Last Stretch

Leaving Annie to rest on the back of the second truck alongside the others, Hao heads to the front and attempts to drive the vehicle. However, he's unsuccessful. After nearly breaking one of the cars, he gives up and returns to the back to rest with the group.

He notices Selth is gone. 

'Where did that guy go…'

Exhausted, Hao glances at Annie's unconscious body. 

'I'm so sleepy…'

He finds a corner and drifts off to sleep.

***

Covering his left eye, the scout walks further and further away from the fight site. Blood drips from the deep claw mark running through his eye.

'It doesn't stop bleeding...'

He scans the area, ensuring no one is around. Ripping a piece of his shirt, he uses it as a makeshift bandage. Midway through, he freezes. A dagger flies toward his head. He catches it effortlessly and looks down to see a small man with black hair.

"You again. Here to finish the job?"

He throws Selth back, taunting him as he readies his daggers.

"So? Let's do it."

Selth doesn't respond. Instead, he dissolves into the nearby darkness hiding nearby a building. The scout watches, annoyed, and resumes his walk.

"Fucking weirdo..."

Emerging from the darkness far away, Selth watches the scout disappear into the distance. 

'This is bad… But I'm too weak to fight him. Should've ended it with that surprise attack.'

He turns and heads back to camp.

***

A day passes. Everyone is awake except for Annie. Myora takes the wheel of the first truck, while Erley stays in the back of the second truck. Moen and Selth are on lookout duty. Erley breaks the silence, interrupting Hao's thoughts.

"So... Annie awakened?"

Hao glances at him.

"I think so? I still don't really know how that works."

Erley looks confused.

"I thought you were awakened?"

Hao shakes his head, a bright smile on his face.

"Nah, i haven't. Only Selth and Moen were awakened before."

Erley falls silent, lost in thought.

"I see... I might've awakened a while ago too. But i don't really know how to use my ability."

Hao grins.

"I know you are awakened too. It's weird, though. Unlike Moen and Selth, whatever you're missing isn't obvious. So i don't really know if you really are awakened."

The trucks come to a stop, and Hao grabs his greatsword.

"Well whatever. We are almost back at camp. Elias will explain everything once we get there."

He jumps out of the truck, scanning the area. Several human-like Imps approach the convoy. Erley follows, ready to help. Before engaging, he shares one last piece of information.

"Also... that scout's name is probably Ron. I remember the guy back at the skyscraper mentioned it."

Hao nods, and the two move to engage the Imps.

***

Ron reaches the control tower of the military camp. He scans the room, his eyes landing on a dead body slumped next to a locker, a sword piercing its chest.

'No mercy, huh...'

He walks over to the control panel, a mess of buttons and screens. Pressing a small red button, he calls out.

"Hello? Any signal? Anybody there? Over."

Static fills the air for several minutes.

'Shit...'

Frustrated, Ron slams his fist on the table and turns to leave. Suddenly, a voice crackles through a speaker next to the button.

"Rad-io ch-e-ck..."

Ron rushes back, holding down the red button.

"Read you! Signal is a bit bad, but i can hear you. Over"

A bright smile spreads across his face.

'Hell yeah! get me the hell out of here!'

A new voice cuts through the radio, deep and menacing.

"WHE-RE HA-VE YOU... B-EEN RON?!"

Ron's smile vanishes, replaced by fear.

"S-sorry sir... The whole military base has been killed..."

Static fills the air for a moment before the voice returns, sharper and angrier.

"What did you just say?!"

Ron is flinches.

"The whole mil-"

The voice cuts him off, roaring.

"HOW COULD YOU LET THAT HAPPEN, RON?! ARE YOU SPITTING ON OUR HONOR?!"

Ron's voice trembles.

"No sir, once again i'm sorry..."

"WHY ARE YOU STILL ALIVE? IF THE WHOLE BASE GOT KILLED THEN AS THE COMMANDER OF THE BASE YOU SHOULD'VE DIED PROTECTING IT!"

Fear washes over Ron.

"I'm sorry sir, i was looking for Jack. He disappeared a few days ago on a scout mission to capture the people that raided us."

Silence follows. Then the voice returns, cold and commanding.

"YOU ARE GOING TO TELL ME EVERYTHING YOU KNOW. WHERE THEY ARE FROM, THEIR CURRENT LOCATION. AND WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE. "

Ron frowns, his hopes of escape fading.

'Guess i won't be getting out from here any time soon...'

"Yes sir."

***

Myora leans out of the truck window, yelling to the group.

"We are almost there!"

Hao and Erley turn to look at her, bright smiles on their faces. Hao stretches, relief evident in his voice.

"Finally! I was getting tired of this non-stop fighting..."

Erley nods, a small smile on his face.

"I know... I still have a couple fractured bones. Hope we never come back here..."

Moen and Selth peek out from the back of the truck.

"Are we finally back?!"

Erley looks down at them.

"Almost there Moen. Hang on for a bit, Ready your shield just in case. And welcome back, Selth."

Both give a thumbs up before disappearing back inside the truck. Erley gazes at the familiar buildings surrounding the camp as they come into view.

'Finally... I've been dehydrated and starving since the skyscraper. This will be a nice change of pace.'

A smile spreads across his face as the wind sweeps through his hair. Under the bright sun and green sky, the convoy heads toward the main camp.