The Terror Train

Chapter 8: The Goblins

No one anticipated it—the sudden emergence of a grotesque， zombie-like creature from the waist-deep water grass. This creature resembled something out of Middle-earth， akin to the goblins from the tales of the One Ring.

　　Indeed， the creature that lunged from the water grass was a goblin—a goblin the size of a black bear. Despite their heightened vigilance， the goblin had not departed after killing the young man. Instead， it lay hidden within the grass， ready to strike. And strike it did， catching an unsuspecting， wiry man who stood closest.

　　The goblin’s claw sliced open the man’s throat， leaving three gaping gashes. Blood flowed like fountains from the wounds， and the man staggered back， gasping. His face twisted in pain and terror， he collapsed， convulsing， blood pooling around him.

　　The goblin’s speed defied its grotesque appearance. It paid no heed to the humans surrounding it. With one claw still dripping blood， it lunged at Bob， who crouched near Frank’s lifeless body. Bob’s upward thrust with his short blade missed， and the goblin’s other claw plunged into Bob’s chest.

　　Bob’s scream echoed as the goblin tore through his chest， slicing from sternum to abdomen. Hot blood spurted forth， entrails and intestines spilling out. The onlookers stood frozen， horrified.

　　Ajex， Fiona， and James sprang into action. They understood that unless they killed the goblin， they would all perish. Bob collapsed， face against the ground， still gripping his blade. His legs twitched involuntarily.

　　The goblin’s claw had penetrated Bob’s chest， ripping it open. As it withdrew， it prepared to pounce on its next victim—James， who stood nearby. But Ajex and James acted swiftly， plunging their Damascus knives into the creature’s back.

　　Ajex’s blade slid effortlessly， as if through tofu， leaving a deep gash. James， towering and powerful， matched Ajex’s strike. The goblin roared， its tail whipping toward James， striking his face with brutal force.

　　James dropped his blade， clutching his bloodied face. The goblin， wounded and frenzied， lunged at Ajex， jaws wide open， aiming for his right arm.

　　The marsh held its breath， and the battle raged on.

　　With a swift reaction， Ajex retracted his arm， narrowly avoiding the goblin’s bite that instead clamped onto his short sword. The goblin howled in pain， its mouth bleeding from the blade’s cut.

　　The skirmish， though lengthy in description， unfolded in the blink of an eye. As the goblin released the sword and howled， Fiona， Chris， Henry， and three other robust youths charged forward with their blades drawn.

　　Despite the goblin’s ferocity， the majority of the group， armed and youthful， bravely confronted the beast. Even a lion or tiger would stand little chance against such numbers.

　　Fiona， with agility hinting at martial arts training， plunged her knife into the goblin’s nape and dragged it down， delivering a critical blow. The goblin， already reeling from wounds inflicted by Ajex and James， was on the brink of collapse.

　　As it staggered， Fiona’s strike sent it tumbling forward. Chris， Henry， and the others followed suit， their knives sinking deep into the goblin’s flesh. The creature’s skin， not particularly tough， easily gave way to the onslaught.

　　Once the group retreated， the goblin lay motionless， its body bristling with knives like a porcupine， its blood turning the surrounding grass a dark green. It was dead.

　　On the other side， Ajex carefully turned Bob’s body over. Bob’s chest was torn open， and his intestines spilled out—a sight that confirmed his fate.

　　The group gathered around， their hearts heavy with the knowledge that Bob， once full of warmth and friendliness， was now on the verge of death.

　　“I… I can’t… die…” Bob clutched his knife and Ajex’s hand， his eyes wide with shock and body trembling.

　　“You won’t die， you won’t，” Ajex assured him， though he knew the wound was too severe to stem the bleeding. The thought of Bob’s wife and young child filled him with sorrow.

　　“A… Ada… I can’t die here， I still have to…”

　　Bob’s grip tightened as he tried to rise， but his strength was ebbing away， his consciousness fading. He thought of Ada， her deep love for him， and how she had cut ties with her parents for his sake. Now， just as reconciliation seemed possible， just as they could have been a happy family， he could see nothing.

　　Ajex was at a loss for words， and the others watched in silence as Bob’s eyes began to lose their focus， tears welling up. He had not cried when he fell into the mud pit， nor when he faced death， but the thought of leaving his wife and child brought him to tears.

　　“I can’t die… they can’t be without… me…”

　　With a sudden burst of energy， Bob cried out and sat up， his chest splitting open further. Ajex and the others stepped forward in shock， only to see Bob’s pupils dilate as his head slumped.

　　He was gone.