The only sounds I heard, crouched down in the darkness of the tower’s lobby, was dripping water and the whistle of air through a broken glass panel. I didn't realize how the quiet of the surface was much louder than the quiet of The Quarters. During the restless nights alone in my room the only sounds to whisper in my ear was the occasional settling of old rusty pipes. I missed that noise. I wished at that moment the wind would stop and the water would freeze so that I could find a better peace. A quieter peace. Then I heard screaming.
Whatever it was it didn't sound human or if it was they no longer could sound human. I had horrible images rush through my mind of Theo or Tala having their throats ripped out by some ungodly creature. I had to shake my head to stop thinking about it. Luckily Dr. Matthias’ words of wisdom came to me. “If you hear screaming. Run.”
I didn't know if he meant other people screaming or the monsters and I was so freaked out at the time I didn't ask him to clarify. No matter. Do what you're told and run.
It was difficult running with my leg still injured but the pain was beginning to fall farther back into my thoughts as fear rushed to fill it. It quickened me and helped me enter a new hallway that stretched to my right. It was empty besides a few waiting chairs and open offices with large glass panel walls. It was weird to me that humans used to work in places like this. Exposed and open for the world to see. It made my gut churn. Luckily the screaming ended and the uncomfortable silence returned.
I continued my gentle jog down the hallway then stopped when a ceiling light suddenly flickered on at the end of the hall. Its light rebounded off the marble flooring and plastered walls making everything look like it was covered in a thin sheet of liquid.
The light continued to flicker as a shape emerged from another corridor leading off to the left. It was vaguely human and about the size of an adult. Its arms were long with curved hands that reached the knees. It had an awkward gait about it as if it kept having to catch itself with every step. When a sudden shock of sparks cast itself upon the air the creature jerked its head up and let out a series of cackling howls.
The sound made me fall back against the nearby wall and drop behind a long wooden bench. I clutched at my chest and swore the same pain I felt the night of my Unlocking had flared back to life. I crumpled my shirt tight in a fist and sat utterly still waiting for my breathing to calm down. It was difficult as I heard another sizzle of electricity whip the air causing the creature to howl again.
Peering out from behind the bench I watched as the creature turned, twisted and arched its body in a wild fashion. The light came to a still basking the monster in a sharp light that gave me a better glimpse of what I truly saw. It was no human, or if it had been it was beyond recognition at this point. It had thick violet skin that stretched over long strands of curling muscles. At the end of its hands were sharp black nails and it had teeth that stuck out from its unfurled mouth. The most distinctive part was the lack of eyes. Where there should have been two sockets, instead was a curved mass of tangled vines reaching out for something to grasp. Above the creature's head was a vibrant display of red text.
Wretched Shambler - Level 1
Condition: Hungry
Weaknesses: ???
Resistances: ???
Hungry? That didn’t bode well for me. This Wretched Shambler was also Level 1. It made me wonder how much of a power difference that would be with me only being Level 0. My father was Level 17. How much stronger would that make him compared to this monster. It was a strange thought to think that my dad was stronger than this hulking mass of terror. At least on paper. More questions came to me as well. How much my stats would influence fighting such as how quickly I could react or how strong my attacks would be. When I level up I would gain my first free stat to distribute. I wondered if I could defeat the Shambler would I gain enough XP to level up. I was excited by the prospect of getting stronger. My father said it was an incredible experience like a sudden rush of energy that made you feel like you could do anything.
I switched the knife in my hand and held it close to my face. I let a slow breath out and focused on the Shambler. It was about forty feet away and still shifting its head in the air. Was it blind? It had to be. It had no eyes. Could I use that? It was a good thought but If I didn’t land a killing blow on the monster it could end very badly for me. Another scream came hurling down the hallway behind me. Looking back I saw another Wretched Shambler stumbling towards me.
I was trapped. I had nowhere to go. Again I found myself trapped between oncoming dangers. How could I let this happen again? I had to think of something quick as the first Shambler started making its way down the hall towards the other one. Perhaps they were communicating with each other. Hunting together. Searching for prey. Their vine-like faces reached out in the air as if they were feeling for something. Feeling for me.
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I stood and prepared for the worst. I would have to fight but I could start it on my own terms. Or at least I thought I could. A loud screech echoed through the hall as a metal door opened fifteen feet away from me. From within the shadows of the open door I saw Tala poke her head out. She had a trickle of blood falling down her forehead and a look of fear on her face. The fierce, fiery look in her eyes that I saw back at The Quarters was gone. There were only the pleading eyes of a kid hoping for safety.
