11:28

Crap, I’m running late. Speeding down the highway headed towards college town, I am trying desperately to make up for lost time.

I had agreed to meet a friend for lunch today and as usual, I was running late. You think I would eventually learn to manage my departure times better, especially with an hour commute to school. But my favorite web novel had a new chapter uploaded and I couldn’t wait to read it.

So…here I am speeding down the highway trying to lessen the time that I will be late and praying I don’t get another speeding ticket.

11:36

I finally pull in beside the restaurant parking my car and jump out. Ugh, the scorching sun is shinning heavily on me and I am already missing my AC. I hate hot weather. On the plus side though, the semester is over and I can now spend my summer without having to study.

Walking into the restaurant, I pause to remove my aviator sunglasses and clip them onto my shirt collar. Scanning the room I finally notice my friend Matt already sitting at a table near the back wall.

Walking towards him, he notices and stands to greet me. “About time, I was thinking of ordering without you.” Matt smiles behind his beard that makes him look Amish.

“Yeah, yeah, fatty can’t wait to eat I get it.” Smiling mischievously I throw my fist out to bump with his meaty hand. I might joke around about my friend’s large size, but it is by far more muscle than fat. Between his rugby and bouncing at the local bar at nights, I know not to push his nerves too much.

“Damn right, now let’s get some food.” Matt pushes past me and I shake my head following into the order line.

11:56

The usual jibs at each other and idle chatter fill our conversation as we finish eating. This is the usual routine for us. We both met in our first semester at college and us having the same major we ended up with several classes together. So with our similar goals and care free attitudes we became quick friends a couple years back.

In the middle of our bantering, the harsh sound of rubber scraping across asphalt catches our ears and it is soon accompanied by the climatic crash as the finale. Standing up, we move outside with a few other pedestrians to perform our civil duty of gawking at other’s misfortune.

Stepping towards the street, we soon see the crash scene and it appears that both drivers are okay. The one that was rear ended is loudly yelling at the other, but the real peculiarity is actually the other pedestrians. Their focus is not on the accident instead they are all standing aghast with open mouths and pointing fingers towards the sky.

Craning my head up allows me to finally catch onto the mystery. Majestic hues of green, blue, and purple are streaming across the sky. “Aurora Borealis?” My first thought of this phenomenon escapes my mouth unknowingly.

“Dude, that is wicked.” Matt has caught on as well to the dazzling sight. However, before I can comment any further, a loud high pitched tone assaults my ears. Screaming in alarm I frantically clutch my ears hoping to mitigate the sound. A moment passes and with sweet relief so does the painful noise.

The pounding in my head slowly subsides and I focus on catching my breath. I take a moment to look around and notice that I was not the only one who experienced that excruciating phenomenon. With renewed composure I push myself back onto two feet and step over to help Matt up as well. “You okay?”

Matt mumbles a response to my inquiry as he gets back up. “That was harsh, what do you think could have caused that noise?” Matt throws a questioning look my way while adjusting his glasses back on his nose.

“Not sure, hold on I want to call someone to see how widespread this was.” I pull out my phone and turn to shield the screen from the sun’s glare. Switching my phone out of sleep mode, I cringe as I observe the screen glitch causing me to worry that the software may have been fried from that high pitch tone. Hitting it against my palm seems to do the trick as the screen settles down and turns back to normal. I glance at the digital clock displayed on the screen and notice the time.

12:01

The reverberating roar of some beast penetrates the air and sends a deep chill down my spine. Just as the roar settles down, it is soon replaced by the horror filled screams of people. My eyes widen in alarm and all the hair on my body stands on end as I am starting to imagine unknown horrors. With a heavy gulp I turn to look at Matt and notice his tense posture and the trickle of sweat down his forehead.

Uncertainty and fear are crippling my mind as I struggle to move. A shadow passes through the air and slams into the street near by the crash scene. My eyes had naturally followed the movement and I am soon able to discern the horrendous details.

The mangled form of a man is now splattered on the asphalt. Bone is penetrated through skin in multiple locations and limbs lay in awkward position that is not natural. Scanning the entire figure, my eyes settle onto the face. Red foamy froth is coughed out of the open mouth as the person is struggling to breath, yet he is obviously suffocating on his own blood. Trying to look away, my eyes make contact with the man’s and I can see the plea for help within them. Yet all I can do is attempt to hold back the tears clouding my eyes and force myself to finally move.

“Matt, we need to move now!” Screaming I reach out and grab Matt’s shoulder and try to pull him back towards the restaurant. He snaps to attention and nods before turning to follow me to what I can only hope will be protection from the horrors that are now lurking about.

Luck is not on our side.

We don’t even get half way to the door, before a horde of grotesque green men come charging out from the tree line. These creatures are roughly a meter tall dressed in rags carrying wooden spears and rusty daggers. Their canines are more pronounced jutting out of screaming mouths and their pitch black eyes show little intelligence as they begin attacking.

