Purple Scent

Ch. 8: Escape

Everyone was alarmed by the banging sound from the metal cover of the fallout shelter. As I was walking towards it, everyone else took the weapons they could possibly take each for themselves. I, on the other hand, ran back toward the periscope and the moment I peeked, I saw nothing but a Violet Harpy looking through it, which was kind of stupid because their eyes were covered. But it still crept me out, because it looked like as if it was actually looking through it. Violet Harpies gathered around the house.

I was positive the backyard was full of Violet Harpies, too. I should’ve smelled them around, but I didn’t. I just did when I heard the banging sound. For a moment, I had doubt with my sense of smell.

I cursed and took more arrows as much as I could, which made my arrow bin jam-packed. "You guys bring the weapons and stuffs you could bring. We should leave this place. Right now.", I instructed them and by that, they scattered around the place to gather food, weapons, clothes and blankets at gym bags they had.

Yul placed Coco on a small bag as it slung across his shoulder to his waist—Coco was small, so he's comfortable inside it—before his hand swiftly took a baseball bat.

I looked at Soobok. His idea will be postponed for now. 

"Now, what I want you all to do is to stick together. Think of us as a pack of wolves.", I informed them and they just nodded and prepared.

"I know a safe place we could stay at, if ever we get to survive this.", I said and saw some of them gulped. Then I assured them, "Don't worry, we'll get through this.", I smiled and walked towards the metal cover of the basement.

"Doyun, I want you to open the cover as fast as possible, as strong as you can.", I said and settled a bolt on my crossbow. He nodded and walked towards the metal cover

I aimed my crossbow towards the metal cover, waiting for Doyun to open it while Doyun waited for my signal. I held a tight grip on my crossbow.

"Now.", I said and he opened it, and the moment I saw the Violet Harpy tried to come inside, I shot it on its chest. It stumbled backwards, and soon as it did, I took my chance and started ascending as fast as I could, and when I did got out, I was shocked to see many of them. String of curse spat out from my lips before I took another bolt and settled it on my crossbow. I think this is going to be a long day. The Violet Harpies' purple scent lingered through my nose, it was a cloying and irritably sharp smell.

"Come out, quickly!", I yelled and they ascended out of the fallout shelter, while I was busy on getting rid of some of them. As soon as everyone got out, more of them appeared—like wild bats awoken inside the cave.

"Why are there too many of them?", I heard Jaewook complained as he was struggling on using a sword. Does he even know how to use it?

"Watch out!", I yelled and shot an arrow when another one tried to attack behind him. Jaewook shrieked and waved his sword around very clumsily.

"So they really aren't nocturnal?", Younghoon yelled.

Hyunki answered him in my stead, "Obviously they wouldn't be here in broad daylight if they were!", as he swung the metal bar towards the incoming Violet Harpy.

"I can't believe we're killing them!", Jaehwa yelled, thrilled but his eyes sparked something else; he was pleased. Maybe because he badly wanted to be in action.

I laughed while panting, "Plans changed; don’t kill them. We’ll have to cure them, and we won’t be able to if they are all dead.", I informed and added, “Don’t aim for the head or else their brains would squash all over the place.”

Yowoo groaned, "Ew, gross. That's just gross.", he complained.

"That's why we're just injuring them.", Kahee rolled her eyes with sass while she was using spade to defend herself.

"Oh gosh, imagine you get to shot their heads, then their brains would go—" Soobok cut Jaehwa's words when he yelled,

"Why would you want to imagine that?", he growled. Jaehwa just laughed then shut his mouth.

"Where are they coming from, though? The moment we kill—I mean, injure them, another one would appear again.", Soljun complained as we all panted and kept moving.

"I will never forget this moment.", Yul said as he swung the baseball bat he was holding. I think he had the most hard work, since he had to be alert, Coco and him might get attacked.

We sighed in relief and tiredness the moment there weren't any of them that appeared again after we got rid some of them. My eyes narrowed and scanned the place to see if there was still traces of them. There's no one around, but we need to keep moving.

When I was about to get an arrow from my bin, there are just two arrows left. I looked around once again and saw this big truck, but I think Soobok noticed it before I did.

"Let's go there!", he yelled and pointed at the big truck.

I faced Heeshik and asked him, "Do you have any arrows left?"

He nodded and looked at the garage, "But it's on the van. I think there's a gym bag there full of it.", he said.

I was shocked, "Just how many of them did you bring?", I asked in disbelief. I mean, I wasn’t complaining. It just excited me.

He didn’t answer my question and instead said, "It's a bribe since you really like them.", he shyly scratched the back of his head like a teenager confessing to her crush. 

I chuckled, "Anyways, just go to the truck, I'll quickly take them.", I said and they nodded before they ran towards the big truck.

I noticed someone has followed me and it was Doyun. "What the heck, you scared me!", I yelled and he just grinned before running ahead of me to take the gym bag full of crossbow bolts; it looked heavy and full. That’s why Heeshik was one of my favorite. He had the best things, I guessed.

He opened it and my eyes shined. "Come on, grab some of them and place it on your bin.", he instructed me and I nodded before I did what I was told. I couldn’t bring it all, it’ll just be a hindrance to our escape. So I took as many as I could. Wow, he's kind of strong to lift those, though it looked really heavy. He also helped me take some more when he wrapped a bunch in a coat he got on the van.

He walked ahead of me while I watched around carefully. The Violet Harpies we injured had been lying on the ground, passed out. Since they couldn’t really react to pain, they just passed out. They are still alive, just unconscious. The purple scent stink, my nose is really irritated that it stings.

As soon as we got behind the truck where there was enough space for people, Soljun started driving. The moment I sat between Yowoo and Yul, I could smell Violet Harpies nearby, so I quickly stood back up, and saw Violet Harpies following us behind.

"I was just about to sit down!", I complained and aimed my crossbow at them. I sighed. I think we won't be able to rest during the ride.