"Alright, looks like everyone's here," Lucas said. His voice was steady, but his eyes showed a flicker of uncertainty. He stood at the front of the dim classroom. His posture was tense, and his shoulders squared under the weight of leadership. The air felt thick, oppressive, like the calm before a storm.

I shifted in my seat, a knot of dread tightening in my chest. Seven of us... it didn’t feel like enough. “What do you mean ‘everyone’?” I blurted, my voice sharper than intended. “The arts and crafts club, the gardening club—they’re not here yet.”

Lucas’s jaw tightened, but he waved off my concern. “They’re working on their part of the plan,” he said, moving to the table at the center of the room. He unfurled a large map of the campus across it, the fluorescent lights above casting a pale glow on the paper. “Now, gather around.”

We shuffled closer, the silence broken only by the soft rustle of footsteps and the hum of the lights. Someone marked the map on the table with every building, field, and path. As we leaned in, the weight of what was coming pressed down on all of us.

Lucas pointed to the school’s main entrance, his finger hovering over a red circle. "The monster has taken its position here." His voice was steady. But I could hear a tremor of fear beneath the surface.

Lawrence, standing next to me, frowned, his usual calm replaced by a deep furrow in his brow. “How do we even get its attention?” he asked, his voice quieter than usual, as if he didn’t want to hear the answer.

“We lure it,” Min-Ji answered, her finger tracing the path from the entrance. She sounded unsure, her voice wavering with the uncertainty that hung thick in the room. “But where are we leading it? What’s the plan, Lucas?”

Lucas’s hand moved across the map to the football field, tapping the wide, open space. “Here. It’s the safest option. We’ll have room to see its attacks and maneuver around them.”

Masato folded his arms across his chest, shaking his head. “It’s too open,” he argued, his voice low but firm. “We will be vulnerable.” Why not take it to the woods near the art wing? We could use the trees as cover?"

Lucas hesitated, casting a quick glance at the wooded area. “Rei said it throws debris,” he reminded us, his voice showing a hint of faltering. “If we’re in the woods, it could pin us down. On the field, we have a chance to see it coming.”

The room fell into a tense silence as we all considered the risks. It wasn’t a matter of strategy anymore—it was about survival. I broke the silence, my voice soft and hushed. “So… what’s next?”

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Lucas straightened and turned to Shaun. He had been leaning against the wall. His track uniform clung to him, damp from his last run. His layered blonde hair, styled in a widow’s peak, fell over his forehead as he tilted his head in confusion. “Shaun, we need your speed,” Lucas said, his tone soft but serious. “You’ll lead the monster to the field.”

Shaun’s eyes widened, his disbelief clear. “You want me to do what?” he asked, his voice incredulous. “Are you serious?” Lucas gave a small, grim smile. “You’re the fastest. If anyone can outrun it, it’s you.” Shaun groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. “Fantastic,” he muttered, but there was no hiding the fear in his eyes.

Lucas didn’t dwell on Shaun’s reluctance. He pointed at the map again. “Lawrence, Masato, Seth—you three will handle the main fight. Once Shaun gets it to the field, keep it distracted. Don’t stop moving.” Lawrence nodded, his expression tense. “What about the other monsters by the gym?” he asked, his voice tight with unease.

Lucas’s face darkened. “Rei, Tyson, and the gardening club will handle them,” he said in a low voice. “We’re fighting on two fronts. If one group falls, the other won’t last long.”

Seth, who had been lounging against the wall, pushed himself upright. “So, if they screw up, we’re dead. And if we screw up, they’re dead.” He let out a low whistle, shaking his head. “No pressure.” Lucas didn’t respond, but the gravity of the situation hung heavy in the air. He motioned to the door. “Let’s move.”

The hallway was quiet, and our footsteps echoed against the tiled floor as we stepped out. The school, once alive with chatter, now felt like a battleground. It waited for the first strike. My heart raced in time with the pounding in my ears, the tension thickening with every step.

By the time we reached the gym, a different kind of energy buzzed in the air. Inside, construction chaos filled the space. Students hammered, welded, and hauled materials. The arts and crafts club had turned the gym into a workshop. Sawdust floated in the air as metal clanged against metal.

Lawrence’s eyes widened as we passed a group of students working on a massive wooden structure. “Is that… a ballista?” he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. Lucas gave a tight smile. “They’ve been busy.”

Across the gym, a wiry kid named Eric was adjusting a ballista. His sharp eyes and grease-stained hands stood out. Lucas approached him, his tone even. “How’s it looking?”

Eric wiped sweat from his brow, his expression grim. “Good news, we’ve got enough rope for the second ballista. Bad news? The wood’s not great. Five shots, max.” Lucas nodded, his expression hard. “Five will have to be enough.” Masato stepped forward, his voice quiet but firm. “Who’s going to fire it?”

Min-Ji, standing at the edge of the group, took a step forward. “I’ll do it,” she said, her voice steady this time, her earlier hesitation gone. She met our eyes, and we nodded in silent approval.

Lucas glanced at each of us, his gaze lingering on Min-Ji for a moment longer. “We’re as ready as we’ll ever be,” he said, his voice cutting through the noise. “Positions.”

We moved with urgency; the weight of the moment settled like a cold fog. There was no turning back.

***

Outside, at the school’s entrance, the monster stood—a hulking mass of jagged, stone-like skin. Its eyes glowed red with rage. They scanned the area. It stood among the broken bodies of students and teachers who had tried to flee. Its massive fists clenched, leaving deep craters in the ground beneath it.

Minutes earlier, a team of fighters from outside the school had tried to engage it. They now lay broken at its feet, their weapons scattered like discarded toys.

Thud—

A rock bounced off the creature’s thick hide, leaving almost no mark. The monster's head snapped to the noise. Its eyes locked on Shaun, who stood panting a few meters away.

“Come and get me, you piece of shit!” Shaun shouted, his voice shaking as he raised his middle finger in defiance. The challenge lingered in the air for a heartbeat.

The ground trembled as the monster roared. Its deafening cry signaled the start of the chase.

[End of Chapter]