The storm unleashed

Wei Jian slammed his foot on the gas, but it wasn't the engine that scared him—it was what they were heading straight toward. A large, grotesque figure stood in the road ahead, silhouetted against the eerie moonlight.

It was unlike anything they'd seen before. Its form was monstrous, with elongated limbs that seemed to slither like tentacles, writhing unnaturally in the air. Its face was nothing like they had ever seen, and its glowing eyes locked onto them with an otherworldly hunger.

The group froze, fear spreading like wildfire in their chests. Then, the creature's eyes met theirs—its predatory gaze calculating, waiting for them to make a move.

"Shit," Wei Jian muttered under his breath. His mind raced. "Long Hao, get us out of here!"

But it was already too late. The creature let out an otherworldly shriek, a high-pitched wail that sent shivers down their spines. Before they could react, it lunged forward with frightening speed, its tentacles shooting out with brutal force.

Wei Jian didn't waste a second. With a single, fluid motion, he drew his gun, the metallic click echoing in the still night air. The others scrambled out of the car as the creature's tentacles crashed down onto the hood, tearing it apart with terrifying strength. The force of the attack sent the car tumbling sideways, flipping once before landing in a crumpled heap.

"Move! Move!" Wei Jian barked, his voice sharp with urgency. The others dove for cover, rolling behind trees, debris, and anything that could shield them. He Jun's daughter whimpered, but He Jun gripped her tightly, pulling her behind a nearby barrel for cover.

Long Hao was already on his feet, scanning the area, eyes darting to the other vehicles nearby. "I'm hot-wiring another car!" he called out, determination in his voice.

Wei Jian, meanwhile, had no time to waste. The creature was relentless, swinging its tentacles with deadly precision, each strike sending vibrations through the air like thunder. He ducked behind a tree, his eyes narrowed in focus. This thing was fast—too fast. He needed a clear shot.

The creature didn't give him much time to plan. With a terrifying shriek, it lunged again, its tentacles stretching towards him. Wei Jian rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding one of the tendrils that splintered the tree trunk where he had just been. The ground shook from the impact.

"Fuck!" Wei Jian gritted his teeth, pushing himself to his feet. His gun was still in hand, but he knew it wasn't going to be enough if he didn't land a critical shot. He aimed at the creature's glowing eyes, pulling the trigger as rapidly as he could.

The bullets whizzed through the air, but the creature's skin seemed to deflect them, leaving only shallow wounds. It wasn't enough. The thing was enraged now, its tentacles flailing wildly, and it was closing in on him.

"Long Hao!" Wei Jian shouted, frustration rising in his chest. "Get that car moving!"

Long Hao was already in the other vehicle, working quickly and efficiently. His fingers moved like lightning, working the wires and connectors as if he'd done it a thousand times before. Sweat beaded on his forehead, but his focus never wavered.

Behind him, Wei Jian was in the thick of it now. One of the creature's tentacles swiped at him again, but this time, he was ready. With a calculated move, he ducked beneath it and darted to the side, then rolled out of the way just as it collided with a nearby boulder.

The creature screeched in frustration, its massive limbs thrashing about. Wei Jian quickly reloaded his gun, trying to maintain his calm despite the rising panic in his chest. He aimed for the center of the creature's head—the only spot he hadn't hit.

With a deep breath, he pulled the trigger, the sound of the shot ringing out in the dead of night.

The bullet struck true. The creature let out a howl, its body jerking violently before crumpling to the ground with a heavy thud. The tentacles stopped moving. It was down.

Wei Jian staggered back, breathing hard as he looked at the lifeless form. It was finally over—at least for now. His heart pounded in his chest, but he didn't have time to savor the victory.

"Long Hao, get that damn car started!" Wei Jian yelled, his voice hoarse.

Long Hao's voice came back a moment later, strained but triumphant. "Done! Get in!"

The group wasted no time. They rushed to the car Long Hao had hot-wired, clambering into it with haste. The engine roared to life, and Long Hao floored the gas pedal, the tires screeching as they sped away from the wreckage.

In the rearview mirror, the creature's furious shriek echoed, a sound that would haunt their dreams for nights to come. But they were out of range now. The group sat in heavy silence, still shaken by the encounter, but with a singular, urgent thought on their minds—get to the warehouse, and hope it wasn't too late.

______

Qianqian's heart raced as she pulled up to the familiar family estate. The tension in the air was thick, and the once-bustling neighborhood now lay in eerie silence. The sun had barely set, but the world already felt like it was descending into chaos.

She jumped out of the car, Jinhai right behind her, both of them on high alert. As they entered the front gates, Qianqian's eyes scanned the surroundings. Everything seemed... off. The streets were quiet, too quiet. There were no cars parked along the side, no children playing, no neighbors chatting. She quickened her pace, unease settling in her stomach.

They reached the front door, and it was ajar. A shiver ran down Qianqian's spine. She called out, "Mom? Dad? Xiaoyu?"

No answer.

Her voice echoed through the empty halls as they pushed the door open wider. The house was dark, the silence oppressive. Her eyes caught on the overturned furniture and bloodstains smeared across the walls. Panic surged in her chest, but she pushed it down. She had to remain focused.

"Stay alert," Qianqian instructed Jinhai, her voice cold and steady despite the fear clawing at her throat.

They moved deeper into the house, systematically checking every room. Qianqian's heart pounded louder in her chest with every step, but she tried to keep her breathing even. It didn't feel real—none of this did.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the last room—their parents' bedroom. Qianqian's eyes scanned the room in desperation, hoping to find some sign of life, but the room was just as still as the others.

And then, from the corner, she heard a sound—a soft whimper. She froze.

Her eyes darted to the source of the noise, and there, in the far corner, was Butler Feng. He was sitting against the wall, his hands bound, but alive.

"Master Qianqian!" Butler Feng gasped, his voice filled with relief. "You're here. Thank God."

"Where is everyone else?" Qianqian demanded urgently, trying to mask her growing dread. "Where are Mom, Dad, and Xiaoyu?"

Butler Feng looked down, his face grim. "I... I haven't seen them. When the chaos started, I locked myself in here to keep safe. I thought—"

Qianqian didn't wait for him to finish. She quickly untied his restraints and helped him to his feet. "We need to find them, now."

They rushed through the house, calling out for her parents and Xiaoyu, but the silence answered them with nothing but emptiness.

"Mom? Dad? Xiaoyu!" Qianqian yelled again, but there was still no response.

A sudden realization hit her. "Jinhai, we have to leave. They could be at the warehouse already. We're wasting time here."

"Right," Jinhai agreed, his face tight with worry.

Qianqian pulled out her phone and dialed Xiaoyu's number, praying that it would connect. The phone rang once, twice—then finally, Xiaoyu answered.

"Qianqian?" Xiaoyu's voice crackled through the line. "Where are you? We're heading to the warehouse now,We could wait,sorry".

Qianqian breath a sigh of relief, "Mom and Dad are there too as well right?"

"Yes,hurry over."

Without another word, they rushed out of the house and into the car. Qianqian's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as they sped through the streets.