WITH MY COMBAT knife drawn, I ran through the dark forest. It was quiet this time. The only movement I noticed was the handful of shadows that shifted to watch me pass. Just outside the clearing, I spotted the entity and stopped to observe it before it became aware of my presence. That turned out to be just moments. The shadows surrounded the clearing, focusing on the creature.
I stood and approached the creature. It turned and watched me as I neared but made no move against me. Instinct instructed me to stand down; emotion told me to attack. I stopped ten feet from it.
“I’m sorry,” the creature said to me. “Acting under the influence of the fog entity, I have killed so many.” The creature’s voice was thick with sorrow. “There is little time. A darkness is coming that seeks to consume everything within this place. The ghost hunter is attempting to recover Hope from this darkness, and you must hold off these creatures for as long as possible. Go!” The creature vanished into a black cloud. The shadows that had massed around the perimeter of the clearing pulled back and swarmed toward the tunnels.
I took off in a sprint, knowing I could not get to the tunnels before the shadows in time to fend them off. Perhaps I could draw them away instead. The creatures had funneled into the shell of a house, leaving me no way to enter from there. But if I could reach the bunker…I moved through the dark trees, whispers of fear and doubt echoing all around me. When I reached the bunker, I found it scarred from battle. Inside, I snatched up the BAR, checked the clip, and stocked up on ammo. There was a third exit from the tunnel, the mine entrance. I entered the tunnel and activated my head lamp.
The creatures had either not yet breached the tunnel system or they were being uncharacteristically coy about it. I dashed through its twisting corridors toward the old section, where I encountered the ghost hunter.
“They’re coming from multiple directions,” he said. “I’ve got to draw them away.” “Away from what? The…thing…talked to me. It told me you were ‘recovering Hope.’
What did it mean?”
“Hope is a little girl. I’ve got to draw them away from her. I sent her ahead,” he said. “The Spirits of Decay are coming…I can feel them.” He peered into the shadows that danced around us.
I readied my rifle, but he placed his hand on the barrel and pushed it away. “Get out of here!” he said. “They’re attracted to me! Save the kid! Go!”
I knew I had no choice. I couldn’t hold off the dead spirits as well as the shadow creatures. I left the ghost hunter behind. As I ran into the darkness, I heard him scream, and I turned to see the Spirits of Decay surrounding him. Their scythes tore into him, diminishing his spirit with each swipe. I spun around and ran.
The creatures massed behind a wooden door. The corridor had two ways in—or ways out. I was fairly certain that my only way out was death, but I was determined that it wouldn’t come easy or be for nothing. The creatures’ screeches grew louder as more of them arrived,
ready to attack.
Well, I wasn’t ready to allow them the pleasure of shredding me. I was all that stood between them and the girl, and I would not allow them to pass without an all-out battle.
I kicked the door open. The creatures froze at my frontal assault. “Come and get it, you bastards!” I opened fire with the BAR, driving them into the narrow tunnel. Slowly they gained ground, crossing over their dead to reach me. With each inch gained, I moved back, pausing my fusillade only to reload. Each time I had to slide a full clip into the rifle, the creatures gained more ground.
It wouldn’t be long. I was on my last clip.
At my back I felt the cold closing in. More Spirits of Decay were coming for me. I drew my pistol and fired into them, but it barely slowed their advance. I dropped the useless rifle and prepared myself. I had to wait until they were almost on top of me. I reloaded and fired my pistol, waiting for the proper moment. Just a few more feet.
“You may get what’s left of my body,” I said, “but you’ll never get my soul!” I held the grenade close to my chest, next to the three others in my pockets that would detonate with it. As a Spirit of Decay thrust his scythe into me, one of the hounds lunged for me. I pulled the pin. There was a bright light, a deafening explosion, and then blackness.