Young Writers Society

Word count for the whole chapter: 6.511

Alice

It was Daston who ran in first, with Alice following him by step. Fade and Dan were next, after whom Hashi finally let the door seal away. It was unbelievable how much strength was needed to hold that door. Just what was Hashi exactly?

First they found themselves in a giant square room where there was a pipe one the opposite direction, and on the ceiling. Its walls were still covered with green slime, and the floor itself was sticky and hard to walk on. The pipe was large enough for them to walk inside. They hurried following the same formation. She have already unwrapped her sniper, leaving once white bag behind.

It’s my part now.It was scary how synergized they were, not saying a single word. They finally reached the pipe’s end. The danger sirens were getting louder and louder.

At the end Shael was waiting, holding the door even larger than the one Hashi struggled to keep open.

“After you, my dear”, he briefly bowed to her. Daston moved aside to let her pass.

She jumped over two dead men, and found herself in a hallway. It was already the time of their departure. The hallway was splitting in two directions.

She rolled down facing the right passage, her sniper ready.I can see them, far away.Heat sensors were doing their job. Boom. The bullet flew through the hall. Like a grass before the scythe, soldiers in the distance fell. These bullets, and this gun especially was something unique. It had few kilometers of range and so much power that the bullets wouldn’t lose their path even in the strongest of winds. And these bullets were penetration rounds, able to pierce the tank. Shael made it just for her. God knows how many men fell to her first bullet. But more blasts followed. Every single one of them had to fall.

She didn’t even blink. It was her purpose. She could almost feel Shael’s satisfaction from behind.

The two men jumped over her back. Hashi and Fade took the other road, even before she was finished. She kept raining bullets through the hall.Whatever their task is now, I hope they do well.Even in the absolute darkness, her heat sensors wouldn’t miss a man. She turned back and thumbed up to Shael. He calmly walked past her and moved into the darkness and towards the alarms.

They could hear the echoes of the human cries from the side Hashi and Fade went to. They were terrible, otherworldly noises, and they almost overpowered the alarm yells.

She took off her white clothes while walking, and everyone else had a plenty of time to do it while she was shooting. She have had to be careful, the waste was so toxic that one touch would make her skin swell. She had to clean the gun nicely too, but she also had an extra pair of gloves for cautiousness.

Shael took over the lead now, followed by Daston, Dan, and her at the end.

The smell of blood reached her. Almost sticky, disgusting smell she had never encountered before. It's not that she never saw blood, but she had neversmelledit. It felt as if it was touching her, reaching from her nose to under her skin. Soon they would encounter bodies. She will now, for the first time, see the results of what she was trained for. It was so easy to shoot the red mess moving towards her. Seeing the bodies will be a whole different story.

But it wasn’t. They walked by the first slain soldier, and soon his comrades who fell shortly after, and most probably by the same bullet. She recognized one of the heat signatures, the guy who thought lying on the ground would save him. He had a hole through the helmet and whole of his body, with the exit somewhere behind.

The smell became too strong. They soon reached a pile of men, the big chunks of heat she shot through. In reality, there were more than fifty bodies completely blocking the passage.

Shael didn’t hesitate for a moment; he stepped on and walked over them. Daston was the same, walking over almost satisfied, which was terrifying. Dan stopped for a second, but followed, and then it was her.

Cold sweat washed over her while approaching, but she didn’t hesitate. Her boots were cruel. She was cruelty itself. That hesitation Dan held might cost them their lives, and she was determined not to be like him.

Damn that man!But she was to stay with him for quite some time. She will watch him carefully.

* * *

Hashi

Revenge felt so good. He should have known better of it.

That damned Fade. He had to protect him for a quite some time, and then they were to depart. There was still a lot for him to do.

He almost reached to sheet the sword again.I haven’t been in a battle for a long time,he was thinking while taking the running stance again. It’s not that he couldn’t have it unsheathed fast, but to reflect a bullet he had not a slightest moment to waste.

The sword vibrated nicely while cutting flesh. It was almost as it liked it. After all, that’s what it was made for in the first place. Fade also watched every cut carefully. It seemed like he enjoyed these vibrations. Strange man, but he was crucial for the plan. Hashi often wondered why, but he needed an escort in the first stage of the plan. Until we all reach our checkpoints, that is.

