick with practiced efficiency.

In a blur of motion, a mutant creature lunged towards them, a grotesque form with three heads and an aura of malevolence. Ludachel's training kicked in, a fluid dance of combat as he deftly evaded the creature's attack, his hidden blade gleaming in the firelight.

With precision and calm resolve, Ludachel manoeuvred under the Deathtem, his blade slicing through its belly with deadly precision as he twisted the blade in critical blow, incapacitating the creature mid-flight. The Deathtem yelped as it crumpled to the ground, a grotesque sight as its insides and blood mingled with the dust beneath their feet.

Brain's initial shock at the sudden attack had frozen him in place, his eyes wide and uncomprehending. As Ludachel swiftly made sure he had dispatched the Deathtem completely amongst the screaming of others, that surrounded them as the reality of the danger they were facing crashed down on Brain like a hammer, shattering his alcohol-induced haze.

Panic seized Brain as he staggered back, his breath coming in shallow gasps as he stared at the bloodied, lifeless creature before him. "What... What was that? Was that a Deathtem!? What just happened?" His voice trembled with fear and disbelief, his hands shaking uncontrollably at his sides.

Seeing Brain's distress, Ludachel quickly moved toward him, gripping his shoulders firmly to steady him. "Brain, listen to me. We don't have time for this. You need to get moving, now. More of these creatures could be lurking nearby," Ludachel's voice was urgent, pushing Brain to focus despite the chaos unfolding around them.

With a deep breath, Ludachel's gaze locked onto Brain's, willing him to centre himself amidst the chaos. "I need you to pull yourself together. We are in danger, and your friends may be as well. We have a responsibility to ensure their safety. Can you do that, Brain?" His words cut through the haze of panic, injecting a sense of purpose into Brain's disoriented mind.

Slowly, Brain nodded, determination sparking in his eyes as he steeled himself for what lay ahead. "I... I can do this. Let's find them. Let's get back to the city," he replied, completely forgetting about the plan he made with his friends, but despite that fact his voice was steadier now, a newfound resolve firming his stance.

As Brain dashed ahead, navigating through the crowded bonfire party in a frenzied search for his friends, Ludachel's keen observation unveiled a quartet of ominous signs that spelled dire consequences.

Firstly, there was a glaring absence of soldiers who were assigned to patrol the city's outskirts. Not a single one was in sight, an unsettling void where vigilance was expected.

Secondly, a handful of soldiers that were around mingling among the party-goers seemed to have surrendered their senses to intoxication. In such a state, their judgement was compromised, raising fears that a sudden panic could trigger a deadly, indiscriminate response.

Thirdly, an insurmountable barrier presented itself as the city's alarm went off and the gate made the earth vibrate with a violent thud, indicating they were firmly locked down. This realisation hit Ludachel with the weight of its implications. Even if they succeeded in locating Jax and Rin amidst the chaos, their path to safety was effectively sealed.

Finally, the most horrifying observation of all was the escalating violence within the crowd. Individuals were being brutally attacked and torn apart in a frenzy, a stark indicator of the nightmare unfolding. The party, once a scene of merriment, was rapidly descending into a horrific tableau of desperation and fear, signalling that they were all ensnared in a situation with seemingly no escape.

"Why are there so many Deathtems? They don't hunt in packs. What the fuck is going on?!" Brain cried.

"We'll discuss this later, Brain. I need you to think, did you, Jax and Rin have a caution plan in place if a Deathtem showed up before coming?" Ludachel yelled from behind Brain.

"Uh, well yes but two parts of the plan and the only parts of the plan has taken a giant shit on us, so no, not anymore now that the city went into lockdown!"

In the midst of Ludachels panic, Brain urgently yelled out, "Look there! I found them!" and pointed towards the figures making a dash for gate 11, Ludachel's focus shifted from the chaotic scene unfolding around them. The mass of people clamouring at gate 12 blurred into the background as Ludachel's attention zeroed in on the silhouette of Jax carrying Rin, their path set towards a hidden truck that was almost nestled in the shadows.

