Descent into Darkness (Major Spoilers for House of Ashes)

Chapter Eleven

Gabrielle couldn't be more relieved if she tried the moment the group finally reached the surface. Nick and Jason were immediately setting themselves down on the ground after having moved away from the hole a little bit. "We got two alive, very fuckin' ready to go home marines here." Jason commented out of the blue, sounding just as exhausted as everyone else.

The first thing Eric did was to re-establish contact with their forces. "Dropkick to Coyote Two. Radio check. Over." He said over comms, meanwhile Gabrielle had also plopped herself down, experiencing the mixed feelings of exhaustion and soreness. "This is Coyote Two. Solid copy. Evac units are being prepped. ETA five hours wait. Over." The Operator responded over the radio.

As Eric and Rachel were standing around, Salim approached Gabrielle to take a look at the gashes, in the hopes that he could give her any kind of relief since the group had to wait so long for the evacuation team. "Salim, you don't have to..." She started to say, but was unable to finish her sentence before he cut in. 

"But I want to. Now hold still ok?" He interjected, getting to work cleaning the gashes as best he could with what little supplies were left over from the ordeal. "Wouldn't want the wounds getting infected after all." He added with a small smile. She smiled back, having found herself becoming fond of the man throughout the experience. Jason and Nick were getting to their feet while Salim finished up cleaning her wounds. "We beat the enemy." Eric addressed the group, just happy they'd made it out in one piece, aside from the losses and the injuries everyone had endured. "I sure forgot how bright it is out here." Rachel admitted, echoing Gabrielle's thoughts on the matter.

She and Salim then stood up once he was done. "Think those shepherds are still around here? I could use a cold one." Jason mused out loud, his thoughts immediately going to wanting a beer. Although there had been more pressing things on Salim's mind. "I must return home to my boy. He must be worried about me." He said, just wanting to get home to his son as soon as possible.

Just when the group thought everything was over, they turned round to see an eclipse forming, much to their dismay. "Oh fucking hell!" Gabrielle cursed, knowing that it would allow the vampires to attack again. "No... Not again!" Rachel voiced her own worry. Like the group had anticipated the moment the eclipse happened, the creatures were quick to come up to the surface in droves.

Everyone immediately started rushing over to the shepherds hut. "Inside! Get inside now! If we stay out here we die!" Rachel instructed as they ran, the creatures following after them. The first thing the group did once inside hut was to start establishing a defensive position, Jason and Salim starting to barricade windows and cracks in the walls with the tables dotted around the room. "How long until this damn eclipse passes?" Rachel asked, barricading a window herself.

"Six minutes max! We just need to hold out!" Eric answered. Everyone started firing their guns the moment the vampires started trying to get to them, busting through the roof with ease. One minute Nick was looking around, not sure what to do regarding the situation, and the next minute one of the attackers was grabbing onto him and trying to fly off with him. 

Rachel and Eric were quick to grab hold of Nick before the vampire could get very far. After a minute it just gave up, dropping him and backing off. "Push those motherfuckers back to hell!" He yelled, the group keeping their firing up. It didn't even seem to matter, the things still going strong, trying desperately to get in. Salim had ran over to the entrance and started repeatedly stabbing his metal stake into the vampire at the door until it fled.

That was when the group found themselves running low on ammo. "Fuck! I'm almost out!" Rachel called out, Eric echoing that sentiment. "Shit! This is my last clip!" He admitted whilst putting a new clip into his gun. Gabrielle just hoped that someone had any ideas on how to solve this issue, knowing they wouldn't survive the assault if they didn't think fast on their feet.