prologue

“Huff…huff…huff…”

In an unknown world, a man wearing a black suit with a helmet on his head, carrying an unconscious person on his back tied by rope, whose whole body below the neck was covered in a cocoon was running in the middle of the night. This man called Leonardo Guryon, who was running in-between unorthodox steeps and slopes to save his life and the unconscious person lying in his arms. He was unaccustomed to this unknown world, where the days and nights were forty-eight hours long, and the gravity was heavier than his world. But despite all that he ran like a cheetah.

The helmet on his head had some extraordinary features which were helping him to see a clearer picture of the scene in front of him, because it was too dark.

While running his gaze shifted from his wrist to the sky because he could hear the sound of thundering. Whereas, in his left wrist there was a radar which was displaying a particular movement of his pursuers in the radius of hundred kilometers with a low ‘beep’ sound.

He climbed a cliff so that he could rest, because he was panting and was totally exhausted. He bent over so that he could put the person on the ground because he wanted to catch his breath. But soon his radar began gave a sound of continuous beep. He stared at his radar and knitted his brows. There were a lot of small dots approaching towards his location. Their pace was getting quicker by every second. He grimaced and said in a surprised tone, “Looks like I had underestimated them, they can move faster in the dark.”

While he was standing, he decided to sat down on the ground so that he could control his ragged breathing. A few seconds later his breathing became normal. He stood up and clenched his jaws, “No matter what happens—I won’t let them come near me again” and ran down the cliff.

While running down the cliff he murmured, “Did I miss something? Why are they following me to this extent?”. Then he leapt from that cliff and reached a flat surface. There was a stream in front of him which flowed through a jumble of big rocks. The speed of the stream was very fast. He jumped from one rock to another to cross the stream. On the other side of the stream where he came from, the branches of the trees shivered due to the rumbling of the ground and the beasts in the forest were screaming in pain.

Even though Leonardo was very far away from the trees but he could feel the rumbling of the ground beneath his feet.

“I need to do something about this…otherwise—they’ll catch up to me in no time”, he thought while staring at the scene.

He tilted his head and stared at the big mountain in a particular direction. It was his destination point. It was fifty or sixty miles away from him. He found a small hill nearby him. He stood there for a moment and was lost in a thought. But then he climbed it. He took out his gun which was strapped by his waist and turned around and said gently, “Weapon systems activate.”

A female voice came from the gun, “Weapon system activated—beep. Select mode.”

He aimed to his north and said in a hoarse voice, “Forgive me for what I am about to do trees. Weapon mode Incinerate”.

The gun in his hand looked like an ordinary gun. But after he finished speaking the gun gave a sound like it was leveling up with each ‘beep’ sound, and with every ‘beep’ sound the pitch was getting higher. After consecutive ten ‘beep’ sounds, a voice came from the gun, “Weapon is fully loaded.”

Leonardo held the gun a little high and said in a serious tone, “Fire in the hole.” And pulled the trigger. A shot fired in the sky. It was so bright that it seemed like a meteor was about to hit the ground.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Leonardo fired five shots in the sky after that he cursed his pursuers, “Die! You damn creatures!” He didn’t even look back and ran towards his destination to the east.

……….

On the top of the mountain there was a lady named Lilly Robins. She was also wearing a black suit but her head was not covered with any helmet. She was standing in front of an automated machine which had a shape like a ring. The size of the ring was large enough for a subway train to pass through it. She was staring at the ring which was giving her some nostalgic feeling.

She was staring at the tablet in her left hand which was showing some fluctuations of the machine. After confirming that everything was fine with the machine, she turned around, stepped forward and stared at the sky. She couldn’t see any stars because the sky was already covered with the stormy clouds. She could hear thundering of clouds. She sighed and closed her eyes, “Please—Please, be safe Leonardo!”

CRACK! CRACK!

After hearing the noise, she became vigilant. It was an alarming situation because there was no one present there except for her. She slowly strapped the tablet back to her slim waist and took out her gun which was already activated. In a split second she turned around and aimed behind her. The gun had a flash light which automatically turned on, so that the she could see anything within her vicinity. But there was nothing. She closed the light and put her gun down but then after few seconds she heard another cracking sound from behind her. She pointed her gun again but there was nothing she could see except for the bushes. She was about deactivate her gun but then she heard another sound but this time it was from her left side.

She wanted to point her gun to her left but then she felt some restriction in her movement. She tried to move her legs but for some reason she couldn’t. It appeared to her like someone had captured her soul. She was trying really hard but couldn’t move an inch. In her struggling she looked above. At that moment her eyes opened wide and her breathing halted along with her struggling because there was a figure. It was five or six stories high and it had six long legs which surrounded her from every corner. She focused her gaze between the legs and felt a chill ran down to her spine. Because her gut feeling was telling her that in-between those legs there was something horrible. Due to darkness she couldn’t figure it out what it was and on the top of that her movements were restricted.

