Apocalypse: The Huntress Luna

Chapter 24

(Magnus)

The sight before my eyes was chaos.

The giant iron slab that was once the South Gate had a large burnt hole ripped into it at the base where Vargul were pouring in. It wasn't a gate per se, more of a large sheet of thick, welded metal that was raised up with a pulley system. That way, the Vargul wouldn't be able to push their way in.

The Tectum Watch were doing their best to hold them back but were failing miserably. Bodies were littered here and there, guns were firing and noone seemed to be trying to repair the breach.

I had a handful of my warriors with me and I quickly turned to them.

"Jacob and Joseph, come with me and Damon. The rest of you - keep the hordes back!

We ran down to the barn as rain began to fall in search of tools and found the Vargul feasting on fallen cattle and we quickly slipped into a shed.

Equipped with pitchforks and machetes, we cleared the farm of the diseased beasts and did our best to collect the remaining living livestock.

“Tear off anything we can use to board up the breach in the gate. I'll grab things to secure it on and I'll watch your backs.”

They all ran off without hesitation, ripping and kicking off anything that could be of use while I loaded a sack with ropes, large thick nails and hammers.

As I guarded the entrance to the barn, I caught sight of a pack of Vargul in the rain racing towards Tectum’s center and panic began to rise in my chest.

When I left, Andy was heading towards the children’s school for her boy but I had no idea if they made it to the shelters or not.

With the amount of Vargul coming through, they will soon be overrun.

Looking behind me, I yelled out.

“Bring what you have! We have to go- Now!”

Goddess….please...please protect her and Yann…

Every fibre of my being was screaming to abandon my post to run and find them but my instincts as an Alpha took precedence.

So I fought it and forced Amicus to see reason.

He was becoming frantic by the second and I knew it was because he could sense Andy’s danger.

Damon and the brothers came running out with corrugated iron and wooden boards in their arms and we raced towards the gate.

I had two machetes in hand with the sack tied to my back and I cut down all in our path, slashing and slicing with deadly accuracy. 

We were all drenched to the bone with steam rising off of us and there wasn't a second to lose.

We made it back to the breach and sadly there weren't many humans left. A few of my warriors had even shifted to protect them.

These humans are going to all die if I don't do something fast…

I stepped out and called the closest Watchman and told him to take what remaining people they had and go up to the Watchtowers on the Wall. 

“Lock yourselves in so they don't sneak in from behind but you're not there to relax. Take up arms and start shooting them down with your crossbows. We are going to seal the breach but we need you to pick them off. Can you do that?”I growled over the rain.

“Y-yes sir! Thank you, sir!” and he ran off, shouting for his people to follow him. Poor soul looked grateful for some direction. To be fair, their squad leader is probably dead. I pulled Marisa aside, one of mine, to go after them and make sure they all survive.

The Vargul numbers were dwindling much to our relief so we ran around and up the side till we reached the gate. 

I directed my little team to line up beside me as we flattened our backs against the cold metal.

“Okay. I’m gonna jump to the other side and secure the pieces from there. Damon will help me while you two watch our backs and kill any who try to come through. Got it?” 

They all nodded as I quickly peeked around but pulled back silently as a handful of the foul smelling beasts dashed past. Checking again, I quickly slipped over to the other side of the hole and poured out the contents of the bag onto the ground.

Damon and I got to work quickly before anymore made it to the gate while the brothers fended off any who tried to stop us. I left some gaps between the boards so that spears and guns could fit through to kill those who tried to break in.

With the last nail in, we leaped over to the fight behind us and began the s*******r. Finally we had the upper hand but there was no time to lose. A dark pit was opening up in my stomach and Amicus was now frantic. 

I snapped the neck of the last maimed beast in front of me and stepped over its body as I called my warriors to me.

A few Vargul that had escaped earlier were heading towards the town centre and who knows how many had gathered there already. Luckily, the rain was starting to let up and had slowed to a steady drizzle.

“The fight's not over yet! You four, stay and fortify the gate and kill any that make it past the aerial defences. The rest of you, come with me!"

“Yes, Lycaon!”

There were only seven of us in my group but with our skill and my determination, I knew we would be more than enough to tip the scales in our favour.

A few of the men broke off, trying to chase a few Vargul here and there but Damon called them back.

“Magnus, let's try to herd them to the town centre and then kill them all off there. We can't afford to split up when we don't know the damage. Plus - that is where the rest of the people will be, I’m sure of it.” He looked at me knowingly at the last part as he knew I was anxious to find Andy and Yann.

“You're right. Good call, Damon. You heard your Beta!” I bellowed as we took off making all the noise we could, drawing out any beasts from behind the houses.

As we neared the epi-centre, a ringing sound pierced through my mind and a wave of pain and anguish washed over me.

We turned the corner and as my warriors chased Vargul to the center, I stood frozen in place as the air in my lungs was sucked out.

Because there before my eyes was Andy, cradling a small body in her arms as four very large Vargul were seconds away from tearing her apart.

Who is in her arms? 

Is that Yann?? 

Please don't let it be Yann!

Then I heard a small voice deep in my mind whisper, “I'm sorry, my darling. I am so so sorry…”

Before I knew it, a terrifying ear-splitting roar was filling the air and I had no idea where it was coming from.

Until all eyes looked back and then I realised it was coming from me.

……………………

(Andy)

As I cradled Calli into my body, trying to protect her as much as I could, a blood-curdling roar rang out in the air.

The snarls and grunts stopped as man and beast all turned towards the sound, frozen in place.

My eyes were going in and out of focus but from what I could see through the rain, there was someone racing towards us.

Oh, it must be the cavalry...my mind buzzed, feeling a little loopy.

One second there was a man and then the next there was the largest pitch-black Lycan I had ever seen in my life.

Taking that as their cue, the remaining Archivio warriors shifted, tearing all their clothes to smithereens while the Vargul cowered.

Vargul cowering? That's something you don't see everyday...

While the Lycans fenced in the Vargul at the center, the ebony leader leaped high into the air and landed inches behind us, making the ground quake on impact. 

If I wasn't so light-headed and out of it, I probably would have freaked out at his closeness.

I slowly looked up at him, sensing a familiarity and then immediately cowered as this Lycan king reared up and let out another awful roar at the Vargul in front of me.

I quickly hunkered down closer to the pavement with Calli’s head safely tucked into my neck as I felt him leap over me and kill them in one swipe.

Blood rained down over us as I looked up but quickly looked back down as my breathing became shallow.

The Lycans had begun their slaughtering of the large diseased pack and I couldn't afford to lose my mind right now- not while I am at my weakest.

But I was losing the battle.

My hands were beginning to shake, a cold sweat was taking over and I could hear a voice in my head.

Andromache…

Andromache….hear me…

This doesn't usually happen.

What is happening to me?

Rather than letting it win, I pushed it out with the last of my willpower and felt the darkness slowly take over.

I crumpled onto my back as Calli rolled out of my arms and I had a full view of a cloudy sky.

Hmm, looks like the rain has stopped…

As my lids finally closed, I felt large warm hands lift me up and away into the clouds.