Her focus was on the man, who she recognised, but her fear was that he had the jump on her. She remained looking at Danny, who didn’t have a clue to what was going on. She ran to Danny, getting behind him and putting her claws to his neck.
She spoke softly, “you move one step and there will be trouble.” She remained calm, looking at him for an answer and wishing her torturous acts didn’t have to stop. However, she thought this would not last long and another body to drink blood from delighted her. “Well, do you speak, mortal?”
His answer came quick. “I do not want trouble.” His attention quickly went on Danny, “look! Your son is dying, his energy has gone. He needs our help! Why would you do this anyway? Sorry I shouldn’t have said that, but he needs help. Let me take him away; I promise he will be safe. Safe from this messed up nightmare.”
Elizbeth smiled at his hopeful face that she wanted to crush. “Look at you! You’re a mere mortal; how can you keep him safe? This world is no longer for mortals; it is ours and nothing will ever change that. There is no saving this world and there is no saving this boy because they will be ours!”
“You are wrong!” He continued to stare at her, “You will see, we are resilient. We will never give up on us. I can handle it out there and if I can, I bet many others can. You say, you vampires are tough, well I don’t. They are cockroaches!” He started to walk towards her, “I will save your son!”
She embraced the fight. “How will you save him when you are dead in this basement?”
They both ran at each other. He slid at her legs as she tried to slash at his neck, but she didn’t expect it and tumbled to the floor. Her back was exposed to him. He took his shotgun from his back, aimed and shot at the middle of her wings, which looked weak. She smashed the floor due to the impact of the shot.
He was proud of his efforts, thinking about a time where he was this happy with himself. She didn’t move a muscle so he ran to Danny, hoping he could walk to safety.
“Wake up! Wake up, kid? We need to get out of here.” Danny finally seen him but panicked. “It’s alright; I will save you.”
Danny stopped squirming and spoke with defeat in his voice, “I don’t think I can be saved. I just want it to end.” He ignored his words and untied one of the straps. As he went to untie the other one, he realized how hideous Danny’s injuries were. He tried to comfort Danny with words, however, he knew it was worthless to try. His boiled arm was harrowing to look at. Pain must have been all Danny could feel, he thought.
He ignored Danny’s injuries and went to cut the other strap. But a cold breeze went up his neck, which made the hair on his neck stick up and he shuddered, knowing the evil had survived.
Suddenly, her claws dug deep into his helmet, and she began to pull it off his head. He felt dread as he realised the vulnerability of not having a helmet would likely mean death. He twisted his body, elbowing her straight to the jaw and ending his attack by sticking his knife into her shoulder. She screamed, sending shockwaves at his face, which caused his ears to bleed.
Elizbeth smashed her face into his helmet, making a massive crater in it and sending him straight to the floor. She walked towards him while pulling the knife out without a struggle. His reaction made her feel satisfaction. “This is meaningless. We have beaten you. You cannot stop this, mortal.”
Arthur stood up and was happy with sacrificing himself if it meant saving the boy. He looked in her eyes, “I don’t have to beat you… I just have to save that boy.”
She scoffed. Then she showed him her claws that kept extending. Elizbeth didn’t sense fear from him and grew angry. She rashly ran at him, throwing a bunch of slashes at his stomach that ended at his neck. He moved fast and coordinated. The more she missed, the more of her anger came out, which seemed to give him confidence. Arthur kept moving backwards, dodging her fast slashes and eventually he got backed up to the wall. Elizbeth jumped for him, pointing her talons at his neck. He seen the telegraphed jump and moved to the side. He ran to his shotgun that was posted near Danny’s chair.
Elizbeth felt humiliated and tried her hardest to reach his leg. She jumped for it, increasing her claws to reach him, which caught his calf; the pain stopped him in his tracks and mad him cry out. He looked behind, seeing her on the floor and, using his foot to stamp on her arm, she shrieked but it did not stop his offense; thus, he kicked her head like a football. She dropped to the floor, nearly unconscious. Arthur desperately picked his shotgun up, aiming at her head. He pulled the trigger, but the sound of silence loomed the air and he cursed the world. However, he took the shotgun and smashed it against her head. Blood flew in the air, his helmet and at the walls. He stopped, seeing blood pouring out her head and he walked to Danny, hoping the kid had the strength to survive.
