(Quintiles 29, 59 / 8:41PM)

(Luke, Miles, Jack, and Stan)

(Miles’s thoughts) It’s too dark! How am I supposed to fight now!?

As Jack put the pedal to the medal into the dark and grim tunnel in front of him, all four started to be out of breath with their chests on the verge of exploding.

(Luke) Guys, be careful! These wolves hunt by scent!

(Stan) Where are they though?

Everyone swayed their heads in the dead of night, sweat trickling down onto the roof of the van. Using their ears as their way to navigate, Luke, the only one who had his eyes closed during the whole panic, focused his attention on his sixth sense.

His breath relaxed as his chest started to slowly push back and forth. His grip on both his uzis loosened as his sweaty palms started to stain the grip of his guns.

(Luke’s thoughts) I think … I think the wolves…

Gulping down a majority of his saliva down his throat, Luke turned his head towards the presence of the many dangers in the air in front of him. With his feet gripping the metal roof of the van, Luke’s hands started to shake as he sucked in a breath.

Pointing both of his guns towards the direction of the sense that was telling him, Luke placed his fingers on both triggers.

(Luke’s thoughts) Any moment now…

In two seconds, the roof of the van creaked as two to three creatures managed to land on the van, the wolves’s paws digging themselves onto the metal as their nuzzles reverberated across the tunnel.

The recoil of both guns on each hand echoed the stone tunnel around them as Luke pulled back the triggers.

And fortunately for both Miles and Stan, the light of the bullets firing out of Luke’s Uzi was enough for both of them to notice the wolves on the back of them, pointing their weapons at the wolves as well.

(Stan) Shoot your guns! It creates light!

(Miles) On second thought … Wait, my shield!

Firing endlessly at a couple of wolves, Stan turned his head up to see that many other wolves wanted to jump in on the fray, their bodies lunging in the air as their nuzzles were wide open. With the light of their guns in half-second intervals seeing the wolves, Stan pointed his gun towards the wolves, aiming his assault rifle as the light of Miles and Luke’s guns went off.

While Miles used his left hand to turn into a weapon, his wrist having a sharp shield as the light emitted onto his face and body, allowing his eyes to peer around him.

(Stan’s thoughts) Those sneaky canines!

Pulling the trigger, Stan’s right arm and shoulder felt the recoil of the gun shaking his body. His aim was less steady as he didn’t hit any major hit points on the wolves. Yet despite this, his eyes sharpened at the bloodthirsty wolves that fell to the black asphalt below.

Seeing the hot metal interrupt themselves straight towards the pack of wolves, he glanced at one of the wolves having more tar than usual, but Stan ignored it.

Putting his gun to the side, the light of his rifle dying down, Stan clicked his trigger, but an echoing click barraged against his ears.

(Stan’s thoughts) Shit!

He scoured through his jacket pocket as many objects grazed his knuckles. Eventually, he found a small box, causing him to pull it out briskly as he took out a round of—

The sounds of a wolf’s growl can be heard from the back.

Turning his head to the sound of the growl, Stan had his hands full with his empty gun on his right hand and a box of ammo on his left. With nothing to protect himself with, Stan didn’t dare to take a step back in case one wrong slip would send him falling off the van.

(Stan’s thoughts) Out of all fucking times!

Hearing the wolf lunge itself towards him, with the metal of the roof being dented as it created a loud thump, Stan placed his hands to cover his face and neck, his chest and stomach pushed down.

Sensing the incoming threat drawing near, Stan’s pupils dilated. His hands shook as the objects in his hands started to creak under the tremors.

(Stan) H-H-He—

A high-speed bullet grazed the tip of his ear as it hurdled its way toward the lunging wolf.

The wolf yelped as it managed to jump onto Stan, causing him to land his back on the roof of the van with the wolf’s body laying on top of him.

Stan flinched his whole body back as he felt the cold and putrid air coming from the wolf. But fortunately for Stan, the wolf didn’t budge or move at all, as Stan felt the lack of blood or even a heartbeat at the wolf’s chest.

Having his hands placed on the wolf’s chest, Stan used his strength to push the wolf that was on top of him, the wolf landing itself on the incoming asphalt that was below. With the weight of the wolf gone, Stan slowly got up and he used his hands to support himself up, his legs quivering from the close call that he almost had.

