Feral → newt, tmr

Chapter 17: Getaway

The screaming grows louder, an ear-splitting cacophony that echoes through the desolate halls. The group freezes for a moment, confusion and fear flashing across their faces.

"Hey! Hey!" Thomas and Minho burst around the corner, panic etched into every line of their faces.

"Run! Go!" Minho's shout comes just as figures appear behind them, emerging from the shadows like nightmares clawing into reality.

Katherine's heart lurches. These aren't just people-they're something else. Twisted, monstrous forms with wild, bloodshot eyes and grotesque expressions, driven by something far more primal than hunger.

"Shuck!" Newt curses, his voice tight with dread, his gaze locked on the charging horde.

"Everyone, run!" Katherine grabs the nearest backpack and her gun, instinct overriding hesitation. She spins on her heels, motioning the others to move as Thomas and Minho race past, their breaths ragged and uneven.

The group bolts, feet pounding against the cracked tiles as they sprint toward the escalators. Katherine's pulse roars in her ears, but she doesn't dare look back.

"What the hell are those things?" Chris shouts, his voice trembling as he glances over his shoulder.

"I don't know! Just keep going!" Thomas yells, his tone sharp with urgency.

The escalators loom ahead, their rusted frames groaning under the group's weight as they scramble up. Katherine can feel her lungs burning, the stench of decay in the air making it harder to breathe. Beside her, Chris keeps pace, his face pale but determined.

"They're gaining on us!" Aris cries, his eyes darting to his twin.

A crank lunges out from a side corridor, its grotesque body lurching forward with an animalistic snarl.

"Chris, no!" Aris's voice breaks with panic as Chris tightens his grip on a long metal pole. Without hesitation, Chris charges.

"Stay back!" Chris yells, his voice steady despite the chaos. He swings the pole with brutal force, cracking it against the crank's leg. The creature collapses into a heap, snarling as it crashes into a pile of debris.

"Nice one!" Katherine shouts, her voice laced with relief as she catches up. She spares him a fleeting smile before grabbing his arm and pulling him forward.

"Come on, no time to celebrate!"

Gunshots ring out as Katherine fires at the advancing cranks, each shot precise. But for every one that falls, two more take its place. She shoves her fear down, focusing on her aim. The group reaches another escalator, and they scramble up, the sound of claws scraping metal growing louder.

"Shit," Katherine mutters under her breath. The numbers are overwhelming now. Her gun feels lighter with each shot, the telltale click signaling it's nearly empty.

"Where the hell are we gonna go?" she shouts, desperation slipping into her voice as they reach the next floor.

Thomas is already scanning their surroundings, his eyes wild. "We'll find something!"

A loud crash shatters their momentum. The group whirls around to see a crank barreling through a glass wall, its bloodied limbs tangled with shards. It collides with Newt, dragging him to the ground.

"Newt!" Katherine's scream cuts through the chaos.

Before anyone can react, she's moving. Pure adrenaline drives her as she closes the distance. With every ounce of strength, she kicks the crank square in the face. The impact sends it reeling, its grotesque body toppling over the edge and disappearing into the darkness below.