AfterLife

Chapter 9

“Logan, Logan.”

A soft velvet voice woke Logan, he slowly opened his eyes to see Rory inches away from his face. Logan was stunned by her beauty, he had the intense urge to kiss her.

She put her finger to her plump lips,

“Shhh, come quickly I want to show you something.”

Logan quickly and quietly got out of his tent and followed Rory up a small hill. Rory stopped at the top and pointed ahead towards the horizon. Logan looked and couldn’t see much for it was still dark but he could see the faint outline of mountains. The longer he looked the more he could see the mountains outline, a glow was forming behind the mountains. Then finally the light slowly pushed back the darkness, it was beautiful. Logan smiled and turned to look at Rory, a light breeze moved through blowing her hair lightly. The sunlight kissing her skin making her eyes very bright, she was breathing taking. She smiled and Logan felt time stop, he took a step closer.

“Rory!”

They both turned to the voice, it was Levi looking angry.

“Lets go, stop looking at the sunrise and pack up. We’re just about there, it should be going to sleep now but not for long. Come on!”

Rory signed, “Dont worry, I’ll show you the sunset tonight if you live.”

She smiled and made her way down the hill.

“Wait, what do you mean if I live?!”

Logan asked chasing her down the hill.

Rory giggled and helped the other pack up, Logan smiled at her giggle, he packed up his tent. Then helped his group pack up theirs, they quickly ate some of their rations and headed out.

They walk for a few hours when they came to a big hill, Kyno put up his hand and everyone stopped.

“Where here.”

Kyno said looking at Logan and his men.

“Time to gain our trust, just beyond this hill is a cave. Inside that cave is a monster that’s been terrorizing our neighbors and us for years, kill it and bring me it’s head. Once you do that, we’ll help you find a safe home.”

“Why haven’t you killed it?”

Asked Kyle

“It’s very strong and has extremely hard skin, it has a soft spot under its arms but no one’s been able to get close enough. We think with your weapons, you may have a good chance to kill it.”

Said Rory.

“Good luck, if your not out of the cave by nightfall then we’ll know you died with honor.”

Kyno bowed and stepped out of the way, Rory pulled up her goggles and her bandanna down, she looked at Logan.

“Good luck.”

Logan nodded and readied his gun, the rest of his squad did the same and got in formation. They crept up the hill,

“Wait, take this!”

Rory ran up the hill and handed Logan a little leather pouch,

“What’s this?”

He asked opening it, inside where green glowing rocks.

“Careful, there poisonous. It won’t kill it but it may slow the beast down.”

Logan tightly tied the pouch closed and put in in his vest,

“Thank you Rory.”

She smiled and nodded,

“Show us what you Sky People are made of.”

She made her way back down the hill, Logan and his men continued to climb the hill. They finally made it to the top, they saw an ominous cave opening with cracked bones and bone dust everywhere. The rock the surrounded the cave was black and so was the dirt around it, a foul smell seeped from the cave.

“Stay tight, watch each others backs. Let’s go.”

Logan said.

The squad got into a tight formation and moved together as one, the cave was dark.

The smell got stronger and stronger the deeper they went in, it stung his eyes. It was very dark, Logan could barely see in front of him. They came to an opening deep in the cave, there was a few openings in the cave ceiling letting light in. There was a big monstrous creature in the distance. They hid behind a rock, they slowly peeked to get a better look.

It was huge, I looked like a man at one point but it was mutated, its skin was grey and almost rock like.

“Logan, this thing is massive. Bigger then the zombie bear there’s no way we’re going to be able to kill it.”

Said Kari

“We have to try, Rory said it has a soft spot under its arms. We just have to try and hit it there, if you guys distract it and try to get it to expose its soft spot I can snip it and kill it.”

Logan said, he looked over the rock to see if the monster was still sleeping but it was gone.

“Where did it go?!”

The searched around when they heard a monstrous roar,

“IN COMING!”

Yelled Kyle, a big boulder was flying through the air heading for them.

Everyone rolled out of the way before the big rock smashed where they were hiding.

“Quick distract it while I find a vantage point!”

Logan yelled.

The squad opened fire on the monster while Logan looked around for a high point, he saw a ledge high up off the ground that the monster wouldn’t be able to get him. He climbed up the rock wall and perched himself on it, he looked through his scoop to try and find the soft part under its arm.

For a big bulky beast it was quite fast, everytime Logan had an opening he lost it. The beast slammed its fist on the ground leaving craters, Kyle just missed getting smashed.

“Anytime would be nice, the fucker is fast and strong!”

Yelled Kyle shooting the monster in the face.