Turning his head to the direction of where the bullet was launched, slight visibility of smoke came out of the barrel of a micro SMG.

(Stan) How did you know where the wolf was exactly?

(Luke) Don’t be scared, but I just used my gut to blind fire straight at the wolf. I thought you weren’t going to make it.

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(Stan) Holy shit…

The three men on top of the van noticed a dim light coming from the end of the tunnel, causing them to turn their heads towards it. Sensing that there were no more wolves anywhere near their vicinity, they all decided to sit down as their legs collapsed onto themselves.

Their breaths slowed down as they used their mouths to let the air in compared to their noses. Followed by them wiping off their foreheads, all of them sat down on the van as the weight of the exhaustion that burdened their backs was let go of.

(Miles) Next time, no more tunnels…

(Stan) You're preaching to the choir.

______________________________________________________________________________

(Jack) So how’s it going up there you three?

As the van exited out of the pitch-black tunnel, the four men saw with their eyes the smoke-orange-filled sky above them. The men sitting on the van covered their hands over their mouths as tiny particles of ash floated down onto them.

Miles, looking down towards where Jack was driving, grounded his teeth as he holstered back both his dual-wielding sawed-off shotguns.

(Miles) Jack!

(Jack) What!

(Miles) You little … you haven’t done anything to help us!

(Jack) Whaaat?! I can’t hear you through all this wind!

(Miles) Ugh, forget it. Take us out of the highway!!

Jack let out a sigh as he rolled his eyes, looking at the side view mirror. His right foot was still heavy on the pedal, and with the air breezing through the outside window, Jack noticed a green billboard sign with white letters.

As he put his high beams on, he squinted at the sign.

(Jack’s thoughts) In about 5 miles huh…

Jack placed his head outside of the van window, trying to gain contact with either three men on the roof.

(Jack) Hey, should we help out Gwen or Luna?! Those two are facing two really powerful enemies at the Zirardge building!

His grip on the steering wheel loosened, followed by the pedal slowly decreasing in speed. Jack’s body began to shift to the left to hold up his head.

Miles, the nearest one to Jack, turned his head towards the red-haired man as he made eye contact with him.

(Miles) sighs … Should we? Gwen is pretty powerful on her own.

(Stan) And Luna is the strongest fighter out of everyone.

Stan also looked down to see Jack popping his head out, folding his arms as he started to stare into the abyss. His eyes looked at the passing asphalt of the highway, and Stan’s whole body tensed and contorted as he thought to himself.

(Stan’s thoughts) And honestly, we’re nothing more than cannon fodder. We could barely handle Ryan and Harold, and even then we defended against them one at a time.

Miles noticed the state of thought that Stan was in, and he turned his head towards Luke, putting his hands on his waist as he looked at both of them.

Luke had his right hand placed on the bottom of his chin, staring at the back of the van with a chiseled look on his face. Rubbing his jawline with his pointer finger, he continued to look straight at the highway in the back of him, his sixth sense starting to spark again as he slowly heard a reverb service bell.

Luke placed his right hand onto his right hip, his fingertips feeling the back of his Uzi as he continued to squint. Clearing his throat as he arched his head back, he took a step back as the reverb service bell started to slowly increase in volume. His heart pumped faster as if it wanted to escape his chest.

Miles took note of the strange behavior coming from, causing him to slowly walk towards him with his eyes glancing at the highway in the back of the van.

(Miles) What is it, Luke?

(Luke) I think something is coming.

(Jack) So … what’s the final answer? Should we help them or not?

(Harold) You should say that after you battle with me!

Luke, hearing the reverb service bell loudly in his heart, had his whole body clenched in a heap of sweat as he turned to the direction of where the danger was lurking. Having his fingertips caressing the grip of his right side gun, Luke breathed in through his nose as he arched his body back.

(Luke) It’s coming from the passenger side of the van…

Everyone turned their heads towards the side where the passenger side was, their heads coated with sweat as they saw only a head pop out from the edge.

With all three of them taking a step back, placing their hands onto their holsters, they gulped as the head and upper body, along with its arms, crawled its way onto the roof of the van. Remaining still, the men focused their entire being on Harold’s head and upper body, their feet gripping the van as tightly as possible.

