Chapter 23
1641 Words
Rain began to hit our faces and slowly picked up speed like a beating drum against our skins.
Without another second to lose, I grabbed Yann and threw him onto my back and yelled for him to hold on.
I held onto his arms as we ran out of our way and over to Calliope, who was now pale from the blood loss. She had managed to keep them at bay but she couldn't attack one without leaving herself and the woman vulnerable to the other.
She saw us approaching from behind the Vargul and screamed at us to get out of here.
I still only had the metal bat in my hand but I had to get a blade somehow.
That was my speciality.
Finally reaching her, I swung the bat as hard as I could, connecting with one on their back and then kicked my foot straight into its leg. It buckled and yelped, snarling as it fell, giving us enough time to slip in beside her.
I quickly dropped Yann beside Calli and stood in front of them, swinging the bat hard at the Varguls snouts till I drove them back.
By now, the bat was bent out of shape and would only hold for a few more swings.
"W-what are you d-doing!? Yann is your f-first priority!," Calli panted under the rain fall.
I ignored her and told Yann to rip Calli's already torn shirt and wrap his Aunt's leg as tight as he could while the woman blubbered behind us.
Glancing around for help, I noticed the Archivio's team were driving them back but there were still too many coming in.
A solid barricade of trucks and wooden spiked shields were now up so our goal changed to getting behind it and then the medical school.
But at this rate and with Calliope's leg, we will be overrun.
I swung a few more times to push the two Vargul back and called behind me.
"We gotta get behind the barricade. Toss me your machete and get moving!"
She threw it over and I caught it with my free hand, warming it up with circles as they hobbled as fast as they could towards safety.
As one lunged forward, I quickly stepped to the side and sliced its clawed gnarly hand, clean off.
It howled in pain, doubling over, and I took the chance to hack at its neck.
Blood and rain spurted all over my face like a horror scene as I sliced through the artery and I could feel a dark shadow creep across my mind.
Calling to be released.
No! No, no, no, not now!
Memories of the dark years flashed through my mind as I struck again and killed the second one. It was like I was a completely different person back then, hungry for the kill.
I can't let it overrun me. Not this time! and I kicked and shoved it back down below its cage, gritting my teeth.
I looked back through the sheets of rain as three more leaped forward and saw that Calli, the girl and Yann were only halfway there.
I discarded the bat and slowly moved backwards so I could cover them from behind.
“Calli! Get a move on! More are coming!”
“I’m trying, girl! Yann baby, just go, I’ll be fine with mom,” she winced but he refused to listen.
I could tell from her voice that she had lost a lot of blood and was only going to go slower.
I need to do something, quick!
One clawed at my arm while I was distracted, connecting with flesh as my blade swung forward, slashing its stomach open.
Blood ran down my arm but I barely felt anything because panic was beginning to rise.
Looking to my left, I caught sight of Saleem.
He was protecting a few maimed soldiers from being devoured but his gun was gone and he was struggling to hold them back with a spear.
Not far off, I saw Gus covered in other people’s blood dragging an armless man to the barrier.
I searched for Magnus and Damon but could not find them anywhere. They were probably at the Wall, trying to seal the gates and a twang of pain ran through my heart at the thought of never seeing him again.
I knew he could take care of himself but I couldn't help but worry.
As I killed another, I heard a sound behind me and Calli had collapsed on the ground with Yann trying to pull her up.
Her usually sunkissed brown skin was deathly pale under the gloom and her make-shift bandage was soaked through.
The girl was already ahead and hesitated for a second but kept going until she reached safety.
To be honest, I don't blame her.
A little bravery would have been nice but not everyone has faced Vargul before.
I had to make a decision and make it quickly.
I searched our surroundings and saw one of our recruits running towards us from his hiding spot by the houses. He was alone but looked like he had been roughed up a little.
He made it over to us and bravely took on the Vargul so I could grab Calli. I passed him our machete and landed beside her.
“Calli. Calli! Stay with us! Okay Yann, I am gonna need you to be brave and make a run for it.”
He shook his head furiously, not wanting to leave his Aunt. Tears stained his cheeks as he gripped her hand, not wanting to let go.
I searched the horrific scene before me and waved down someone from behind the barrier to take Yann.
Marianne saw and frantically screamed for someone to run out.
We were still a ways away from safety but I had no other choice if I was to atleast save him.
Within seconds, I saw Ronnie the barkeep making his way to us from our left while carrying one of his children in his arms. I don't know why they weren't in the bunkers already with his family but I hope the rest of them were safe at least.
“Baby. Baby, I need you to look at me. I need you to go with Ronnie and he will take you to Gus and Marianne, okay? No, no, look at me- I need you to be safe or I can’t concentrate on Aunt Calli.”
He just whimpered and held on but when Ronnie came and dragged him away, he screamed and reached out for us.
I watched them as I frantically tightened a new tourniquet fashioned out of my torn shirt around Calli’s thigh as rain ran down our faces.
They made it safely behind the barrier and into Marianne’s open arms.
Relief washed over me as I leaned down and collected her into my arms and as we turned around, we were met with fresh blood.
The recruit that was holding one back had his neck in it’s mouth as he tried to get free. He finally managed to stab the Vargul in the chest and as they both slumped to the ground, the light slowly left his eyes.
Looking at him now, I realised it was the tall brown-haired handsome one from back in the gym on their first day.
My heart began pounding even louder and I shook as Calli wailed in my arms for him. More people were pulling back from their positions and heading to the safety of the school.
We had two Vargul spot us and we only had one thing left to do.
Run.
I gripped her close to my chest and turned and bolted as hard as I could but there were a lot of bodies and debris in the way.
We wound, skidded and tripped a few times but we were almost there.
Then out of nowhere, four Vargul came leaping out from the side, adamant on reaching their prey.
Calli called out a warning and just as I looked behind me, my foot slipped into a small pothole and I felt my ankle crunch.
Calli went flying as my body skidded across the concrete and we landed within arms reach of eachother.
"Calli! Calli!," I called out as I tried to shake her arm but she was deathly still and we were both chilled to the bone.
I don't know if we are gonna make it out of this…
There was a roaring in my ears as my blood rushed to my heart and I gingerly crawled over to her limp body, feeling faint.
The Vargul were going to be upon us any second and as I collected her into my arms, time seemed to slow.
They say in the last moments of your life, time slows down and life flashes before your eyes.
I've had my fair share of near-death experiences but never like this. To be honest, I couldn't believe I was really going to go out like this.
So much for the great Huntress.
I looked to my left and Saleem was still fighting but his mouth was wide in a silent scream as he stared at us. He seemed to be yelling at others to save us but there was no one close by anymore who could reach us in time.
Looking past Saleem, my eyes landed on another horror stricken face as he was being forcefully dragged away to the building.
Yann's eyes were as wide as saucers and was screaming something but I couldn't hear it over the blood and rain.
I'm sorry, my darling. I am so so sorry…
I tried to find one more face but he was nowhere in sight.
- Writer
