We did some reconnaissance through the hospital windows before setting off. Most of the surrounding structures were only one story tall, and with the hospital perched on the hill, it was no wonder the seagull had chosen it as a lookout.
Movement stirred along the streets behind us and those leading to my home. We decided to head north toward the city outskirts, then circle around to Andy's house. From there, I would continue on to my townhouse using the outskirts, rather than cutting through downtown, as per the original plan. It was a large detour, but an extra hour of walking was better than fifteen minutes of running with monsters breathing down my neck.
We found the emergency exit staircase with a door leading directly outside, allowing us to bypass the first floor entirely. We hadn't seen whether the dinos had chased after the trio, so they might still be lurking in the building.
Only now did I find it suspicious: a large open plain in front of the hospital with zero monsters. The seagull must have been hunting everything regardless of origin.
Scanning around and finding the safest route was taking extra time, which I could afford. With my new fluffy shoes on, I was able to move at my full speed, while Andy was still walking at his regular pace. Even slower, since all the extra weight from the fire extinguisher on his shoulder, a pry bar and other small knicks and knacks were weighing him down. He was turning into a hoarder, too.
Only Iris had no issues gliding silently behind us.
We got to the residential block without a hitch, and I doubled my attention. A lot of buildings here had the fancy hedges, and I didn't want the repetition of the centipede incident.
A rhythmic tick-tick-tick-tick-tick-tick proved me right. We were approaching the corner, and I had signalled for everyone to wait. It sounded like a pack of tiny dogs in need of a nail trim. I peeked behind the hedge, searching for the source.
Red ants, each the size of a French Bulldog, were trailing out of the brick house and into the children's playground area. And they were carrying human parts. Like fingers, eyes, chunks of flesh and sinew.
The sight was revolting but disturbed me less than it should have. I wondered if I'd already lost my mind from the stress of the last few days. Then again, would a crazy person even worry about that?
In any case, that answered my question about empty streets. The new question was whether they were strictly scavengers or wouldn't mind hunting their prey.
I turned to Andy and Iris and explained the situation in a hushed whisper.
"Pft, just a bunch of ants. Why are we even talking about it?" Andy dismissed my concerns, waiving a tired hand at me.
He was getting too exhausted to care, a dangerous combination. I considered telling him to leave some of the heavy equipment behind, but dismissed the thought. We were only together until we reached the outskirts. Besides, the day was edging closer to afternoon, and I didn't want to waste time fighting over things.
"Andy, they are carrying human remains across the street…" I emphasized the severity of the scene.
"Ok, I hear you. But it doesn't mean they will attack us."
"Non-native specimens are very likely to be monster-spawned with an inclination toward aggression." Iris supplied.
"That's a weird way to word it, but yes, that's what I was trying to say." I agreed with her, surprising myself.
The woman must have been a gamer, like Andy. I only knew what 'spawned' meant because I'd spent more time with him than I would have liked.
Andy sighed.
"Ok, let's circle around that house. Being buried under a swarm of ants is a shitty way to go."
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We moved, keeping at least one block from the playground. Now that I knew what to look for, I noticed stray ants everywhere. Like when you learn about a new lipstick shade and suddenly see it on everyone. As if they were trucking us, ants were everywhere: rooftops, trees, bushes. Mandibles clicking, antennae moving.
When we finally reached the outskirts, I thought we would catch a break. But like a group of bandits on a big road, three raptors stood on the highway pavement in the trembling afternoon heat.
What were we supposed to do? There was no more space to detour; we were on the outskirts of the outskirts. Even I was tired of walking.
I turned to Andy and Iris, trying not to disturb the bush we were hiding in.
"Let's set up a trap," I whispered. After getting a tired nod from Andy and a blank stare from Iris, I continued. "Andy, go behind that split tree. Iris, other side of the gap. I'll lead them through. Andy, whack the last dino with the extinguisher. Iris, finish it with him. I'll fry the first one, then we'll handle the middle as it comes. Or maybe you've got any other attacks up your sleeve, Iris?
