Episode Two - Organic Clue (Part 1)

Chapter Song Suggestion "Savage Streets by Super Radical"

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THE PAST | Lars

An ear-splitting cry yanked him from the arms of Morpheus. Jack-knifing from his pallet, he swivelled to where the soldiers had a writhing girl pinned to the ground. At first, he thought they were attempting to rape her but, he noticed her mouth foaming like a rabid animal. Shock and concern had him scrambling to his feet.

What were they doing to her?

"Go back to sleep. "A gravelly voice warned from behind.

He turned to see the soldier flashing his taser bat, telling him not to get involved. Glancing around, he noticed the other children were too terrified to move — their faces pale and gaunt. They were desperately trying to blend into the background, possibly to avoid sharing the girl's fate.

"What is going on?" he demanded, dismay overriding fear. Rushing forward to save the girl, he was brusquely tackled to the ground. "Let go! What are you doing to her!" He bucked and kicked rampantly.

A taser shoved into his side and his body seized with electrical pulses, muscles suspended, and teeth clenched to bite back the pain. An imperceptible sound reached his ears, and he realized the girl was calling out to him. Jerking his eyes up, their gazes locked.

Tears rolled down her cheeks, her emerald orbs begged to be put down.

Silently, he conveyed his strength and determination, willing her to fight and never give up.

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PRESENT DAY

The surrounding perimeter fence had been ripped through, a gaping hole befitting the size of a man proved this was the entry point. Lars frowned. How were the predators able to touch the electrical fencing? They would have been electrocuted on the spot.

Was it foul play? Had someone deliberately disabled the power?

Grimly, he surveyed the damage and motioned for Koga to move slowly. Based on what he had read, this quaint village preferred a primitive lifestyle of living in tree houses and cultivating their own bare necessities — food, water and clothes — completely isolated from society. The place was mysteriously deserted except for the grisly corpses, some headless, and some were left with their bellies wide open, their bloodied entrails painting the ground.

Cold fury gripped Lars at the sight of dead children.

Were they too late?

It shouldn't be the case. They had arrived less than ten minutes after receiving the distress call. There should be signs of survivors and predators but both were nowhere to be found, as if this attack had happened yesterday and not recently.

Gaze alert, Lars observed the unfinished meals on rough-hewn tables, abandoned workstations and wandering livestock lucky to be alive. It seemed the villagers were amidst their daily chores when they were attacked. They never stood a chance.

A loud snap echoed amongst the tall trees. The team froze. Hand reaching for the hilt of his reaper, Lars waited. The air hung with a threat of heavy menace. No doubt, they were being watched. He could feel the predators' vile hunger slithering down his nape, wrapping around like a tight coil.

Lars counted in his head. Three...Two...One!

A harrowing screech assaulted their ears, setting his teeth on edge. The trees shook and a dark shadow loomed overhead, blocking out the harsh sunlight. Head snapping up, Lars braced himself when a gunshot fired and the fully grown mandrillus slammed into the ground — dead on impact.

Florian. He was in position.

Lars didn't have time to inspect the red and blue faced creature when Anaelle shouted, "More at six o'clock!" She unfurled her laser whip, eyes glued on the trembling forest that heralded more mandrilluses, a chorus of their aggressive snarls echoing.

"Captain, leave them to us," Koga faced Lars, steel in his eyes and tone. "Find the survivors before it's too late. We'll catch up with you later."

"Be careful." Lars dashed off without hesitation, knowing his team could handle themselves. After all, he had personally recruited them for their individual talents.

Valiantly facing the troop, Koga released a deep roar, legs widening to accommodate his katana. "You're going down, motherfuckers!"

Anaelle cracked her whip. "If I have to save your ass, you'll owe me."

"Right back at you." He smirked and sprinted at the first mandrillus leaping out into the open. With lightning speed, he carved his way through the ambush, like a hot knife through butter. Anaelle snagged the ones bypassing him, her laser lasso capturing their wriggling bodies before severing them into chunks of bloody flesh.

While they covered the Captain's back, Lars climbed the primitive rope ladder hanging at least ten meters off the ground to check the tree huts. The round, conical bamboo houses were small and cosy with collapsible windows built on each side, connected by a rickety, swaying bamboo bridge that threatened to give out under Lars's substantial weight. It gave him an insight to the treefolks' general physique based on their passive lifestyle.

The huts mirrored the lower ground's deplorable condition, prompting Lars to be cautious of his steps. Holes littered the roofs and walls and bamboo bits strewn the bridge. But there was not a soul in sight. He nearly missed a bundled lump disappearing inside a wooden trunk as he avoided plunging to his death. Backtracking, he released the retractable blade on his reaper with an audible chink. Carefully, he pried the lid open with the tip. Studying the small, shuddering mass, his shoulders relaxed.

