The frigid waters of the Thames engulfed Bobby, shocking his system. For a moment, disorientation took hold as he tumbled beneath the murky surface. The weight of his clothes, stab vest, and backpack immediately dragged him down, threatening to plunge him deep into the river's dark depths.
Panic clawed at his chest, but Bobby fought against it. With desperate strokes, he propelled himself forward, staying submerged as long as his burning lungs would allow. The current helped, carrying him away from his entry point.
When he could hold his breath no longer, Bobby attempted to surface. To his horror, the combined weight of the stab vest and waterlogged backpack made it impossible. His arms and legs thrashed frantically, but he couldn't break through to the air above.
With fumbling fingers, Bobby reached for the sturdy dagger in his improvised sheath. The lack of oxygen made his movements clumsy, but desperation lent him strength. He gripped the handle and began sawing at the backpack straps.
The tough material resisted at first, precious seconds ticking by as Bobby's vision darkened around the edges. Finally, the straps gave way. Bobby clenched one of the severed strap between his teeth, freeing both hands to work on the stab vest.
His lungs screamed for air as he cut through the vest's fastenings. Just as spots danced before his eyes, the last strap gave way. With a powerful kick, Bobby shot upwards, breaking the surface.
He gasped desperately, sucking in great lungfuls of air. The backpack, now free from his back and mouth, sank beside him. He grabbed it, knowing he couldn't lose Rem.
Bobby clung to the backpack, his mind reeling. The world had changed so drastically in such a short time. With what seemed like yesterday, he was a normal guy with normal problems. Now, he was fighting for his life against monsters straight out of a nightmare. A wave of grief for his old life threatened to overwhelm him, but he pushed it down. There was no time for that now. Survival was all that mattered.
As his senses returned, Bobby heard a familiar, terrifying screech. The Nex Papilio was circling overhead, its compound eyes scanning the water's surface.
Bobby didn't need to be told twice. Still clutching the backpack, he took another deep breath and dove back under, swimming as hard as he could away from the monstrous creature above. The Thames's murky waters provided some cover, but he knew he couldn't stay submerged forever.
Every few strokes, he risked a quick surface, gasping for air before plunging back down. Each time, the screech of the Nex Papilio seemed closer, its massive shadow darkening the water above him.
His muscles burned with exertion, the cold river sapping his strength. He couldn't keep it up for much longer. He needed a plan, a place to hide, anything.
This is turning out to be a right shitty day. He thought.
During one of his brief surfacing moments, Bobby's eyes caught sight of something in the distance. Squinting through the spray and fading light, he saw the silhouettes of several wrecked river boats. The wrecked boats loomed ahead, a testament to the chaos that had engulfed London. In the fading light, Bobby could make out the skeletal remains of what were once proud vessels. Twisted metal and splintered wood jutted out at odd angles, creating a jagged skyline against the murky waters. Beyond the boats, the once-familiar London skyline was barely recognisable, with several buildings reduced to rubble and others bearing deep, inexplicable gashes in their facades.
The boats themselves were chained together at the end of a small metal bridge, which extended from what looked like a miniature mooring or jetty attached to a building on the riverbank.
There! If I can reach the boats…
Bobby nodded, taking another deep breath before submerging. He swam with renewed vigour towards the floating flotilla; the backpack clutched to his chest. The current seemed to be in his favour, pulling him towards the wrecked boats.
As he neared the makeshift harbour, Bobby could hear the frustrated screeches of the Nex Papilio growing more distant. The creature seemed to lose track of him among the debris-filled waters and the obstacles ahead.
With one final push, Bobby surfaced near the closest boat. It was a battered old barge, its hull scarred and rusted. He grabbed onto a dangling chain, using it to pull himself closer. The metal was cold and slick under his hands, but he clung to it like a lifeline.
Panting, Bobby looked around. The small collection of wrecked vessels created a maze of potential hiding spots. Some had collapsed decks, others showed gaping holes in their sides. The metal bridge connecting them to the shore looked precarious but intact.
As if on cue, a distant screech reminded Bobby of the imminent danger. He hauled himself onto the deck of the barge, his waterlogged clothes making every movement a struggle. Crawling on his hands and knees, he made his way towards a partially open hatch.
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Just as he was about to slip inside, a gust of wind made him look up. The Nex Papilio was coming back, its massive form silhouetted against the darkening sky. Its compound eyes swept over the river, searching.
Bobby held his breath, praying the creature hadn't spotted him. He was so close to temporary safety, but one wrong move could give away his position.
The hatch creaked ominously as he pushed it open, the sound unnervingly loud in the tense silence. Bobby froze, his heart pounding, as he waited to see if the noise had attracted the attention of the monstrous hunter above.
Bobby slipped through the hatch, lowering himself into the darkness below. The stench of stagnant water and rust assaulted his nostrils as he descended. His eyes struggled to adjust to the gloom, only faint slivers of light penetrating through various holes and cracks in the barge's hull.
He stood still for a moment, water dripping from his clothes, and listened. The muffled cries of the Nex Papilio could still be heard outside, a chilling reminder of the danger that lurked above.
Bobby nodded, fumbling with his waterlogged backpack. He unzipped it, assessing the damage. The books, thankfully, seemed unharmed, protected somehow.
