After losing more than half our crew to a sandstorm and a village teeming with the undead, the remaining members and I sprinted toward the temple at the heart of the town. We fired at every monster that crossed our path, but it was futile—they rose again, unfazed. Adriel, the village leader, watched from a distance, his crimson eyes glowing with amusement, his sharp fangs bared in a sinister smile. This was all a game to him, a twisted spectacle. If he wanted us dead, we would be. So what was his endgame?
I clung to the hope that if we reached the temple, we'd be safe. But that hope faltered when I saw more of those creatures ahead, blocking our path. They emitted a shrill, piercing scream that rattled my senses, but I couldn't stop now.
We veered into a narrow alley, the creatures close behind. As we ran, I spotted a small window in the wall. Desperation guiding my actions, I pulled out a flare gun from my pocket and fired at them. The sudden burst of light temporarily blinded them, giving us just enough time to crawl through the window and into a small house. We hastily barricaded the entrance and collapsed in what seemed like a living room, panting, trying to catch our breath.
"I don't understand," one of the crew members gasped. "Why are they attacking us? What did we do?"
"This started when I asked Adriel if he was part of the Order," I said between breaths. "He said I insulted their god. I thought they all followed the same religion."
"What gods? What order?" another crew member asked, his voice tinged with confusion.
"What? You don't know about the Order of the Shining Stars? About the ancient gods? The Great Tree?" I asked, bewildered.
They shook their heads. They didn't know. They were hired for one purpose: to find a treasure. That was it. Now it made sense—Mr. Nobody never intended for them to know the full story.
One crew member, the only woman among us, clutched a necklace her parents had given her. She whispered prayers, saying she wanted the treasure so she could buy them a home, so they wouldn't have to work again. Another crew member, a man, held a photo of his children. He had promised his son he'd take him on the next adventure and vowed to bring his daughter a gift from this one.
For now, we decided to stay in the house and figure out our next move. We were close to the temple—close enough to make a run for it. But then the walls started to shake, and the sound of voices and scratching claws filled the air. The creatures had found us. We scrambled to the back of the house, hoping for an exit, but it was hopeless. The noise surrounded us, coming from every direction. We were trapped.
We formed a defensive triangle, weapons ready, prepared for the inevitable. As we stood there, waiting, I saw the door beginning to buckle under the weight of the monsters. My hand tightened around the grenade I'd saved for emergencies. If things got worse, I swore I'd take myself out before they could.
The timing had to be perfect. As the door splintered, I pulled the pin and hurled the grenade. We dove for cover just as it exploded, the shockwave rattling the house. I glanced back, seeing the creatures momentarily stunned, their dismembered bodies twitching. They weren't dead, but they wouldn't be getting up anytime soon. We had seconds to escape, and we took them.
We bolted from the house, the temple finally in sight. But the creatures were relentless, closing in on us again. Adriel was nowhere to be seen, likely enjoying the chaos from some hidden vantage point. I fired another flare into the sky, hoping to distract the monsters. It worked briefly, but soon I heard the sound of fangs sharpening, a grotesque symphony of hunger. They were ready to hunt again.
I knew what I had to do. Without hesitation, I turned my gun on the remaining crew members. I shot them one by one, ensuring they'd be devoured in my place. As they fell, their eyes wide with shock and betrayal, I smiled. "I'm sorry," I said, "it's nothing personal, just business." Their screams echoed as the darkness swallowed them whole, drowned out by the sickening crunch of flesh being torn apart.
This was why Mr. Nobody never told them about the Order or the Great Tree. They were always meant to be sacrificial lambs.
Finally, I reached the temple. Adriel stood there, waiting for me. His expression was calm, almost serene, as he welcomed me with a nod. "Congratulations," he said, his voice smooth and cold. "You've made it this far. Now, let me show you where the Great Tree lies..."
37Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwaJrR4SPZ