Arthur saw that Danny was unconscious and checked for a pulse, his hope turned into relief as he picked Danny up and put him on his shoulders. He carried him up the stairs of the basement, reaching the kitchen, however, Kiran had moved from where Arthur had knocked him out. suddenly Arthur’s anxiety went rampant, not knowing what to do, he instinctively ran for the door.
But someone quickly jumped in front of him. Arthur prayed for Danny as he realised it was Kiran. He had little energy left and gently took Danny off his shoulders and stood his ground. Danny remained asleep, although Arthur thought he looked dead. Arthur put his fist up, ready for anything that Kiran had. Arthur has beaten him before, he thought.
However, Arthur felt the pressure of saving the kid, which made him fear Kiran and his claws. Arthur stood with his helmet on. He protected his body. As Kiran got close enough, he pounced like a jaguar in the wilds, scratched him with his thick, mighty claws that rebounded of his conquered helmet; while Arthur struggled to stand, he used his endurance to overcome it and pushed Kiran back. Kiran went towards the wall. Arthur, who had time, pulled his shotgun from his back. He wished for bullets as it pounded on his left hand. Kiran, once again, jumped sporadically towards him, hoping to confuse him. Arthur struggled to read his telegraphs but eventually Arthur moved in and swung his shotgun, hoping it would stop Kiran in his tracks. However, the swing missed, which Kiran used the momentum of Arthur to his advantage by throwing him in the direction of the swing. Arthur fell to the floor and felt vulnerable.
Kiran seen the opportunity, grabbing Arthur’s back with his claws that were digging into the upper back like a claw machine. The instant pain sent Arthur shrieking for his life. Suddenly and fast, Kiran used his claws to drag Arthur and yank him towards the wall. The impact against the wall made the cut unbelievably worse. His helmet hit the wall like a rock; however, the impact did not damage his head.
Arthur heart rate raced as Kiran slowly walked towards him. He desperately tried to get off the floor, but it felt impossible, yet as his eyes came across Danny, who looked like he was in the abyss, it gave Arthur the second wind that he needed.
Kiran used his two hands to smash Arthur’s body like a gorilla, but Arthur rolled and dodged his gorilla-punch. Arthur used his momentum to get up, which did not cost too much energy. He seen where he dropped his shotgun and planned to get to it.
He thought of his plan, which he thought was sound, however, he forgot that Kiran was so inconsistent at times. Kiran was erratic in his movements, which made it extremely challenging for Arthur to know where he would go next. Arthur wondered how he knocked him out so easy in their last fight. Kiran suddenly stopped like he wanted to pounce on him, which Arthur prepared for, yet he continued to bounce around, trying to confuse Arthur.
Arthur ignored the confusion he felt and trusted his intuition. He ran towards Kiran, closing the gap as fast as he could, but when he arrived, Kiran threw the first attack, which Arthur had seen coming. He ducked under Kiran’s first attack, while preparing for the next one. Kiran tried to slash Arthur’s throat on the next offense that came very close, and Arthur considered fighting safe but continued to match Kiran’s erratic fighting style. Arthur used a strong kick that landed on Kiran’s stomach, which made him slide back; he used the space to his advantage and headed to the shotgun. Arthur felt him breathing down his neck, so he jumped for the shotgun.
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He reached the shotgun, picking it up while on the ground and he turned to face Kiran. He had to act fast, so Arthur swiftly used the shotgun as a spear; it hit Kiran straight in the chest, which sent Kiran tumbling to the floor like a ragdoll. Arthur used the time wisely, using the shotgun to help him stand and prepare for another bout.
The whimpering Kiran remained on the floor while Arthur slowly walked towards him. He readies his shotgun to smash it against his skull. But as he does, Kiran quickly finds himself on his feet and staggers back like a drunken man. Arthur laughed at him, “it’s over for you. Just give up.”
Kiran took a breath while struggling to stand, yet he spoke with confidence. “You doubt us?! Then that will be your downfall. We are stronger… faster… and we are not mortal. You see this world… this world you once owned… well it’s gone; the time of the immortals has arrived! And a puny, tiny man is not going to stop this. You are delusional to think that; the world is ours.”