"Come on out," he coaxed, taking a step back. "I won't hurt you."

A silent pause.

"I-is everyone…d-dead?" A childlike voice greeted him.

"I don't know," Lars answered softly. "Why don't you come out and we'll go somewhere safe?"

"My mother…she told me to h-hide." The blanket rustled and a mop of blonde hair popped out, followed by fearful green eyes, a button nose, and trembling lips. It was a little girl. "Have you seen h-her?"

Lars experienced a deja vu moment. Except, the girl in his mind had hair the colour of flames. Crouching down so his size wouldn't intimidate her further, he held out a palm. "Why don't we find her together? Does she look like you?"

She shrank back reflexively, eyeing Lars's outstretched hand. Hesitantly, she shifted and accepted his help. He scooped the shivering bundle into his arms, vividly conscious that she might be the sole survivor of this massacre. Wrapping the blanket around her head, he murmured. "Hold on tight and no matter what happens, keep your eyes closed, alright?"

"Okay." Came her timid response.

Securing her against his shoulder, Lars continued to check for other survivors. Deciding he would have better luck on ground, he was about to descend when the rickety bridge swayed violently, nearly throwing him off. Struggling to keep his balance, Lars opened fire at the mandrillus charging at full speed, its barrel arms helping it move swiftly in a zig-zag pattern.

His air bullets barely grazed the six-foot predator. Inwardly cursing, Lars swung his extended blade, blocking a strong right hook and ducked in time to avoid an uninterrupted left. The mandrillus's red and blue snout pulled back in a vicious snarl, long canines dripping and snapping.

The child whimpered at the hostile noises, reminding Lars that he was at a disadvantage. But he wasn't the Captain for nothing. With a spurt of energy, he surged upwards and bodily slammed into the mandrillus, causing it to stagger. Seizing the opening, he fired three continuous shots into its chest and two more to its head. All that was left were gaping holes of flesh. Through its chest, Lars caught sight of three more predators closing in, jumping laterally from tree to tree. Agile bastards.

He could take them on, but he didn't want to risk the child's safety. Quickly, he descended the flimsy ladder and made a run for it. The smaller mandrillus caught up and pounced on his back. The attack jostled the child and the blanket slipped, exposing to her a glimpse of the slobbering beast. She screamed, the terrified shrill causing the creature to recoil. "Close your eyes!" Aiming his reaper, Lars blew the mandrillus's head to pieces, brain matter exploding in all directions.

Just then, two arrows sliced the air, passing Lars's ears by a hair's breadth, instantly killing the other two predators. Perfect head shots. Spinning around, Lars was shocked to see a blood soaked Eira emerging from the dense forest, her weapon still engaged. "Eira!" His long legs carried him to her, concern in his voice. "What happened? Are you hurt?"

Surprised to hear her name from his lips, it took a minute to realize why he sounded alarmed. Eira glanced down at herself. "Oh. This? It's not my blood. I killed a troop feasting on some human remains. I followed the blood trail and it led me here. Tenacious qrigri." Eira glanced over his shoulder. "Where's Koga and Anaelle?"

Immense relief calmed the tight, worried knot in his chest. It had been a long time since he felt this vulnerability. Again, old memories resurfaced. "They're held up." If Eira had stumbled upon a mandrillus troop from her direction...it would be a miracle if anyone survived. "Did you find anything suspicious in the forest?"

She shook her head hopelessly, lowering her reaper. "Nothing but dense trees." Her gaze shifted to the bundle of blonde curls he was carrying. "You found a survivor?"

"Yes. A little girl." Lars hesitated, knowing the mention of parents might dig up old wounds — for them both. "We were searching for her mother."

Eira stretched out her arms. "Here, let me carry her."

Lars couldn't believe how composed she was. Had she conquered her demons and forgiven herself? The young Eira never forgave herself for her parents' death.

"Are you sure?" Uncertainty melded into his voice.

"Kraz. Yes. It would be hard for you to protect the team at this rate." She placed a gentle hand on the child's back. "Hello, there. I'm Eira and this man here is Lars. Lars is going to find your mommy, but he's scared you'll get hurt when he fights those monsters. Will you let me protect you while he finds your mommy?"

Meanwhile, Lars lifted his hand and wiped away the traces of blood on Eira's face. For once, he was glad their uniform was pitch black. It helped to conceal the gore covering her body.

The little girl peeked at Eira and gave a perceptible nod.

Grinning widely, Eira relieved Lars of their miracle survivor, cooing nonsense to the child. A warm, fuzzy feeling unfurled deep inside him as he witnessed her maternal side. Shaking off the unfamiliar emotion, he warned. "Stay behind me."