chapter 8 : lucky break

Sam closed her eyes for a moment, losing herself in her world, out of reality, seeking refuge in her mind. But when she opened them again, the scene was still there, inescapable. The leader was in front of her, his body naked and disgusting, and her brother, Adell, still being held by one of the men, the knife pressed to his neck. Tears welled up in her eyes, but not from sadness, but from rage. A rage she couldn't control.

"Please..." Sam murmured, her voice breaking, but the leader showed no compassion.

"Don't play hard to get," he said, his voice now harder, more demanding. "You know what happens if you don't obey."

Sam swallowed, feeling the lump in her throat grow larger. With slow, shaky movements, she leaned her head forward, feeling the cold air brush her skin. The leader let out a satisfied growl, his hands gripping Sam's hair tightly, guiding her towards him.

But just then, a deep, guttural sound echoed through the air. Ghouls, drawn by the chaos and the scent of blood, burst onto the scene with brutality, tearing apart everything in their path. Their growls filled the air, and the men surrounding the leader became distracted, their gazes filled with panic.

The man holding Adell was the first to fall. A ghoul lunged at him, its sharp teeth tearing at the flesh of his neck with a wet, sickening sound. The man let out a desperate gasp, but was quickly silenced as the ghoul's teeth sank into his throat.

Adell, his bloodshot eyes filled with anger and injustice, did not hesitate. She grabbed the knife that had fallen to the ground and, with a quick, determined movement, went straight for the leader and plunged it into his chest. The blade sank deep, and the man fell to the ground, his face frozen in an expression of shock and pain.

Sam, still kneeling and shaking, looked up, her eyes filled with a mixture of relief and sadness. Her little brother, Adell, stood over her, his pale hands stained with blood, shaking as much as hers. He had killed the leader, he had saved his sister, but the weight of what he had just done was reflected in his pale, sweaty face. There was no time to process it. The ghouls were everywhere, their guttural growls and the sound of their jaws tearing at flesh filling the air.

Sam stood quickly, adjusting her clothes with shaking hands. Her breathing was labored, but the brightness and determination in her eyes had returned. She grabbed her bat, now heavier from the dried blood covering it, and stood in front of her brother, shielding him with her body.

"We have to move," Sam said, her voice firm despite the fear that consumed her.

Adell nodded, but his eyes were still lost, staring at the horizon, as if he were still processing that he had just killed a person. Sam grabbed his arm, shaking him gently to bring him out of his stupor.

"Adell, focus!" Sam shouted, her voice cutting through the air like a whip. "We can't stay here."

The ghouls were busy frantically devouring the bodies of the men who had humiliated her, but she knew it wouldn't last long. They would soon finish their feast and turn on them. Sam looked around, searching for a way out. The forest was too close, but entering it at this time of day would be a death sentence. Then, his eyes fell on something that glowed faintly in the moonlight: a red pickup truck, abandoned a few feet away.

"There," Sam said, pointing with the bat. "Come on."

Without waiting for an answer, Sam grabbed Adell by the arm and started running, dragging him along with him. Their footsteps echoed on the ground, making it increasingly difficult to move. The cold night air hit their faces, but there was no time to worry; the night had invaded us before we knew it, the ghouls' growls growing louder, as if they had noticed their movement.

"Run, Adell!" Sam shouted, his voice desperate. "Don't look back! Just keep running."

Adell obeyed, running desperately alongside his sister, but his steps were clumsy, as if each movement was a struggle against him to stay on his feet. Sam pushed him forward, keeping him moving. They couldn't stop. Not now.

We soon reached the truck, and Sam yanked open the driver's door. Adell climbed into the passenger seat, fastening his seatbelt as Sam climbed behind the wheel. Sam's hands shook as he tried to connect the wires to start the engine. He wanted to say something, maybe give him some help, but he was completely ignorant about cars. The sound of the ghouls getting closer was getting louder, more urgent.

"Come on, come on, come on," Sam muttered under his breath, his fingers sliding over the wires. "Start it, dammit!"

Finally, the engine roared, and the truck's lights flickered on, briefly illuminating the scene of horror they'd left behind. Sam slammed on the gas, and the truck shot forward, tires skidding on the loose dirt.

"Hold on!" Sam shouted, swerving the wheel hard to avoid hitting a tree.

The ghouls, drawn by the noise, swarmed toward the truck, but Sam didn't give them time. He slammed on the gas, and the truck shot down the road, leaving the ghouls far behind.

Adell clung to the seat, his breathing ragged and his hands still shaking. He looked back at the darkness that pursued them, but Sam stopped him.

"Don't look," Sam said, his voice firm but full of compassion. "Don't look back."

Adell nodded and I held his still-shaking hand, but tears were beginning to well up in his eyes.

"We're alive," Sam said, his voice shaky but full of determination. "That's what matters."

The truck moved down the dark road, the headlights illuminating only a few feet ahead. We didn't know when or where the ghouls might appear again, but they knew they couldn't turn back. The night was their best ally, we had to be careful.