Arthur grew worried that Kiran’s words had given him energy. However, he grew angry that Danny’s parents were trying to kill their own boy. “I will save that boy!”
Kiran ran for him. “He doesn’t need your HELP!” Anger struck Kiran and he used it in his swings as Arthur barely dodged them.
Arthur spoke while trying to bob and weave Kiran’s incoming attacks, “what do you mean? The boy looks dead!” Arthur’s passion made him lose focus. Kiran slashed his helmet with fury, while satisfaction was in his eyes as he struck him. The impact of the slashes eventually brought Arthur to the ground. Kiran tried to ground and pound him; however, Arthur kicked his legs like a horse, hoping it would stop him. His attempts worked but Kiran smirked, and his heart began to race.
Kiran grabbed Arthur’s leg, using his talons to dig into his calf, that were already in pain. Arthur wailed; however, his spirit didn’t die. He aimed for Kiran’s gut, but he caught his foot and began to clench with extreme force by his tidy, tough and whetted claws. His shoes were strong; therefore, the pain was bearable but the other leg’s pain was beginning to drive him into despair – until he seen the boy’s lifeless body – and the drowning despair faded.
Arthur pushed himself upwards, grabbed Kiran’s shirt, pushed him towards himself and Kiran landed awkwardly onto Arthur. Thinking fast, he turned his body, trying to move Kiran onto the bottom. Arthur couldn’t believe his luck and continued to turn, until the moment came. However, Arthur tried to use Kiran to push himself up, but he struggled like he was in a mouse trap, which made him rashly squirm, giving Kiran the opportunity to dig his claws into Arthur’s back. The pain was substituted with anger. Arthur lifted his head and pounded it onto Kiran’s nose, sending the back of his head to hit the hardened floor like a bowling ball; Arthur used Kiran’s confused, stunned state to get up off the floor. He successfully got up but didn’t take a break from fighting.
He used his damaged foot to stamp on Kiran’s head, the only thought was to survive for Danny’s survival and the thought carried on as he stomped on Kiran’s bloody, damaged head. His nose began to flatten as blood flew out. His cheekbones started to collapse, teeth flew in the air and blood was covering his face.
Arthur continued to dance on his head. Arthur’s thoughts became nonexistence, they were just violent images mixed with the feeling of rage. Suddenly, Kiran’s hands were no longer trying to protect his face and it seemed he had moved to the next plane of life. Arthur didn’t notice at first but when he did, he ran to Danny instantly.
As he left Kiran’s broken, lifeless body, he hoped the boy was not dead. He arrived and noticed Danny did not have pale skin, his lips were no longer blue, and his life had a nascent which gave Arthur hope.
He began shaking him. Danny woke up instantly, panicked by the stranger in front of him. The squirming made the stranger retreat and it calmed Danny to the point of asking who he was. Once he spoke to him, Danny instantly remembered the man named Arthur.
Danny ran to him, screaming about his mum but he sees his dad, who is beaten and bloody and Danny stares at him, thinking how life was. The memories were getting harder to remember, which gave Danny a feeling of despair. He couldn’t move, his place in the world felt stuck with no potential; he needed his mum and the hope she once had. But he knew she was gone, especially because of the evil he felt when she tortured him. She purged his soul. The constant pain that he felt was a reminder that his parents were gone. However, the agony he felt was weighing on his soul and he couldn’t handle it. His whole body was in pain.
Arthur saw himself in Danny as he watched him. He felt his pain, losing everyone and feeling like you could have done more. Although Arthur knew they had to ignore their pain to survive in the new world, but he didn’t believe he could do that, though he somehow had to.
He touched Danny on his shoulder, “the pain will never go away. You will always feel it. No matter what and no matter where you go… you will feel this pain.” Danny showed no reaction, his body was an abandon building.
He slowly turned his head, looked straight into Arthur’s eyes and Arthur seen the horror in Danny’s broken eyes. Danny lightly spoke, “I can’t do it… I will not live in a world where I feel sorrow like this.” Danny slightly raised his voice with anger. “I am in the darkness, and I’ll never see the light.”