Probably by the System, since one holds Rem’s soul shard, and the other magical knowledge. Bobby thought.
However, the blue roll was soaked through.
"Useless now," Bobby muttered, tossing the sodden roll aside. He peeled off his wet shirt, wringing it out as best he could before putting it back on.
Clutching the backpack, Bobby began to explore his surroundings. The lower deck was a maze of fallen beams, scattered debris, and partially flooded compartments. He moved carefully, mindful of potential hazards in the dim light.
In what might have once been a small galley, Bobby's foot caught on something. He bent down, fingers closing around a small, metallic object. Bringing it closer to a shaft of light, he realised it was a Swiss Army knife, its red casing dulled with age but still intact.
"Well, that's handy," he whispered, pocketing the multi-tool. It wasn't much, but in his current situation, he needed everything he could find.
As he continued his exploration, Bobby's mind raced. The Nex Papilio was still out there, and it was only a matter of time before it combed through all the wrecks.
As if to confirm Rem's warning, a loud thud resonated from the deck above, followed by the sound of twisting metal. The entire barge shuddered, dust and rust flakes raining down from the ceiling.
Bobby's heart leapt into his throat. He grabbed the backpack, holding it by a broken strap. The Nex Papilio was on the barge, its massive weight causing the old vessel to groan and shift in the water.
Another crash, closer this time. Bobby could hear the creature's chittering, the sound sending chills down his spine. He looked around, searching for an escape route.
His eyes landed on a window near the waterline, big enough, he judged, for him to squeeze through. It was a risk. He didn’t know what was on the other side, but with the sounds of destruction drawing closer, he was out of options.
Bobby made his way to the window, the Swiss Army knife already in hand. As he worked on the rusted bolts holding the window in place, one of the massive, blade-like appendage of the Nex Papilio punched through the ceiling mere feet away from him.
"Shit!" Bobby hissed, redoubling his efforts
Bobby's fingers worked at the rusted bolts, the Swiss Army knife slipping in his wet hands. Just as the blade of the Nex Papilio slashed through the air where his head had been moments before, the window gave way. Instead of plunging into the water, Bobby found himself on a narrow ledge running along the side of the barge.
His heart pounding, he clung to the boat's rusted hull with one hand, the other still clutching the waterlogged backpack. The Nex Papilio’s frustrated screech pierced the air as it realised its prey had eluded it once again.
Bobby's eyes darted around, assessing his options. The collection of wrecked boats stretched out before him, some in better condition than others, but all incapable of movement. Without hesitation, he clambered along the ledge towards the next vessel.
As he reached the second boat, a thunderous crash behind him signalled the Nex Papilio's emergence from the barge. Its massive form leapt from one deck to another, closing the distance rapidly.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck," Bobby muttered, scrambling across the deck of the second boat. He could hear the creature's chittering getting closer, feel the vibrations of its impact as it landed on the deck behind him.
With a desperate lunge, Bobby jumped to a third boat, his feet slipping on the wet surface as he landed. He stumbled forward, narrowly avoiding a swipe from the Nex Papilio's blade.
But now, he found himself trapped. This was the last boat in the chain, and the Nex Papilio was between him and the rickety bridge leading to shore. Bobby backed away, his options dwindling. It was either face the creature or plunge back into the Thames.
Just as he was considering the water, Bobby noticed something that made his blood run cold. Large ripples were disturbing the river's surface, moving towards the boats. Whatever was causing them was massive.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," Bobby groaned, realising that jumping into the water was no longer a viable escape route.
The Nex Papilio advanced, its compound eyes fixed on Bobby, mandibles clicking in anticipation. It reared up, preparing for a final, lethal strike.
Suddenly, the water around the boat exploded. Enormous tentacles, as thick as tree trunks, burst from the Thames. They whipped through the air, wrapping around the Nex Papilio's body. The creature screeched in surprise and fury as it was yanked backwards.
Bobby watched in horrified fascination as the Nex Papilio was dragged towards the water. The surface of the Thames churned and frothed as something massive rose. A gargantuan maw broke the surface, lined with row upon row of dagger-like teeth.
The Nex Papilio thrashed violently, its blade-arms slashing at the tentacles. Ichor sprayed from the wounds, but the grip didn't loosen. The two titanic creatures grappled, their battle shaking the very air around them.
Bobby didn't wait to see the outcome. As it was pulled inexorably towards the monstrous mouth, he made his move. Sprinting across the deck, he leapt onto the precarious metal bridge and ran for his life.
The bridge swayed and creaked under his feet, threatening to give way at any moment. Behind him, he could hear the sounds of the battle, punctuated by the Nex Papilio's shrieks and the deep, resonant roar of the aquatic behemoth.
Running as fast as he could in his state, Bobby's feet touched solid ground. He didn't stop running until he was well away from the water's edge, his lungs burning and legs shaking from exertion.
Finally, he allowed himself to look back. The wrecked boats were barely visible now, obscured by the thrashing tentacles and the massive bulk of whatever had risen from the depths of the Thames. The Nex Papilio was nowhere to be seen.
“Rem,” Bobby exclaimed with awe and fear, “what in the world was that?”
Rem replied,
As Bobby turned to leave, a final, earth-shaking roar echoed across the water, a chilling reminder that in this new, terrifying world, there were monsters far beyond his comprehension lurking in every shadow.