Andrew walked until he reached the city boundary, with a flashlight in his hands, making a perfect loop, he plays. Watching the top of the great iron wall, the boy climbed, steadying his feet and putting strength in his arms.
The view of the city was perfect, with the endless lights shining under the starry sky, for a moment I forget a little bit about the terrors we've been through since I got here. My mind was gone the moment I saw death cross my eyes. I have to look strong, but inside I'm broken, frayed, hopeless.
With his thoughts back to his memories, Andrew didn't realize that a creature was calmly approaching. A Harpy scratches Andrew's chest as he unbalances falling from the top of the wall, his vision distorted as the creature chased him, cushioning his fall, there were several trees in the place, hitting the ribs on the branches. Unaware in the midst of fallen leaves, the boy hurts his face with small cuts.
A shrill scream from one of the Harpies, advancing on Andrew, suddenly a shot came from beyond. It was Frederick with two guns in his hands, shooting madly at the mythological animals.
The bullets hit the air, with a heavy rain punishing the place, seeing his glasses bottle bottom and his beautifully styled hair falling apart as the raindrops fell from the sky.
"Stay away. shouted Frederick
Sharpening their claws on the wall, the Harpies stared at Frederick, who continued to fire. Upon reaching the ground, the creatures turned into beautiful women. With silky, shiny hair, with long evening gowns.
"Noble pilgrim, you have shown yourself worthy of our redemption. said the harpy
What they want? shouted Frederick
— Your hearts. said the other Harpy
I'm sorry, but my heart already has an owner. Frederick said
— Too bad, we'll have to rip it off your chest. said the harpy
Advancing with their wings against Frederick, they throw him away hitting his back against the trunk of one of the trees.
"Foolish humans, you have the audacity to think you can with us?— asked the Harpy
With flaming eyes, one of the creatures marveled at the glare coming from a pickup truck.
An arrow surrounded by fire attacked each one, shattering them into ashes and dust slightly, a figure with a gleaming burgundy hood, slashing wind arrows simultaneously at the monsters, his face not visible.
Soon after disappearing in the darkness, the figure says goodbye to the place without leaving a trace of life. Gradually Andrew and Frederick woke up from their not so light naps.
— What happened? Andrew asked
— We were attacked, but apparently we managed to escape. replied
Frederick
"Seriously, how?— Andrew asked
"No idea, I just remember shooting some terribly ugly creatures with big wings. replied Frederick
"I thought I'd gone crazy or something.— Andrew said
"Each day these challenges surprise me. Frederick said. — In a negative way.
"That's exactly what I think. agreed Andrew
...
Lilian checked the emergency exits of the hospital so that she could anticipate any dangerous or suspicious movement, with great concern in her eyes. She was willing to risk her life for Natasha. Checking the bullets in the revolver while pointing at the wall.
BOOM...
Shooting against the wall, Lilian is startled. When it comes to marksmanship, she was an excellent marksman.
"I think I'd better leave this locked, just in case.— thought Lillian. — For my safety
I hear a noise coming from one of the corridors, I wouldn't deny it, I'm very scared. Either way, I'll face whatever it is. Leaving the room where she was, Lilian walks until she gets close to a machine to get a bottle of water. — There's some silly money, uncrush it. said lilian
Head down, he didn't notice the creature from his nightmares approaching. A headless horse spouting fire, with a neigh coming from beyond, terrifying the little girl.
"Holy Christ, what the hell is that?— asked Lily
From the speaker nailed to the wall, the sinister voice spoke the commands in a foreign language, the animal put its paws up, almost trampling Lilian who fell to the ground rolling to the side, dodging the monster.
— Please leave me alone. begged Lilian
Running without looking back, Lilian breathed heavily. At the end of the corridor the horse was setting fire to the walls surrounded by leaflets that flew in the air in full fire.
"How am I going to get out of this? thought Lillian
Arriving at the end of the dead end corridor, the little girl found herself cornered without being able to move, she just looked up. The horse galloped rapidly, spewing fire from its nostrils. For a moment it seemed to be the end. Opening her eyes suddenly, Lilian propels her body forward, knocking over the liter of water that was beside her. Scattering the liquid everywhere, opening his bag, he finds a small penknife and piercing the bottle cap, shoots the animal.
Slipping in the spilled water, the horse unbalances itself over space, losing
18
its strength. Throwing and putting out the animal's fire, he loses his strength disappearing in ashes.
— That was close. thought Lillian
Taking care not to slip on the wet floor, Lilian passes very close to the damage that the fire horse had left, running her hands over the scorched walls, she observed the symbols that were stamped.
I decide to take a picture of it, it could be useful at some point, now I need to know when we'll be really safe without something insane happening, my feelings are extremely sharp, everything had changed. My heart was no longer the same, my breathing was no longer just my breathing, I no longer recognized myself. Challenges turn us into horrifying beings capable of anything.
