Ampelius and Mark unknowingly held their breath, their anxiety mounting as the blue liquid began creeping into the room. Ampelius’ heart pounded with a mix of terror and anger; he was watching helplessly as this merciless force hunted them down, and there was nothing he could do. The frustration tightened in his chest. The orb briefly illuminated the space with its unsettling blue glow as it passed by, seemingly unaware of their presence. It continued striking down people in the hallway before fading into the darkness, leaving the room in pitch-black silence.

  They exhaled a collective sigh of relief, sitting quietly for several minutes, knowing the orb was still somewhere in the building. After what felt like an eternity, Ampelius motioned to Mark and pointed at Bella, still asleep. Ampelius crawled over to her, gesturing for Mark to follow. Slowly and as silently as possible, they approached her bed, amazed at her ability to sleep through the chaos.

  Ampelius gently tapped her on the shoulder, trying to rouse her without startling her. When she didn’t respond, he tapped her again. Just then, a sudden movement at the door caught his attention. A large, bulky figure with humanoid features walked past the doorway and disappeared down the hallway. Ampelius’ breath hitched, unsure if his eyes were playing tricks on him when a faint light bloomed once more in the darkness—the orb was back.

  Ampelius felt his chest tighten, the air around him growing heavy. He could barely suppress the rising panic as the light hovered closer. His mind raced, an uncontrollable swirl of thoughts: What if it doesn’t leave? What if she moves? What if it takes her? His hands trembled as he gripped the revolver, every instinct screaming to act, but knowing any noise could be fatal. He closed his eyes for a fleeting second, mentally willing the orb to move away. Stay calm. Stay quiet. Please, just move on.

  As the light moved closer, Ampelius felt his blood run cold. Fear clashed violently with a surge of anger bubbling beneath the surface. He clenched his jaw, the weight of their powerlessness pressing down on him. How could this thing move so freely, so easily, while they cowered like prey? A wave of fury at his own helplessness rippled through him, fighting the terror that kept him rooted in place. His heart pounded in his chest as the oppressive silence closed in, each beat like a drum in his ears.

  “Something just went by the door! I don’t know what it was, but I don’t think it was human!” Ampelius whispered urgently, his voice trembling. He felt a pang of guilt for scaring Mark, but he knew he had to be honest. Whatever that thing was, they couldn’t ignore it. The orb hovered for a moment longer, its blue light lingering on the wall as though searching for something unseen. Then, without warning, it dimmed and floated silently down the hallway, leaving the room in shadow once again.

  Mark’s eyes widened in alarm as the gravity of Ampelius’s words sank in. They both crouched down and hid behind the bed, their bodies tense with anticipation. The room was filled with an oppressive silence, broken only by their shallow breathing. Ampelius’s mind raced, and he suddenly remembered his concealed revolver. With trembling hands, he pulled it out and aimed it at the door, ready to shoot whatever might come through.

  He gripped the cold metal tightly, a rare flicker of control steadying his breath. Memories of revolver training in the wilderness resurfaced—once a routine exercise, now a lifeline. The setting was different, but the fundamentals remained the same. Stay calm. Be ready.

  "Steady your breath," his cousin had said, his voice calm and measured. "Focus on your target, and don’t rush your shot."

  The memory settled over him like a brief lull in the storm. Ampelius inhaled slowly, aligning himself with the lesson. The hallway was silent, save for distant footsteps fading into the darkness.

  His grip tightened around the revolver, muscles coiled like springs. He met Mark’s gaze with fear and determination mirrored in his eyes. For a brief moment, they shared an unspoken understanding: they weren’t alone in this. Whatever was out there could return at any moment.

  And when it did, they would be ready.

  Ampelius’s mind was sharp, his senses heightened. The memory of the wilderness trip faded, replaced by the reality of their situation. He pushed aside the fear, feeling a strange defiance rise in him, as if challenging the figure or the orb to come closer. If he was going to face this nightmare, he’d do it on his feet.

  After a few tense moments, Ampelius gestured for Mark to stay put and cautiously approached the door. Taking a deep breath and holding it, he stepped into the hallway, revolver in hand and ready to shoot. He aimed down the direction where he had seen the figure, but there was nothing but darkness. Turning his head, he looked toward the reception area where Saul had met his demise. The double doors were still open, casting a faint glow from outside. The blue liquefied remains stained the floor, trailing all the way to his feet.

