Leon barely had time to react. The creature's claws slashed through the air, missing his face by inches as he threw himself to the ground. Mia fired another shotgun blast, but the monster twisted mid-air, avoiding the shot with an unnatural grace.
"We can't kill this thing!" Evelyn shouted, grabbing Leon's arm and pulling him to his feet.
The creature landed with a sickening crunch, its limbs bending grotesquely before snapping back into place. Its grin widened, jagged teeth glistening with saliva.
Mia clenched her jaw. "Then we don't kill it. We run."
The tunnel behind them was blocked, the only way out was past the creature.
"Stick together. When I move, we run."
Evelyn hesitated. "Leon—"
He threw his last flashbang. The tunnel ignited in white-hot light. The creature let out an ear-splitting shriek, thrashing wildly as it clawed at its melting eyes.
The three of them bolted.
They sprinted down the tunnel, past the convulsing beast, past the scattered bodies of the already dead. The sound of their boots hitting the concrete was nearly drowned out by the inhuman roar behind them.
It was already recovering.
Leon could feel it, the raw hunger, the intelligence lurking behind its monstrous form.
They reached an old maintenance ladder leading to the surface. Leon barely had time to register what it meant—freedom—before the creature's screech tore through the tunnel.
Mia climbed first, shotgun strapped to her back. "Move, move, move!"
Evelyn went next, her hands shaking as she scrambled upward.
Leon turned—just in time to see the monster lunge.
It was on him before he could react, its claws pinning him to the ground. Its tongue coiled around his throat, tightening, choking.
Leon saw stars. His hands scrambled for his pistol, but the beast slammed his wrist to the ground.
Mia screamed from above, "Leon!"
With the last of his strength, Leon kicked the creature in the jaw. The impact barely fazed it, but it loosened its grip.
That was all he needed.
Leon jammed his knife into the beast's shoulder and twisted.
He ripped free and hurled himself toward the ladder. His hands found the rungs—and he climbed.
Just as Leon's hand reached the surface, Mia pulled him up, her rifle aimed downward.
Evelyn slammed a rusted hatch shut just as the beast's claws raked toward them.
Leon gasped, hands shaking.
Evelyn swallowed hard. "What the hell was that thing?"
Mia reloaded her gun. "Something we are NOT ready for."