“Cecillia, get ready to shoot the zombies. You only have twelve bullets left. And whatever you do, don’t look back.”

Alice’s voice was firm, but Cecillia was unable to stop her throat from constricting. The cold metal of the gun in her hands, the relentless screaming around her, and that fucking spider… It didn’t feel real.

But it was.

“Okay…” Cecillia whispered, though her voice came out shaky. Her arm felt like jelly, but she forced herself to stay calm and did her best to steel her mind. Cecillia looked at the zombies rapidly approaching, reminding herself time and time again that they were no longer human.

‘They just look the same… but they’re not alive anymore…’

Beneath her, Alice broke into a sprint. Each step pounded against the ground and kicked up dust. Cecillia thought her sister was moving quickly, but a glance around the vicinity caused her eyes to widen. Everything became a rushing blur, from the cars, the flashing lamps, the buildings, it was as if they were at the center of a stream of light. It made Cecillia realize just how much her sister had been holding back when they used to do those cross country races.

Cecillia shook her head and shoved the thought away. Now wasn’t the time to be thinking about those things. She slowly raised her gun, focusing on the zombies in her sight. Though the sight that her eyes held jostled when a wave of nausea crashed over her. Since when was it normal for a seventeen year old girl to wield a gun like so.

Cecillia almost released a crazed laugh and did her best to look away from the weapon. There were seven of them, scattered loosely along the street. But with only twelve bullets, the knot in her chest grew tighter, it was likely that she wouldn’t hit any at all.

Grimacing, she closed one eye, squinting as she lined up her shot. The closest zombie staggered towards them with a limp, and Cecillia noticed a crack running through its knee joint.

‘A weakness.’

Cecillia released a slow, controlled exhale, then slammed her finger against the trigger. The recoil caused the gun to jerk against her grip, but the feeling was lighter than expected. The muzzle flashed with an almost blinding white lightning, lighting up the night, followed by the deafening crack of thunder that echoed through the streets. Her head started to ring and she felt a liquid dripping out from her ears.

Her first shot missed, the bullet pinging off the concrete. Cecillia ground her teeth, and quickly realigned the sight before firing again. Black blood exploded in a spraying blast from behind the zombie’s legs. Its body lurched forward, carried by its momentum before smashing against the ground.

Cecillia’s pupils trembled, and Alice swerved around the fallen zombie while it clawed at her legs with a guttural roar.

Nothing about this was worth celebrating, and Cecillia swallowed hard to push away the rising panic.

‘Six left, ten bullets remaining.’

The clicking of the spider’s legs behind her grew louder, but she trusted Alice, and resisted the urge to look back. The next two zombies approached side by side. Their decaying flesh and soulless sockets for eyes sent shivers running down her spine. Needles of anxiety pricked at her brain, but she narrowed her eyes and squinted once more.

Aiming for the head of the one on the left, she fired. But the bullet missed, only taking off a large chunk of its shoulder. Cecillia swore under her breath, adjusted her aim, then fired again. The roar of the gun was deafening, and luckily, this time her bullet rang true.

The zombie’s head exploded into a spray of corrosive flesh, and she raised her arms to shield her face from the debris, wincing as stinging pain seared across her skin.

‘Fuck.’

Cecillia blinked away the pain and struggled to line up her next shot. She wrapped her arm around Alice’s nape, trying to stabilize the gun with both hands, but it was too late, the second zombie was already upon them.

Despair gripped her heart, her eyes widening in fear, but a calm voice soothed her mind.

“Don’t worry, I got this one,” Alice’s voice cut through the chaos like an iridescent ray in the midst of a storm.

Relief filled Cecillia when her sister’s arm flashed with a glint of silver, its head being severed while they swept past like the wind. Still, there was no time to relax and not even a single second could be delayed in their movements.

Four more zombies remained, and Cecillia focused. She fired three quick shots, heavy thunder echoing as the gun was unleashed. Two of the zombies fell, their legs blown off completely from beneath them.

She aimed for the third, but just before her finger jammed into the trigger, a sudden roar from behind caused her to hesitate. Cecillia shuddered, and the bullet spiraled into the zombie’s skull. It fell over lifelessly, black liquid oozing from the wound, yet the image of the spider easily tossing that car flashed in her mind.

How was it that they have survived this long? Cecillia’s thoughts drifted to her sister… just how was she this strong?

“You’re doing great, Ceci,” Alice said breathlessly.

Somehow, something about her tone was incredibly wrong, and she ignored her sister’s orders to turn around. Though when she did, her heart sank, and she retched. Blood oozed from a massive gaping hole in Alice’s lower back, dripping onto the ground to create a trail of crimson.

Cecillia cursed inwardly, how had she not noticed it earlier?

Alice coughed, blood spilling from her mouth, but she somehow managed a weak chuckle. “Didn’t I tell you to not turn around?”

“Shut up,” Cecillia snapped, blinking away the glistening feeling within her eyes. “Shut the fuck up.”

Many people would mistake Alice to be a tough girl, which she rightfully was. But Cecillia knew better. She had shared every experience, both good and bad. And after countless years, even if Alice was as tough as nails, deep down… she was just a girl too.