The monster roared and picked up a big boulder, it lifted it over his head readying to throw it at Kyle.

Logan saw his opening and lined up his shot, at the last minute the beast moved causing Logan’s shot to graze its side.

The monster shrieked and dropped the boulder, it looked up where Logan was and roared an ear piercing roar. It picked up the boulder and hurled it towards Logan, Logan had no choice but to jump from the ledge. Just as Logan jumped the boulder hit where he was shattering the rocks. Logan tried to tuck and roll when he hit the ground but landed on his back hard causing him to get the wind knocked out of him. Logan tried to catch his breath but everytime he breathed out he couldn’t take a breath in, he just laid on the ground gasping. He felt the ground shaking underneath him, the monster was coming. Logan started to panic when he remembered the stones Rory gave him. He scrambled around the pockets of his vest and finally found the pouch, he emptied the pouch into the barrel of his rifle. Still trying to catch his breath he looked up the monster towering over him, it lifted both arms up into the air preparing to strike the final blow. Logan lifted his gun and shot the monster point blank in the face, the poison stones exploded in the monster’s face blinding it. It was choking and coughing up black tar, it stumbled to the middle of the cave and fell to its knees. Logan finally managed to catch his breath, Logan went to stand but a stinging pain ran up his left leg. Kari ran up to him and threw his arm over her and helped him, Kyle walked up the beast and watched him choke on its own blood. Kyle lifted his shotgun and shot it under its arm leaving a gaping hole, blowing up its heart and lungs. The monster fell heavily to the ground, Kyle pulled out a machete and tried to separate the head. He finally managed to get it off but ruined the blade, Kyle tossed the blade next to the body put the head in a bag.

“You ok, looks like you hit your head pretty good.”

Kyle said to Logan.

Logan didn’t realize he was bleeding from the back of his head, he felt the bleed dripping down his neck. All he could feel was the pain pulsing in his left leg, Logan started to feel woozy and dizzy.

“Oh s**t he’s going down!”

Yelled Kari falling over with Logan.

Logan felt something cold run across his face, then he smelt something sweet like berries and pine. He weakly lefts his hand to find the source, hes hand was met with another that was soft as silk.

“Sshh, your safe. I’ll take care of you.”

Logan slowly opened his eyes to see where the sweet voice was coming from. His vision was blurry, he blinked rapidly. His vision slowly came back, he looked up to see Rory. She was taking a cold cloth to his face cleaning the dirt and blood.

“You took a hard hit to your head and fractured your left shinbone but it’s not broken. It should heal quickly as long as you rest it for a few days, not going to lie I thought you were going to have worse injuries than this.”

Rory said with a chuckle.

Logan cleared his throat, it was dry.

“Here, have some water. Slowly sit up.”

Rory slowly helped Logan sit up right, the room spun for a moment.

Rory handed Logan a cup of water, Logan took a sip and looked around. The room he was in had cement walls and floors, he was in what looked like an infirmary. It didn’t have much, 2-3 bed, some empty shelves.

“Where am I?”

Logan asked rubbing his head.

“When your squad dragged you out of the cave we couldn’t treat your injuries there. So we ran all night and day to get you here to our home, thankfully we have the medical supplies you gave us to treat you.”

Rory said with a small smile.

“How long have I been out?”

Logan asked taking another sip.

“5 days.”

Rory said grabbing the cold cloth and continued cleaning Logan’s face.

Logan’s eyes widened,

“5 DAYS!!! I need to get back to our camp to make sure everyone is ok!”

Logan tried to get off the bed when a shape pain pulsated up his left leg, Logan groaning in pain.

“ Whoa, whoa! Logan it’s ok, your squad went back to your camp to help transfer the rest of your people here.”

Logan looked at her bright purple eyes, she had her silvery hair in a messy bun with a few strands flowing down. She wore a black tight long sleeve shirt that had a few tears in it and tight low ride pants, she was the perfect figure.

Then Logan processed what she said,

“Wait, my people are coming here?”

Rory smiled and nodded,

“Yes, Kyno figured it would be better and safer for you and the rest of the sky people to come here. Since you’ve arrived the Sang Shi have been more active and your camp isn’t in a great spot, to many trees surrounding it. So Kyno said you can stay here till we find you a better place to call home.”

Logan let out a sigh of relief

“Thank you, this means a lot.”

Rory smile

“No, thank you. You and your people help us a great deal by eliminating the beast. Now get some rest, I’ll show you around later. I still owe you a sunset.”

Rory winked with a smile.

Logan smiled and laid back down, he finally felt relieved and safe.