  He glanced down and realized he was standing in the goo. The sight made him nauseous, triggering a flashback of Saul and the woman from his nightmare being vaporized. The haunting images swirled in his mind, but he shook them off, forcing himself to focus on the present.

  Looking down at the gelled remains, he noticed footprints imprinted in the blue liquid, leading from the door past him and further into the hallway. Tracking each step with his eyes, he followed the trail deeper inside. The prints led him to look over his shoulder, and he froze.

  A tall, bulky humanoid figure stood by the doorway to the room where Bella and Mark were hiding. Ampelius’s heart pounded so hard he thought it might stop from fear alone. The figure loomed ominously, like the shadow of a ghost.

  Ampelius felt a spark of defiance light within him, overriding his fear. He raised the revolver, refusing to let this creature control his fate any longer. He squeezed the trigger; each shot an act of sheer will. He fired all six bullets into the shadowy figure. The shots rang out, echoing in the silence, but the figure remained unfazed. Now visibly angry, it charged forward.

  Ampelius desperately tried to fire again, but the revolver was empty. As the figure closed in, Ampelius braced himself, but then, suddenly, the creature collapsed, falling to the ground right in front of him.

  Shocked and horrified, Ampelius unknowingly held his breath, his finger still squeezing the trigger as he let out a large exhale. He stood there, staring down at the motionless figure at his feet, trying to process what had just happened. After a moment, he called out for Mark, his eyes still fixed on the spot.

  Mark cautiously peered out from behind the bed, his face a mask of sheer terror. “I think it’s dead,” Ampelius said, looking down at the dark humanoid figure.

  Mark glanced at the area where Ampelius was staring but saw nothing but the blue gel and a footprint. He scanned the room for any sign of a body but found none. “What are you talking about? What’s dead?”

  “What? What do you mean? It’s right here! Directly in front of me!” Ampelius insisted, but when he looked back down, there was nothing, just the gel and the embedded footprints leading up to where he stood. Confused, he frantically looked around, like someone who had lost sight of a spider. His stomach churned as he tried to rationalize what had just happened. Could the stress and fear have made him hallucinate? Or was there something else at play here, something beyond his understanding?

  “Ampelius?” Bella’s feeble voice called out from the room.

  Hearing her, Ampelius sprinted back inside. Bella was slowly trying to move, struggling to get up as he entered. He rushed to her side, supporting her as she tried to sit up and then gently guiding her back down.

  “Whoa, hey, be careful. Let’s take it slow.” Ampelius gently supported Bella as she attempted to stand, nearly collapsing as mind-shattering pain shot through her wound.

  “I don’t think walking is a luxury I can afford right now,” she gasped, struggling to catch her breath.

  “Hey, Mark, are there any painkillers we can give her?” Ampelius asked urgently, his concern evident.

  “Unfortunately, deep in the tunnels, we stashed most of the medical supplies elsewhere. We ran out of what little we kept up here before you two showed up. Someone did make a run to get more, but they never returned. I’m unsure if we can still access the tunnel from here, but we can try. We probably shouldn’t stay here much longer,” Mark explained.

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  “Well, that’s just great! What are we waiting for? Let’s go!” Ampelius said, his determination rising.

  “There’s only one problem,” Mark interjected. “We need a key to access the entrance. The person who made the run has the only key, which also unlocks the storage lockers where we keep the supplies. The door itself is easy enough to break, but that would make a lot of noise. The lockers, though, are very well secured, and I don’t think we can break into them quickly.”

  “When were the medical supplies stashed?” Bella asked, wincing from the pain.

  “They’ve been stashing them gradually over the last several months. The Iron Vandals, which you might have heard of, were preparing for a major operation in the city against the Roman occupiers before... whatever this is happened,” Mark explained.

  “Are you one of the Vandals?” Ampelius asked, his suspicion clear.

  “I’m not an official member, but I was paid well for my services as their doctor. Anyone you saw armed was an official Iron Vandal member. Saul was one of their leaders. Everyone else here was just people trying to survive who got caught up in all this,” Mark replied.

