The wind howled through the crumbling remains of the city, carrying with it the stench of rot and death. Evelyn wiped sweat from her brow as she and Leon crept through the ruins of an old subway station, their footsteps muffled by the layers of dust and debris. The faint sound of dripping water echoed through the tunnels.
Mia had gone ahead to scout, but it had been nearly twenty minutes since her last radio transmission. That was too long.
Evelyn clicked the radio. "Mia? You copy?"
Then—static. A low, guttural growl followed.
Leon stiffened, his grip tightening around his rifle. "That wasn't Mia."
A sudden scrape echoed through the tunnel, followed by the heavy, labored breathing of something large. Evelyn's heart pounded. The Devourer was dead—but something else was hunting them now.
A gaunt, nightmarish creature emerged from the darkness, its elongated limbs twitching unnaturally. Its milky-white eyes glowed faintly, and a grotesque mouth, lined with jagged fangs, split open as it released a blood-curdling shriek.
Mia had warned them about something fast. Something that hunted in packs.
Leon raised his rifle, but the creature vanished in a blur of motion.
Evelyn barely had time to react before a second one lunged from the ceiling, its claws slicing through the air. She dove to the ground just as Leon fired, the gunshot roaring through the tunnel. The bullet struck the creature in the shoulder, sending it skidding back. It snarled but did not fall.
Then, the howling began.
From deep within the tunnel, dozens of them answered.
Evelyn's stomach twisted. "Run."
Leon didn't hesitate. They turned and sprinted, their boots slamming against the tiled floor as the creatures gave chase.
A screeching blur shot past them. Then another.
They were toying with them.
Up ahead, the exit loomed—an old service ladder leading to the streets above. They had seconds to reach it.
Leon spun mid-run, unloading rounds into the darkness. One of the creatures shrieked and collapsed, but three more replaced it instantly.
Evelyn jumped onto the ladder, scrambling upward. Almost there.
Leon was right behind her when a clawed hand snatched his ankle.
He roared in pain as the creature yanked him down, slamming him against the ground. Its jagged teeth lunged for his throat.
Evelyn didn't think—she just acted.
She let go, dropping onto the creature's back, driving her knife into its skull. It shrieked, convulsed, and collapsed.
Leon coughed, his face pale. "Go—now!"
They climbed, reaching the surface just as the creatures swarmed below, their inhuman screeches filling the air.
As Evelyn slammed the manhole cover shut, she whispered under her breath.
"We just walked into the Abyss."