13

Gamble II

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Continuous crashes rang out as massive impacts were held back by a giant wooden door. This was the last lifeline of the survivors inside the church. They had only prepared a single contingency plan, no, prepared was giving it too much credit. Right now, the survivors were facing the worst-case scenario as their remaining options had vanished.

They were surrounded, and a final barrier divided them from more than seventy creatures of unknown origin. They were facing a strength that was impossible to overcome with the manpower they had now.

Another massive impact like a battering ram rang out as the next group of goblins charged the gate. This lifeline finally started showing cracks.

Each impact coursed through the people holding the line. Each impact was echoed by shivers that marked the approach of death. Yet not a single sound was mustered besides the occasional grunt.

All able-bodied people were involved in this barricade in one way or another. And looking down from the stairs, heading up to a platform with the church organ, was Edward. The church’s clerestory was in front of him, with Alphons and Theo looking outside this window with an unbroken gaze.

“Seems like Alduin was right,” Alphons said fearfully as his observation of the horde of beasts went unnoticed.

“Whatever happens, we can only wait for a signal.” Edward, who had walked up had no choice but to convince himself. Yet this ungrounded hope was not pointed out by Alphons. Time would tell how their gamble played out, but facing such a situation, even Alphons was afraid to recognize their odds.

Everyone’s life rested on Alduin’s shoulders. But the weight of their actions had already become too much for some people to bear. The devil had arrived. Cracks started to show in their united front and with the internal fight that broke out earlier many had entirely given up.

‘They really pay no attention towards our windows do they?’ Edward thought as he stared outside. The ruby-red eyes had glanced over them a couple of times already but they seemed unfocused. Maybe it was because they didn’t dare to move or maybe because it was dark inside. But one thing was for certain, these creatures paid no attention to this weak point.

The relentless charge of these beasts was accompanied by a burst of mocking laughter. Goblin after goblin used the most barbaric method to break into this place as each impact shook the walls.

Through these drums of death, Edward spoke, “Keep your eyes on those three in the back."

The maniacal laughter continued to assault them as the door slowly but surely started to give way. Some people wanted to cry out, but the moment Edward descended the staircase nobody dared utter any sound. The wounds on his fist hadn’t even dried yet. This friendly old man had become a tyrant.

“Get ready,” Edward commanded. The people who surrounded the tied-up priest quickly followed. Most survivors weren’t young, but now any person that could help must prepare, even Veleda and Leon had no choice.

Another massive impact took place, and the door that opened towards the outside slowly but surely started bending inwards. How could it be possible to rely on physical strength to push open such a door? It shouldn’t be, but it was happening now.

Their reality was crumbling. Even the walls started showing signs of cracks before quieting down once more. Only heavy breaths escaped every single person here as each assault could mark their end.

Accelerating footsteps could clearly be heard from outside the church. The steps once again came closer as the cackling became louder. In response to their silence, their call had become so loud that the collective shriek pierced through each person. And then it happened.

A collision more resounding than the ones before took place, a sound so horrifying that the windows shook and the door was on the verge of breaking out of the wall. Hinges were holding onto their final connection as each person holding the barricade let out a grunt.

“Fuck.” Curses couldn’t help but escape. Some had fallen, and others slid back almost a complete step. And from the top of the now deformed door, a small glimpse of the red sky was visible.

It was only a matter of time for the nightmare to enter inside.

Metal pounded on metal, and clangs sounded out in full. The hinges which anchored the doors showed signs of great stress as the force of the pressure kept bulging the church door.

With each push, the door incrementally gave way, and the hairline slit that started at the top slowly crept down. Yet from this slightest of gaps, another charge could be seen.

The massive wooden door let out a breaking sound. The wood that stood here for hundreds of years showed unbelievable cracks.

“KRHHRKKRAk.” Clicking noises invaded the church. An echo that drummed through each person's ear had become ever so clear. Their strength couldn’t even reclaim the place that was stolen before they were pushed back more.

Sweat ran from Edward's back as he pushed against the door. Deformed iron railings kept the gate from falling apart. Every single person expended energy to remain quiet. The people inside the church wanted to scream, yet the figure of this man, who batted no eyes to beat up the priest kept them from doing so.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Slowly but surely, their final lifeline was about to be breached. The creaking wood told them enough, the repetitive charges, each increase in their shrieking aggression pushed the door closer to its breaking point. Even the large stone walls now started failing them.

The hairline crack inched closer and closer to the bottom, but both sides were still separated, and nobody could see what was going on on the other side. Their nervousness increased the longer this situation was dragged out.

However, a single shriek changed the situation.

A shriek so loud the guards instinctively protected their ears.

Every single person had started shivering as silence rapidly descended.

"Push." Edward's low voice was the first to break this silence.

Every single able-bodied person ran towards the gate as a howl of a nightmarish creature rang out only to be followed by two more. A ghastly sound had told the silent survivors that death had marked them.

In response to the battlecry, for the first time, hammers, blunt weapons, and axes replaced the charge of the goblins. The largest cracks in the woods were relentlessly being attacked. The shrieking outside kept rising, and the banging on the door started synchronizing.