Lilly was afraid but before she could think of anything, her feet left the ground and she began floating in the air. She was dumbstruck by this sudden development that why in the world she is floating in the air and what this being was doing here in the first place? While she was assessing the current situation, her body reversed in air.

The only thing came into her mind was that something horrible might happen if she didn’t do anything. She began struggling again and discovered that she could move now. She aimed her in the middle with her gun. The flash light turned on and what came next completely terrified her.

There were three eyes like black beads which were glaring at her just like a beast who was about to devour its prey. Lilly felt a chill ran down her spine. She aimed at one of those eyes and fired. The damage was so minimal that the creature didn’t even flinch. But soon, the creature opened its mouth which was right below its eyes. It had big and pointy teeth like a shark. Lilly’s eyes opened wide and her body began to shiver. The only thing came into her mind that she was going to die. She shouted in fear, “WEAPON MODE GRENADE!”

“Beep—Weapon mode Grenade is activated—weapon is loading…”

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When she heard that she was more terrified. Because the loading took ten seconds and there was less distance left between Lilly and the creature’s big mouth. Every passage of the second felt like death was approaching her closer and closer.

Beep!

“Come on!”, she tightly gripped the gun.

Beep!

…

Beep!

…

Beep!

“COME ON!”, Lilly yelled. Her forehead was covered with wrinkles.

Beep!

She was closing-in to the creature’s mouth every second and a very short distance remained. Her breathing became haggard due to fear. She gritted her teeth, “COME ON! DAMN IT!”

Beep!

There was only six feet distance left. Lilly could see her death right in front of her. And this kind death was really miserable. Because when someone die, they always leave a mark or a memory behind but this kind of death is really miserable. Because nothing will left remain of her if she died like this. She shouted in extreme fear, “COME ON! YOU PIECE OF SHIT!”

Beep!

Only three feet distance remained. Her heart was beating like crazy and her forehead was covered with seat. She yelled, “NO!...NO!...NO!...NOT LIKE THIS! NOT LIKE THIS!”

Beep!

Only half-a-feet distance remained. Her face became pale due to fear. “NOOO! NOOO!”, she yelled.

She began to hit the gun with her other hand in anger. She sobbed, “COME ON! PLEASE!” tears fell down from her eyes.

Beep!

Her lower abdomen was already in the creature’s mouth she screamed in terror, “AHHHH! NOOOO! NOOO! I DON’T WANT TO DIE LIKE THIS! SOMEONE HELP ME! LEON! HELP ME! LEON!”

The only thing she was looking at, was her own death. Because she had reached inside the creature’s mouth which was closing in and Lilly was about to be devoured in its mouth. But soon—

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The moment when Lilly was about to get devoured by the creature, five big explosions resounded in the distance.

Beep—weapon is fully loaded.

She took the advantage of the situation because she realized that the creature lost focus by the sudden turn of events. Lilly was so occupied that she didn’t notice these blasts therefore, she pulled the trigger.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

She fired three shots. Two aimed inside the creature’s mouth and one aimed at its teeth. The creature howled in pain and swayed back and forth. Lilly saw light coming in, without any further delay she jumped outside from the creature’s mouth.

While Lilly was falling down, she saw something strange. The west part of the forest was covered in flames. It was an eye-catching scene but she didn’t have any time for sight-seeing because she was about to hit the ground. She pressed the button on her wrist which had ‘EMERGENCY’ tag was written on it. Soon, a bubble formed around and swallowed her inside.

Bang!

The bubble made contact with the ground. Soon the bubble went back in her suit. Lilly was totally fine. She was panting because she was still afraid of the creature. Soon she recovered from the trauma she experienced earlier. She noticed her surroundings but the creature was nowhere to be found. She heaved a sigh of relief and walked towards the edge of the cliff. She noticed that part of the forest which was illuminated by the flames.

She slightly frowned, “What the hell is going on?”

Because the area which was covered in flames was north to south. So, it was difficult for her to come to a meaningful conclusion.

While thinking about the scene, “Who could have done this?” but then her eyes opened wide in a shock, “No way! Its him!”

She tightly clenched her fists, a complicated emotion came inside her eyes, “He’s coming back!”

She exhaled and said with a complicated voice, “I need to get ready for whatever may come!”

……….

On a silent hill top a man was standing with an unconscious person in his arms. He was staring at the flames from where he could listen the screams and howls of agony. He glanced for a while and started moving towards his destination which was towards the east. After few minutes he felt a rain drop fell on his wrist. He suddenly stopped moving and looked to the sky. It was light rainfall.

Leonardo said in a hoarse voice, “This isn’t good. I need to get to her.”

He looked at the unconscious person in his arms and said in a low pitch, “Let’s get you home Captain.”

He started running again.

……….

