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Chapter 13 - Chrono Guardianz EP:13

The night air outside was heavy with fog as two buses rumbled down a narrow road cutting through a small forest. The first bus carried five armed military officers, their rifles resting on their laps, eyes sharp. Behind them, the second bus followed — inside were Jeff, Carla, Granny, Grandpa, a mother with her two sons, and little Clara.

Jeff sat by the window, holding Clara close to his chest. She had finally fallen asleep after crying for hours. Carla leaned her head on Jeff's shoulder, her arms wrapped protectively around their daughter. The flickering light from the bus lamps painted their tired faces in pale gold.

Carla (softly, almost whispering): I hope Adrik and his friends are alright.

Jeff (gently, with a small smile): They'll be fine, honey. They're strong… stronger than we ever imagined.

In the seat ahead of them, the mother hummed a soft lullaby, trying to calm her two terrified sons. Her youngest clung tightly to her lap, trembling, while the older one pressed against her arm, watching the dark woods through the window. The lullaby was the only sound breaking the quiet hum of the engine.

Then—

A blinding flash of light.

The bus in front exploded in a deafening blast. The shockwave slammed into Jeff's bus, shaking it violently. Flames lit up the forest ahead.

Carla (screaming): Jeff!

Clara woke up, crying loudly. The mother pulled her sons close, shielding them with her arms.

The soldiers in the front of the second bus immediately grabbed their rifles and aimed out the shattered windows.

Soldier 1: CONTACT! CONTACT!

Gunfire erupted. Muzzle flashes burst through the darkness as shadows lunged out of the trees — a swarm of rotting, bloodstained figures. Zombies.

Bullets tore through them, but there were too many. The stench of blood and decay filled the bus. Everyone ducked low as glass shattered and gunshots echoed.

One soldier screamed as a zombie burst through the side window, tackling him to the floor.

Soldier 2: RELOADING—ARGH!!

The others tried to reload in panic, but before they could, the undead poured in through the shattered doors and windows, dragging the soldiers down one by one.

The screams filled the bus for a few moments — then silence.

Jeff held Clara close, his hand trembling. Carla covered the girl's ears, whispering prayers under her breath. The mother wept quietly, her children shaking in her arms.

But then… something changed.

The zombies stopped moving. Their heads turned sharply toward the road ahead, their nostrils flaring as if sensing something. Then — one by one — they backed away. They didn't attack. They didn't even look at the survivors. They moved aside, forming a clear path leading to the road.

Only Clara's frightened sobs filled the bus now.

Then came the footsteps.

Heavy. Calm. Measured. Each one echoed like a drumbeat of death.

From the smoke and flickering fire ahead, a tall figure emerged — a young man with a cold, emotionless gaze. One hand rested in his pocket, the other gripped a massive, blood-soaked sword that glimmered under the flames.

It was Colt.

He stopped in front of the bus door, eyes sweeping slowly across the terrified survivors.

Colt (calmly, voice low but clear): No need to hide. I'm human too. Stand up.

Jeff swallowed hard. Despite the sharp cut bleeding on his back, he forced himself up, clutching the seat for balance.

Jeff look in the bus where the grandpa sat on the seat spitting a little blood, clara crying, the mother holding her 2 sons. Jeff turn back to colt he takes the gun and aim it to colt.

Jeff (stammering, terrified): Who are you... where did those zombies go? Why didn't they kill us—

Colt (cold, stepping forward): I'm not here to answer your damn questions. I'm the one who asks the questions. Now tell me… do you all know Adrik? A boy about my age… carries a blade… he has—

Grandpa (weak smile, hopeful): Yes—we know him. He saved us so we could get away from the outpost. Are you his friend too?

Colt (snaps): I said I ask the questions, you damn old man.

The mother pulls her boys closer, pressing them into her chest. Carla cradles Clara harder, whispering comfort until the little girl's sobs slow.

Colt (demanding): Who saw Adrik and his friends first?

Jeff (voice shaking): I—I saw him first.

Colt's mouth curls into a smirk. In a single brutal movement, he grabs Jeff by the throat and hurls him toward the bus entrance. Jeff slams against the metal and coughs, clutching his wound.

Grandpa (angry, rising): Hey! What do you think you're—!

His words choke off. Warm blood bubbles at his lips. Eyes widen in horror as a dark blade slides out from his stomach—the tip of Colt's sword appearing on the other side of his body a heartbeat later. Granny screams, a sound that rips open the small world of terrified silence. Clara wakes, wailing again, the sound like a knife.

