Chapter 3: The Beast Supper
Fortunately, we managed to go through the roofs safely, without any beast noticing us. It would take some time to get to the mountains, but we couldn't stop then. Because if we did so, the beasts would probably find us before dawn, and taking in consideration how aggressive they become during the night, we would be quickly persecuted. That's not to mention the fact that we were only lucky not to be found by our smells yet. However, I was starting to feel fatigued, since I hadn't eaten all day. Putting my muscles into effort now and then, in the military base, made me exhausted, which could possibly prevent us from getting there. When I stopped for a moment to take a breath, Alya noticed that there was something going on.
''Are you tired?'', she was speaking normally now, even though her leg was still broken
''I couldn't find any food earlier'', at the same moment I said that, I felt my body get weaker, as if my muscles wouldn't take it anymore, ''After being captured, I had to force my body into finding an escape, so I am starving''
Alya tried to go down on her own, but it could be unsafe for her broken leg. After helping her to get down and take a sit in the roof, she started looking inside of her backpack. Whatever she was looking for, it must be important, since she was carefully looking through each pocket. Finally, a triumphant smile indicated that she had found what she was looking for. It was a home-made sandwich, in perfect state. It was wrapped around some plastic, while inside a small lunchbox. Not only that, but it was weird for me to see that, since soldiers usually lead non-perishable foods, unlike some foods like sandwiches, which would spoil quickly. Perhaps she wasn't here for as long as I thought she was?
''Would you like to share?'', she casually asked while holding the lunchbox
''Are you okay with this?'', maybe my hesitation was caused, not by the discomfort of sharing food, but by not knowing if this situation would be appropriate
''Unlike you, I had something to eat today'', her tone of voice showed some concern, as if she wanted to help me now, ''And you need it more than me, anyway''
What am I supposed to do? After escaping that military base, I found Alya not that far away from there, so maybe, it could be a trap. Not that I was going to leave her to bleed out, however, in this desolate world, anything could happen. This was the moment that I took my decision of not lowering my guard when she's nearby, at least for a while, until we reached the base. If this base she mentioned was true, I could trust her. Still, I had to think of some escape of this offer, an escape that wouldn't reveal my concerns. Luckily, I noticed some beasts walking in the streets. Attracting them would definitely force us to move away from there.
''I don't know...'', at the same moment I said that, by moving my body purposely, some bricks fell on the ground, calling the beasts' attention, ''They've found us! We have to move!''
Thousands of beasts came out from the darkness, pursuing us immediately. Fighting was the only way to avoid them now, since just running would probably lead them to the base. My fatigue could make it difficult to fight properly, although they weren't powerful beasts, making them easy targets, actually. Furthermore, I couldn't fight while carrying Alya over. So, I put her on the ground and got ready to go and face the beasts, even if that was fatal. But my relief was notable when I realized that I still had a cocktail Molotov, which would be helpful.
''I will take them on'', my cold tone showed her that my intentions wouldn't be interrupted, ''Pray for me to come back, will you?''
As I jumped towards the beasts, I noticed her concerned expression. However, my main focus was to annihilate these beasts for good. By unsheathing my sword, adrenaline ran through my body, which almost eliminated the fatigue on my muscles. All I had to do now was not to die, so I could take these beasts' meat. Two of them were humanoid forms, as for the other three, they were smaller wolves, but similar to the mimic that I fought earlier. Humanoids beasts aren't the most dangerous one, however, in a team, they could be deadly. Their huge size makes them one of the slowest beasts, even though they have immense brute force. Surprisingly, their arms have about 5' 24'' in length, capable of reaching me even from far away.
After careful analysis of the beasts' positions, one of the humanoids tried to attack me with its long arms, as if trying to knock me to the ground. Even a weak mimic is faster than humanoids are, so I parried it with ease, knocking both of its arms back. The other beasts were ready to attack, and then, I ran down the humanoid's leg, jumping with all my might, consequentially propelling myself high and slashing its arms. Probably cutting off its arms was not a good idea, since beasts can regenerate if their head is not cut off or destroyed. Still, I could take that as an opportunity to slice the others down.
In the worst way, however, I ended up remembering that this was not the only humanoid present, just when the other was about to grab me, and unfortunately, it managed to do so. By doing that, the beast tried to devour me right there, forcing me to find a way out. Without my sword, which fell in the ground, I couldn't cut my way out, so I took a desperate attempt into parrying it. At the exact moment it was going to deliver the bite, I delivered a kick, from the bottom up, to the beast's chin, and right after being released, I also kicked its neck, knocking it away.
As soon as I got my sword back, the wolves ambushed me from behind, trying to get me with my guard low. Their move was in vain, as I made a half moon cut back, cutting both of them in half almost immediately. The last wolf was hiding, obviously, to ambush me properly. It came to light that I could scare him away, or force him to come out by using the cocktail. By lowering my guard, the humanoids came back towards me, fully regenerated now. For the first time, I analyzed their grotesque appearance: only one eye, bright red such as blood stains. Sharp teeth, capable of chewing steel if they'd like to. Pale skin, with blood stains and corrosive liquid all over. And that's not to mention the exposed insides.
The wolf wasn't showing up that soon, but it was a possibility nonetheless. Pondering this fact, I took a firm grip on my blade with my right hand, and on the cocktail with the left one. At the same moment I rushed towards the humanoids, the wolf finally came out of its hiding spot. As I launched myself into the air, I dropped the cocktail and slashed it with my sword, and lit the lighter I grabbed earlier, throwing it into the oil spilled by the cocktail. The wall of flames made the wolf run away, and now, I could take my time with the humanoids.
The two approached and try to attack together, forcing me to dodge to the side and later, to jump over their arms. This was the perfect opportunity, I would say, to the point where I could easily cut all of their arms, as I swung my blade through the air. After turning my back to the two, I feel their sudden approach and make a high spinning attack, cutting their heads, and quickly, I switched the sword between my hands, slashing their bodies completely, from top to bottom. The flames were acting as a curtain, both to the smell, and to the view. No beasts would find me right now.
''Dinner time'', I slowly approached their bodies, and I picked up a piece, ''Man, this is gross, but it's better than dying out of hunger...''
Cold, rotting flesh twisted in my mouth as I devoured it. Its taste is not all that bad, since I've already done this before. Not the meal I wanted, neither the one I expected, however, it is the meal I am allowed for now. After this not so magnificent dinner, my muscles were instantly recovered from the fatigue, and I was not hungry anymore. It has been a while since I've last had a meal, so I made sure to enjoy this to its fullest. Finally, I could return to Alya without any concerns, knowing that the beasts would probably not follow us for a while.