Cecillia’s lips parted once more to spew out another wave of obscenities but a loud bellow from behind interrupted her thoughts. Until suddenly, they were airborne, flying violently through the air. The makeshift harness around Cecillia came undone, and she tumbled across the concrete before coming to a painful stop. Her knees and elbows were scraped bare by the skidding impact, but she ignored the pain and tried to push herself up.

“Alice!” she cried. “Where are you?!”

Her eyes scanned the area desperately, finally spotting Alice’s prone body among pieces of rubble. Though, her initial relief was short lived when she saw her sister coughing up mouthfuls upon mouthfuls of blood, the skin on her face deathly pale.

“Alice!” Cecillia screamed, her shock turning into panic. She tried to move her legs, but they refused to respond—paralyzed by her earlier fear or the wish to ignore, she wasn’t sure. Perhaps she had subconsciously cut off that specific portion of her brain, and now… she was starting to regret that decision.

“ALICE!!! NO!!”

The nightmarish creature loomed over Alice, its mouth latching onto the girl’s stomach, devouring her alive. Cecillia’s heart leapt into her chest, her every muscle tightening. She felt her jaw widening, caught between a broken scream and a feeling of suffocation.

“No…” Cecillia whispered, her quivering hands clawing at the ground. “Don’t… please.”

The monster raised one of those wicked, gleaming scythes high into the air and Cecillia choked back a sob. Alice managed to roll out of the way from the first, but the second came down hard with a deafening boom. One of the blades sliced clean through Alice’s leg, segmenting the limb from the rest of her body before sending her tiny body flying. Her body hit a nearby wall with a sickening thud before crumpling to the ground.

Hot tears streamed down Cecillia’s face, and a wailing howl ripped from her throat. All the little strength she had seeped away from her being and she wept. This couldn’t be… how… why?

Her thoughts were in complete disarray. Despair, hopelessness and anguish were the only things that filled her mind.

Alice raised her head weakly, her eyes brimming with pain and tears.

“Run…” she whispered.

Her voice was barely audible over the thumping of her broken heart, but Cecillia understood.

“You fucking bitch,” Cecillia cursed through gritted teeth.

Seeing Alice’s frail body, limp and unmoving, she couldn’t bear it. The memories they shared flashed before her eyes, and she realized that this really might be the end.

Wasn’t this unfair?

Though, as much as she wanted to curse her sister out, Cecillia turned with a scowl. The two remaining zombies were closing in, but all she needed were three bullets of white lightning before they too, joined their comrades in hell.

Cecillia glanced down at the smoke wisping from the gun’s barrel. Only one bullet left. She tried to move her legs again, but still, they just wouldn’t respond. Everything she tried wouldn’t do anything, and she cursed her useless body. The frustration within her bubbled up, and it threatened to kill her there and then. Yet a grim realization settled over her and her expression was frozen in ice.

Cecillia faced Alice once more, the spider was crouched over the girl, sinking its fangs deep into her navel. But when she met Alice’s eye—those grey, stormy orbs, burning with anger even when her own body was being torn apart.

‘Why would I run, Alice?’

All she had to do was face her sister’s wrath later, right?

A strained laugh escaped Cecillia’s lips, a bittersweet sound that directly contrasted the situation they were in. The hate that Alice’s eyes held, Cecillia met them with love and she smiled. It was a beautiful thing, that meant nothing in the moment, but to her, it was the world.

‘Not this time, Alice. You’ve done enough for me.’

With a scream, Cecillia brought her hand to her mouth, biting down hard into her own flesh and drawing blood. At the same time, she pressed the barrel of the gun against her thigh and pulled the trigger. The searing pain from the bullet burned like magma flowing through her veins. Liquid blood streaked down her face, and she barely held back the scream. Yet the shock jolted her legs back to life, and as she wiped away the blood splattered onto her face, she confirmed that she was no longer paralyzed.

Blinking rapidly, Cecillia sucked in a tight breath while the pure agony exploded through her head. The edges of her vision were dyed red, but she pierced her jumbled thoughts together, sewing them to her mind and staggered to her feet.

Her sightline blurred when she faced the spider and it hurt simply to just stand, but the plan had worked. This concept called pain, well… what could she say, it worked.

The monster’s legs surrounded Alice like a cage, pinning her down with its fangs that wrapped around her abdomen all the while its chittering mouth dug into her stomach and inner organs. The painstakingly slow bites it took ignited a fury within Cecillia, the red-hot feeling was like nothing she had ever felt before. With a snarl, she raised her arm, and threw the empty gun at the creature, striking one of its eyes.

Immediately, the monster stopped chewing on Alice’s body before releasing a shrill shriek. Its attention shifted to Cecillia while Alice’s blood streaked face turned towards her sister, eyes wide with confusion, then shifting into anger.

Cecillia only chuckled, a crazed smile plastered onto her face. She took a shaky breath into her lungs, filling them up with all the air that her body was capable of.

“HEY YOU! SPIDER FUCKER!” Cecillia screamed without abandon. “YOU WANT SOMETHING TASTY?! COME EAT ME!”

