Chapter 8: The First Step Part 1

The group crouched low, moving in slow, deliberate steps toward the lone figure near the chapel stairs.

Two cadets broke from the group, staying low as they moved toward the open space before the chapel stairs. Their hands trembled slightly as they carried a pair of old metal chairs across the stone floor, the faint scrape of the legs just soft enough to set teeth on edge.

Without a word, they turned and retreated, moving as quietly as they could back to the group. Boots padded softly over dust and cracked tile. Once they rejoined the others, they crouched low again, eyes locked on the still figure near the stairs.

The thing stood motionless, its head tilted slightly downward. The dim light flickered against its pale, rigid form, casting eerie shadows across the walls. It didn't breathe, didn't shift—just stood there like a statue.

Migs tightened his grip on the plywood. "Still not moving…" he murmured.

Katherine narrowed her eyes, scanning the area. "Maybe it doesn't notice us yet."

The officer raised a hand, signaling for them to stop. The group froze, waiting, listening.

Then Arthur, standing near the back with his PVC pipe held loosely at his side, spoke up quietly.

"What if we call out to it?" he asked, voice low but steady. "Not shout just loud enough to see if it reacts. That might tell us if it can hear well."

Richson turned slightly, eyes narrowing. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

Arthur nodded. "We can't keep guessing. If we know how they detect people—sound, sight, whatever, it helps us avoid the others later. We don't even know if this one's blind or just ignoring us."

Katherine let out a quiet sigh. "As much as I hate to admit it… he has a point."

The commanding officer looked toward the hallway, then back at his team. His jaw tightened as he made the call.

"Alright," he said. "Let's test it. We draw it in first."

He turned to one of his cadets. "Call out to it. Not too loud—just enough to get its attention."

The cadet hesitated for half a second, then stepped forward, swallowing hard. Everyone held their breath.

Then, he spoke not a yell, just a clear voice carried by the quiet air.

"Hey…"

Nothing.

The thing didn't budge.

He tried again, a little louder this time. "Hello?"

It slightly moved with its head down in the general direction of Arthur's voice. 

The figure twitched—its head dipped slightly, slowly angling in the general direction of the cadet's voice. Then, with an eerie stiffness, it began to move.

Its legs shuffled, feet dragging slightly on the pavement, arms swaying in an unnatural rhythm.

Richson tensed beside the wall, tightening his grip on the chair leg. "It's coming," he whispered.

Everyone froze. Eyes wide. Breaths held.

It kept moving forward.

Not fast. Not aggressive. Just… withdrawn.

Five meters.

Three.

Its posture never straightened. It stayed slouched, its head hanging, as if unsure where exactly the sound came from—just drawn to the general direction.

Then it crossed the invisible line.

At 1.5 meters away, something changed.

It didn't lunge.

Its body stayed slouched, movements sluggish like it was stuck underwater. But its arm snapped forward.

The rest of its body remained slow, dragging forward as if still unsure of where it was. But the arm, only the arm shot out with pinpoint focus, aiming straight for one of the younger cadet's wrist.

Richson reacted instantly. "Back now!"

The commanding officer stepped forward without hesitation and drove the makeshift bayonet deep into the creature's midsection.

As the cadet stumbled backward, the creature's foot caught on the wire stretched between the chairs.

Snap—

The trap worked.

The creature toppled forward with a heavy thud, collapsing hard onto the floor.

The rest of the body remained limp, like it had shut down. But the arm… the arm was alive.

"Holy crap it's like the rest of it's asleep, but the arm's awake!" Myreign shouted, voice tight with panic.

The officer didn't flinch. "It's not dead—hold it down!" he barked, eyes locked on the writhing limb. "Someone get that thing pinned, now!"

Migs moved in from the side, slamming the plywood into the creature's head. It staggered and fell down. 

The creature hit the ground with a thud, limbs splaying out awkwardly across the concrete.

"Everyone back!" the officer barked. "Stay clear of the arm!"

The group instinctively shuffled away, circling the fallen figure. But even as its body lay limp, motionless… the arm kept moving.