Chapter 95
Gauntlet
“Smoke.”
Jimmy’s eyes glowed behind his cracked glasses as he peered over the ridge.
Light bent, beaming data through the cool night air.
“There is a fire down in that small thicket…”
He looked at Dan, reservation coloring his expression.
“...I think they are human.”
Dan’s face was dirty, drawn, and deep bags had settled under his eyes.
It's been a long twenty-four hours.
Any beast they came across, bunny and above, seemed almost driven to madness.
A crazed dash to the glitch in the world.
They had covered the rough ground, avoiding any fights they could.
With the hills alive with scurrying shadows, they couldn't avoid them all.
I’m beat… and I have a Core.
Anything that slipped past Jimmy’s near depleted arrows, Dan took center stage.
Kim and Chris supported from the flanks, spending Qi to keep everything at a distance.
Despite their best efforts, heads drooped as fatigue set in, having fought a non stop marathon.
Jaime, Belle, and Annette’s Qi was nearly depleted.
They spent the last of their reserves, their Seeds not having any regeneration to keep them going.
Spears hung heavy in tired hands.
Steps dragged heavily across the rocks, sweat slicked skin gleaming in the harsh white light.
Blood shone darkly on their skin in the night… some of it theirs.
Really missing Dad’s healing right about now…
I don't even know how he's still moving.
George’s skin was gray, face tight with pain.
Not a word of complaint broke out of the thin line of his lips, as one foot plodded slowly after the next.
Powered purely by natural human endurance and will, not a speck of Qi moved through his body.
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Chris was always ready with a quick, steadying hand whenever his father started to stumble.
George would gently wave him off with a grumble.
They caught a short break as Jimmy scouted the next leg of their trek, sitting in a small sheltered rise.
Chris, somehow, looked more beat down than his father.
Shoulders tense, he sat, unusually quiet.
This is going to eat him alive..
Dan sighed, rubbing his bloodshot eyes.
One problem at a time.
The spectacle lit up the sky.
Now much closer.
“I say we rest a couple hours, then sneak past.”
The thin trail of smoke streamed up, breaking up the stars.
“The less people we see the better, in my book.”
“Fuck that… let's just go take their Qi.”
Chris looked at his hands, a small flame pulsing violently in his palms.
The light cast across the landscape made everything look like a black and white photograph.
Except for Chris.
His flame colored him flickering shades of red, the blood on his skin standing out unnaturally.
“Chris, that's terrible! I can’t believe you would say that!”
Jaime’s eyes were wide in shock, “We can’t just murder random people!”
The flame cut out, Chris’ hands clenching into fists.
“Why? It’s nicer to just wait and let some monster tear them apart in the night? Better we get it.”
“Chris. NO. We are not doing this.”
He took a step closer to his little brother.
“If someone crosses us, we hold nothing back.”
One more step.
“But we will not become animals.”
Chris’ red, pained eyes creeped up, meeting his brother’s stare.
Clenched fists loosened, hands hanging limp.
“Yeah... I hear you... Sorry.”
He’s still there.
Dan held the stare for a moment longer, then nodded.
“Good. Now get a nap. You’re cranky.”
A sharp chuckle burst from Chris’ chest, tension easing just a hair.
Jimmy rose from his crouch.
“You all get some rest. I will keep watch with Luna.”
Luna’s head tilted when she heard her name.
“You can take a nap too little one, you don't always have to be on alert.”
Kim petted her soft brown fur.
Luna perked up, letting out a low growl when she heard ‘alert’.
“No shhhh, you have to be quiet!”
The dog gave a grunt, got up, walked over and laid between Jaime and Belle.
They absently started petting her, half asleep.
Luna gave Kim the side eye.
Who huffed, “Fine then.”
Jimmy kept his senses locked onto the wood below, as the breathing deepened behind him.
Calculating, judging, waiting.
Watching for any move, any indication.
I wish they would.
He had to stop himself from speaking up earlier, agreeing with Chris.
The driving need for more strength was a constant itch in the back of his brain.
I will need to curb this desire.
He looked at Dan, laying with his eyes closed.
Attempting to sleep.
An agitated rumbling coming from his Core.
We all will.
I know my friend.
A crooked smile gleamed in the stark light.
Once his family is safe… the berserker will come out.
The archer was a statue, pondering what has been, and what was yet to come.
As the stars inched along the sky, disappearing behind the beam, the cries cutting through the night settled.
He whistled softly, tired eyes snapping open.
You adapt quickly in the Apocalypse.
“Time.”
Jimmy helped his mom to her feet with a soft smile.
She patted him on the shoulder with a shaky hand, giving him a quick peck on the cheek.
Dan stretched, thick neck cracking in the night.
“Let's go. We should make it by midday tomorrow.”
Around them, the Tutorial was oddly quiet, as if it was holding its breath.
“Hopefully, out of this madness."
