The patches of breathing black flesh pulse, inching closer in mere seconds."What about Thomas?"

Dima backs away slowly, "We might not have time, Lasal."

A monster falls from the walls, plopping onto the cement.

I look back at Lars, his wide eyes tremble, "Lars, drag Thomas."

He turns and backs up as that monster stands up, "No damn way."

The monster forms claws and it's face is revealed. The prettiest girl. She trembles, "I'm sorry! Help-I can't control it!"

White fragments shed from her body. Is that bone?

I put a hand out and Dima shouts, "Lasal, don't-"

She shakes her head as I inch closer, "Chill, Chill. Tell me what's wrong."

"Stay back!" I halt, "I'll end up eating you."

"Miss, calm down."

Dima shouts, "Get back, Lasal! That's an order!"

The black on her skin fades away and the claws fall off, "I did it."

"See, you can-"

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Blood trickles from her eyes, she blackens once more, she looks into my eyes, "Run. Please!"

I turn and run, she screams and her footsteps pound against the concrete.

Dima shoots past me, "Everyone run! Now!"

I run to Thomas and grab his dogtag. As I go to rip it from him, he grabs my hand and gasps awake. I pull him up and run with him.

Dima runs after us as Lars shoots at the woman, "Do not stop!"

Damn it, I forgot the radio! I look back and she fell from the pounding of bullets, but more of those things limp into daylight shining through the sewer manholes. She also gets up, slow. It's like nothing ever happened.

I face forward and run fast as I hear Lars scream. They got Lars! Damn it. I run past Thomas and Dima, they scream. Gunshots go off, then I halt.

A pipe leading down, too far down. I look above, DANGER! PUMP STATION AHEAD! DO NOT ENTER!

I grab my head, There's no way out! C'mon. Gimme something!

Thomas finally catches up, I turn and a giant black tentacle grabs his leg. His eyes widen before it swings him against the wall, spattering him everywhere. The tendril comes for me and I leap down.

I slide down raw sewage, the smell of death, ash. I fall and take a deep breath in.

I plunge into the water. My ears pop as sewage plops in above me. I swim up and gasp for air, sewage plops in my mouth, making me gag.

I spit out most of it as sewage pours in.

The tentacle slithers down towards me.

I quiver, I'm gonna die. Damn. Why? Why here?!

Yellow lights start to shine, revealing the black tendril in full detail. Fibrous material, bone sticks out in some places.

I start to get pulled away from the creature, towards a large pipe. I swim towards the tendril, but the current's too strong. I get sucked under the water.

I struggle as I get sucked through it all. I get my head hit on the pipe's walls. I open my mouth and I take in the rotten water. I fall and plop into another body of water. I try swimming up, I break through the muck and gasp for air, yet I sink back into it. I surface one more time and grab an edge.

I reach an arm up and just breathe. I gag and then puke my guts out. Luckily, it pours back into the pool.