Mary stepped forward despite the terror clawing at her insides.
She gripped a knife with both trembling hands, drove it deep into the creature's leg, desperate to stop it from moving.
Black, vile blood gushed out as the monster howled in rage.
It swung its elongated arm violently, its strike catching Mary and throwing her to the ground like a ragdoll.
She gasped for air, pain shooting through her ribs, but her eyes still burned with defiance.
*****
Moayad leapt in from the side, a metal sword raised high.
He slashed at its neck, sparks flying from the impact…
but the creature's thick, grotesque hide refused to give way.
With its twisted, inhuman hand, the monster grabbed the blade mid-swing, yanking it with such force that Moayad's arm nearly snapped under the strain.
*****
Wassim tried to loop a rope around one of its massive arms, darting quickly around its towering frame.
But the beast slammed its foot down with crushing force, shaking the floor and knocking him off balance.
He tumbled backward, rolling across the blood-stained floor.
****
Jawad charged like thunder, wielding a long spear.
He drove it into the creature's side with every ounce of his power.
The monster staggered for a single moment….
but instead of falling, it gripped the shaft, snapped it in half like a twig,
and turned toward him, its crimson eye blazing with feral rage,
a roar bursting from its maw so powerful the walls themselves seemed to tremble.
****
Everyone was gasping for breath now,
their faces smeared with sweat and blood,
their eyes wide with terror and despair.
The creature raised its head, a twisted, mocking laugh rasping from deep within its throat,
as if it were toying with them.
And then, in an instant, it lunged again...
its speed monstrous, sweeping the room with a single, brutal motion,
making their combined strength feel like nothing more than a futile game in the hands of a nightmare.
Amid the chaos, the entire house shook under the leader's roar, the living room turning into a hellish battlefield.
The back doors stood wide open, and for a fleeting moment, the darkness outside seemed less terrifying than the nightmare that filled the room.
Even the sounds of the other zombies faded away, as if they had surrendered the arena to their commander, letting him tear apart his prey himself.
****
One of the survivors screamed:
"Run! Ruuuun before it kills us all!!"
Panic exploded.
Feet stumbled and crashed against the wooden floor, screams echoed everywhere.
Some fell, others were dragged to their feet, but they all ran like madmen toward the other exit, leaving everything behind… even their weapons.
****
Mazen roared above the noise:
"Nooo! Come back!! Don't you dare leave us!!"
But his voice drowned in the chaos, footsteps thundering away until only their fading echoes remained.
***
Tala shouted, her voice trembling with fury and despair:
"Cowards!!"
Tears glimmered in her eyes as the truth struck her….
only six of them were left to face death.
****
Dust filled the air, the metallic stench of blood choking their lungs.
The leader rose amid the wreckage, his massive shoulders scraping the ceiling, his twisted, inhuman laughter cutting through the room like a death whistle.
The six exchanged looks…
No escape.
No help.
No time to think.
Mazen tightened his grip on his knives, his breath ragged and heavy:
"We either kill this thing… or we die here."
And they charged again…
though deep inside, they all knew…
death was now closer than it had ever been.
{ The First Lunge}:
The leader lunged at Jawad with blinding speed, faster than anyone could react.
Its elongated claw ripped through his shirt, and in the same instant, its jagged fangs sank deep into his left shoulder.
Blood erupted like a scarlet fountain, and Jawad's agonized scream tore through the house like a blade.
Mazen's voice cracked in desperation:
"JAWAAAAD!!"
He charged forward in a frenzy, knives flashing as he stabbed the monster in its side…
but the creature kicked him with brutal force, sending him flying two meters back, crashing to the floor.
***
{ The Rescue Attempt}:
Tala seized a rusty iron rod, swung it at the monster's head with every ounce of strength she had.
But the leader only turned toward her slowly, a guttural, bone-chilling snarl vibrating from its chest.
With a single swipe of its massive arm, it tossed her aside like a rag doll, slamming her against the wall. Her cry of pain filled the room.
Moayad attacked from behind, his sword slicing deep into the monster's back, leaving a vicious wound.
But the beast did not fall. Instead, it let out a feral roar, swung its arm backward, and raked its claws across Moayad's face, leaving three long, bloody gashes.
Mary dashed toward Jawad, hands trembling as she tried to pull him free from the creature's grip, screaming hoarsely:
"Let him go, you monster!!"
The leader growled, seized her arm with crushing force, bones threatening to snap…
then released her suddenly, as if deciding who its real prey would be.
****
{ The Moment of Terror}:
The creature hoisted Jawad high into the air with one hand, claws sinking into his arm and ribs...not deep enough to kill, but enough to make blood gush in horrifying streams.
The sickening crack of his shoulder snapping echoed through the room.
Jawad screamed in pure agony, tears mixing with blood on his face, his free hand reaching toward Mazen in a desperate plea:
"D… don't let… me go…!"
Mazen, his mind a blur of fury and fear, stumbled to his feet and launched himself forward again, slashing wildly, screaming his friend's name.
But the leader retreated with terrifying speed toward the shattered window, its glowing red eye burning like a challenge…catch me if you dare.
{ The Horrific End}:
With one monstrous leap, the leader vaulted out of the house, dragging Jawad like a broken puppet in its claws.
Blood splattered across the floor, leaving a trail of crimson leading to the doorway.
Screams erupted behind him…Mary collapsed to her knees, Tala sobbed in helpless rage,
and Mazen bellowed, his voice raw and shattering the night:
"JAWAAAAAAAAAAD!!!"