I need to find a way out of here.
I loosen my grip, trying to breathe and calm down.
Kaen turns back to me, his voice dripping with sarcasm."So, do you have a plan to get out of here, or do you want to fight this thing head-on?"
"Wait a second there has to be a way out," I reply, my voice tight with anxiety.
I glance around in panic, searching desperately. Then I notice the emergency exit on the roof of the bus.
"Kaen, I've got it! See that door? That's our way out!"
He rushes past me, climbing onto a seat to reach the exit.
I look back the hound is halfway inside, snarling, its claws tearing into the bus. Kaen's friends are still cowering behind the seats.
"Kaen, what about your friends? If they stay here, they'll die!" I shout, my chest tight with concern.
"If they won't come along, they can't survive in a world like this. The weak don't belong here it's just natural selection," he answers coldly, as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
I freeze. If he's willing to let them die so easily… what if I'm next?
Kaen forces open the emergency exit. "Can you help me up? I'll pull you after I'm on the roof."
I push him up, then climb onto the seat myself, guilt gnawing at me as I glance at the two still hiding.
The hound bursts through the bus door, bloodlust blazing in its red eyes, sending shivers down my spine.
I stretch my hand toward Kaen. For a second just a second—he hesitates.
No. He wouldn't… would he let me die here?
Suddenly, his hand grabs mine, pulling me up just in time as the hound snaps below.
"Hey! What the hell was that? Why didn't you pull me sooner?" I yell, still in shock.
"I-I was just making sure it was safe up here," he stammers. "Would you really want to get pulled up just to be swarmed by things like that?"
It sounds plausible… maybe he's just scared. He's only a teenager, after all.
He shuts the door behind us and smirks. "So, master planner, what now? We're up here, it's down there. Good thing I don't see another one nearby."
I scan the area. "Honestly? I don't have a plan. We're about 30 minutes from Valencia by bus so maybe 10, 15 kilometers? If we walk, that's one or two hours."
"You're joking, right? Two hours through a forest full of who-knows-what?" Kaen snaps.
"That's our best option. We could try luring the hound out, but I think it damaged the bus's front axle when it crawled under." i say
"so how old are you even u seem like an teenager" i add
"Yeah that's because I'm 17 why did you think i would take the bus i don't do it because its fun im not old enough to drive" he replies in a arrogant tone
"And why aren't you driving a car why would you drive in this rusty old bus" he adds after a small pause
"because i can't buy a car there are other things that are more important when your an adult" i confess
He groans, rubbing his forehead. "So you don't have any money that's not important anymore but i have another question, Got any painkillers in that bag? My head's killing me. from hitting my head earlier."
I dig into my bag. "Here. Water and some painkillers."
When I look up, Kaen is standing in front of me. His expression pure greed.
"Wha—" Before I can react, his fist slams into my face.
The world spins. Blood drips warm from my nose. My bag slips from my grasp.
"I can't use dead weight like you," he sneers. "But your stuff? That'll be useful to me."
[Effect of Primordial Fear has lifted.]
Of course. Why did I ever think he'd trust me? I was careless.
Kaen reaches into his jacket and pulls out golden brass knuckles. He slides them on slowly, never breaking eye contact.
"If you just stay still, this will be quick. All I need is for you to fall… and let the hound eat you," Kaen says, cold as ice.
My heart pounds like a drum, each beat threatening to tear through my chest.
"Kaen we don't need to fight. We can both survive," I plead.
He shakes his head. "No. We can't."
I plant my foot, raising my makeshift staff like a spear. My only chance is to knock him off the roof and run.
The air grows heavy, silence broken only by the hound snarling below.
Kaen lunges. His brass knuckles gleam as his fists cut through the air.
I sidestep, power surging through me, rushing from my chest to every limb.
[Fighting Experience Lv. 1 activated]
His punch misses, the wind pressure slicing my cheek like a blade.
If I get hit once, I'm done.
I grip the staff with both hands and thrust
Crack!
The wood splinters against his fist. Shock numbs my arms.
"That was close," Kaen smirks. "A second slower and I'd be out cold. But you're too slow."
I stumble backward, my heels scraping the edge. Nothing but the drop behind me. My chest heaves. My only weapon now a jagged half of a broken staff.
Kaen steps closer, brass glinting in the moonlight, eyes full of cruel delight.
THUD!
His fist crashes into my ribs. Pain explodes like fire tearing me apart.
I'm airborne. The world spins. Kaen's grin lingers in my vision
THUMP.
The ground swallows me. Darkness takes over.
[System Notification: Survive]