The words that came out of her mouth were but an afterthought, something that she would deal with later. For now, there was no time to feel shame and she quickly dashed to the side. The monster barrelled towards her with its spear-like legs clicking against the ground.

Just from a glance, she could tell that its speed was unnatural, far too fast for its size. But what could she do? This situation was already long beyond hopeless.

‘Alright, come at me, motherfucker.’

Grinning, Cecillia’s eyes darted towards the pocket knife on the ground that Alice had dropped earlier. Her fists were next to useless, and with the gun missing ammunition, that tiny thing would be her only chance.

As the nightmare spider approached, Cecillia scrambled into action. Her gaze was locked onto both the monster and the knife before she started to sprint in a wide arc in an effort to put as much distance as possible between herself and the creature.

However, even with the maneuver, the spider was fast. Even when Cecillia felt that her muscles were beyond their limits, the monster had managed to somehow catch up. From mere metres away, its scythed arms rose into the air before slicing down less than an instant later.

Cecillia dove forward, crashing into the floor and exiting with a roll just as a deafening boom resounded from behind her. Dust and debris filled the air and it was soon revealed that the blade embedded itself at least a foot into the concrete. Cecillia shivered at the sight, and the phantom sensation at her spine only caused a bead of sweat to form on her forehead. That could’ve been her.

Though, she wasn’t dumb enough to waste the moment’s opportunity, and she made a mad dash for the knife. Her vision blurred, the needles of adrenaline pumping into her veins while she ran faster than she had ever ran before.

Vaulting over a piece of rubble, she grabbed the blade from the ground just as the spider ripped its arms free from the concrete. Her leg screamed in protest, the agonizing pain flowing over her in waves now. Her muscles, arteries, and smaller veins were all begging for release from thir excruciating torture. Each step felt like fire running down her flesh, and her mind was assaulted with countless threats to collapse under the unbearable strain.

As for the desire to just lay down… fucking hell, no words written could describe how tempting it was. Yet she knew she couldn’t, she had something to fight for, and that something was just metres away.

Cecillia’s eyes flickered over to the fallen pieces of rubble where her sister lay. Those cold grey eyes once filled with life, now held nothing but a depressing anguish.

Cecillia flashed a begrudging smile. She could already hear the words that her sister would say, how it was stupid to stay and fight, that she should’ve just left her behind. Though even with her wounds, even with the threat of death looming over her head, even if she couldn’t bring herself to voice her thoughts.

Cecillia… wouldn’t have it any other way.

Holding her knife in a back-handed grip, she locked eyes with the nightmare, challenging the creature with her piercing stare. The pain in her body brought tears welling up in her eyes, but she swallowed her groan, enduring the sensation of her body exploding at its seams.

“Quiet,” she commanded her flesh, her voice cold.

The creature’s eyes blinked rapidly in an unsettling manner, scanning Cecillia from head to toe before releasing a hissing screech. Alien fluids, mixed with her sister’s blood, dribbled to the ground as it charged.

Cecillia’s face hardened. She inhaled sharply, and when she exhaled, her form flickered. Her muscles rippled with vengeful hatred and she launched forward like a cannon to meet her nightmare.

The monster preemptively slashed at her with its scythes, slicing through the air in a wide arc. Alarm bells raised in her mind and Cecillia instantly halted her momentum by sticking out her uninjured leg like a wedge.

There was a swish of air when the scythes narrowly whipped past her face, barely missing their target by several inches. She swerved to the left, raising her knife when the resounding boom echoed from behind her. Spotting a joint on one of its legs, she hacked down on the black material. Sparks flew when her knife struck the joint with a heavy clang, chips of metal splintering off both the knife and the creature’s leg.

Gritting her teeth, Cecillia furiously stabbed her blade down. Once, then twice more before the creature forced her back with its scythes. The nightmare spun, aiming twin blades at her neck, but Cecillia ducked, and as they passed overhead, her legs propelled her body into a back-handspring. Goosebumps ran along the back of her neck, that was too close.

As she circled the monster, she let out a cough, wiping the sweat that seeped into her eye with the back of her hand. She noticed how this time, it heavily favoured the side that she hadn’t attacked. Cecillia revealed a thin smile, and the monster replied with a hideous scream. Again, it charged towards her, ever so slightly slower than before. Though, Cecillia noticed the decrease in speed and bolted forward. The scythes came down in an X-pattern, but instead of retreating, she willed from herself another burst of speed.

Time seemed to slow and the space above started to clear. Taking the opportunity, she leapt into the air, just barely clearing the twin scythes. She hovered languidly and the ground beneath her exploded, the blast of shattered concrete shooting into her flesh.

In that trepid moment of frozen time, Cecillia was met with the sight of the creature’s horrible face. Those eight red orbs, gleaming with glints of murderous light, were set upon her. A nauseating stench floated in front of her, her nose wrinkling in disgust.

Cecillia stabbed forward, popping two of its eight eyes as she fell. Although, when she landed on the ground, she felt the scythes pulling inward to slice her in two. With nowhere to go, she frantically realized that the only way out was through.

Throwing her body forward, Cecillia dove underneath the spider’s body. She landed painfully hard, the breath shooting out of her lungs. Surrounded by the cage of obsidian steel, several alarm bells rattled through her skull, and whatever plan she had to stab upwards was thrown out the window.

