Stage 0 [4]

The forest had descended into pure chaos. Branches snapped under frantic footsteps. Leaves tore as bodies crashed through undergrowth. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and fear.In the middle, Harry felt like he was drowning in the chaos. Bodies crashed into each other, some scrambling on hands and knees, others tripping over exposed roots. People screamed in terror, their cries blending into the high-pitched screeches of the Jonkeys—predatory creatures leaping between the trees with unnatural agility. Sharp whistling sounds cut through the air before thud-thud-thud—jagged projectiles struck the dirt, trees, and sometimes flesh.Kyle, who had once puffed out his chest and boasted about his strength, was now a mess of flailing limbs, his powerful strides reduced to pure desperation. His club had been abandoned somewhere in the madness. There was no time to fight—only time to run. His breaths came out in ragged, panicked gasps as he bolted ahead, shoving past anyone in his way.At the rear, Jess and Darrow held the line. Their weapons remained firmly in hand, their sharp eyes scanning the chaos. Jess's face was set in grim focus, her gaze flickering between the panicked survivors. She wasn't running—she was protecting. Darrow, though wiry, moved with an eerie efficiency, every step calculated, his spear angled slightly forward."Keep moving!" Jess's voice rang out like a whipcrack. "Don't stop!"Harry's lungs burned, but his feet obeyed. He forced himself forward, his grip tightening around the handle of his kitchen knife. It felt so small—so utterly useless against the creatures chasing them.Then—he spotted a boy, no older than fourteen, frozen in the middle of the path. His wide, terror-filled eyes were locked onto the dark shapes flitting through the trees. His chest rose and fell in short, frantic bursts, but his legs refused to move.Without thinking, Harry veered off course. He grabbed the boy by the arm, yanking him forward. "Hey! No time to freeze up!" Harry barked. "Move your legs or they'll turn you into a monkey pancake!"The boy stumbled, his breath hitching, but Harry dragged him forward until his feet finally started moving on their own.Ahead, a girl tripped over a thick root, landing hard on her hands and knees. Her sobs mixed with the chaos around them, her fingers clawing at the dirt.Harry's stomach twisted. Damn it.He veered again, barely slowing as he reached her. His hands grabbed her shoulders, hauling her upright. "Come on, up you go!" he urged, voice strained. "This is a bad time for sightseeing!"Tears streaked her face, but she nodded weakly, clutching his arm as she forced herself forward.Harry didn't have time to feel relieved. A sharp whistle sliced through the air.A man screamed—a horrible, wet, choking sound—as a jagged rock struck his shoulder with bone-breaking force. He crashed onto the dirt, his body convulsing in agony. Another stumbled into a tree, his ankle twisting with a sickening pop.More people were falling. Harry clenched his jaw, his breath ragged. This wasn't just a chase—it was a slaughter. The Jonkeys weren't in a rush. They were toying with them, keeping them running, making them trip, making them suffer."Everyone! Bear with it! We're almost through this!"Jess and Darrow had slowed their pace, keeping close to the stragglers. Harry exhaled sharply, forcing his limbs to move as he fell back to join them. He wasn't going to leave them behind.Jess shot him a glance, her face a mask of determination. Darrow, despite his tense frame, remained eerily calm. His spear was gripped tightly, but his movements were controlled—not panicked. For some reason, that was... reassuring."W-What the hell are those things?" Harry gasped between breaths. "Do they have any weak points?"Jess nodded sharply. "They're fast, agile, and terrifyingly strong. But—"Harry ducked as another projectile whizzed past his ear. "Good and?" he snapped, dodging another.Jess grimaced. "Low stamina," she said. "They can't keep this up forever. And their aim isn't that great. As long as we keep moving, dodging, we'll outrun them."Harry wiped sweat from his brow, legs screaming in protest. "And if we don't?"Jess's jaw tightened, her voice dark. "If one of their attacks lands, you're done. So just don't get hit, boy. If you do... you're dead."Harry's mouth went dry. "Noted."The Jonkeys' screeches grew louder. Their shadows flitted between the trees, dark, darting shapes waiting for the right moment.Then—"Rrroarrr!"The sound tore through the air, deep, guttural, and bone-chilling. It was like a physical force, pressing against their bodies, sinking into their minds. Harry's breath hitched. His skin crawled. His heart slammed against his ribs."No..." he whispered."Rrroarrr!" This time, stronger. More oppressive.The moment the sound hit, everything stopped. People collapsed, hands shooting to their heads, faces twisted in agony. Some dropped to their knees, whimpering. Others screamed, clutching their skulls as if trying to rip something out. A few froze completely, their eyes vacant, their bodies trembling. It was like the sound had carved its way into their very souls.Harry staggered, barely keeping upright. His knife trembled in his grip. His mind fought through the pressure, through the sickening feeling pressing against his chest. He forced himself to speak, voice hoarse. "Whispers of the Endwalkers..."Beside him, Jess's jaw locked, her eyes narrowing. Darrow's grip tightened on his spear, his knuckles white, but he didn't falter.Others weren't so lucky. And the Jonkeys knew it. Their screeches turned gleeful."WHIZZ-THUD!" A stone slammed into a man's chest. Blood sprayed. His body lurched backward. Another hit a young woman's ribs. She crumpled like a ragdoll, her eyes wide with shock. The sound of bodies hitting the dirt was endless.Harry's eyes went wide as the carnage unfolded. Blood. Screams. Death. His legs locked in place. His stomach twisted. His breath hitched. This wasn't a game. No reset button. No respawn. These were real people. And they were dying.