NixOrtikal

WSA 2024 entry.
When Charmaine Alysham is sent to a private college, her only goal is to graduate with honors and become independent.
But the unfamiliar world she never asked to be a part of – the salt-swept, forgotten Isla Serpiente, is under attack by ancient beasts and powerful demons.
A place of secrets, rumors and tight-lipped expectations of newcomers to the island.
The natives whisper about untold prophecies and the end of the world.
Stalked by demons.
Charm found herself being manipulated for her spirit power.
Spirit power is dangerous, uncontrollable and deadly.
Sides are being chosen, the final war to end all battles is coming.
Form an unbroken bond with Charm as she makes her way in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world.

Unbroken Charm

Lesson learned, no such thing as a good zombie.

To Charm it felt like her lungs were going to collapse.

As the air passing through her windpipe was purposefully blocked.

Was Miguel tempted to let the zombie extinguish her life?

He could see Charm struggling with a myriad of emotions as her life flashed before her eyes.

Charm's gullibility would be cute if her death wouldn't be an amplifier for the demons.

Her strangled face had almost turned completely blue.

So Miguel let the zombie feel like it was winning before he made his next move.

He couldn't shoot from far because it would mean putting Charm's life in even more danger with the risk of a stray bullet hitting her instead.

Charm was still struggling to pry off the zombie's deathly grip with her fingers.

Miguel wanted to go about it with the least injury to himself.

Deathly grip