The weight above her started to rise, the spider preparing to slam down upon her to squish her into pulp. Cecillia scrambled forward into a desperate crawl, her nails digging into the ground just quick enough to escape before its body slammed into the ground.

Sweat poured off her body in swathes, her clothes were drenched and her breathing rushed. Tremors ran along the concrete street, and when the creature finally lifted itself, the crater it made ignited a flame of sheer terror within her.

Cecillia gulped down her fear and rushed forward. Aiming for its weakened joint, her knife was a storm of flurry. Each impact caused the miniature fracture to grow, and as she prepared her final attack, her eyes suddenly widened.

The monster’s tail came whipping around, the pointed end glinting with bloodthirst and Cecillia threw herself into an ungraceful roll. Her shoulder smashed into the ground, the screaming pain running down her limbs. But still, she hadn’t escaped completely, and the stinger’s tip tore a deep gash across her right forearm, the force flinging her across the street.

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Cecillia gasped for air when she finally came to a stop. The blood poured out of her arm, mixing with the existing sweat in her palms. She almost dropped her blade, her grip rapidly slipping before she awkwardly flung the knife to her other hand.

The second her fingers closed around the knife, the creature was back on its legs, back on its murderous hunt. Cecillia’s breathing grew rough, but the daggers of her fears slowly retreated from her heart when she saw the creature’s single injured leg. It hung loosely, unable to bear the weight of its body and newfound energy poured into Cecillia’s limbs.

She raised her knife and shifted her stance, cautiously circling around the edge of the street’s perimeter. She knew her weapon wasn’t in the best condition, a quick glance showing its chipped exterior and dullen edge. It was basically useless at this point, but her eyes were locked on the creature’s injured limb.

If only she could tear it off and use it like a spear, then maybe… just maybe she could finally end this battle of attrition.

Hearing the nightmare skitter forward, Cecillia quickly started to backpedal. She positioned herself a few meters behind a car to keep it between the monster and herself. Then when it finally approached, she dashed out from behind the vehicle like a streak of light.

Cecillia saw both blades springing towards her, but a gasp of surprise tore from her throat when the creature suddenly leapt backwards with both arms raised high into the air. Her momentum couldn’t be halted, and her earlier plan of diving through to snap its legs was scrapped.

‘…it was a trap.’

The blades shot down and pain erupted through her flesh. She twisted past the first scythe, but the second smashed into her knife held overhead. The clinking of metal against metal echoed followed by a crackling noise.

Cecillia’s limbs groaned, her bones threatening to completely snap as she felt her feet digging into the concrete, her ankles twisting unnaturally. Her vision blurred, the edges of her sight blinking between light and darkness. The muscles in her body couldn’t support the weight and at this point, only adrenaline had carried her this far, but that also had to come to an end.

Screaming, she released all the tension in her body and the knife was ripped from her hold with a pristine shing. The scythe blew past her face from only an inch away before embedding itself deep into the concrete. Her reflection showed in the black obsidian and what stared back at her was barely recognizable.

Her breath hitched for a moment. Blood seeped from her dried lips, her hair was disheveled and dirty. This person wasn’t her… it couldn’t be.

The blade suddenly disappeared when the nightmare ripped its arm from the ground. Once the world regained its normality, Cecillia’s instincts screamed and she started to pedal backwards. A slash crossed her vision, followed by a quick lunging stab of a spear.

Cecillia slipped to the side, twisting her torso to avoid certain death. She clenched her teeth and fell flat against her stomach just before the scythes obliterated the air above her. All she managed was a breath, before her instincts roared once more.

Cecillia rolled, a leg stabbing where her head just was. She rolled again, two more legs following, piercing deep into the ground. Cecillia scrambled to her feet just as the spider pulled itself out. She wrapped around to its injured side, a back handed fist slamming directly into the creature’s joint.

The impact jarred her wrist, but she hit it again, not caring for the pain that followed. She held both hands together, preparing to separate the limb completely, but the spider’s torso suddenly lurched towards her.

A sharp scream tore from one of her ribs, and she was sure that at least one of them was broken. She found herself flying backwards, managing to twist in mid-air to land on her feet. Though, there was no time to rest, and she barely found the strength to jump over the creature’s whipping tail.

Her stamina at this point was beyond depleted, and Cecillia wasn’t sure if she could go on. Every second that passed increased her chance of death exponentially, but if she gave up now—she glanced at Alice… both of them would end up dead.

Cecillia spat out a mouthful of blood and a strained grin appeared on her crimson lips. Eyeing the hanging limb, her muscles ruptured and she exploded towards her target. This time, she anticipated the defense and ducked beneath a spear, twisting behind a scythe and leaping over an attack that would’ve bisected her into two.

It was like something was guiding her movements, telling her exactly what to do. The feeling was warm and comforting, almost like a gentle embrace. Still, it took every ounce of focus left within her to concentrate on the creature’s movements.

A wailing slash grazed past her neck, and the painful sting of injury was introduced to her tender flesh. Cecillia dashed forward, sliding under the spears before grabbing a hold of that one single leg. She pulled, jerking the limb outwards, but the material held firm and she found herself rising into the air.

