SHRED

Chapter 3 - Testing

Kaiden watched as the creature stopped at the water's edge. Yuki yanked against his hold, desperate to aid her friend. "Anya!" she called out.

"Everyone get in the water!" Anya repeated.

Kaiden and Mitch exchanged a glance. "You heard her!" Mitch yelled as he dodged around the creature that had finished its meal, its form once again human.

Kaiden ushered Yuki and the remaining man into the water, while Mitch grabbed the other woman from the group, who stood frozen in front of three advancing creatures.

They all darted into the water, Kaiden and Mitch walking backwards with their guns aimed. Their attackers stopped at the same spot, right near the edge of the water and were staring at them with empty gazes.

The group were panting as they stood knee-deep in the river. They remained silent as they took a few moments to collect themselves.

"They don't like the water," Anya confirmed.

"Thank fuck for that," the man panted before turning to Kaiden and Mitch. "Thank you so much for saving us, we owe you our lives. I'm Kane," he gestured to the others, "This is Anya, Yuki, and Zoe."

The three women also thanked the men.

"I'm Kaiden and this is Mitch," he paused for a moment before continuing. "Sorry about your friend."

Kane gave a small nod. "Thanks. Jordan was our colleague."

"Do you think anyone else made it?" Zoe asked, scanning the area while pushing her blonde locks off her face. She noticed her hair had specks of blood in it so she quickly bent down and started splashing water on her hair.

"I saw a bunch of people from the Accounts department running that way," Yuki pointed towards a cloud of smoke rising into the coloured sky.

"Looks like one of the campfires has spread," Mitch commented. "We should avoid the area."

As the colours from the sunset faded and the sky quickly turned dark, Mitch rummaged around in the bag and withdrew a flashlight. He clicked it on and aimed it at the lakefront.

"They're gone?" Anya questioned.

"They could still be close by," Mitch replied, scanning the area with the flashlight.

"We need a plan," Kaiden said.

"Anya!" A deep man's voice suddenly reached their ears.

All four looked at Anya.

"I don't.. know who that is," she admitted, warily staring at the shore.

"Anya!" someone else called out, this time a woman's voice.

Anya slowly shook her head. "I don't.."

All five of them froze as the torchlight landed on two creatures standing at the edge of the water. They were the same two from earlier, the woman who had killed Jordan, and the man who had driven Anya into the water. Their faces and white clothes were completely drenched in blood.

"Anya!" The male cried out.

"How.. how do they know my name?" Anya asked, taking a step backwards.

Mitch looked at Kaiden, and they both frowned. "I don't think they do," Kaiden replied, staring at the creatures. He took a step forward and cupped his hands around his mouth. "Testing!" he yelled out.

The creatures just stood there for a few moments and the group remained silent, wondering what Kaiden was up to. Mitch clicked the flashlight off and they were engulfed in darkness.

"Testing!" The female creature yelled out, causing everyone to tense.

"They're mimicking us," Kaiden announced as Mitch clicked the flashlight back on.

"You were calling out to Anya earlier," Mitch mentioned to Yuki.

Yuki shook her head. "What the hell are they?"

Mitch and Kaiden exchanged a glance before Mitch replied, "Fuck knows."

"What are we going to do?" Zoe sobbed. Kane placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Kaiden took a moment to think, his eyes scanning the dark waters around them. Suddenly, a glimmer caught his attention, a faint, eerie light further down the river. He gestured to Mitch and and pointed at the light.

Mitch squinted in the direction Kaiden pointed. "A boat?"

"Could be," Kaiden agreed.

"Alright everyone, there's a light over there and it might be a boat. I think we should go check it out," Mitch announced.

The group murmored in agreement and they started treaking water as they headed towards the glow.

As the light grew closer, they could see it was an anchored houseboat.

The group, wet and exhausted, stood near the boat as Kaiden made the short swim out and climbed aboard. As he did a sweep, it appeared that the houseboat was empty. The living area was dimly lit by a lantern, so he could see the interior was neat and well-kept.

Kaiden took a deep breath, lowering his gun as he motioned to Mitch, giving him the all clear.

The group climbed aboard and began to make themselves at home. Yuki and Zoe sat sat down on the small couch, while Anya and Kane investigated the kitchen for supplies. They were relieved to discover canned food and bottled water.

Zoe had started to nod off, exhaustion clearly creeping in. Mitch noticed and made a suggestion, "We should take shifts keeping watch. I'll go first, Kaiden you get some rest."

Kaiden nodded before heading to the compact bedroom.

"I'll join you," Anya offered. "I don't think I'll be able to rest listening to that." She gestured outside as growls and screams echoed around them.