Colt withdraws his sword slowly. Grandpa collapses with a dull thud. Granny rushes forward, hands shaking as she presses rags to the terrible wound, crying out for help.

Colt (flat, annoyed): Tch. Annoying old bitch. You won't die… not yet. Maybe a few hours. That should be enough.

Jeff's eyes go wide with something like horror and calculation. He glances at a dead soldier nearby—there's a grenade, a pistol, gear strewn across the floor. Colt watches him look, and walks toward him with slow, confident steps. He yanks Jeff out of the bus by the collar and throws him to the dirt. Jeff hits the ground and scrambles to his feet, shaking.

Colt (leaning close, low voice): Follow me… if you want to live.

He pauses, eyes boring into Jeff.

Colt (threatening): If you do what I say… I won't blast this bus.

The words hang heavy. The bus smells of smoke and copper. Granny's sobs fill the space, the mother's arms tremble, Clara cries and clings to Carla. Around them, the world has narrowed to Colt's blade and his cold promise.

Jeff (looking back inside the bus): Grandpa's still breathing… barely.

Jeff sees grandpa coughing blood, the mother clutching her sons, and Carla trying to calm a crying Clara.

He turns back toward Colt, gripping the pistol with shaking hands.

Jeff (furious, trembling): Stay the hell away from us!

Colt (calmly, one eyebrow raised): You still think that little toy's gonna work? You sure about that?

Jeff grits his teeth and pulls the trigger. Bang. Bang. Bang! Each bullet whistles past Colt, but he dodges with inhuman reflexes, twisting his body just enough that not a single shot connects. The last click echoes through the silence.

Colt (smirking, turning his head slowly): That all you've got?

Then his eyes widen.

A small, round object spins through the air — a grenade.

Jeff had thrown it the instant he fired the first bullet. Colt barely has time to move before a zombie suddenly lurches into his path. The grenade hits the zombie's chest — BOOM! The creature explodes into burning pieces, and the blast throws Colt backward into a tree.

He groans, shaking his head, smoke curling from his jacket.

Colt (mutters, brushing off dirt): Damn... he was ready for me.

He watches, eyes narrowing, as Jeff climbs into the bus driver's seat. The engine roars to life. Colt doesn't chase — he just stands among the flames, watching the bus disappear down the dirt road.

Inside the bus, the passengers cling to one another as the vehicle bounces violently over broken ground.

Carla (worried, moving closer): Jeff—are you okay?

She wraps one arm around him, still holding Clara tightly in the other. Her voice cracks, eyes shimmering.

Jeff (grimly focused): Just... hold on. I'm taking us back to Adrik and his team. They're the only ones who can stop all this…

Carla (shaking her head): But what if they're gone? What if they already went back to their own time?

Jeff (voice tight, desperate): I don't know… We can only hope.

The bus speeds toward the old outpost. Flames lick the road, smoke curls around them like a storm. The children hide their faces, and the mother clutches her sons as the sky burns above.

As the bus bursts through the final turn—

Jeff (muttering): If we don't find them, we'll use the other exit and esc—

The words die in his throat as the bus jerks violently, like something massive struck it. The wheels lift off the ground—then the whole bus rises, tilting upward.

Screams fill the air. Jeff slams the brake, but it's useless.

Through the shattered back window, a monstrous silhouette fills the smoke.

Rex (snarling, his voice a guttural growl): You thought you could run?

His claws dig into the bus's frame as if it weighed nothing. With a roar, he throws the entire bus like a toy.

Everyone inside screams—Carla shields Clara with her body, the mother grabs her sons, and Jeff wraps his arms around the steering wheel to brace for impact.

CRAAASH!

The bus slams into the ground, skidding through dirt and sparks before coming to a broken stop. Smoke and dust fill the air.

One by one, the survivors crawl out — bruised, bleeding, shaken. The grandpa collapses; his bleeding has worsened. Granny clings to him, crying out his name.

Then — footsteps.

Through the smoke and fire, Adrik, Draxil, Lyra, Lior, and Liza emerge, weapons ready, eyes wide at the sight before them.

Chrono Guardianz

Episode 13: The fire

Liza's eyes went wide when she saw her grandparents. She ran to them, still holding Lior's staff tightly. Lyra walked forward, carrying Lior in her arms. But Adrik and Draxil only stared at Rex and Colt, ready for anything.

