L4D: Mana

Chapter 2: Can you see the dark?

Ellis woke me a few hours later. He said I was on watch... We were in a converted Rec shed in a park, if I remember correctly from the little conversation I heard, they were moving north...like my family was... I shook the grogginess from my head and nodded at Ellis. I leapt up to a roof, alone with my thoughts. "Lord, guide my family to safety. Keep their rescuers healthy, and not undead. Let Haydon learn quickly how to live and survive without trauma. I ask you guide me in your plan, I have faith you will provide for me. In Your name, Amen." I looked around at the groups of common wandering aimlessly. Two were trying to free a corpse from beneath a van that had broke in half. The front end bearing the majority of the drive train, bent slightly upward. Both common slipped when the body came loose. One fell on the drive train shaft and died while the other began eating. I leapt across the street, still enjoying the feeling of flight. I tipped my head back and inhaled deep. Mainly decay, along with burning oak, birch, sycamore and pine, gasoline, and another trigger scent. This one was tangy, sour smelling. It immediately made me puff up like a cat to make myself look more intimidating. I followed it. I followed it for a good half hour. When it became overwhelming I pinpointed it to a run down construction site of a half built parking garage. We were out of the residential area and moving towards the business district. It wasn't long after my curious poking around that I got some company. A pink blur crashed into me. We tumbled a few times before settling with me on top. Instinct kicked in and I was hissing and snarling to establish dominance over the female Hunter that pounced me. It didn't work and she threw me off. I back rolled and was up and ready in an instant. She tried to pounce again. I sidestepped the move and planted and elbow in her back. It knocked the wind out of her but she lashed out with a scorpion kick, forcing me to stumble. She was quickly up and bearing down on me like a common. I timed my move to catch her off guard. When her mouth was inches from my neck, I thrust both arms up and pushed out. Her grip broke so she stepped back, but before she could retaliate, I hit her square in the chest with an open palm strike. I could sense rapid nerve function and her body was a light show. Meaning she was stunned for a few seconds. I stepped with one leg, grabbed the opposite wrist and pulled it across her body, effectively putting her over my knee. I then held her chin in my free hand and yanked back, like I was starting a chainsaw. A satisfactory crack notified me to drop the body. "Thank you, Dying Light." I thought to myself. Who said video games don't teach you anything? I looked back at the garage and saw several figures moving. I was being watched. I left as fast as I could. Not looking back. It was a Hunter nest! Or the left overs of some parkour pimp circle....or both....

The sun was peaking out into the twilight when I got back. The Tank was gone, and in its place lay someone not much older looking than me, in the same position the Tank fell asleep in. The survivors were waking up when I returned. "Guys! We got a problem." I said frantically. Coach unblocked the door and came out, Nick looked at him with dumbfounded expression. "What wrong, Landon?" I looked at the buildings and asked, "You've been to the sugar mill already, right?" Coach chuckled and shook his head. "I see you've played the game. Haha, well no, no sugar mill, but we have been to the carnival." I stared at him hard. "Well, this is the closest thing to that you'll face if you never go to a sugar mill." He raised an eyebrow. I deepened the stare. "I found a Hunter nest. Tons of female scents, and maybe only four males running the show." I weighed our options before continuing. "We either keep someone glued to the rooftop or we take out the nest."