The passage was long and dark, but there was enough light for them to walk. They already ran through few platoons with ease, leaving only the masses of meat behind. He shut his eyes for a second only to calm himself. He couldn’t let himself to enjoy the revenge. He was not here to revenge his fallen brethren, he was here because something great was going on. Revenge, it was ashamefor a man of a sword to reach for it. That’s what his comrades would have told him if they were still alive.

For each of my fallen brothers, I will kill hundreds of men.He cursed himself for thinking this, but this thought came on its own. And it was how he really felt, deep inside, and it was making his hearth cold.

Fade crackled fingers on his right side. The sword flashed into the wall and a blast of dust was left behind them. They kept running, almost tirelessly. He signaled few more times, and the sword followed by cutting the installations inside the walls.That will greatly severe their communication. Somehow, Fade knew where the main electricity paths were, which made them able to do this.

The red dots covered his body. Like dozens of eyes glancing from the darkness, the enemy has shown himself. It seemed as his sword disappeared, but the numerousclangshad told different story. The bullets ricocheted around, but none hit him or Fade. They can aim for him, but that doesn’t mean they can shoot him.

The cries were heard once again when they ran through the fountains of blood, not slowing their pace.

Satisfied, he cut of a head from the soldier last in line.This is becoming too easy. Same trick for the fourth time?Lost in thoughts, he almost disregarded flashing red dot from behind. Fade crackled with both hands signaling danger, but Hashi’s dagger was already in the air.

It destroyed the device, but the explosion still followed.Damn! How could I let this happen?

The hot air announced the arrival of explosion. He quickly jumped in front of Fade and threw him behind with all of his might.

They would send a whole unit to a suicide mission only to stop us. Poor soldiers must have never known it.Before the yellow flames even reached, he swung the blade. Fire passed around them, but the explosion also carried body parts of many deceased soldiers. The fire disappeared in the matter of seconds.Cutting flames, I’m glad the master taught me.Fortunately, there was nothing in the tunnel that could burn, although there wasn’t much of an air left. He turned to his previous route and started running. He saw Fade’s annoyed glance because he didn’t notice the device in time. On top of that, he already had to use one of his daggers; it was such a waste.

He almost smashed into a door blocking the way. Thick, steel door they were. Fade seemed intrigued; he seemed to be wandering how will Hashi open the door, though it didn’t seem like he doubted his success.All right, its time for another trick.Hashi sat on the floor, crossing his legs. He held the sword before his face, and closed his eyes.Soothing sounds of the rain.He almost felt raindrops bouncing off his body.Blinding sun, raging snow… and the swirling leaves…yes, it’s all so comforting.Fade stood behind him, not moving a single muscle, looking more like a boulder than a man. He didn’t seem impatient the least.

Like a thunder, his arms sprang and the blade cut through the door. Silently, he pulled the sword out, and stood up.Time to move on.He kicked the door and they opened without resistance any resistance.

He couldn’t imagine what awaited them further on. The mighty Fort Mountain was his enemy. And he couldn’t fail.

The people of the nation were blinded by the lies. They all dreamed of working for The State inside the Fort. Why, he couldn’t even guess. Those who get to work inside are to stay inside until they die. They leave their families and lives behind. And it was no strange thing to the people of the nation.

It was about time when they will throw something serious on them. Four platoons and a bomb; they underestimated him. Locked door? There must be something serious this fort has to offer.

Pale light in the tunnels disappeared somewhere in front of them. They were reaching something; they slowed down and started walking. He turned back to Fade; man who was usually emotionless now seemed like he is worried. That, above all, made him feel unease.

He lowered his hands next to his body and calmly walked into the large room. It was all empty; his guess was that this room was the last stage of outer defenses. But they were wise not to put more soldiers at the entrance, since they would also meet the certain death. His thoughts were interrupted by Fade’s finger. He was pointing into the darkness. Yes, he could hear it now. Something was breathing heavily.

Alarms went on once again, and the roar surrounded them.

What the hell is it?

As his eyes were getting used to this new kind of darkness, he could slowly see the contours of a giant figure. More than three meters tall something awaited them.

Fade stepped aside. He was to do nothing until their departure. It was solely on Hashi to deal with this thing, and who knew what else.Shael warned us about the experiments they were doing inside here, but what on earth could create something like this?

Footstep echoed and the chains clanked. The creature was chained to both of his arms and legs, his torsoandhis neck.It has more movement than the poor old man had, it seems.

