The icy water shocked Frank's system as he regained consciousness. His lungs burned, desperate for air. Instinct took over, and he thrashed his way to the surface, breaking through with a gasping breath. The river's current had carried them downstream, away from the chaos they'd left behind.

Frank's body ached, a tapestry of bruises and cuts painting his skin. He treaded water, scanning the shoreline for any sign of Alan. Panic gripped him when he spotted his partner's limp form floating face-down nearby.

"Alan!" Frank shouted, his voice hoarse. He swam towards his friend, fighting against the current.

Reaching Alan, Frank flipped him over, relief washing over him as he saw his partner's chest rise and fall. He dragged Alan to the riverbank, hauling him onto the muddy shore. Frank collapsed beside him, coughing up river water and shivering in the cool air.

Alan remained motionless, his face pale and still. Frank's mind raced, remembering the syringe gun Ollie had given him—the only one he had been given. He fumbled in his soaked jacket, praying it hadn't been lost in the fall.

His fingers closed around the cool metal, and he pulled it out with shaking hands. Frank hesitated for a split second, wondering if he should use it on himself. But one look at Alan's battered form made the decision for him.

Frank pressed the syringe gun against Alan's chest and squeezed the trigger. A soft hum filled the air as a dim glow enveloped Alan's body. Frank held his breath, watching intently for any sign of change.

Seconds ticked by, feeling like an eternity. Then, Alan's eyes fluttered open. He coughed violently, water spilling from his mouth as he rolled onto his side.

"What... what happened?" Alan croaked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Frank let out a relieved sigh. "We took a little swim, partner. How are you feeling?"

Alan groaned, pushing himself up to a sitting position. He blinked rapidly, his eyes darting around their surroundings. "Everything's... too sharp. Too clear. I really need a drink."

Frank frowned, concerned. "My bad buddy, once we get out of here, I'll grab you a drink. First, we should get you some water, maybe start a fire to dry off—"

"No," Alan cut him off, his voice suddenly urgent. "No fire. It could attract... things."

Frank nodded, remembering the creatures they'd encountered. He scanned the riverbank, hoping to see their young companion. But there was no sign of him.

"We need to move," Alan said, struggling to his feet.

Frank stood, wincing at the pain that shot through his body. "You sure you're up for this? You took quite a beating."

Alan's eyes met Frank's, a determination in them that Frank hadn't seen before. "I'm fine. I got no buzz right now so everything's pretty clear... I'm not used to it anymore."

They moved swiftly, Alan setting a pace that surprised Frank. His partner seemed more alert, more focused than Frank had ever seen him, much like the old days. Maybe Alan didn't want to feel everything so clearly, Frank thought.

The landscape around them was alien and unsettling. Strange plants grew along the riverbank, their colors too vivid, their shapes too perfect to be natural. In the distance, Frank could hear sounds that sent shivers down his spine – roars and screeches that belonged to no earthly creature.

Alan didn't slow his pace, but Frank saw his partner's jaw clench. "Ollie should be fine. I know it. He's tough, not like us. We're just civilians to him."

Frank nodded, though the thought of abandoning Ollie didn't sit well with him. They continued on in silence, the only sounds the rush of the river and the crunch of their footsteps on the strange, spongy ground.

As they rounded a bend in the river, Alan suddenly stopped, throwing out an arm to halt Frank. "You hear that?" he whispered.

Frank strained his ears, but heard nothing unusual. "What is it?"

Alan's eyes darted around, his body tense. "Something's coming. From the water."

Frank peered at the river's surface, seeing nothing but the gentle ripples of the current. But he trusted Alan's instincts, especially now that they seemed heightened by whatever that syringe had done.

"What do we do?" Frank asked, his hand moving to his weapon.

Alan's eyes narrowed, focused on a spot in the middle of the river. "We need to move. Now."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

As if on cue, the water erupted, a massive form breaking the surface with a deafening roar. Frank caught a glimpse of scales, teeth, and too many eyes before Alan yanked him into the underbrush.

They crashed through the strange vegetation, branches whipping at their faces as they ran. Behind them, Frank could hear the creature pursuing, its heavy body slamming against the riverbank as it gave chase.

"Keep moving!" Alan shouted, pulling Frank along. "Don't look back!"

Frank's lungs burned as he ran, his body protesting every movement. But the sound of the creature behind them spurred him on, fear giving him strength he didn't know he had.

They burst into a clearing, and Frank's heart sank. Ahead of them, the ground dropped away into another ravine, deeper and wider than the one they'd fallen into before. The roar of rapids echoed from far below.

Alan skidded to a stop at the edge, his eyes wild as he searched for an escape route. The creature's roars grew closer, trees crashing down in its wake.