  Ampelius was shocked to learn that the thugs who had nearly killed him were Iron Vandals. He wasn’t sure if he could trust Mark, but given their dire situation, he had little choice. “Well, take us to this entrance you talked about. I only have three rounds left for this, and it’s not going to do much,” he said, loading the remaining bullets into his revolver.

  “I’m actually surprised they didn’t search you. I wouldn’t have thought they’d let you through with that. Anyway, follow me,” Mark said.

  He peeked his head out the door, signaling the all-clear, then stepped into the hallway, turning right into the darkness. Ampelius and Bella followed as quickly as they could manage. As they exited, Ampelius glanced back at the spot where he had sworn he saw the shadowy figure fall, but there was nothing there. His anxiety grew stronger by the second.

  “What is it?” Bella asked, noticing his unease.

  “Nothing, everything is...” Ampelius began, but his attention snapped back to the hallway just in time to see Mark being lifted into the air. A tall, bulky creature had grabbed him, hoisting him off the ground. Ampelius watched in horror as he let Bella slip to the floor, her body falling into the liquid remains. Mark clutched at his throat, struggling to breathe as the beast choked him.

  Ampelius stood paralyzed, unable to act, as the creature drew a blue-glowing, gold-colored spear from its back and thrust it through Mark’s chest. Mark went limp, hanging like a rag doll, and in an instant, his body vaporized, splashing onto the floor. For a fleeting moment, the glow from the spear illuminated the creature, revealing a mutated Neanderthal-like outline covered in octagonal armor plates.

  The Zavon, Ampelius thought, naming the creature on the spot. It just stood there, staring at them. Enough with the stare-down. Ampelius drew his revolver like a gunslinger and fired his three remaining rounds. The Zavon didn’t flinch as its armor deflected each bullet effortlessly. Oh crap, Ampelius thought.

  Expecting the same fate as Mark, Ampelius dropped to his knees and closed his eyes as the Zavon began advancing toward them. Bella lay motionless on the floor, resembling a lifeless slug. Suddenly, a loud, muffled explosion erupted from outside, followed by a fireball bursting through the ceiling, striking the Zavon, and punching through the floor.

  Ampelius opened his eyes to see light streaming through a gaping hole in the roof. The crater on the floor below glowed brightly, illuminated like a spotlight.

  “I guess it’s officially dawn,” Ampelius said, staring at the light.

  “I guess you’re right,” Bella replied weakly.

  Ampelius helped Bella to her feet, her clothes now covered in the thick blue liquid of the deceased. They limped forward toward the splintered hole in the ground and peered down. The fireball had exposed the metro tunnel directly below them. Looking up through the hole in the roof, Ampelius saw the skyscraper next to the building, a large circular fire and black smoke billowing from it.

  “That fireball must have hit that tall building before crashing down here,” Ampelius noted.

  “Talk about timing and bad luck for that thing,” Bella replied.

  “Yeah, right, haha. I think we can get down into the tunnel through here. I just hope that fireball doesn’t suddenly rise up like the one we saw in the apartment. I don’t see it down there—oh wait, actually, I think I do,” Ampelius said, peering closer.

  Upon closer examination, they saw that most of the fireball had been decimated by the multiple impacts it made on each building. The smoldering wreckage of a turtle shell craft remained on the train tracks. It took them five careful minutes to navigate down into the tunnels. At a closer look, Ampelius examined the burning turtle shell and quickly realized it had been shot down.

  “Bella, I think this thing was shot down,” he said.

  “What? How could you possibly know that?” Bella asked.

  “See this black molding gel substance here?” He pointed to the damaged sections of the craft. “I think it protects the shell until it lands somewhere, then it opens up, revealing the machine or whatever it is. This molding gel has a small hole here and, on the opposite side, a larger one. This side could be the exit point of whatever penetrated it and exploded. I’m not sure, but I don’t think the molding is supposed to have a hole like this.”

  “Well, what shot it down then?”

  “I don’t know. It could have been an accident. Maybe it collided with something, or perhaps the Romans shot it down. I could be completely wrong, but this thing is definitely destroyed.”

  As he continued to study the wreckage, he noticed a decapitated arm within the debris. Looking closer, he saw it was covered in a whitish-brown fluid. Is this fuel? he wondered. Upon closer inspection, he realized it might actually be blood, as it seemed to be oozing from the arm itself. Ampelius recoiled in shock.