He could hear the shackles finally falling to the ground. Creature was released, and it was very angry. Screaming, almost like a human, it charged forward.

Hashi closed his eyes. This room they were in was shrouded in complete darkness, and even his great sight wouldn’t help him now. He had to rely only on the noises the beast was making, and it was making a lot of them.Finally, it will be easier not to see what I’m fighting, that is, until it is dead.

Just before his eyes were shut he could see Fade holding that package of his in arms, almost like the mothers held their newborn children. Fade doesn’t trust him, and he was showing him openly. Maybe Shael warned him too.I will only need a little bit of luck.

Creature was fast, but he was faster. And his sword was the one who was the fastest, as it pierced through the creature's torso when Hashi moved off its way. Hot blood spattered him across the face.

It cried, and it was hard to listen. These noises, no animal made anything alike them. They were too human.

Before his swing ended, Hashi’s blade rotated backwards in his fingers, following the trail of the beast only to stab the target once again. He calmly made two steps forward and turned around to face it.

“Help me!” creature cried. Or that’s what the sound it made sounded like.Damn it, I’m hearing things!He struggled to keep his eyes closes.It’s the enemy. I will see it when it’s dead.

“It hurts!” it yelled. “Home! Home, home, home, home, home!” creature cried repeatedly. Hashi could do nothing but shiver, and Fade remained silent.

Loud, man’s voice appeared from above:”You can go home, Eric. After you kill these two, that is.”

Silence. Hashi stepped back a little. No time to be surprised. It started breathing heavily once again.

“Kill”, it whispered. Something was happening. He could feel Eric’s eyes glancing in the darkness with the new resolve it had.

Hashi could hold his eyes shut no more. He looked, and as soon as his eyes got used to it, he was no shocked. That thing was…human; just as he suspected. It was swollen, muscular creature, his skin torn apart where the muscles had overgrown it. Yet his face was completely human…and it looked sad. It once was a young man, now nothing but a monster they made. And now, they are using him like a tool to kill him.

“You will go home…” voice said once again from above, but piece of metal flew from Hashi’s hands and the device was cracked. They had these in towns all over The State, the broadcasting devices.

Creature reacted strangely to the voice.

“Must kill you”, it whispered. It sounded as it was weeping. “Then, home.”

I will end your suffering.

Eric, or whatever was left of a man once known as Eric rushed towards Hashi. Surprised, he barely dodged this attack.How is he moving so fast? I gave him two near-fatal wounds!But while the red skin flashed before his eyes he noticed that its wounds were nearly gone.That regeneration is unbelievable! They were just buying some time with the cheap talks! Nevertheless, I will finish this now. We can’t waste any more time here.

But it was easier said than done. It somehow seemed more intelligent, maybe even faster. It started circling, watching Hashi.

Now!He pulled, when the creature started running full speed. He was nearly thrown away by the force when Eric struck the steel string. Hashi ran with all of his might in a crescent shape.

Eric's head bounced off its body.

The dagger he had thrown towards the broadcasting device earlier was attached to a string, but back then he only did that so that he could retrieve his precious blade. It seemed like the blade was stuck deep enough for him to try this. Holding the other end, the string cut off the poor creature’s head.

The beheaded body, spraying blood, collapsed to the ground. The face of a boy named Eric was somewhere in the depths of darkness, on the other side of the room.

Fade clapped, and stood up; for a moment Hashi thought he would lose his grip and cut one more head off. How dared he disgracing my enemy like that! After he returned his dagger, he calmly sang a prayer for Eric. Respecting his enemies, that was what his Master had taught him, too.

“Don’t slow me down”, Hashi angrily spited out. The way was leading to where the creature stood at first.Send me more soldiers, god damn it! I will kill you all!Image of his teacher and friends flashed through the memory, as he ran into the tunnel once again.

Forgive me, master, I know you would have never wanted this. This is the one last thing you failed to teach me. I will avenge you.

Getting lost in thoughts in these endless black tunnels was more than easy. He nearly screamed when something grabbed him from behind; he flew back and collapsed with the ground. Fade stood silent, one arm holding his collar and other pointing forward. Hashi, confused, reached towards the darkness.

Paper.

He couldn’t decide if this was the most foolish, or genius trap he had ever heard of. Thin, black paper slightly folded before his fingers. If Fade wasn’t there, who knows what would have he ran into.

Now, he could even feel the cold breeze from behind the paper. But what awaited them?