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Three people closest to the trees are immediately knocked down as their bodies become pin cushions. Their agonizing screams send the already tense people nearby into a panicked frenzy. Knocking and shoving persists as each is only concerned about their own self.

In a moment of flight or fight, I decided that if I was to go I wanted to at least put up a fight.

Reaching into my pocket I pull out a pen and grip it tightly like a knife. Looking over the creatures I notice one that has its back to me, as droplets of blood are flung into the air each time it draws back for another plunge with a dagger. Rushing forward I quickly bend the creatures neck, exposing the soft tissue as my ‘weapon’ penetrates the skin.

I am rewarded with a pulsing stream of blood as the creature lets out a startled scream. The scream garners the attention of a spear wielding opponent who turns to attack me. Twisting in the nick of time I use my prey as a meat shield and witness the spear tip go through the surprisingly soft body. Throwing the carcass away I tackle the next enemy to the ground. The size difference plays to my benefit as I am able to pin the vermin’s arms down with my knees and my body weight keeps it from escaping.

The pounding heart beat felt between my hands slowly fades as I watch the life being squeezed out beneath me. Soon there is no more movement from the creature and I hesitantly retract my hands from the now crushed neck. A gentle chime echoes in my ear just as a glowing plus symbol flashes in the corner of my eye. This oddity snaps me back to reality and I am now able to focus on my surroundings.

Looking around I do a quick count and realize there are five more of these green vermin. Two are in the midst of tearing flesh off of humans with their feral canines. The other three are dancing around a large man who is quickly recognized to be my friend.

Surprisingly, he has somehow pulled a spear away and is using it to hold off the advances of the savages. Grabbing the fallen dagger from my first victim, I rush to aid my friend.

Just as I am approaching, Matt gets a lucky kick into a prey’s chest knocking it onto the ground. Taking the opportunity I descend upon my prey and lodge the blade right into the heart. My actions don’t go unnoticed as the other two beasts snarl in my direction. Their focus taken away briefly, Matt acts and stabs his spear into the stomach of the closest one before wrenching it out and slamming the pole against the head of the other.

Stunned the creature staggers momentarily before having its’ feet swept out from underneath. The thud of hitting the ground is soon accompanied by the guttural scream as a spear rips through the chest.

With four dead and a fifth bleeding out, I snap my head back towards the remaining opponents. Their mouths are hanging open with half chewed flesh exposed and blood smeared all over their faces. However, for the first time I can notice a new emotion in their eyes.

Fear.

Having watched their brethren perish, they scramble to their feet trying to run away.

Seeing the fleeing backs of these two creatures angers me. They came in with no remorse killing, defiling, and eating us. Yet now they are fearful for their own lives?

Hell no, I refuse to let them escape. Grabbing a nearby spear, I sprint forward chasing my prey. As soon as I am in reach, I swing down my weapon like a hammer and deliver a heavy blow to its’ back. Without pause, I quickly stab the beasts back, pull out, and stab again. My focus dwindles as I let my emotions flow out with each stab.

Soon a tight grip is felt on my shoulder and I can hear someone yelling into my ear. Looking through teary eyes, I notice it to be Matt. Confusion clouds my mind as I try to regain my awareness. Looking down all I can see is the mangled pile of flesh and blood that was once a humanoid creature.

“Are you okay?” Matt’s question enters my ear and I turn to look him in the face. Worry and fear are etched into his eyes as he is slowly judging my mental stability.

Wishing to clear my mind, I harshly slap my face leaving a searing pain across my cheek. The pain aids in removing the fog and raising my awareness. “I’ll be okay.” I resolutely reply to Matt before scanning the surrounding area.

Corpses of both humans and those vermin are scattered across the parking lot. There is a young couple crouched down with the girl crying over the man as he tightly grips a bleeding shoulder. Other than the four of us there are no other living beings in the area, but I am not sure how long that will be.

“We need to move quickly before anything else arrives.” Pushing past Matt I move to start retrieving the fallen weapons from our attackers. “Matt help those two into the building and then get any survivors to start barricading the doors and windows.”

It takes a moment to get the girl to focus and let go of her boyfriend. I pass off a spear and two daggers to her as she follows the other two inside.

Working quickly, I use the pants of a dead person to wipe some of the blood off of my hands before I move towards my vehicle. I retrieve my emergency bag which includes a first aid kit from the back and close the hatch.

Doing another sweep of the area, I find two more daggers on the ground. As a last minute whim, I also retrieve my pen all the while chuckling to myself as the idiom of pens and swords flashes through my mind. With no other noticeable supplies about I power walk into the building.

Turning I see the doors close and the last bit of sunlight vanishes as we seal ourselves off from the harsh outside.