  “What is it?” Bella asked, concern in her voice.

  “I think I’ve found our friend. There’s an arm here; I think its blood is whitish-brown.”

  "What?” she asked, bewildered.

  “I’m sorry, I just... I don’t know what I’m looking at,” Ampelius replied, struggling to comprehend what he was seeing.

  “Maybe the flames are affecting its actual color? Considering how dark it is down here, it may not be what it seems,” Bella suggested.

  “I don’t know, but let’s get a move on before more show up. I don’t want to stick around to find out,” Ampelius replied.

  They began making their way into the dark depths of the tunnel. It was pitch black, and they used the metal tracks beneath their feet to guide them forward. Ampelius kept glancing back at the smoldering wreckage, using it as a marker of their progress, until it finally disappeared from view. As he looked back again, an uneasy feeling gripped him as if something ominous was about to happen at the wreckage. Despite moving forward, his eyes remained fixed on the spot where the turtle shell had crashed.

  After about half a minute, a bright blue and red light shone over the wreckage from above. Trusting his instincts, Ampelius grabbed Bella and moved her toward the wall. Just as they reached a cutout in the wall, several shadows appeared from above, followed by a descending figure landing on the tracks next to the wreckage.

  “Damn it, I wish we could’ve made it further! Didn’t take them long to show up, did it?” Ampelius whispered.

  The shadowy figure stood by the wreckage when a bright purple orb on its back detached and hovered over the burning debris, scanning it. Two more figures descended from above, landing on the tracks and walking off in separate directions, each carrying what looked like weapons. Ampelius squinted to get a better look at the approaching figure as it walked past a burning pile—it was another Zavon.

  Just like the one from before, this creature was humanoid in form. Ampelius guessed these Zavons stood about seven feet tall, towering over him by at least fourteen inches. They had the facial features of Neanderthals, or at least that was the closest comparison he could make. Each wore a mix of maroon and black octagonal armor, with patches of exposed skin that were dark brown, almost black in color.

  “Who are they, and what do they want?” he wondered silently.

  The orb finished scanning the wreckage and began floating slowly in their direction, its beam sweeping over the tracks. Ampelius and Bella pressed themselves as close as they could to the wall, holding their breath as it passed by, narrowly avoiding detection. When the scan stopped, Ampelius peeked out and saw the Zavons. All three were now facing their direction as if they had been detected. One of them knelt down as the orb highlighted two sets of footprints leading away from the wreckage. The Zavon pointed toward them, and all three began advancing with their weapons raised, the glowing footprints marking a trail that led straight to them.

  Ampelius started hyperventilating, panic setting in. He knew they would be spotted if they moved, and if they stayed, they would be found.

  “They’re tracking us with that orb. I can see our footprints highlighted on the ground. I think we’re done; our luck has run out,” Ampelius whispered to Bella, his voice trembling.

  They huddled together, bracing for the inevitable. Suddenly, a hiss and a screech echoed from the pitch-black tunnel, drawing Ampelius’s attention. He looked into the darkness just as a blinding floodlight switched on, illuminating the three Zavons. The creatures staggered back, shielding their eyes from the blinding light.

  “What are you waiting for? Shoot those bastards!” a voice called out.

  A heavy machine gun roared to life, its muzzle flashes lighting up the tunnel like strobe lights. The barrage of bullets tore through the Zavons, their bodies collapsing to the ground as whitish-brown liquid oozed from each new hole. I guess their armor is no match for those guns, Ampelius thought, watching in shock.

  As the gunfire ceased, the blood of the Zavons sprayed out violently, pooling between the tracks. Ampelius turned toward the spotlight, hearing numerous voices as the light swung over to them. They raised their hands slowly, not daring to make any sudden movements for fear of being mistaken for enemies. After what felt like an eternity, the faint outline of a train emerged from the darkness, moving closer until it came to a stop with a final hiss and screech. Several armed figures moved about on the train, some jumping off.

  Two of them flanked a man wearing a beret with a wolf patch on it as he approached. The armed escorts, rifles at the ready, watched Ampelius and Bella warily.

  “You two can put your hands down; we’re not here to hurt you,” the man said, his voice calm but commanding.