The Fall and the Flame
Blaze cradled Sophie's unconscious body, her breath shallow but steady.
"Ace, we need to fall back. Regroup."
Ace nodded. "I'm with you, sir."
Eve regained her footing, bloodied but unbroken. Together, they turned toward the city wall only to find it shattered.
Bodies littered the ground. Militia brothers and sisters. Demons. Civilians.
Blaze and Ace paused, scanning the wreckage for survivors. The air reeked of smoke and blood.
"They sent a secondary unit," Ace muttered. "Hit the wall while we were distracted."
Blaze clenched his jaw. "Monsters."
Then came the screams. Sirens blared. The city was in full collapse, demons slaughtering anyone in sight.
Blaze turned to speak, but a sound behind him stopped him cold.
Hooves.
But not a horse.
A creature half man, half beast charged forward, face hidden behind a mask of bones.
It lunged at Ace and Eve. They dodged, barely.
It turned, charged again this time at Blaze.
Blaze dropped Sophie, sprinted toward the beast.
At the last second, he slid beneath it, slicing its leg.
The creature stumbled, now limping on three.
It howled madness overtaking it. It began smashing into cars, trees, and walls. Sanity gone.
"This is our chance," Blaze shouted. "Fall back to HQ!"
Ace and Eve nodded. Blaze scooped Sophie into his arms and ran.