‘Not so fast…’ she thought.

Trusting her instincts, she allowed herself to be carried but the pain that followed almost caused her to pass out. Blood rushed out from the gash on her forearm, the muscles and tendons crying out as they struggled to fulfill their master’s wishes. Clutching the limb harder, Cecillia’s jaws opened wide and her teeth smashed around the joint.

Her mouth burned, the flesh inside scalding with agony when a spray of black ichor was released from the creature’s limb. Her vision swam and her tongue lost all feeling, but it wasn’t long until she found herself falling which meant that she had succeeded.

Cecillia landed on the ground hard and released a cough. The spear-like limb was grasped in her hand, and when she spat, a mixture of blood and viscous black liquid came pouring out. She appraised the weapon in her hand, it was like a massive stinger that tapered off into an extremely sharp point. The material was solid and glossy, gleaming with a pristine, alienic sheen.

For her sister had lost her leg, it was only fair that the monster had lost one too.

“How does it feel?” Cecillia let out a strained laugh.

She brandished the leg, waving it around as if to taunt the creature. Her lips curled upwards when it seemed to work, the spider’s remaining eyes flickering in rage. The hulking monster took a step forward before suddenly crashing into the ground. The sudden loss in support of its legs must have thrown it off balance.

Although, despite her hopes, the creature quickly adapted in real time, stabilizing itself in seconds. Cecillia narrowed her eyes, tightening the grip on the spear. Sweat dripped into her eyes while the taste of blood and smell of smoke were all starting to get to her.

Once again, she braced herself and met the creature’s charge. But this time with her new weapon, it was marginally easier to maneuver around with the added range. They exchanged countless blows, sparks alighting into the air with every clash.

Cecillia’s arms were long beyond numb, but every time she saw her sister in the corner of her eyes, she somehow found the strength to continue.

The arachnid screeched, and Cecillia’s eyes shuddered. Just beneath its plated armor she was able to see a thick, flesh unprotected coil that continuously pumped with an unknown liquid. Aiming for that, Cecillia stabbed forward. Her attack, though, did not connect when the creature suddenly shifted at the last second.

Her spear scraped against its black armor and she stumbled forward, unable to stop her own momentum. Shock filled her mind, followed by an intense pain when the monster slammed her into the ground. All the breath left her lungs, leaving her winded until a subsequent slam caused the back of her head to bounce against the concrete.

The sight before her eyes came up blurry, and her instincts screamed at her to roll. Although, it was far too late, and a pain exploded within her stomach. A haunting scream left her lips, but the pain served to clear up her vision.

Cecillia clearly saw herself hoisted up into the air by the creature’s tail, and somehow, she had managed to hold onto the spear. Struggling against the primal intuition to flail, to escape at all cost, she willed herself to stay conscious. Slowly, the monster’s tail brought her body to its mouth.

She tried her best to not make any sudden movements, but the sight of those rotating fangs caused her body to lurch against the stinger impaled into her flesh. Still, she gritted her teeth and held the spear with both hands just as the monster pulled its head back.

The abyss opened wide, then it suddenly plunged forward. The pain was searing, and she held back the beginnings of a scream as tears built upon the edges of her vision. The serrated teeth tore through her innards, ripping her flesh into shreds. Blood spilled from the growing wound, dyeing its jaws with a deep crimson. It was like someone had shoved a burning hot poker into its flesh before sadistically rotating it around.

Her breath was shaky, but she forced everything else down, clenching her teeth to endure the excruciating pain. With a scream, Cecillia stabbed the spear into the creature’s skull. It wasn’t enough, it was still eating her. She screamed again, driving the weapon into its jaw, through her own flesh that it had just consumed before the tip came out the other end.

Still, there was no end to the blinding pain that continued in merciless waves. Her body felt cold, then hot like her veins were filled with liquid magma. Cecillia vomited and her vision started to slip. She felt her lids closing over hopeless, azure eyes. She relaxed into the feeling, the endless sleep that called out to her. Her mind was turning the pain into comfort, the cold into warmth.

Even if she knew that it was just an illusion, hadn’t she done enough?

“Cecillia…”

Perhaps not.

A soft voice echoed through the night, cutting through the despairing sadness, and Cecillia realized what she truly wanted.

“Shh… don’t speak, Ceci,”

Shut up Alice

“I know… I know… it’s going to be okay, you have nothing to be sorry for.”

Didn’t I say to shut up?

“Promise me, that no matter what happens, if I fall… you’ll keep going. No matter what, okay?”

Why are you telling me what to do…

“It’s because it's my job.”

I see. Then I guess this is my job too.

Her eyes shot open, crimson flaring within those azure eyes. And in that moment, she eclipsed all. Cecillia stabbed down at the creature’s face. Piercing through an eye, eviscerating alien flesh. She continued to stab, stab again and again. Stab until her arms couldn’t move, until she couldn’t feel. Stab till her arms burned with black ichor. Stab until—

****

Rain started to fall upon the earth, and Alice wearily drew her head from the blood soaked ground. A hollow sigh caught in her throat and she wrapped an arm around her shoulders. It was starting to get cold.