Wooden beams and metallic bars, the entire framework was under assault. The equilibrium had shifted.

The aggressive monsters searched for a sign of life, but the only thing they perceived was a massive impregnable door and utter silence. Their only road to survival was to be silent. With death marching closer, silence was their last lifeline.

This chip was their last gamble.

‘They’re here.’ Edward grunted. Alphons and Theo both readied themselves, whatever happened now would be the end of it.

Three beastly howls echoed inside the church.

Through the window, three furious goblin hunters started approaching the church.

They had succeeded. Their silence had paid off. Blocking out every sign of life.

The first few gunshots had made them keep their distance. But unlike the ones inside, the monsters surrounding the church had no idea what was going on with their prey inside. And now a new possibility had arrived, the possibility that they weren’t even there anymore.

‘Everything rests on your shoulders.’ Edward looked outside. Behind the wolves was the old street, and there, they awaited the signal.

The chip was placed and the dice were rolling. Life or death, this gamble would show no mercy.

***

Erratic steps rang out in the street. Almost following the rhythmic assault that could be heard from miles away. The cackling laughter echoed through this desolate town. The shrieking madness climbed higher and higher.

‘Faster.’ The steps relentlessly continued. Each slam was accompanied by an increasing pace of a desperate attempt at survival. Each manic increase pushed Alduin to push his limits farther and farther.

‘Please.’ Tears formed in his eyes, his body had never rejected something so much before. But the situation became direr and direr. ‘Just a bit longer.’ He would soon meet up with Ise.

Yet everything came to a grinding halt. Their entire strategy seemed to have failed. The sound of a howling wolf, one they were all too familiar with, made everything halt in an instant.

Not a single sound could be heard.

Then the three wolves howled in unison.

And utter silence once again descended, Alduin instinctively knew this was the end.

Hidden in the echo of the howls a shout could be heard. A voice that yelled him out of his stupor. “Alduin!”

“Finish what we were doing and run to the museum!” He yelled back in desperation, the tiredness that washed over him had disappeared as their plans were almost complete.

And now, the running Alduin had almost arrived at the place where they started their plan. A thick odor lingered here, so dense that the smell clouded his thoughts. “Just a little more.”

Every house he had passed was one he broke into, each door was open and every couple of steps he passed one.

He had already long passed his limits of endurance and every breath became heavier and heavier. Even through the thick cloth over his mouth, a sulfuric smell hurt his throat and lungs. If it wasn’t for his adrenaline, he might have already passed out from a shortage of oxygen.

“Fuck!” Alduin cursed out as tears ran down his eyes. This young man had no more faith, yet his actions still followed this deranged plan.

With an increasing amount of stumbles, he finally arrived. His hands on his knees allowed him to catch his breath as the world was spinning around him. Only after another howl, he found the strength to move his legs forward.

“I’m almost there. Just a little further.” He talked to himself to find motivation. The task of moving his feet forward felt like an impossible challenge. Yet his steps led him towards the stairs of the house he and Ise had scouted.

“Fi-” his rapid breaths caught up to him. “Finally.” Determination burned in his eyes.

A bleeding sensation filled his shoes. A burning sensation coursed through his legs. But even more, a sense of dread coursed through his body like lightning. The dice had almost landed.

***

The goblins had united in a maniacal crescendo. Their bluff was seen through, Alduin knew but still didn't stop.

Under a windowsill, two bottles of clear liquid stood sealed with a small piece of cloth deep into the liquid. It was the remainder of Ise's preparation.

“I can make it,” Alduin spoke with anxiety. “We can make it.” He kept trying to convince himself but the sensation of dread only amplified in his body.

His body moved as if it wasn’t his own. Climbing his way from a balcony onto a roof. His legs no longer kept up with him as every step was supported with an unwavering grip of blood. But the saddle roof seemed impossible to climb.

“Why can’t I climb this,” Alduin frustratingly called out. “No, no, no, no.” He tried keeping his sanity but in the distance, a sound once again rang out.

The shrieking insanity now seemed closer than ever. A crescendo of madness had fallen over this town.

Bleeding fingers grabbed whatever they could. A boy moved forward with the strength of desperation.

And finally, he saw it. Before his eyes. Three wolves had started running towards the wooden gate. His feet pushed his body higher. An incomparable view spread before him. The entire town square filled with monsters lay under his feet.

Bloodshot eyes looked down, a predator had arrived. Raging fury coursed through his body and his burning arms pulsed as he aimed the object that he had been carrying.

“BACK OFF!”

A long rifle was aimed forward, the first object had shown itself. The hunters on the wolves turned their heads, and two pairs of yellowish eyes looked towards the back in shock.

But it was this, two mad ruby-red eyes met his bloodshot eyes up on the roof. The maniacal grin showed the serrated teeth. The rifle pointed forward. But in front of Alduin’s vision was a loaded bow.

The echo of the shot that rang out was overwhelmed by the snap of the bow. Maddening laughter rejoiced.