She transferred her dispassionate gaze to her sleeves, then back at me and shook her head. Doctors! Have no social skills whatsoever….
Andy just walked towards the hiding spot I have indicated as quietly as possible. He still made as much ruckus as a drunk boar in a peach orchard. When I turned to look at Iris, she was no longer there. I shook my head and carefully crawled ahead, staying in the cover of the shrubs as much as possible.
When there was about 200 feet separating me from the dinos, I jumped onto the road, waving like an inflatable tube man.
The dinos noticed me immediately but hesitated, giving me a few seconds to ponder whether they were calculating if my scrawny frame was worth the effort. Then I remembered that they were predators. So I turned around and ran.
The dinos were hot on my heels by the time I veered off the road toward Andy's hiding place. They were fast, like a cat chasing a bird fast. I should have given myself more distance. Lesson learned for next time.
The backpack straps bit into my shoulders, then yanked me backward. I slipped free of the harness and slammed against rough tree bark. One of the dinos must have snagged the bag. But there was no time to re-evaluate. I had to go, go, go. Three against one were bad odds.
Jumping over the roots was much easier without a weight on my back. I raced past the agreed-upon trees and heard a meaty whack. I would have smiled if I weren't so busy panting.
Heavy thumps behind me meant at least one predator was still on my heels. The forest was too thick for fire, choked with foliage and underbrush. Scanning desperately for open ground, I spotted a clearing ahead. A sturdy pine gave me the pivot point I needed to change trajectory mid-stride.
The clearing had too many fallen logs. Two fallen trees fed at least a dozen bushes clogging the space. But there was one spot with enough room. I grabbed another pine to brake and pivot, planting myself in front of the only clear patch.
There were two dinos running towards me, one after the other. All the more convenient for them to split and circle me. I only had one [Torch] and one [Leap] to get out of this. My spear was back at the bush we split at, and my backpack was who knows where.
I allowed the first dino to come within the biting distance before activating the [Torch].
A hot wave of energy surged through me and erupted from my palms. A living torrent of flame arced through the air in a brilliant orange and yellow stream, slamming into the dino's snout. The power was intoxicating. For the first time since this hellscape had started, I felt strong. Dangerous. Almost superhuman.
The dino's few feathers ignited instantly, filling the air with the acrid stench of burning hair. Heat seared my palms with needling pain. The roar of igniting air mixed with the dino's startled screech.
One heartbeat. Two. The skill kept going, and something felt wrong. My chest heaved as I struggled to breathe. Was I burning through all the oxygen? My heart pounded in my chest. Sluggishness crept through my limbs, and a wave of fatigue nearly dropped me. I leaned on the tree I'd used to pivot, clinging to it just to stay upright.
The skill finally sputtered out. The dino lay dead. Whether it was due to burns, pain, or shock, I couldn't tell. A notification flickered at the edge of my vision, but I could barely focus. There was still a second predator out there. I knew that. But the trees around me blurred and swayed like they were playing musical chairs, and one was about to sit on top of me.
I slowly blinked, forcing the focus into my eyes, trying to catch any movement. Teeth gleamed in the sunlight. A reptilian eye locked on me. I [Leaped] in the opposite direction and slammed into something solid.
Then everything went black.
Chloe's Deck (5/10):
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Blue Card: [Leap]
Instantly leap forward up to 6 feet. Beware of obstacles. Cooldown 30 minutes.
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Blue Card: [Heal Wound II]
A medium burst of healing for a single target area you touch. Cooldown 1 hour.
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Green Card: [Spear]
Basic proficiency with spear weapons. Grants +5% damage and improved accuracy when wielding spears.
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Green Card: [Poison Tolerance]
Dulls the worst poison effects, giving your body time and chance to fight it. Does not work on lethal poison dosages.'
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Blue Card: [Pyromaniac Torch]
Fire recognizes a kindred spirit. Go on. Light it up. Just be careful what you feed it. Cooldown 10 minutes.