Alice looked up at her sister and her eyes flickered with a bitter anguish. Of course Cecillia had come back to help her, the girl had killed that nightmare, and even went further to mutilate its entire body. She wondered if the girl even knew that it had already been dead for several minutes. Though, she couldn’t bear to tell her that it was a mistake, how pointless it all was.

Alice’s eyes begrudgingly fell to her waist, and she winced when they were met with the sight of decay. Her once pale flesh was already starting to darken, black veins slowly spreading out across her skin.

She bit her lip, Cecillia had gone through all that effort, all that pain, all for what…?

All for nothing.

“Cecillia,” Alice whispered, her voice ringing out in a melancholic chord.

Cecillia froze mid-stab, her face lighting up instantly when she turned to face her sister. Alice choked back a sob, the sight was like a dagger piercing into her heart. Cecillia ripped herself off the spider’s tail, the pain seemingly not affecting her at all as she limped on over.

“Alice! You’re okay!” Cecillia threw her arms around Alice, tears falling onto the elder sister’s bare chest. The girl’s breath came in ragged, desperate bursts and she buried her head into Alice’s shoulder.

“Ceci—”

Alice began, but she soon clenched her hands, fingers digging deep into her palms. Her expression hardened when she looked down at her waist again. Why was it so hard—she choked—so hard to just tell the truth.

Instead, she slowly wrapped her arms around her sister’s frail body. Her head resting on the girl’s tender shoulder while her vacant gaze stared off into the cruel distance. If only they could share this moment, just for a little longer…

A vibration from her pocket broke the silence.

Dad.

Cecillia,” Alice whispered. “Give me a moment. Dad’s calling.”

Cecillia moved back reluctantly, watching as Alice accepted the call. The sky was a bleak dusk, the last traces of sunlight dimming away beneath the horizon’s edge.

Alice glanced up briefly. The smoke wisping across the air along with the fading screams made for a depressing atmosphere. She returned her gaze back to the phone and a crackle of static came through.

“We’re here, but there’s no place to land. Are you girls safe?”

Cecillia gave Alice a thumbs up with a weak smile. Alice could only return the gesture bitterly.

“We’re… safe. For now,” Alice said. “But the streets are crawling with zombies, and we ran into an alien monster. I think we’ll be late if we see another.”

“What?!” Malkorn’s voice exploded over the line. A quick cough followed. “S-sorry. Did you say you… ran into one of those things?”

“Ye—”

“Dad! We killed it!” Cecillia interrupted, snatching the phone away. “I stabbed that fucker to death!”

Alice ripped the phone out of the girl’s hands who then shot her a glare. “The monster’s dead, but Cecillia’s badly hurt. She needs medical attention.”

A long silence followed. “...I see. Tell me your exact location, we’re coming for you now.”

“No,” Alice rejected, her voice like ice. “There’s nowhere to land, these monsters can throw cars. It’s too dangerous. We’ll make it to you, one way or another.”

“Alice, I am your father, don’t you dare speak to me like that! I don’t give two shits about my life. I won’t stand by while my daughters are in danger. It’s my duty—”

“Dad, stop,” Alice’s voice grew colder, “The screams have stopped. Everyone’s already dead or already infected. If you fly in, you’ll just bring them all to you. You’ll die. Please, Dad, trust me. We’ll make it out.”

Another tense silence, then a defeated sigh. “Be careful, Alice. Please.”

“I promise.”

The line went dead.

Beside her, Cecillia released a long shaky breath.

“I can’t believe you talked to Dad like that.”

Alice shrugged. “It was the only way. If he came, he’d die, and then what? We’d lose our only chance to get out of this hell-hole.”

“But still, I’ve never heard him swear before.”

“If you were a mother, you’d do the same,” Alice said. “Now come on, let’s get going.”

“Okay,” Cecillia rose to her feet. But her eyes drifted over to the blood-soaked bodies of the zombie’s around them. They were once people, and she had killed them. Just thinking about the fact caused a wave of nausea to envelop her. Her stomach started to curl and bile rose in her throat.

“Hey,” Alice’s voice cut through the spell. “Help me up?”

“Oh… right. I’m sorry,” Cecillia winced, remembering how the spider had sliced off her sister’s leg.

She knelt down, pulling Alice onto her back. She felt how light her sister had become and a needle caused her heart to pang. It was wrong, things shouldn’t be like this… everything was just wrong.

“You alright?” Alice asked, her voice gentle.

Cecillia forced a bitter smile, even now, her sister cared for her like no one else could.

“Worry about yourself.”

Alice chuckled, “Mkay.”

At first, they set off at a slow pace, passing several corpse-ridden streets without any interruption. But the occasional, distant sounds of crashing forced her to hurry despite her numerous injuries. Each step was agonizing torture, especially with the added weight of Alice, but the fear of death was motivation enough.

“We’re so close, Ceci,” Alice murmured.

Only six blocks left from the city’s edge, and hope was beginning to show on the sister’s faces. Until suddenly, a dark shape lunged at them from the shadows. Cecillia instinctively stumbled back, running towards an abandoned storefront at the edge of the street. She dove over the counter, both crashing hard.

