Ian coughed as the cloud of dust and rubble finally began to settle around him. Looking at the twisted metal a few feet from where he stood he realized just how close he had just come to death. "So much for my plan..." he muttered.
The view of the black silhouette that crouched at the only remaining entrance made bile crawl up Ian's throat. Slowly he drew the sword off his back. Turning it slowly in his hands he swallowed the bile back down and clenched his jaw. This sword had saved him once before, but he had never been in a hurry to test his luck with it again.
He had seen the demons shrug off everything people had thrown at them when they had first started appearing. There hadn't been any organized government left to send the army in by the time those demons began to appear the other disasters made sure of that, but here and there pockets of resistance had tried to fight them off. As far as Ian knew no one had ever killed one. At best they may have slowed them down.
Staring at the rune covered blade in his hand he tried to work up the nerve for what he had to do. There is something special about this sword.... There has to be.
As his eyes drifted back to the monstrous shadow at the entrance he felt the bile sneaking back up. Dropping to his knees he closed his eyes, this time he couldn't choke it back.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We need to get the hell out of here." Larry said for the third time.
"There is no way I'm leaving Ian." Rayne replied. "The only reason he is even in this mess is because he wanted to help you!" she finished her voice rising steadily as she spoke.
Larry cringed, "Keep your voice down! If that thing notices us, I don't like our chances of getting away."
Rayne chewed on her lip shifting a glance back to the car wash. "That may be his only hope."
"Oh hell no!:" Larry grabbed Rayne's hand as it drifted towards the ignition. "He was a brave guy. I am really grateful for what he did, but I ain't gonna throw my life away."
Rayne pulled the gun off her lap and pointed it at the man once again. "You can ride in the truck or you can get out and take your chances on foot, but one way or another we are going to get that demon's attention."
Larry released her and held his hands up slowly moving to slide his seat belt on. "Have it your way, sista. I just hope ya know what you're doing."
Turning the key, the engine roared to life, the noise from the diesel engine echoing down the silent road. "Yea me too."
The skin on the monster smacked loudly as it's head spun to find the source of the noise. Standing upright it considered the new target, its brow furrowed over its empty eyes, contemplating what to do. Turning back around it returned to its crouched position, in front of the car wash not willing to give up its cornered prey for another chase.
"Oh no you don't" Rayne shrieked through gritted teeth. "You are going to follow me!" Slamming her foot on the gas the truck jolted forward.
"That is damn close enough!" Larry yelled. His eyes wide as they came close to the creature.
"We have to get it to chase us, or at least ignore the opening long enough for him to get out." Rayne shouted back. As they blew past the monster it made no move. "Dammit!" Rayne spun the steering wheel pulling the vehicle around for another pass. Larry's eyes were squeezed shut whispering what Rayne could only assume was either a curse or a prayer.
Once again the truck passed the monster and once again it made no move. Rayne's heart was beating so hard in her chest she felt like she could barely hear the truck's engine. As she turned around again she knew what she had to do.
Pointing the nose of the car directly towards the demon she put the gas pedal to the floor. "It worked once it will work again. We can just fill a new truck with supplies later..."
"What worked once! What later!" Larry screamed. "What the Hell do you think you're doing ya crazy bitch!" Throwing his hands against the dashboard he tried to brace for the impact.
As the truck tore down the road the demon stood completely still... until right before they reached it. The demon sidestepped with ease snatching the underside of the truck as it passed buy. One swift jerk was all it took to flip the vehicle over onto its side. Sparks flew in every direction as the metal chassis scraped across the asphalt.
This wreck was different than the last one Rayne had experienced. Where as the first impact had been disorienting and left her dazed and confused, this accident left her all too coherent. The glass shattered instantly showering her like the spray of a sprinkler shooting needles. As the driver side door connected with the concrete he shoulder was shoved against it. The impact took her breath away, and was the only reason she wasn't still screaming. As they finally slowed to a stop, battered, bruised and bloody, Rayne weakly tried to move. The man they had "rescued" hung limply next to her his body resting only on the thin strap of his seat belt, a large gash across his forehead.
Slowly he stirred moaning in pain. His eyes only barely open. Rayne reached towards him trying to help him disentangle himself from the safety harness. But as she looked up at him a new image filled her vision.
The cold empty sockets of the demon stared down at them through the shattered passenger side window. The claw like hand wrenched the door from its hinges. The giant corpse smiled once again. Its arm reaching into the cab, past Larry, right for her. She started to scream, but as she opened her mouth a howl burst from the lips of the monster. Like a snake the arm whipped out of the cab and the monster's ugly face spun away from them.
Rayne sat stunned for a moment, before she suddenly began to madly pull at her seat belt ignoring her injuries in a hurry to pull herself from the truck. Climbing out through the broken windshield she stood to finally see what had happened.
The demon stood clutching its right arm gingerly, a few feet in front of it stood Ian, fresh blood dripping off his sword.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No comments:
Post a Comment