— Natasha! exclaimed Lillian anxiously
I run to get to the room where Natasha was, going up the stairs quickly I don't notice the camouflaged force field very close to my face, throwing me away, I go through a glass window. Thousands of shards scattered around me, my face streaked with blood and severe pain.
"I need to...save...Nat...— said Lilian.
From high in the sky a drone saw everything, spinning in the air. With no chance of survival, Lilian was motionless.
I feel someone touching my face, wiping the blood, it was Andrew. Lifting me up with his strong arms I notice his calm, dark brown eyes shining in the sunlight.
"Calm down Lily, everything will be fine.— Andrew said quietly
"Andrew...?— sighed lilian
— Yes, rest, child. calmed Andrew
I closed my eyes slowly, I could hardly feel the pain that surrounded my whole being, suddenly it seemed that everything had eased, like morphine.
Andrew gently placed me on the bed next to Natasha administering first aid. Cleaning the rest of the blood that still punished my face. Wetting the cloth in a silver bowl surrounded by alcohol and saline.
— Rest pretty girls, we all deserve a good night's sleep. Andrew said
Frederick had stayed behind, it was his choice. I had to accept it, we took different paths. The best we decided was to split up, to envision a faster, less risky path for both of us. I'm physically tired, mentally I feel like I can destroy an avalanche of monsters and challenges. What he really wanted at the moment was to be able to sleep. Days were passing, our time was scarce, tight. With destruction ravaging our hearts little by little, devouring our hopes, shaking our sanity. To the point where we were being tested at every turn, it was making me just plain irrational. I maintain appearances of calm, serene and secure. Inside I feel something evil growing inside me. I don't want to wake the demons I keep locked in cages with golden keys.
Andrew watched the big clock changing every second, with each passing day more challenges arose. Time was not in their favor, a precipice surrounded by thorns, awaited them.
— We need help, I don't know how long we will fight. Andrew thought
Heading to the sofa outside the room, he falls asleep in a deep sleep, forgetting for a moment all that affliction that was pulsing in his brave heart.
The House of Night Horrors
Veronica was in front of the door of the old house next to her Liam was attentive and scared, both with their hearts racing fearing what could be behind those walls. Even so, they continued on their way, unlocking the padlocks that imprisoned the beasts in the house.
— Okay, here we are Liam lion. Veronica said
"What did you call me?— asked Liam curious
"A pun on your name.— Relax, don't be a party pooper. replied Veronica in a sarcastic tone
"Am I a killjoy?— Never! snapped Liam. "I'm the soul of the group. "I love that spontaneous way of yours.— said Veronica messed up Liam's hair "Thanks, partner. Liam said
As soon as we enter, something strange happens. Strangely the house was spacious inside, with a main hall surrounded by stairs on all sides, looking up was a large chandelier made of solid gold. We approached, we passed very close to death at that moment.
The chandelier comes loose, falling quickly, Liam was under it distracted, Veronica, realizing this, throws herself immediately.
That was close. said Veronica laying her head on the ground and closing her eyes
"What... what... is... going on?— stammered Liam in a state of panic
"You were almost killed by a chandelier. replied Veronica
— Of course, everything is absolutely normal in my life. Liam said
"Look on the bright side, I saved you from turning to mush. Veronica said
"Speaking of which, is there anything to eat around here?— asked Liam
Serious? Is that what you're worried about right now? asked VeronicaBetter late than never. replied Liam
We left in search of food, in a short period of time. There was a perfect trap awaiting our presence.
"I think this way.— Let's go this way. Veronica suggested
All good. Liam agreed
We passed through a narrow corridor that led to the rooms of the house. Let's cross without much effort. Veronica was in front, I was attentive to her every move.
— We have to be careful, we don't know where a challenge will come from.
Veronica said
Before finishing the sentence Veronica is pushed forward hitting her face against the wall.
"Veronica! shouted liam
When trying to run to help his companion, something grabs Liam's ankles pulling him up, levitating in the air, a magnetic whip. Pulling him down the stairs. The boy is submerged in the air, with his legs trapped.
"Liam...— murmured Veronica before losing consciousness.
Surrounded by a blue electromagnetic sphere, Liam still unconscious showed no expression, in a complete vegetative state. Veronica gradually woke up, with a small nosebleed she gets up, cleans the remnants they still had.
She still dizzy, went downstairs, finding Liam in that state, when trying to touch the sphere, a violent ray collides with her body, throwing her across the house, knocking over a vase of flowers, a closet and a painting that was on the wall.
Natasha reacts with a stimulus, from her induced coma, causing her brain to pronounce the words. Careful! Run away! Take cover! Hope! Resistance