Liza knelt beside her grandparents, holding the staff between them.

Liza: Grandmother…

Grandma (voice shaking, eyes wet): Liza… sweetie…

She hugged Liza tightly. The grandpa, weak but determined, reached his hand toward Liza. He gave a small, proud smile.

Liza pressed his hand to her cheek, tears streaming down as they held each other.

Rex looked at Adrik and Draxil with cold eyes.

Rex (low, rumbling growl): Let's finish them off.

He grabbed a huge tree and threw it at them. Adrik and Draxil were slammed back and separated from the others. Rex jumped high, landing hard, while Colt ran toward Lyra, Lior, Jeff, and the others, blade ready.

The bus behind them was cut in half and thrown aside by Colt.

Lyra quickly spun her chain blades. Liza gave the staff to Lior while holding her grandparents steady. The grandpa gritted his teeth and tried to stand. Lior, missing one leg, planted himself behind Liza, ready to fight.

Colt (coldly, scanning the group): Oh… you found your granddaughter. Huh. I thought she was dead by my friend's hand. And now… you have your grandparents too, Liza.

Liza's eyes filled with tears, remembering what Jett and Rocco did. She forced herself to stay strong and gripped Lior's staff tighter.

Suddenly, Lyra turned toward Colt—but he vanished from her line of sight. In an instant, Colt lunged from the side. She barely managed to block his blade.

Colt: Tch… don't let your guard down!

Lyra retaliated with a kick, but Colt effortlessly dodged, catching her leg mid-air. With a cruel twist, he threw her into a tree. She hit hard, blood trickling from her mouth, eyes wide in shock.

Lior swung his staff to protect her, but it couldn't stop Colt's strike. Just as Colt turned to attack him, Lyra blocked with her chain blades.

Lyra (shouting): Everyone… RUN!

The group ran through the burning village. Jeff, Carla, Liza, Lyra, Lior, grandma, grandpa, and the mother with her sons dodged flames and rubble.

Before they could get far, Jeff tried to shoot Colt with his pistol. Colt dodged with a blur, but Lyra took the opportunity to kick him in the stomach. Lior flung a handful of dirt into Colt's eyes, making him stagger back, furious, rubbing his blinded vision.

Taking this moment, Lyra scooped Lior into her arms, and the group ran forward.

Colt (angry, eyes red from the dirt): You little bitch!

His eyes now fully red, burning with rage, he shouted across the village:

Colt: I'm gonna show you the real hell!

With that, a massive horde of zombies erupted from the shadows behind him, their snarls echoing through the burning streets. The relentless wave surged after Lyra and the others, who ran with all their strength, hearts pounding, knowing Colt had turned this nightmare into a hunt.

A little far away, in a clearing surrounded by twisted, dark woods, Adrik lay sprawled on the ground, blood streaming down his head. Draxil was unconscious beside him, still breathing but limp. Adrik forced himself to sit up, shaking his friend violently.

Adrik: Draxil… get up. Get up!

A sudden, brutal kick slammed into Adrik's chest, sending him flying backward. He spat blood onto the dirt and struggled to rise. Then he saw him—Rex, standing coldly beside Draxil's unmoving body, his monstrous form looming like a shadow of death.

Adrik clutched his sword, hands trembling, strength waning.

Rex (smirking): I see your friend is unconscious.

Adrik: I… I don't know who you are… why are you helping Colt… or… or any of this? Why are you doing this?

Rex (smirk widening, eyes cold): Can't recognize me, hmm? I already know you. And… you know me too. I'm Colt's big brother.

Adrik's eyes widened in shock and disbelief.

Adrik: Rex? How… how did you… turn into this…?

Rex: You think I'm here to explain my story?

Adrik shook his head, pain flashing across his face, and gripped his sword tighter, struggling to stand.

Rex: That's more like it.

Adrik charged with what little strength he had, trying to strike Rex from behind, aiming for his neck. But Rex caught the blade effortlessly.

Rex: You think your speed can beat me?

He slammed his fist into Adrik's face, but Adrik refused to let go of the sword. Rex punched again, hard, and blood spurted from Adrik's nose and mouth.

Rex: Did you think you could beat me?

Another punch sent Adrik crashing into the ground. His vision blurred, blood streaming down his head. He struggled to rise, only to feel Rex's foot press down on his back, pinning him mercilessly.

