Fighting the dark monsters
1036 Words
The next day as planned an hour before midnight, the group began preparing. Kreto donned his full battle gear, his armor made of solid steel gleaming in the dim light.
Kreto: "It’s been ages since I last wore this... It feels a bit tight now."
Sirio smirked. "If you don’t want it, just say so. I’ll gladly take it and sell it at the junk shop—twelve pesos per kilo!"
Kreto scoffed. "That’s if you can even lift it, twig."
Polux cut in, serious and focused. "Enough. Kreto, open the entrance and get into position. It’s almost midnight. Sirio, Alhena, hide now."
Sirio: "Alright, alright, we’re going! Come on, Alhena." He grabbed her hand and led her under Kreto’s massive bed. The space beneath was so tall that they didn’t even have to crouch. They moved to the farthest corner, hearts pounding in anticipation.
Meanwhile, Kreto removed the massive boulder blocking the entrance. Polux stepped outside, moving a hundred meters away from the opening. He clenched the Oro Stone in his pocket, ready for what was to come. Kreto, on the other hand, lay flat on the ground near the entrance, prepared to seal it the moment the creatures were inside. He gave Polux a thumbs-up.
Moments later, the air filled with the deafening screeches of the giant bats.
Polux positioned himself at the center of the clearing. His stark white hair caught the moonlight, making him an easy target. The bats spotted him instantly. But what he hadn’t expected was their incredible speed. One of them nearly snatched him up, forcing him to drop to the ground just in time.
He sprang to his feet and sprinted toward the cave entrance. But before he could reach it, one of the bats dove ahead of him, entering Kreto’s hiding spot first.
Kreto, seeing only the blur of movement, panicked. Thinking Polux had already made it inside, he shoved the massive boulder back into place, sealing the entrance.
Polux: "No! Wait—!"
But it was too late. The entrance was about to shut.
Trapped outside, Polux had no choice. He yanked the Oro Stone from his pocket and hurled it inside just before the entrance fully closed.
Inside the cave, Sirio and Alhena froze in terror. The bats' furious screeches filled the cavern as the creatures thrashed around, their massive wings sending gusts of wind in all directions. In the dim light, they saw the Oro Stone roll toward the feet of the bat. The beast went berserk, crashing into the walls and ceiling.
Meanwhile, outside, Kreto finally realized his mistake when he saw Polux still standing beside him.
Kreto: "Polux?!"
Polux: "Open it! I’m still out here!"
Kreto hurried to move the boulder again, but before he could, one of the bats lunged at Polux, its massive claws gripping him tight. It lifted him high into the air, carrying him toward the cave’s rocky ceiling.
Kreto, now in full battle mode, grabbed his massive axe and chased after them. With a mighty throw, he hurled a large rock at the bat, striking its body. The impact forced it to release Polux, who plummeted toward the jagged rocks above and luckily managed to hold on and did not fall.
Polux: "Aghh!"
He landed hard, pain shooting through his body. Kreto ran beneath him, yelling at the bat.
Kreto: "I’ve been hiding from you monsters for too long. But not anymore! Come down here and fight me!"
The bat screeched and swooped down, its sharp tail stabbing toward Kreto. The impact sent him flying, his armored body slamming into the stone wall.
Inside the cavern, the second bat was still on a rampage. Its scorpion-like tail lashed wildly, smashing everything in its path—including Kreto’s massive bed.
Alhena, overwhelmed by fear, screamed. "Polux! Help!"
The bat heard her. Its blood-red eyes locked onto her and Sirio, crouched in the shadows. With one powerful motion, it flipped the remains of the bed aside, exposing them.
Sirio: "Oh, crap."
The creature raised its tail, ready to strike.
But before it could attack, Blue—the fearless white cat—pounced onto its face, sinking its tiny claws into the bat’s eye.
The bat shrieked, thrashing violently to shake the cat off. Alhena remained frozen in fear, unable to move.
Sirio, seeing an opening, bolted toward the Oro Stone near the entrance. With one swift motion, he grabbed it.
Just as the bat managed to fling Blue across the cave, sending the poor cat crashing against the wall, Sirio lifted it and held it as Kreto taught them how to activate the light,
In an instant, the blinding golden light erupted from it.
The bat howled in agony, covering its eyes with its massive wings. Smoke began to rise from its body, its flesh sizzling under the light.
Alhena, snapping out of her shock, gasped. "Sirio, the smoke! We have to get out of here!"
Sirio grabbed her arm and scooped up the unconscious Blue. They ran toward the entrance.
But the cave was filling with thick, choking smoke. If they didn’t open the entrance soon… they wouldn’t be escaping at all.
A little while later, Alhena lost consciousness. Sirio panicked, his heart racing as he saw her collapse. He rushed to her side, pulling her and the cat toward the far corner of the room, away from the thickening smoke and spreading flames.
Sirio (desperately): “Polux! Kreto! Help me! Alhena... she’s—she’s not waking up!”
He was out of breath, his hands trembling as he struggled to carry both Alhena and the cat. His eyes darted frantically around, searching for any sign of hope.
Sirio: (yelling from across the room): “Polux, Polux! Help us!”
But the smoke began to suffocate him as well, and soon, Sirio found it harder to breathe. A harsh cough escaped him, his chest tightening. His vision blurred as the smoke consumed him too. He stumbled backward, collapsing next to Alhena, unable to keep his eyes open any longer.
Sirio (gasping for air): “I... I can’t... breathe...”
With one final cough, Sirio lost consciousness, his body collapsing beside Alhena, as the smoke grew thicker around them.
- Writer