On the top of the big mountain, Lilly was holding a tablet and operating the large ring. her forehead was covered in cold sweat. After a while, a sound came from the tablet, “Do you wish to continue?”

Her hands were shaking and she was hesitating for a bit. She pursed her lips and thought for a moment, “If I mess up this time, we can’t go back.”

She clenched her fists, “…Ye—”

She was about to confirm but, then she heard a message, “Incoming call!”

She brought her right hand near her ear and received the call, “…Yes!”

Voice sounded in her ears, “Lilly, it’s me, Leonardo.”

She hurriedly asked, “Where are you right now? Is captain with you?”

Leonardo replied with certainty, “I am somewhere near the base—and—captain is with me, safe and sound, and asleep…but for how long I don’t know.”

Lilly was flabbergasted when she heard about the captain. She became so emotional that her eyes became moist. She frequently recovered from that nostalgic feeling and asked with concern, “Are you okay sergeant?”

He replied, “Yes. I am perfectly fine. Just…”

“Just what?” Lilly asked in a worry.

“I am a bit tired.” Leonardo replied.

Lilly sighed in relief, “Oh! it’s just that. You know you just gave me a heart attack there, I thought you—"

“Get the machine ready, Lilly. I am being pursued by those creatures and we can’t stay here anymore. I had stalled them for the time being, but soon, they’ll come looking for us.” Leonardo cut in.

After hearing what Leonardo just said Lilly clenched her fists and pursed her lips, “How long do we have?”

“I can’t say for sure…” Leonardo replied with uncertainty.

Lilly said, “…Alright then I—"

“But we need to get out of here before the it rains.” One could feel the fatigue in his voice.

“…How many of them?” Lilly asked out of the blue.

This sudden question surprised Leonardo for a moment, “…”

“…how many are they?”, Lilly asked with concern while her heart was beating faster.

“…”

“Tell me! How many of them are following you?” she was losing her patience every second.

“…”

“TELL ME SERGEANT!” she yelled.

“Call has been disconnected!”

Her right hand slowly came down. She was pondering why Leonardo couldn’t answer her question?

“If I tell you how many of them are following me, what will you do Lilly?” a voice came behind Lilly. She aimed her gun towards the source of the voice.

There was a man in black holding an unconscious person in his arms. He laid down the unconscious person on the ground.

Lilly lowered her gun when she saw Leonardo. She wanted to answer the question but her eyes were fixated at the unconscious person. Her body trembled and she couldn’t contain her tears in her eyes and she ran towards the captain. She sat before the captain who was covered in a cocoon. She hugged the cocoon and sobbed like a little child.

Leonardo walked towards the edge of the mountain. He glanced towards the flames he lit up in the forest. Then he looked towards the sky and walked towards the large ring. He activated it from his wrist.

The large ring glowed. Leonardo stood there for some time. Before he could say anything, the heavy rainfall started. At the same time Lilly recovered from her sobbing.

Leonardo asked, “Feeling any better?”

She only nodded in return.

He turned around, holding his gun in his hand, walked towards Lilly and stood before her. There was a gap of two or three steps between them.

“Tell me Lilly. If I say that one of us is going home with captain and one of us is staying here for the greater good. What will you do?” Leonardo asked indifferently.

“You’re joking right?” Lilly replied with uncertainty.

“…”

Silence!

Even though it was raining heavily but the silence of both these people created an awkward atmosphere. Lilly was stunned with sudden turn of events. She slowly stood up. Her heart was beating faster in fear because she could feel that piercing gaze of Leonardo even though she cannot see his eyes.

“Tell me! What will you do?” Leonardo asked in a low tone.

There was coldness in his voice, which sounded like he had become an entirely another person who she never saw in her life. The vibes he was giving right now, were totally different. It seemed like he had become a reaper who holds her fate in his hands. It seemed that he could kill her at any moment.

Lilly was so scared that the words she wanted to say, swallowed them back. Her mind went blank and she stood there in daze.

“So, this is how it ends?” Leonardo thought out loud.

“…”

He aimed his gun towards Lilly. Her legs went numb and she fell back on her buttocks. She gathered her courage and said with a great difficulty, “—Why? —why—just—just why?” and tears flowed down from her eyes. She looked at Leonardo with helplessness in her eyes. Her eyes were screaming, “Why it has come to this? Why someone like him is pointing his gun at me like this?”

“I —I am—I am sorry for everything!” Lilly pleaded.

Leonardo on the other hand stood there like a great wall, which couldn’t be brought down with some meaningless tears.

“It’s pointless to apologize over something you never did. But don’t worry, soon it will be over.” Leonardo spoke emotionlessly.

“But—but—why—why—why me—why do I deserve this fate—what did I ever do to you?” she pleaded.

“It’s nothing personal, but this is how it is?” Leonardo replied coldly and pulled the trigger.

Bang!