The two Wretched Shamblers let out deafening shrieks in response to the opening of the door. They both started making their way right towards me. Their fumbling walk now turned to a predatory run.
The awful pain that had ravaged my chest vanished for a moment. A brief moment that gave speed to my step and courage to my heart. I moved to the center of the hall, held the blade out before me and steadied myself. I was not going to die here.
“What are you doing? Run!” Tala, called out to me. In my panicked state I hadn’t realized that she had been trying to get my attention by waving her hands but because I was so focused on the monsters she had to resort to yelling.
I immediately turned and started for the door. The Shamblers must have heard me turn and run as their own speed picked up. I tried not to focus on the monsters bearing down on me and instead kept my eyes on Tala who was now frantically waving for me to run. I pushed myself as fast as my cut leg would take me. Every step hurt and the agony of fear in my chest returned. Closer and closer I got, hobbling along as I could hear the blood curdling screams of the shamblers get closer.
“Behind you!” Tala yelled.
I took a moment to turn when a series of whipping face tendrils snapped at me. The Wretched Shambler that came from the lobby had caught up to me before I knew it. Instinctively I slashed out with my knife and cut one of its slithering tentacles. It shrieked and swapped its arm out, knocking me back a couple of feet in the direction of Tala. I landed hard on my side and almost hit my head against the wall. I could’ve sworn I heard something pop as I landed and a new sharp pain shot up my right arm.
My Codex updated my status from [Staunched] to [Injured] and knew that I must have dislocated my shoulder. I tried to get up on my right elbow and felt the pain intensely sharpen almost causing me to drop my knife. I then felt something grab me under my other shoulder and I turned to face what was most likely the other Shambler. Instead it was Tala. She had stepped out from behind the door and was now pulling me in.
“Watch out!” It was my turn to warn her as the first Shambler had caught up and was almost upon her. She let go of my shoulder, turned, and swung a tire iron right into the side of the shamblers face. I heard a squishing sound followed by a crunch then the hall filled with another round of horrifying screams as both Shamblers screamed in unison.
At that moment I scrambled up to my knees and started toward the open door as best I could. Tala reached down and started helping me again and before I knew it we were surrounded by darkness. Tala had slammed the door behind us and I could hear the shamblers pounding against it on the other side.
After a few moments of silence I finally said thank you.
“Sure. Wasn’t really expecting to see anyone when I opened the door but whatever,” Her voice was haggard and I could hear an annoyed tone as if it was a great burden in saving me. I let her words hang in the dark until my eyes adjusted to a solemn green light from an overhanging exit sign. We were in a cement staircase with steps leading up and down. There were yellow painted handrails and somewhere far below I could hear the muffled sound of a car alarm.
“It’s Tala, right?” I asked once I gained my breath.
“Yeah…” She answered.
“My name's Ward. We haven’t really talked before have we?”
“No. Don’t have a lot of friends. Dad said it’s bad to form attachments in the Fallen States,” She said as she sat down with her back against the door. The Shamblers on the other side had stopped their screaming and pounding and all I could hear was the wet sound of their tendrils snapping in the air and their feet scuffling about.
“I get that,” I agreed. “Not much sense in making friends with people that will die soon.” It was an awful sentiment but true. Especially if your friends were part of the Outriders. Not many of those members returned back to the Quarters. My dad did say that the numbers of people dying on scavenge runs had gone down significantly since the [Midnight Ranger] joined our colony but it still happened every once in a while. The most recent member to have perished was a man by the title of the [Steel Paladin] whose name was Alexander Wyman. He was a Level 28 [Soldier] who specialized in [Defense]. He was the great defender of our colony and a good friend to my dad. My father shut down for a whole week when he found out that his friend had died.
After a few more minutes of awkward silence Tala got up then knelt down beside me. “Let me take a look at your shoulder.” I leaned over and carefully lifted my arm for her to see. “Looks like you dislocated it. Want me to pop it back in?”
“Sure, just be —” She threw her palm into my shoulder before I knew it and I felt my shoulder pop. I bit my lip again and held back a scream. “Warn a guy next time.”
“Better it be a surprise. People tend to tense up when they expect pain. Makes it harder to pop it back in.” Tala stood and looked over the railing to the stairs down below.
“Well… Still.” I rubbed my shoulder. “What are you looking at?”
“Making sure I wasn’t followed.”
“Followed? By what?”
She looked down at me, rubbed her forearm across her cheek letting it her sleeve clean the blood away. “There were some… Things in the car garage. Luckily I got away by setting one of the car alarms off. Sounds like it just turned off. We should get moving.”
Tala didn’t wait for me to respond and started her way up the stairs. I took a deep breath and followed her higher into The Crumbling Tower.