Before anyone could react to what was happening, the creatures sprang into action, attacking everyone in sight. Jacob stood frozen, his body refusing to move as chaos erupted around him. One of the strange creatures spotted him—its eyes widening with savage delight. It raised its axe-like weapon and charged.
The moment before the blade could split open his skull, Jacob snapped out of his daze. Instinct took over, and he dove to the side, the weapon slicing the air just inches from his head. The creature screeched in frustration, already pulling its weapon back for a second strike.
Realizing what was coming, Jacob did the only thing he could—he ran. His legs finally obeyed him, pumping as fast as they could while panic burned in his chest. Behind him, the creature lunged after him, snarling, determined to tear him apart.
Jacob ran blindly, desperate for safety, when his hand brushed against something—a broken metal pipe lying among the debris. He skidded to a stop, grabbed it without thinking, and spun around.
The creature leaped at him.
Jacob raised the pipe just in time.
He swung the pipe with every ounce of strength he had.
The metal connected with a sickening crack.
The creature collapsed onto the pavement in front of him, blood dripping from the fresh wound on its skull.
Jacob froze, chest heaving.
Did... did he kill it?
He let out a shaky sigh of relief—too soon.
The creature's eyes snapped open.
It stood, wobbling, but alive—its face twisted with pure fury. With a vicious snarl, it swung its axe at him. The blade grazed Jacob's leg, slicing through flesh just enough to make him scream in agony. He stumbled backward and fell hard.
Panicking, he scrambled away on the ground, backpedaling until he hit the side of a parked car. Trapped.
The creature sensed his fear.
It tightened its grip and lunged, lifting the axe to finish him.
But something snapped inside Jacob.
A surge of adrenaline flooded through him, forcing his body to move faster than his fear. He rolled aside, the axe slamming into the car door with a metallic crunch.
Jacob scrambled to his feet.
This was his only chance.
He raised the pipe and slammed it down on the creature's head. The blow dropped the monster instantly—but Jacob didn't stop. He couldn't. The thought of it getting up again sent a cold terror through him.
He swung again.
And again.
And again.
Blood splattered across the ground. Bone cracked under the repeated strikes. By the time he stopped, the creature's skull was barely recognizable—nothing but a pulped, ruined mess.
Jacob stood there trembling, clutching the bent pipe, gasping for breath.
He had survived...