Arthur forcefully turned Danny around, “I know you are, but I wasn’t finished and nor are you. The world was harsh, cruel and cold way before it turned into hell. The only difference is that everyone is in the darkness, feeling nothing but pain. But we are alive, breathing and have each other. We cannot waste it. WE, must survive for the people that died and didn’t have a choice to live.” Danny’s face looked confused and conflicted. Arthur placed his hand on Danny’s cheek while speaking with comfort, “and, as for the pain; it will get easier. One day you will wake up and it will not be the first thing you think about. I promise you will feel less pain the more you move. We will do this together, but we need to move now.”
Danny did not know what to think. However, Arthur’s voice and words gave him confidence. He spoke with a broken voice, “I not sure if I can do it. The world is crumbling… my life feels over!”
“Please… just try. You deserve to live a life. I need to save you, Danny! Please? We need to move.” Arthur gently tugged Danny’s arm. Danny looked at him, not saying a word but Arthur didn’t need words; Danny’s eyes painted the full picture. Arthur had no more words.
He thought about dragging Danny, but he knew the boy would be a hassle on the journey and would likely get them both killed. He felt defeated, just like Danny and it drained the vigour out of him. Seeing Danny’s will break with despair and his need to die was dragging Arthur down.
He considered death.
Suddenly, Danny’s voice sounded like hope as he spoke, “Before we go… can I say my goodbyes?” His face told a sad story, which turned Arthur’s stomach upside down, but he knew that would be a risk.
“Look… I understand why you would want to do that but it’s too risky and we need to leave as soon as possible.” Arthur started to grab something out of his pocket. “Here - take this. Don’t worry, it’s pain killers and antibiotics; they will help with the infection.” He put his head to ground as Danny grabs the pain killers. “I still cannot believe what they did to you. I’m so sorry.”
Danny stared into the distance, not paying attention to him. The only thing that was on his mind was leaving this world for good. He felt like he needed it to be over. However, a glimmer of hope remained when his eyes caught Arthurs worried face.
He stood up, faced his dad and felt nothing but anger. The love for his dad was disappearing, Danny’s harm had been too much to bear and it enraged his soul. He felt no love from his parents and wondered how they committed such heinous acts.
Arthur was beginning to think Danny wasn’t going to leave; however, Danny moved away from his dad and walked towards a closet. Arthur didn’t question it and followed suit.
He picked up a bandage, which calmed Arthur’s anxiety and Danny continued to wrap his boiled arm. Arthur approached him, taking the bandage of the struggling Danny and he smiled at the crying boy. The smile seemed to have given him a soothing feeling. He could see the boils that were turning green and moist. Additionally, the burnt skin looked dry and hideous, and Arthur could not believe how strong the boy had been. Then he noticed Danny’s finger and was starting to understand his suicidal thoughts.
After Arthur attempted to patch Danny up, he went to walk out the closet, but Danny stopped him and walked to a cabinet. He opened the draw, picked up a loaded handgun and handed it to Arthur. He thanked him and seen hope within the gun. While Arthur checked out the gun, Danny pulled out a can of gas and closed the draw. He also grabbed some smoke bombs from under the cabinet where he had stashed some earlier while setting up traps.
Danny looked at Arthur, seeing a journey full of despair, struggles and no hope of having a happy life. Danny noticed a source of light from the window, it glowed red from the reflection of the red sky, which unsettled him, causing him to look to the devil’s sky. The beautiful, surreal and terrifying red sky intermediated Danny, making him feel small and inconsequential. He felt like he was looking at the red sky for the first time. It was too unnatural and insane to believe, he thought. However, the people had turned to monsters, which was surreal on its own.
Danny, who was beginning to find a second wind, turned his focus on Arthur. He caught him staring and Danny felt the sympathy coming out of Arthur’s eyes, but he ignored it, causally walking to the storage door with a stone-cold face.
Arthur stopped Danny as he tried to walk past him. Danny abruptly turned his head, shouting, “what is it?” Arthur was stunned by his reaction. He thought it would be impossible for Danny to recover his spirit.
He spoke gently, “hey, it’s okay, Danny.” He rested his hand on Danny’s shoulder and hoped he had the words to comfort him. “Are you sure you’re ready for this? It’s going to be tough.”
Danny stared at him; his face was rough like sandpaper. “I am ready!” He rashly walked away from him, opened the door and prepared for their journey.