Yet another dark city, only lit by flames and muzzle flashes. Lufkin, in all my years, never been until now. Wish I did when it had no demons or stray bullets flying. I peek out a slot, a dog shakes it's head side to side. I sigh, "I hate that you're here." Jean hunches over and Dave scoffs, "I'm glad she's here." Jon glances back, "She is a good medic." She rolls her eyes, "Yeah, when I'm not under pressure." Scout Car One! Your goal is to clear a path and get inside the Militia's compound! Jon picks up, "What? No back up!?" Great, it's you- Why not just trust in me? Oh, right. Your kind didn't vote. Jon yells, "Motherf-" I stand up, bump my head as Jon slams the mic down repeatedly and the radio goes silent. We start rolling to a stop and Dave shakes his head, "Don't let him in your head, not now." "You heard him?! Fuck the Governor, the army, that militia!" Jean butts in, "I hear them coming closer!" Jon bangs on the steering wheel, "Damn it!" Their shrieks get way too close. That power boils over, feel it flying out my thumbs in anticipation, "Jon, get us out!" He huffs and puffs as we all shout at him to put his foot on the gas. I open a slot, I swing my arm up and a loud thud comes from the back of the car, the force of stone pushing us to lose them. I turn and shout, "Jon!" He slams on the gas and I fall off my seat. I wince and get back up.
Jean points with wide eyes. A loud thud comes from the roof. Large claws tear through it. I wince and punch through the roof. Whatever was up there, it's gone now. I inspect my fist, smoke and heat come off it. Jon brakes hard, "Dave? Where do I-" A demon lands on the hood and screams at him. It leaps off and Jon leans forward, "What is that?" I climb to the front, a black and red tree. A man walks around raises his hands. My hands dig into the seat. What's he planning!? "Jon! Reverse!" "Not in this thing!"
The tree sinks to the ground and the sludge envelops a man. Jon stomps on the gas and does a u-turn so hard, Dave's head hits the metal door. "Damn it, Jon!" "Trying not to die here, Dave!" I shout, "Focus!" I open the hatch and get on the flamethrower, the man's gaining on us. A loud thud behind me, I turn around and square up. Not one, but one more slaps down on the roof. I step up and punch one off. The other crunches into my bad arm. I roar and swing him around. It just digs in more. I drag him to the flamethrower's pilot flame and he lets go immediately. Fire spreads quickly across it's body, my leg sends him flying into a building.
I check my arm, blackened stuff, like that spider's sludge, it burns a little. That guy following us shoots spikes at me. They shout below and I grab onto something, we swerve and a spike hits me. I fall to the floor in agonizing pain, Jean rushes up and shouts. "I got you!" She reaches for the spike and I grab her arm, "No!" I gulp and huff at the pain. She nods and gets on the flame turret. I grab her shoulder, "Get below!" She raises the nozzle and out comes a giant trail of flames. A screech comes from above, a demon, stake-like claws ready to be swung.
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Without hesitation, I get up with the foreign black mass fading within. I can feel my skin, no- sections of stone tighten, bend. The claws create sparks as they glide across my arms. The creature finally lands with a wild smile, “Come on, demon!” I swing a fist and the thing catches it. Cracking pains travel up my arm as it clenches down, the black mass retracts to reveal his frowned face, “I’m nothing like a demon.”
My skin stiffs up, stones smack against my shoulders as I fall off. My shoulder crunches against the road, then I tumble to the sound of gravel dragging against me. I roll to a stop and the demon holds a white blade past my head. Is that bone?!
“Don’t worry, you’re free now.” I squint, “What?” The wheels don’t stop turning, they even take a sharp right. “You’re free from those inhuman bastards now.” I shake my head, “Then I’m free to go?” The blade slides back into his arm, then he holds his hand out. “I need your help.” Standing up on my own, I march after them. “Wait!” “Help yourself!” A child's cry turns my head back to them. A blackened child drools at the sight of me. Reminds me of that black spider, the little spiders drawn in sludge. “They can’t control themselves. Poor things.” I sigh, “I can’t help you.” “But without you, the militia-“ I groan, “And what about them? They’re trying to survive you people.” “You people?!” He shakes his head, “The army tricked you.”
“I don’t have time for this, I need to catch up with my friends.” His tone of voice stops me in my tracks, “Your human friends will die.” My heart booms and for the first time, it barely even hurts. The demons jump at the sudden sound. “Call them off. Now.” “Why would I ever do that?” I march up and he gulps, “They saved me from the army. As we speak, the army is trying to retake America.” He roars and the others follow suit, sounds like everyone in the big city answers to this guy. There’s too many to fight. “They’ll live for now.” “For now?” He snarls, “The army’s just moving on?! While my friends and family- anyone caught with a cut or a scrape were just gunned down?!” He points to me, “You’re frowning?!That's it!?”
I sigh and march on but he shouts, “Come tomorrow night, we kill those militia bastards! I suggest you and your small crew leave before then!”
”My crew is not small, it’s a convoy. May they pass?” He squints, “Are they army?” I open my mouth and he points, “And don’t you lie! We can hear your heart loud and clear!” They can? Are they like Mama? “They are, aren’t they?!” Should I lie? “No.” He screams and sludge seeps out his fingers. “You liar!” “Fine- I protect them, they protect me! I couldn’t have made it this far without them.” Time to get out of here, “Thanks for your kindness.” “I’m not done talking! Hey!”