Chapter 10: The world below 3

The forest was a labyrinth of shadows, the moonlight barely piercing through the dense canopy above. Two figures ran through the underbrush, their breaths ragged and uneven. Reed led the way, his movements swift and deliberate, while Spike lagged behind, his legs trembling with exhaustion.

They didn't know where they were going—only that they needed to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the monster silently pursuing them.

After what felt like an eternity of running, Spike stumbled, his hands braced against his knees as he gasped for air. "I—I can't keep going," he wheezed, his voice barely above a whisper.

Reed stopped and turned, his sharp eyes scanning the darkness behind them. The forest was eerily quiet, save for the sound of their labored breathing. There was no sign of the creature—no movement, no sound, nothing to indicate it was still following them. But Reed knew better than to trust the silence.

"Get up," Reed said, his voice low but firm. "We can't stop here."

Spike nodded weakly, forcing himself to stand. His legs shook, but he managed to take a few steps forward. Reed waited, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, his senses on high alert.

Before they could move again, a sharp twang cut through the air. Reed's instincts kicked in, and he shoved Spike to the ground just as an arrow whizzed past, embedding itself in a tree trunk behind them.

"Stay down," Reed hissed, his eyes darting toward the direction the arrow had come from.

Another arrow followed, this one aimed directly at Reed. He rolled to the side, his movements frantic but precise, and the arrow grazed his shoulder before striking the ground. Reed cursed under his breath, his mind racing. One trouble after another.

He grabbed Spike by the arm and dragged him behind a thick tree, pressing a finger to his lips to signal silence. Spike nodded, his face pale and his breathing shallow.

Out in the distance, the hound-like creature emerged from the shadows, its massive form moving with an unnatural grace. Reed's sword was still embedded in its eye, the blade glinting faintly in the moonlight. The creature paused, its head tilting as it sniffed the air. Reed and Spike held their breath, their hearts pounding in unison.

The creature took a step closer, its glowing eyes scanning the area. Reed tightened his grip on his sword, his mind racing through their options. They were trapped—between the creature and whoever was shooting arrows at them.

Then, they heard it—footsteps, heavy and deliberate, crunching against the forest floor.

"Come out! We know you're here." A man's voice echoed through the trees, sharp and commanding.

The creature froze, its head snapping toward the sound. For a moment, it seemed to weigh its options. Then, with terrifying speed, it sprinted in another direction, its movements as silent as death.

Reed and Spike remained hidden, their bodies tense. The two sinkers who had been hunting them were now in the creature's path, completely unaware of the danger approaching.

After a few minutes of silence, a female voice whispered, barely audible. "Are you sure there's someone here?"

"My instinct told me so. Be careful—do not let your guard down." The man's voice was tense, his bow still drawn as he scanned the area. He took a few cautious steps forward, his eyes darting from shadow to shadow.

When he turned around, his breath hitched. "Huh?"

The female sinker who had been beside him was gone. His eyes dropped to the ground, where a pair of boots stood, their owner's body missing. A chill ran down his spine as he realized what had happened.

Before he could react, he felt a warm breath brush against his back. A shadow loomed over him, casting darkness across the forest floor. He turned slowly, his movements stiff with fear.

The creature stood directly behind him, its massive form towering over him like a nightmare made flesh. Its glowing eyes bore into his, and its jagged jaws dripped with saliva. The man froze, his bow slipping from his fingers as he stared into the face of death.

There was no sound, no warning. The creature had moved with impossible silence, its presence as sudden as a shadow in the night. This realization sent a fresh wave of fear through Reed. The creature wasn't just silent and deadly—it was intelligent. When it heard the voices, it had circled around to flank the pair, moving like a trained assassin.

"ARRGHHH, FUCK YOU!" The man suddenly roared, his voice breaking the silence. He pulled out a blade and stabbed it into the creature's belly with all his strength.

Pak!

The creature swiped its arm, launching the man straight into a tree. The impact cracked the trunk, sending branches tumbling to the ground. The man fell to his knees, then collapsed face-first onto the forest floor. With his dying breath, he crawled toward the boots that were all that remained of his comrade, tears streaming down his face. Then, he stopped moving, his body going still.

The creature nudged the man with its massive claw, checking if he was still alive. Satisfied, it began to feed, its movements slow and deliberate.

Reed seized the opportunity. He moved silently, circling around the creature to approach from the side where his sword was still embedded in its eye. He kept to the creature's blind spot, his movements careful and calculated. When he was close enough, he swung the axe in his hand with all his might, driving it deep into the creature's other eye.

The creature let out a guttural growl, its massive body thrashing violently. Blind and disoriented, it swung its arms wildly, its claws tearing through the air. Reed ducked and dodged, his movements quick and precise.

"Hey! I'm here!" Spike shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. He ran in the opposite direction, drawing the creature's attention.

The creature turned toward the sound, its movements clumsy but still terrifyingly fast. As it charged toward Spike, Reed grabbed the sword embedded in its side and held it steady. The creature's own momentum drove the blade deeper, splitting its body open. Blood sprayed across the forest floor as the creature let out a final, deafening roar.

Then, it collapsed, its massive form shuddering before going still.