Alice’s body slammed into the base of a fridge, while Cecillia’s head hit the base of a sink. The air quickly fell with the copper scent of blood as the crimson liquid seeped from their wounds.

The two exchanged a wordless look, laying there panting while they sat on the cold tiles of the restaurant.

“Shit, shit shit… We’re so screwed,” Cecillia whispered.

Her body shook uncontrollably, her wounds screaming with pain. The adrenaline her body produced was no longer there and everything that was held back by the human-made drug, now slammed into her in full force. She felt every nerve in her body ignite, the wound in her back burning like liquid fire. This was despair.

Cecillia clamped a hand over her mouth to suppress her scream. She didn’t know if that creature out there had managed to catch sight of them, but if she made a sound now. They were done for.

Oddly enough, Alice seemed eerily calm, staring at the ring dancing along her twirling fingers. The light refracted off its silvery frame and Cecillia was mesmerized. However, the sudden thought ran through her mind, never once did she see Alice without that ring.

For as long as she could remember, Alice had never taken it off. And Cecillia had no recollection of anyone giving to her. Even when they were kids—and her memory was quite good—there was not a single scene in her mind where her sister didn’t have it.

It was an odd question to ask, but when else could be a better time?

“Hey… Alice,” Cecillia mumbled, her voice small. “When did you get that ring?”

Alice didn’t answer. Instead, she looked at her sister with sorrowful eyes.

“Ceci, I need you to listen to me, okay?” Alice’s breathing grew rough. “Leave me, and use me as bait.”

The words were so sudden and Cecillia could only stare at her sister’s face blankly. The pain in her body was replaced by a hollow emptiness, a cold feeling that seeped through her bones. She couldn't wrap her head around her sister’s words. They had just won against the spider nightmare… How come her sister was telling her to just up and leave, to use her as bait?

She blinked, unable to process the words. “Haha… you’re funny. Was that a joke?”

Cecillai clearly heard her sister correctly. Just that… there had to be a chance that her mind was playing a cruel joke on her, right? Or maybe it was a delusion formed from her pain, a coping mechanism if you will.

Alice shook her head. “I’m serious. It’s the only way.”

Cecillia’s heart shattered. This wasn’t happening, it couldn’t be.

“The fuck do you mean, only way?” Cecillia growled. “We’re so close to escaping, just what the hell are you talking about.”

Alice revealed a bitter smile. “I was bitten.”

Her words were soft, and she slowly lifted her trousers to reveal the blackened veins crawling up the side of her waist. The infection was already spreading,

‘...It can’t be,’ Cecillia thought, her eyes starting to water.

This had to be a joke, it had to be! She felt a tightness growing in her chest, spreading to her throat. Her heartbeat accelerated, pounding like an endless drum in her head. The air seemed to grow thick, pressing down on her and making it hard to breathe.

They had gone so far, done so much. Her mind started to race. Those zombies she killed, they were once people too. Now… her sister was about to become one. She imagined the decaying skin, the hanging flesh. No. No, no no. She couldn’t accept it. It was unfathomable.

It had to be a lie.

“You’re lying,” Cecillia refuted.

She refused to believe reason, even when that very reason was roaring in her ears.

“Wanna bet?” Alice chuckled bitterly.

She raised the stump of her leg. Infection and decay had already eclipsed the flesh. Black veins crisscrossed like spider webs, and orange pus built up on the deathly-white skin.

It was sickly.

Cecillia’s vision blurred and a wave of dizziness washed over her. She tried to swallow, but to no avail, it was already as dry as sandpaper.

“Then what about dad!” Cecillia demanded, her voice trembling. “What would dad say?”

Alice averted her gaze, lips pressed into a thin line. Cecillia was right, their loving father didn’t deserve anything of this. What would he say?

“I don’t know,” Alice mumbled. She lifted her eyes slowly, meeting Cecillia’s tear-filled gaze. “But I know one thing for sure… he loves you very much.”

Cecillia’s face contorted.

“He loves you too!” she shouted, voice crumbling apart. “Why? Why does it have to be like this? Alice… why?”

“Why…?” Alice tilted her head, and a smile came across her lips. “It’s because I love you.”

‘Love…’

Cecillia didn’t want to hear that word anymore. Love… why did it have to be so cruel.

“I hate you!” Cecillia sobbed, pounding the tiled floor with a fist. “I hate you so much!”

Alice only smiled sadly. “I’ve heard that one before… y-you don’t have to say it again.”

“I don’t care,” Cecillia trembled. “I don’t fucking care…”

Alice’s eyes grew sad. She then pulled the ring from her finger and held it out to Cecillia. Its pristine sheen gleamed against the crimson pool of blood.

The girl stared at her hand without the slightest of movements, struggling against the demons within her mind. Nothing meant anything anymore, the world was hollow and meaningless. Eventually, the anger began to drain away from Cecillia. Her anguished face lost its strength, and her body collapsed into Alice’s once warm embrace. Now the feeling was cold, and the fragile dam that had just barely contained her emotions, burst wide open. There were no tears left to cry, and she let out a raw, broken groan.

Alice pulled her sister closer, gently rubbing her back.

