Chapter 6: The Horrors of Dawn

Zhang Wei crouched lower beneath the collapsed building, barely breathing as he stared through a small gap in the rubble. His body was covered in dust and mud, the rain continuing to beat down, masking the sound of his shallow breaths. But even the rain couldn't drown out the screams.Ahead, in the clearing, demons roamed the streets—huge, grotesque figures with twisted, humanoid forms. Their claws scraped against the concrete, their sharp teeth bared in cruel grins as they toyed with their prey. The scene unfolding before him was straight out of a nightmare. It was something worse than war—pure, unfiltered horror.Zhang's heart pounded in his chest as he watched. A demon, towering over the others, lifted a human off the ground with one clawed hand. The man's legs kicked helplessly in the air, and his screams echoed through the empty streets. Zhang couldn't see the man's face, but he knew what was coming.Suddenly, blood splattered across the demon's chest as it squeezed, crushing the man's torso with sickening ease. The screams stopped, replaced by the gurgle of blood, and the body went limp. The demon tossed it aside like a broken toy, its massive claws dripping with blood.Zhang swallowed hard, forcing himself to stay still, hidden in the ruins. His hand gripped the metal frame tightly, his knuckles white. He wanted to move, wanted to help, but there was nothing he could do. If he made a sound, he would be next.The demons didn't just kill—they played with their prey. Zhang's stomach churned as he watched another demon pick up a woman by her hair, her face twisted in terror. She begged for her life, her voice hoarse from screaming, but the monster paid no mind. It dangled her in the air, laughing—a guttural, inhuman sound—before tearing her in two. Blood sprayed across the street, mixing with the rain and staining the cracked pavement red.Zhang squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, trying to block out the carnage. He couldn't. The sounds of breaking bones, the screams, and the cruel laughter of the demons filled his head. His breathing quickened, panic rising in his chest, but he forced it down. Now wasn't the time to lose control.He had to survive.Zhang opened his eyes again, scanning the scene. His first instinct was to look for his own team, his heart racing with fear for their safety. But they weren't there. He recognized the uniforms of the captured humans—they were from another platoon. His team, at least, was still safe.The demons had them pinned to the ground, playing with them like predators toying with their prey before the kill. One soldier screamed as a demon dragged its claws down his chest, tearing flesh and armor alike. Blood pooled beneath him, his body convulsing in agony. Another soldier tried to run, but a demon grabbed him by the legs and yanked him back, ripping him in half like he was nothing.Zhang's hands trembled as he watched, helpless. He had seen death before—had caused it, even—but this was something else. This was beyond war. This was hell.The sun was beginning to rise, casting a pale light over the blood-soaked street. The morning air was thick with the stench of death and blood. Zhang's body was numb, his mind struggling to process the horror in front of him.He gritted his teeth, his heart heavy with guilt. He couldn't save them. He couldn't do anything but watch. The rain continued to fall, mixing with the blood on the ground, and Zhang crouched lower, trying to make himself invisible.The demons finally grew bored of their game, their cruel laughter dying down as they dragged the bodies away, leaving a trail of blood behind them. Zhang didn't move until he was sure they were gone, his body stiff from staying still for so long.He breathed out, his chest tight, the horror of what he had just witnessed weighing on him like a stone. His mind was a blur of guilt, fear, and rage, but he couldn't afford to lose himself in those feelings.He had to survive.He checked his watch. The night was over, but the terror was far from it.