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Chapter 5: Ambush in the Dark

We slip out the back of the library, moving as quietly as we can, our bodies pressed low to the ground. The night wraps around us like a shroud, the only sounds our shallow breaths and the rustle of our clothing brushing against the overgrown foliage. The hissing sound is louder now, echoing off the crumbling walls of the buildings around us. It's a cruel reminder that they’re here, and they’re close.

I swallow down my fear, forcing myself to stay focused. My heartbeat thunders in my ears, and I feel every muscle in my body tense, ready to spring. Marcus is just ahead of me, his eyes darting back and forth, scanning for movement. Claire brings up the rear, her bow at the ready, her expression set like stone. Her presence is reassuring—strong, steady, unflinching.

We weave our way through the narrow alleyways, the passageways overrun with wild growth. We move through the shadows, avoiding the open streets, always searching for cover. I can hear the hissers inside the library now, the metallic clinking of their armor echoing through the ruins we just vacated. It makes my skin crawl to think of them being that close—of what would happen if they caught us.

We reach the mouth of an alleyway, and I stop, peering out before signaling the others to follow. Ahead, I can see the park—the overgrown mass of trees and underbrush that I remember from before. It's our best bet for concealment, the dense foliage our only hope of staying hidden. I nod to Marcus, and we move, slipping from the alley and into the next street, keeping to the edges, always in the shadows.

A sudden sound stops us in our tracks—a faint rustle, barely more than a whisper. My stomach turns, and I slowly lift my head, my eyes scanning the darkness. That's when I see it—a figure at the end of the alley, tall and imposing, silhouetted against the faint moonlight. My blood runs cold. A hisser.

We freeze, and I can feel Marcus tense beside me. Claire moves quickly, gesturing for us to get down. We drop behind a collapsed wall, pressing ourselves against the crumbling concrete, our bodies huddled close together. My heart is hammering in my chest, my fingers gripping my makeshift weapon so tightly it hurts. I know it's useless, but it's all I have.

The hisser moves closer, its visor glinting as it scans the area, the dim light reflecting off its silver armor. I hold my breath, my entire body rigid, every muscle screaming at me to run, to fight, to do something. But I know better. If it sees us, if it hears us, we’re dead. There’s no fighting them, no escaping once they’ve found you.

Beside me, I feel Marcus trembling. I want to reach out, to grab his hand, to tell him it’s going to be okay, but I can’t risk it. I can barely breathe, my chest tight, my lungs burning from the effort of staying still, staying silent. I close my eyes, willing myself to disappear, to become part of the darkness.

The hisser pauses, and I can see it tilt its head, as if listening. My heart feels like it’s about to burst out of my chest. I can hear Marcus’s shallow breaths beside me, Claire’s eyes fixed on the alien, her fingers poised on her bowstring. The hissing grows louder, like a whisper in my ear, the sound making my skin prickle with fear.

Then, finally, it turns. It moves on, its steps echoing as it disappears down the alley. I let out a shaky breath, my body sagging in relief. I can feel the tension easing from my shoulders, my muscles aching from the strain of staying still. Claire nods to us, and we slowly rise, moving again, our steps careful, our breaths still held. We need to get to the park, to the cover it offers, before they come back.

We reach the park, the trees rising up around us like dark sentinels. I push through the underbrush, feeling the branches tug at my clothing, my heart still pounding in my chest. Once we’re deep enough that the city is hidden from view, Claire signals for us to stop. We gather in a small clearing, the ground soft with fallen leaves, the night air cool and damp.

“We’ll rest here until dawn,” Claire says, her voice low, her eyes scanning the area. “We can’t risk moving any further tonight.”

Marcus drops his pack to the ground, sinking down beside it with a sigh. “Well, that was a bit too close for comfort,” he says, his voice still tinged with nervous energy. “Next time, let's send them a change-of-address card.”

I manage a small laugh, the tension still coiled in my chest. “I’ll let you handle the postage,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

Claire allows herself a faint smile, her eyes softening just for a moment. “Get some rest. We’ll need our strength for tomorr—”

Claire stops mid-sentence, her body going rigid. My heart skips a beat, and I follow her gaze. My blood runs cold.

Three soldiers stand at the edge of the clearing, their high-tech armor gleaming in the dim light, their visors reflecting the starlight. The hissing fills the air, the sound like nails on a chalkboard, making my skin crawl. They’ve found us.

Everything seems to slow down. Claire’s bow comes up, her hands steady as she draws an arrow, her eyes locked on the nearest soldier. Marcus moves, stepping in front of me, his body shielding mine. I want to scream, to tell him to run, but the words are stuck in my throat, my body frozen with fear.

The hissers move forward, their steps slow, deliberate. They know they have us cornered. I watch, helpless, as Claire looses an arrow. It flies through the air, striking one of the soldiers in the chest. It doesn’t even flinch. The arrow bounces off the armor, useless. Claire reaches for another arrow, but she’s too slow. One of the hissers lunges at her, its black talons slicing through the air.

“Claire!” I scream, but it’s too late. The talons rip through her, and she crumples to the ground, her bow falling from her hands. Blood pools beneath her, dark and glistening. My stomach lurches, bile rising in my throat.

Marcus grabs my arm, pulling me back, his eyes wide with fear. “Run, Alina!” he yells, his voice breaking. But there’s nowhere to run. The hissers are on us, their hissing growing louder, filling my ears, drowning out everything else.

One of them lunges at Marcus, its talons raised. He pushes me away, his body taking the blow meant for me. I watch, horror-stricken, as the talons tear through him, his blood spraying across the ground. He falls, his eyes meeting mine for a brief moment, a soft smile on his lips. And then he’s gone.

“No!” The word rips from my throat, a raw, broken sound. I fall to my knees, my vision blurring with tears. They’re dead. Claire, Marcus—they’re gone. I’m alone. Completely, utterly alone.

One of the hissers turns to me, its visor glinting, its talons dripping with blood. It steps closer, its movements slow, deliberate. I know what’s coming. I know there’s no escape. My body feels numb, my mind blank. But I won’t let it end like this—not cowering, not defeated. I lift my head, staring straight at the soldier, into the dark visor where its eyes should be, if it even has eyes behind that gleaming metallic mask. My breath steadies, and I feel something ignite inside me, a stubborn fire that refuses to be extinguished. I shine like a torch of defiance, my gaze unwavering as I challenge the alien to end it. If I’m going to die, I’m going to die with my head held high.

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