“You lied to me…” Cecillia choked, “You promised me that we’d be okay. That we’d both be fine…”

Alice said nothing, continuing to comfort Cecillia in the silence. It took several minutes for the girl to calm down. The blood on her face was akin to tears, and Alice wiped them away.

Cecillia pulled back from the touch, her eyes narrowing into a frigid glare. But Alice met her gaze with warmth. She grabbed Cecillia’s hand, slipping the ring onto the fourth finger of her right hand.

“Ceci, remember this. I will always love you, okay?” Alice whispered. “But I don’t have much time left.”

Cecillia’s gaze drifted to Alice’s body. The black veins had spread completely across her stump, creeping toward her navel. The decaying flesh was visibly infected, oozing orange pus from cavities, and the nauseating stench filled the abandoned restaurant.

“I’ll save you, Alice,” Cecillia whispered hoarsely. “Don’t worry, I’ll force Dad to make you a cure. Then we can live happily together again with Mom.”

Alice placed a hand on Cecillia’s shoulder. The gentle touch made Cecillia burst into another fit of tears.

“There’s not enough time,” Alice said softly. “Only one of us can escape through the monsters. You have to use me as bait.”

Cecillia’s stomach churned, and her hands trembled as anger surged. How could she even think of using her own sister as bait to survive?

“No. I will never use you as bait,” Cecillia refused.

“Then kill me,” Alice grinned. “You think I want to become one of those monsters. They’re just going to run around forever, endlessly roaming the planet. Yearning for their deaths. Don’t do that to me, Ceci… please.”

Hearing those words, Cecillia felt numb. But if it was her final wish, then how could she refuse?

She nodded slowly, her body moving on its own in quiet acceptance. Alice crawled forward, grabbing onto Cecillia’s shoulders and forcing her to meet her eyes.

“Hey,” Alice whispered. “This isn’t the end okay? I know for a fact that one day, no matter how many years. We’ll see each other again. I promise?”

The ring on Cecillia’s finger glowed faintly before returning to its dull state, though neither of them noticed.

Cecillia wanted to ask how, but somehow, she trusted her sister’s words.

Tears welled up in Cecillia’s eyes, “You promise?”

“I promise.”

Alice hugged her fiercely and quickly described her plan. A minute later, Cecillia carried Alice on her back, mirroring the times Alice had carried her. She scouted the street, then snuck over to a nearby car at the far end, settling Alice down inside.

They shared a hollow look, mixed emotions flooding their minds as Cecillia crawled back over the restaurant counter. Silent tears streamed down her face as she heard Alice scream, drawing the monsters. A chittering howl followed, mixed with the deafening booms of the zombies’ roars.

Cecillia choked, her eyes far beyond what was considered bloodshot from crying. It was almost time, and she forced herself to stand.

The car alarm blared, piercing through the night, and hundreds of creatures swarmed the vehicle. It was the signal, and Cecillia ran. She ran to escape, not this shitty reality, but the fake promises made in the name of love.

A sea of fire ignited, and a pillar of flame soared straight into the skies. The light was blinding, and the crackling roar almost caused her to stumble. But not once did she glance back, she would continue to live, for Alice would always be alive in her memories.

Moments later, she heard an explosion as the fire reached the fuel tank, triggering a massive burst of kinetic energy. A wave of heat blasted out in all directions, and the inferno raged.

Cecillia’s back was torched by the flames, but the pain was nothing compared to the anguish in her heart. She glanced down at the ring Alice left her, searching for anything in the metal that could take her mind away.

Her thoughts suddenly felt giddy and a psychopathic laugh ripped through her throat, Alice wouldn’t die. She was invincible, a person who would always stand back up after falling…

Dreaming.

“Cecillia…”

The girl’s eyes fluttered open. Her body felt warm, and there was a gentle feeling pressing against her shoulders. She blinked, trying to remember what had just happened.

The girl loosely opened her eyes, her body felt warm and there was a certain feeling pushing against her shoulders. She blinked, wondering just what happened.

“Cecillia, it’s me… dad.”

Her vision cleared, and she recognized the familiar figure. She looked into his eyes, seeing concern and anguish. Yet, she felt only apathy.

Her face was indifferent, her body unmoving. Malkorn’s brow furrowed in worry before he pulled her into a tight hug. He shielded her body from the rain and gently carried her into the helicopter. Glancing one last time out the window, he desperately hoped that Alice would appear at any moment.

A minute passed, and the man clenched his jaw. His usually stoic face crumbled, shoulders slumping, and bitter tears began to spill from his eyes.

For the first time, Cecillia looked up. It was such an odd sight. She knew that when a sibling cried there was something wrong. When her mother cried a significant event happened. But when a father cried—

‘Why did it matter?’

Something switched in her brain, and a dark, blackness seeped into her heart. Her face lost its color, and emotion became a concept forgotten. The last thing she remembered before the darkness stole her away was Alice’s face.

The helicopter’s blades sliced through the driving rain as sheets of water lashed against the windshield. Malkorn stared out into the storm, a primal roar escaping his throat, filled with the agony of a shattered heart.

No parent should ever have to outlive their child.

Truly, it was a terrible night for rain.