Steadying himself with only his arms, Harold wobbled as his slim chest and stomach could barely hold his weight, his head trembling with his temples moving with their muscles.

(Harold) You know, you guys are complete jerks! Because you guys completely demolished me inside of the tunnel! I can't even walk!

There was a pause before the three men tilted their heads to the right, all in unison as their breathing slowed down to a snail’s pace. Miles narrowed his eyes at the lich’s head, his arms folding onto one another and his mouth agape.

Harold steadied his head as he looked towards the man, his entire body now remaining still.

(Miles) Uh…you good buddy? How’d you get here?

(Harold) What’s with that reaction?! You guys went all gung ho for a bunch of wolves, so it took me longer to regenerate!!

Stan widened his eyes in realization as he continued to stare at Harold’s face.

(Stan) Ohhh. There was one wolf that had more tar than usual…

(Harold) I hid in that wolf, but you went gung ho! Good thing you didn’t shoot at my heart.

(Miles) Or maybe we will, you incel.

(Harold) What was that!?

Miles folded his arms near his stomach, not even bothering to place his hands on his holsters anymore. Letting out a sly smirk, the corner of Miles’s right lip reached to the edge of his ear, his smile causing Harold to grit his teeth immensely.

Not only was Miles mocking him out of spite, but Stan and Luke also let out smug grins. For Stan, he put his hands on his waist, his eyes nonchalant as the corners of his monolid eyes started to squint at the legless boy.

Luke meanwhile, covered his mouth with his right hand, barely containing a laugh as his whole body shook.

(Stan) Just because you weren’t good-looking with women doesn’t mean that you should take your anger out on them.

(Harold) You don’t understand!

(Luke) I think … chuckles … that’s why his blessing is wolves. He wanted to be seen as an alpha and probably wanted … giggles … to lead a pack of his own … chuckles.

(Harold) You!

Harold gritted his teeth with bulging eyes that started to turn tarshot black.

(Harold) You honestly think I’m an incel!? Me!? An incel!? Just because I don’t have many women falling head over heels for me doesn’t make me some incel! They just don’t understand the value that I have, that’s all! I’ve seen men who are scumbags bag the best girls that I lay eyes on, and do you know what I could bag!? Nothing! Absolutely nothing!

Harold slammed his fists against the hood of the van.

(Harold) Is it me!? Is there something wrong with me!? Am I that hideous or ugly to look at!? I was practically harmless with women, yet they treated me like I’m some sort of creep because I had no social skills! And then they go for the men that would beat them! All I ever did was be nice to them, yet they wanted a man that could do better! Better!? Why better!? Those women always say stuff like “Oh why can’t I find a good man?” or “I just want a man to treat me right”! Well, boohoo little whores!

Luke, Miles, and Stan could not find the words to describe what they were seeing.

(Harold) I hope those four kids out of wedlock will someday dawn upon you! You know what!? Why do I bother going for those types of women!? Or even women at all!? Do you think a guy like me could bag a woman in this day and age!? Well nope! Not because nothing’s wrong with me! No, no, no! It’s because they could settle for something better! Does that explain to you why I see women as nothing more than just annoyances? I simply just exist and they wouldn’t take a dime of the day! It’s a good thing that I befriended Gary a long time ago because, believe me, I would’ve gone crazy a long time ago! Does that explain well for, you fuckers?! WELL DO YOU!!?

(Luke, Miles, Stan, and even Jack) …..................... incel …

(Harold) I’VE HAD FUCKING ENOUGH!!

Harold’s arms that held up his upper body soon started to slowly lift from the ground, his body slowly moving upward.

Steam poured out of his torso, getting into the three men’s eyes as they tried to block their faces. Luke, his right eye barely glancing at Harold, noticed that the steam started to emit sparks of fire, the embers sprouting everywhere around them.

With his legs fully being built up again, Harold’s eyes turned tarshot, as his frail fists were on the verge of breaking apart as his entire body clenched itself shut. Hunching his entire back, Harold let out an eerie low monotone groan from his throat, his pure unbearable anger coming out of him, causing the three of them to holster their guns.

(Harold) I’ll desectify all of you…