Frank looked at his partner, seeing the same realization in Alan's eyes. They were trapped, with nowhere left to run.

Frank's heart pounded as he stared at the approaching monster, its massive form crashing through the trees. He glanced at Alan, both of them frozen at the edge of the ravine. The roar of the rapids below seemed to mock their predicament.

Suddenly, a streak of white light tore across the sky, illuminating the darkness. It struck the creature with devastating force. The beast let out an ear-splitting shriek before collapsing to the ground, its body twitching before going still.

Frank blinked, stunned by the sudden turn of events. "What the hell was that?"

Before Alan could respond, a familiar voice called out from the trees. "You guys look like shit."

Ollie stumbled into view, his body a canvas of bruises and cuts. Frank's eyes widened as he took in the young man's condition. Two timber bolts protruded from Ollie's body—one in his shoulder, the other embedded in his thigh. How he was still standing, let alone moving, was beyond Frank's comprehension.

"Ollie?" Frank's voice was a mix of relief and concern.

"No time for chit-chat," Ollie interrupted, his face contorted in pain. "Need your help. These bolts... gotta take 'em out."

Frank and Alan exchanged a glance before moving to Ollie's side. They carefully examined the wounds, the severity of the injuries making Frank's stomach churn.

"This is gonna hurt like hell," Alan warned, gripping the bolt in Ollie's shoulder. "Frank, you cover his mouth"

Frank went over to Ollie's side, one hand covering tightly on the youth's mouth.

Ollie gritted his teeth. "Just do it."

With a swift motion, Alan yanked out the first bolt. Ollie's muffled scream echoed through the eerie silence that had fallen over their surroundings. Frank steadied the young man as he swayed on his feet.

"One more," Frank said, his hand hovering over the bolt in Ollie's thigh. "Ready?"

Ollie nodded, his face pale and covered in sweat. Frank took a deep breath and pulled. The bolt came free with a sickening sound, and Ollie's legs buckled. Frank and Alan caught him before he hit the ground.

Without hesitation, Ollie reached into his pocket and produced a syringe gun. He jammed it into his chest and squeezed the trigger. A soft glow enveloped his body, and Frank watched in amazement as the worst of Ollie's wounds began to close. The sounds of muscle wriggling shut could be heard from his open wounds.

"That's better," Ollie muttered, his breathing evening out. He looked up at Frank and Alan. "Thanks for the assist. Now, we need to find that exit before more shit show up."

Alan's brow furrowed, his eyes darting around the clearing. "I... I think I can feel it. The exit. It's close."

Ollie's eyebrows shot up. "Well, that's a relief. 'Cause I'm running on fumes here. No more juice in the tank."

Frank helped Ollie to his feet, noticing how the young man leaned heavily on him. "Which way, Alan?"

Alan pointed towards a dense patch of vegetation. "Through there. I can't explain it, but I'm sure."

They pushed through the thick underbrush, branches scratching at their already battered bodies. Frank's muscles screamed in protest, but he pressed on, supporting Ollie's weight.

As they emerged from the thicket, Frank's heart sank. There, directly in front of what could only be the shimmering exit portal, stood the enormous creature they'd hidden from earlier. Its multiple eyes swiveled towards them, and Frank could have sworn he saw intelligence—and malice—in those alien orbs. It was as if it was aware what was behind it.

"Oh, this shit is totally fucked," Ollie groaned.

The beast's tendrils writhed, blocking their path to freedom. It was as if some unseen force had positioned it there, a final guardian between them and safety.

Frank's mind raced. They were exhausted, injured, and out of options. Ollie was in no condition to fight, and Frank doubted his own ability to take on such a monstrosity.

"Any bright ideas?" Alan whispered, his voice tight with fear.

Ollie's eyes darted between the creature and the portal. "We could try to outrun it. Maybe if we split up—"

"No," Frank cut him off. "We stick together. There's got to be another way."

The creature let out a low, rumbling growl that Frank felt in his bones. It took a lumbering step forward, its massive form blocking out what little light filtered through the strange sky above.

Frank's hand tightened on his weapon, knowing it would be useless against such a beast. He glanced at Alan, seeing the same mix of determination and terror he felt mirrored in his partner's eyes.

The creature's tendrils whipped through the air, creating a whistling sound that sent shivers down Frank's spine. It was now or never. They had to make a move, had to find a way past this final obstacle.

As the beast reared up to its full height, Frank's mind raced through their limited options. The portal shimmered tantalizingly behind the creature, their ticket home just out of reach. He took a deep breath, ready to make a desperate dash towards freedom.

But before he could move, the air around them began to crackle with energy. The hair on Frank's arms stood on end, and he felt a familiar tingling sensation. A red silhouette appeared in between them and the massive creature.