Chapter 26: The Beast Awakens

Chapter 26: The Beast Awakens

The air in the narrow hallway was thick with the stench of death, the silence ringing louder than the screams of the infected they had just fought. Ethan's breath came in ragged gasps, his hands slick with sweat, his muscles sore from the combat. The battle was far from over, and the real danger—the beast—was still lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.

The massive creature hadn't moved since they had started fighting off the infected, but Ethan knew it wasn't gone. It was too intelligent, too calculating. And now, with so many of its infected minions dead, it would be enraged—more dangerous than before.

Clara wiped the sweat from her brow, her gun still raised, eyes scanning the hall. "Stay sharp," she muttered. "It's still out there."

Will looked around, his eyes wide. "How do we deal with that thing? It's not like the others. It's too strong."

Ethan's mind raced. He had never faced anything like this before. The creature was larger than anything they had encountered, its eyes glowing with an unnatural red light, its movements too precise. They couldn't just fight it head-on; they needed a plan, and fast.

Jess shifted uneasily, her bow still drawn. "We can't keep running. We don't have enough ammo, and we're exhausted."

Ethan nodded, his thoughts a whirlwind. They couldn't outrun it—not with the way this building was laid out. But they also couldn't fight it directly. The only option was to trap it, to use the building's structure to their advantage. But they had to move quickly, before it figured out their location.

"We need to lead it to the roof," Ethan said, his voice barely above a whisper. "If we can get it up there, we can use the environment to our advantage. It'll be harder for it to move, and we'll have more space to fight."

Clara turned to face him, her eyes narrowing. "The roof? You think we can make it that far without it catching us?"

"We don't have a choice," Ethan replied, his voice steady. "We lead it up there, and then we trap it."

Clara hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. "Alright. Will, Jess, Ethan, follow me. We're going to have to draw it out."

The group moved quickly, retracing their steps back through the building, careful not to make too much noise. They reached the stairwell, their weapons ready, eyes fixed on every shadow.

Ethan's heart pounded in his chest. He could feel the weight of their situation pressing down on him. They had no idea how much time they had before the beast noticed them. They needed to get to the roof before it found them.

The stairwell creaked under their weight as they ascended, each step feeling like an eternity. The higher they went, the more oppressive the silence became. Ethan could almost feel the creature's presence behind them, lurking in the darkness, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Suddenly, the silence was shattered by a loud crash. The creature had found them.

"Move!" Clara shouted, and the group sprinted up the remaining stairs, the sound of the beast's massive footsteps echoing behind them.

Ethan's lungs burned as he ran, but he didn't dare slow down. The creature was gaining on them, its growls growing louder, more guttural. The air seemed to vibrate with its anger.

As they reached the rooftop door, Clara pushed it open with a grunt, and the group burst into the open air. The roof was exposed, a wide, empty space with only a few broken vents and debris scattered around. It was the perfect place to make their stand—but only if they could outsmart the creature.

Clara quickly turned, positioning herself behind a rusted air conditioning unit. Will did the same, taking cover behind a nearby stack of crates. Jess stood near the edge of the roof, her bow aimed at the doorway.

"Get ready," Clara whispered, her voice tense. "When it comes through that door, we hit it with everything we've got."

Ethan nodded, his grip tight around the crowbar, his eyes fixed on the stairwell. The seconds felt like hours as they waited, the tension building with every passing moment.

And then, it appeared.

The massive creature emerged from the stairwell, its glowing red eyes fixed on the group. It was even more terrifying up close, its monstrous frame casting a shadow over the entire roof. Its movements were slow, deliberate, but its strength was undeniable. Every step it took seemed to shake the ground beneath them.

Clara's voice was low but fierce. "Now!"

Will charged forward, swinging his bat with all his might. The blow landed with a sickening thud against the creature's side, but it barely flinched. Jess fired an arrow, aiming for its head, but the creature swatted it aside like it was nothing.

Ethan didn't hesitate. He ran at the creature, using the momentum of his sprint to swing the crowbar at its legs. The blow landed, but the creature barely seemed to notice. It turned its glowing eyes toward him, its mouth opening in a twisted snarl.

"Back up!" Clara shouted.

Ethan barely had time to react before the creature lunged, its claws aimed directly for him. He dodged, rolling to the side just in time. The creature's claws raked across the rooftop, sending sparks flying as it slashed through metal and concrete.

"Stay focused!" Clara yelled, reloading her gun. "We need to hit it where it hurts!"

Ethan's mind raced as he analyzed the creature's movements. It was fast—faster than he had expected. But there was something off about it, something in the way it moved. It wasn't just mindless aggression. It was strategic, calculating. The creature was learning.

"We can't keep doing this!" Will shouted, his voice full of desperation. "We're running out of options!"

Ethan's eyes narrowed as the creature lunged again, this time aiming for Will. He couldn't let that happen. Without thinking, Ethan sprinted forward, swinging the crowbar with everything he had. This time, the blow landed on the creature's side, and he felt the sickening crack of bone.

The creature let out a roar, its body buckling slightly, but it didn't fall. Instead, it turned its attention fully toward Ethan.

"Move, now!" Clara shouted.

In a split second, Ethan understood. The creature was focusing on him—it was angry, and it was vulnerable. He was the distraction. The others had a chance.

"Hit it now!" Ethan yelled, stepping back as the creature lunged once more.

Clara took her shot. Jess fired another arrow. Will swung his bat with a final, furious cry.

The creature howled as the barrage of attacks hit its body, the force of the blows knocking it back. Ethan's heart pounded in his chest as he saw it stumble, but it wasn't enough to bring it down.

Then, something shifted. The beast's body contorted in an unnatural way, its limbs snapping with an awful crack. It was staggering, barely able to stand, but it was still alive.

And it was still coming for them.

The fight wasn't over yet.