'That truck from this morning!'

"Brain, they're heading to an abandoned truck! There might be a chance yet. Let's move!" Ludachel's voice carried a mix of urgency and determination as he seized Brain's sleeve, pushing him forward faster in their direction. Together, they sprinted towards Jax and Rin, the cold night air whipping past them in a frenzied blur.

Mid-stride, a gut-wrenching sight halted Ludachel and Brain in their tracks. A Deathtem, its ghastly form outlined in the darkness, was in relentless pursuit of Jax and Rin. The horror of the moment crystallised in Ludachel and Brain's minds as they realised the impending danger closing in on their friends, who remained oblivious to the looming threat.

Ludachel's urgent shout pierced the chaos, his voice carrying a desperate plea,

"JAXSON, WATCH OUT!!!"

In that heart-stopping moment when it seemed as though his warning would go unheeded, a wave of despair washed over Ludachel. Beneath his rugged exterior, a strange sense of attachment had formed towards Jax, a feeling that hinted at the potential for a bond that transcended mere acquaintanceship.

As both Ludachel and Brain raced towards them, their voices blending into a cacophony of screams, fate pivoted on Jax's swift reaction. Against the looming threat of the Deathtem, Jax's instincts kicked into overdrive. In a split-second decision that spoke volumes of his selflessness, he propelled Rin towards safety in the direction of the truck and bellowed, "Run!" before the Deathtem violently brought him crashing to the ground.

The abruptness of the scene unfolded like a tragedy, the tension palpable as Jax's act of sacrifice played out before Ludachel and Brain's eyes.

The world seemed to halt as Brain and Ludachel heard the sickening sound of bones crunching under the teeth of the Deathtem and Jax screams of agony begging not to die. It was when Jax's final plea to any god to save him as his whimpers ceased, awoke a profound transformation in Ludachel.

Something ancient and potent stirred within him, a force that was both terrifying and awe-inspiring.

In a moment that chilled Brain to his core, Ludachel gripped his tear-streaked face and turned it away from the gruesome sight of his best friend being eaten. With eyes now as dark as the void of space, they shifted into swirling nebulas that seemed to hold the mysteries of the universe.

"I need you to run," Ludachel's voice rang out, devoid of human emotion yet commanding attention. "Run as if your life depends on it. Take Rin to safety. Do not let Jax's sacrifice be in vain. Get to the truck and do not look back."

Brain, shaken to his core, stumbled back, his eyes wide with fear. Tears streamed down his face, his glasses forgotten in the chaos. "I-uh, wha-"

"NOW, BRAIN," Ludachel's voice boomed, cutting through the chaos.

"Uh- how do we even know the truck will start? What about you?" Brain stammered in confusion.

"I have no time to explain. GO!" Ludachel's command brought no argument.

At that moment, Brain sprinted towards Rin, reaching her in a blur of motion. Sweeping her off the ground, he raced towards the truck, her sobs of apologies echoing in his ears.

Brain thanked the gods that the truck was unlocked and proceeded to shove Rin into the passenger seat, then scrambled behind the wheel. With trembling hands and a broken heart, he turned the key, praying for the old engine to roar to life as Rin's cries of a deep loss filled the cabin.

Meanwhile, Ludachel, in a display of otherworldly power that was sourced by an instinct he didn't understand, drew the attention of all Deathtems within the area with a piercing whistle. As they converged on him, he found something within him, made from desperation and failure to protect a sincere soul, Ludachel unleashed a surge of azure mist that surrounded the creatures, freezing them in their tracks and just stopping a few centimetres from the truck.

Moans and wails filled the air, a dreadful symphony of agony. As the mist receded, only piles of bones remained where the Deathtems once stood.

Brain, disbelief written on his face as he watched on as Ludachel visibly paled, looking at the destruction that lay in his wake, made by his own hands. He caught eyes with Brain, his eyes returning to their dark shade of blue before he collapsed to the ground in the darkness of the night with a thud.

"What the actual...?" he breathed, shaken to his core by the display of power he had just witnessed.

"This shit is fucked."