The dust had barely settled before the first rumble echoed from beneath the rubble.
Evelyn's breath caught in her throat. "No… no way."
Chunks of concrete shifted, debris tumbling as something massive pushed upward.
Mia took a step back, reloading her pistol with shaking hands. "How the hell is it still moving?"
Reaper didn't answer. His grip on the shotgun tightened, knuckles white.
The Alpha's clawed hand burst through the debris.
Only now—it was different.
Its body had changed again. The blackened flesh glistened unnaturally, muscles pulsing as if alive on their own. The bone plating around its brain had expanded, now forming a grotesque exoskeleton down its spine.
Its tongue had split further, transforming into writhing tendrils, each lined with serrated barbs. They whipped through the air, searching for something.
The creature let out a low, guttural growl.
It knew what they'd tried to do.
Reaper grabbed Evelyn's wrist. "We run. Now."
The three of them sprinted through the ruined street as the Alpha tore free of the wreckage.
It moved faster than before, its claws digging deep into the pavement as it launched itself forward in a horrifying four-legged sprint.
Evelyn stole a glance behind her—and regretted it instantly.
The creature was catching up.
Mia veered left. "Subway tunnels!" she shouted. "We might lose it underground!"
They barreled toward the partially collapsed metro entrance, leaping over broken concrete and shattered glass.
Reaper was the last to dive in, just as the Alpha's claws slashed at the ground where he had been.
The three of them tumbled down the steps, landing hard on the tiled floor below.
Darkness. Only the dim emergency lights flickered.
Mia groaned, pushing herself up. "Evelyn? Reaper?"
"I'm here," Evelyn panted, rubbing her bruised shoulder.
Reaper grunted in response, checking his remaining ammo. "That thing's not done. We need to move before it—"
A low, wet slithering noise filled the tunnel.
Mia froze. "Tell me that's not—"
A tendril shot through the entrance, stabbing into the ceiling with enough force to crack it.
Evelyn's stomach dropped.
The Alpha wasn't outside anymore.
It was inside the tunnels.
The sound of shuffling movement echoed from the shadows—low, hungry growls.
Mia whispered, "Shit. There's more of them."
The Devourer's spawn had been waiting in the tunnels.
Evelyn exhaled shakily. They weren't getting out of this unscathed.
Reaper cocked his shotgun. "Then let's take as many of these bastards with us as we can."