Task 2
1575 Words
What is your decision? Run out, Run In or Fight?
Caught in a big dilemma. His brain worked overtime, in a short amount of time.
Lifting the mirror up, the mutant hissing at Lucas is now kneeling outside the fallen mirror. The shards slid down as it was being lifted.
*Creak creak
Not minding the shards grazing it’s skin, it crawled to him. He is backing and considers running back in, but with limited space inside. His chances of death are slimmer compared to the other options.
His grip on the shard gets tighter and it's stinging because of his wounds from earlier.
‘I can’t die here!!’ He repeated to himself like a mantra despite his trembling arms. He bit his lips and charged at the monster tremblingly but determined.
*Stab
*Crack
“Ah.!” His shard shattered after a piece of it was engraved on its forehead. Reaching for another one, he was grabbed by it’s long strong arms but the shoulder.
It’s blade-like teeth are coming in. His breathing slows down… He could think how much damage he had… it would be lucky if only a chunk of flesh would be that but it’s larger pointy teeth are screaming decapitation and death in one bite… As if he gave up, he looks at the surroundings. Now that the support of the mirror had grabbed him, it’s leaning at its body… The outside is empty, it looks like the other mutants hadn’t come yet.
Then his vision had changed.
‘Don’t give up. Promise me you won’t give up…’ A soft voice told her repeatedly a woman with neatly bun hair appeared in front of him…
Suddenly, the image of his sister in his dreams, Andrea who is healthy.
‘I want to see that…’
His look had changed. He closed his fist, took a part of his legs, slightly squatted down and halted the force that had been pulling him close.
“Huuuu.” He exhaled then held it as he started pulling back his arms.
‘I refuse to die here!! I can’t.’
He turned his body down and turned to twist the hand holding it and finish it by kicking it away. The mutants’ grip slides off but it’s approaching bite is not.
*BAM
Before the mutant came in contact with Lucas. It was forcefully dropped down to the floor.
“Hold it down!” gritting his teeth as Aaron’s whole body is pushing the mirror’s body down trapping the mutant below.
He pushed it down more and it hit Lucas what he was trying to do with it. He went the other way and replaced Aaron by pushing it down. He was not as strong as Aaron. That's taking everything he has just to keep it down. The mirror’s body is cracking and shaking as the mutant tries to crawl out.
*Swish
Sheathing a machete Aaron placed himself beside the mutant and it’s long arms grabbed his ankle but Aaron was faster than it could pull. He slashed it off and it started shrieking baring its teeth on him
*Thud
He beheaded a mutant in one clean cut.
The mutant had ceased moving. Lucas too. He is thinking just for literal seconds how much it is impossible for him to kill it one go… Mutants are supposed to be harder to kill undead. Did the mutants have gone weak through years? Were his knowledge and experience lying to him or . . . is it because this person in front of him is just as monster as the other monsters out there.
He was picked up by Aaron “What are you spacing out for? They are coming.” He said to him,
The howls had been heard and from a distance outside two mutants, one with one less arm had seen rushing in back inside the mirror house.
“Come here!” Aaron tugged him to hide behind the mirrors. He is already carrying two duffel bags in each shoulder
“No. Don’t!” Let’s go back inside.” Lucas said.
There was no time to argue, they did as Lucas said. Closing in, Lucas went back and carried the mutant’s decapitated arm. There is barely any blood coming out but it’s smell is too strong even if it’s compared to biodegradable wastes.
*CRASH CRASH CRASH!
The rumpaged had started again. There were barely any mirrors left. What had happened before, where mutants can be distorted and illusioned will no longer work and Lucas knows that but despite of it, their best choice is still this way. They both keep running at their best speed while minimizing the sounds they make. Maybe because of the continuous sounds the mutants make, their running sounds are concealed.
Nearing the entrance, Aaron abruptly stopped and pushed Lucas to the side. A piece of mirror stuck to the walls, showed a mutant coming in. It was deliberating which way it would go.
“How many are there?!” Aaron said under his breath.
Lucas, who is focused on the other side, can hear the incoming rummaging closer.
“They are coming here.” He said.
“Wait…”
Both Lucas and Aaron are whispering with a hard tone and pumping hearts.
*CRASH!
The sound is just around the corner now.
“Now.” Aaron said after confirming the mutant had gone in the exit way.
They are both gone by the time the mutant has looked the entrance way.
*Huff huff huff
Hiding in between a decorative bush and wall. They are slumped and catching their breath. It was not that far from the mirror house, but the stress in a few minutes of their life has exhausted them.
Lucas who first controlled his breathing peek at the Mirror house. In the distance, more similar mutants are coming and gathering inside it.
“What the f**k are you holding since earlier?” Aaron asked as his breathing came back to normal.
Lucas looked at it. It was the mutant’s torned arm…
“Ah this? It’s camouflage… I am not sure how it works but some mutants have evolved their sense of smell and they track humans using it… With this, we can mask our smell.”
“I see. You are a really smart guy… I am glad I chose you.” Aaron said with a smirk.
It was really a surprise that time when they were choosing a team, that Aaron had chosen him over Liam’s group which was the initial plan.
“What made you change your mind?” He asked.
A screeching sound alerted them. “Let’s get out of here first.” Aaron said.
He nodded and they started crawling out.
A mutant came out and glanced at their way. It started long and hard and as it smelled the air, it went in a different direction.
****
“Woah! Look who’s here!” Elijah welcomed Aaron with a hug. The difference in their build is apparent. “...Are you the fifth member?” He asked with a smile.
“Yes. I’ll be in your care. Ah!” He spotted a familiar man, who was glaring at him.
“You! I was kicked out because of you but in the end you came here!” Kiko, the 10th placer, stomps his feet as he angrily approaches Aaron.
Aaron is not intimidated. It would be funny to see a muscled man like Aaron be intimidated. Maybe Kiko had realized it too late, arriving in front of him. Aaron looked down at him.
“You can go on your way, if you hate it here so much… Hi, I am Jack, we didn’t have a chance to talk back in the room.” Jack said and turned to Aaron for a handshake.
“I am Aaron. I’ll be in your care.” He said.
“Oy!” Jack put his hand on Jack’s shoulder but Lucas had put his hand on Jack's.
“There would be one team to win this game and I intend to win. If you don’t want that. You are free to go.” There is a limit of how much noise they can make in a limited space in a ride’s control room.
Jack’s grip tightened but he eventually let go. “Are you sure you are going to win?”
Lucas removed his hand too.
“Do we have a choice but to win?”
*click click
Lucas opens the hologram in his watch and click the
Task #1: Team Leaders find your members and the supplies and equipment
Task #2: Hide and Seek: Hide from the monsters while seeking assigned items.
???
???
???
Lucas opened the map and there are five red dots scattered around the park.
“Check your watches.” He said.
Opening their own, it’s different from his. Their’s only showed the location their position and Lucas’
“Wow, talk about being unfair.” Kiko commented frowningly.
Lucas closed his and took a look outside as the sun had set already.
“We will move tomorrow morning.” Lucas said.
“Huh? I thought undeads are supposed to get slower at night? Shouldn’t we move tonight? ” Elijah asked.
“The night doesn't work on monsters, instead… it’s their domain. We need to find a place to spend the night...”
“How about that place?” Aaron pointed.
“...That’s perfect.” Lucas agreed…but only him had agreed.
- Writer
