The laughter still echoed. A symphony of broken voices, stitched together in a grotesque chorus that gnawed at Kruger's mind. His vision blurred, his muscles locked, the remnants of Selene's toxin gnawing at his nerves. The air around him was thick, unnatural—alive with whispers that slithered through his ears.
Selene stood before him, her grin unchanged, her eyes gleaming with sadistic delight.
"Do you hear them, General?" she whispered, cocking her head as if listening to the laughter herself. "The Choir of the Damned... singing just for you."
Kruger clenched his fists, forcing his legs to move despite the burning sickness in his veins. He had faced horrors before—abominations that shattered weaker men—but Selene was different. She enjoyed the torment.
"Come now," she sighed, twirling a strand of blood-streaked blonde hair, "at least tell me it's beautiful."
His knife slashed through the air, but Selene danced away effortlessly, laughing as she spun. His second strike met the same fate. She was toying with him, her movements unnatural—serpentine.
"Tsk tsk," she teased. "You wound me, Kruger. I offer you music, and you offer me violence?"
A single gesture from her, and the dead lurched forward.
Kruger barely had time to react, his instincts taking over as the first corpse grabbed his wrist, jagged bones piercing his skin. He twisted free, his knife finding its throat, but another grasped his leg. They swarmed him, their laughter never ceasing, hands clawing, teeth snapping.
Not attacking. Just watching. Smiling.
Kruger fought like a beast, his body moving through pure survival. His knife buried itself into one skull, then another. His boot shattered rotting ribs, sending a ghoul sprawling. The air stank of death, but he pushed forward.
Selene sighed. "Fine, fine. I suppose I've had my fun."
She raised a single gloved hand, fingers snapping together.
Then, in perfect unison, they took a step back. Their laughter ceased immediately. The silence that followed was worse. Much worse.
Kruger steadied himself, breathing hard.
Selene stepped closer, her grin softening into something... almost affectionate.
"You fight well," she murmured. "Better than most. It's a shame, really."
Her hand reached for his face, black nails just brushing his skin before he jerked away. She chuckled.
"Oh, don't look so angry. I'll let you live… for now."
The Choir of the Damned slowly turned away, disappearing into the fog.
Kruger knew better than to trust her mercy.
As he stumbled from the battlefield, her voice followed him, soft as a lover's whisper.
"You'll come back to me soon, General. They always do."