Rex: You're weak… far too weak.

A vicious kick slammed into Adrik's stomach, forcing him to grunt in pain and slide forward. He fought through it, forcing himself to stand and raising his sword again.

Rex (taunting): He's your best friend, isn't he?

Adrik froze as he looked up. Rex was holding Draxil by the head, his monstrous eyes gleaming with cruel intent.

Adrik: No… please… don't… don't do anything to him… he didn't do anything!

Rex glanced coldly at Draxil, then in one horrifying motion, crushed his head with his massive hands. The sound of bone snapping echoed through the clearing. Draxil's body crumpled to the ground, headless.

Adrik froze completely. His eyes welled with tears, his face pale as his heart pounded in disbelief and agony. He stared at his fallen friend, chest heaving, trembling hands gripping the sword as blood ran down his face.

Adrik (whispering, broken): No… no… no… Draxil…

Back in the village, chaos raged.

Jeff and the others ran as fast as they could while Lyra fought off the waves of zombies behind them, her chain blades slicing through rotten flesh and bone. The air reeked of blood and smoke.

Lyra (panting): Keep running! Don't stop!

As they sprinted down the burning streets, more zombies flooded from every corner. The group turned and bolted into the forest, branches whipping across their faces.

After several agonizing minutes, they stumbled into a clearing—quiet and eerily calm. The groans of the undead had faded behind them.

Jeff (breathing heavily): Is everyone here?!

He scanned around, eyes darting between the trees. One by one, familiar faces appeared. They'd all made it—at least for now.

Lyra gently set Lior down on the grass. His face was pale, his eyes glassy and full of guilt.

Lior (voice trembling): Big sis… my staff…

Lyra (turning to him): What happened to your staff?

Lior: It's… not working. I think it ran out of charge. But… there's still a faint glow on the stone.

In the background, Clara cried uncontrollably. Carla tried to calm her down, gently feeding her milk from a small bottle. Near a large tree, Liza and Grandma carefully lowered Grandpa to the ground. He looked frail—barely breathing.

Liza (sobbing softly): Grandpa… please stay with me… please don't leave us.

Grandma covered her mouth, eyes glistening. Grandpa smiled weakly, raising a trembling hand to wipe Liza's tears.

Grandpa (weakly): It's okay… don't cry…

Then, his hand went limp. His head tilted to the side. The light faded from his eyes.

Liza froze in shock, tears silently streaming down her face. Grandma broke down in quiet grief, clutching his still hand.

Lyra held Lior close as he began to sob. Then he pulled away, wiping his eyes roughly.

Lior (choking up): I'm… just useless, big sis. If I'd charged my staff, I could've saved Grandpa.

He took a shaky step back with the help of his staff, voice trembling with pain.

Lior: I always hate myself… every time I try to save someone, I end up being the one who gets saved.

Lyra (softly): Lior… don't say—

But before she could finish—

A sudden, piercing sound of metal slicing through flesh.

Lyra's eyes widened as a blade erupted through her stomach, blood splattering across the dirt. She gasped, choking, and looked down at the bloodied sword piercing through her.

Behind her stood Colt, eyes burning a deep crimson, his face twisted with rage and madness.

Lyra coughed up blood as Colt kicked her forward, sending her crashing into the ground.

Lior (screaming): BIG SISSSSS!!!

He rushed toward her, falling to his knees beside her bleeding body. Lyra tried to move, tried to protect him, but her body was too weak.

Colt stepped into the clearing, his red eyes glowing in the firelight, an evil smile curling across his face.

A sharp whistle escaped his lips—

and from the shadows, dozens of zombies began emerging, forming a circle around them. Their rotting faces hissed and moaned as they surrounded the survivors, cutting off every escape.

The survivors froze, terror swallowing their voices. Carla clutched Clara tightly, whispering prayers under her breath.

Colt (grinning): You thought you could run away from me, huh?

He walked toward Lior, grabbed him by the hair, and yanked him upward. Lior screamed as Colt slowly dragged the blade near his remaining leg.

Lior (crying out): AHHHH! S-stop!

Lyra (weakly, tears falling): Please… leave him alone… he's just a child… please don't do this…

Her voice cracked, full of pain and desperation.

Colt (turning his cold gaze to her): …Time to die.

He smirked—and raised his sword.

The circle of zombies closed in tighter, growling, their shadows swallowing the survivors whole.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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