Oorah - Salim x M!Reader [House of Ashes]

Chapter Nine

(Y/N) was quiet for a while. He appreciated that Salim didn't try and force him to talk. Salim understood that he needed to process what had just happened. (Y/N) had just watched his friends die, after all.

It had to be a demon. That's all Salim can think. There was no other explanation. A demon was here, hunting them. 

The pair walk down the tunnel. It's dark, but they are still able to see in front of them. They walk quietly, cautiously, just in case. They don't know what's out there.

Then they hear it. The clicking. Both of them stop, looking at each other. They didn't have any other way to go. Going back led nowhere. They had to push forward.

Salim walked forward first, putting his hand up, indicating for (Y/N) to wait. (Y/N) did, nodding, standing still. He watched Salim walk closer to the noise, investigating. Salim could see the creature. It didn't seem to notice them.

There were pillars all around the room, providing places to hide. Salim gestured for (Y/N) to hide behind one, moving there as well. The two peeked around the pillar, looking at the creature.

It was eating someone. There was blood everywhere. It didn't seem to hear them. It just continued to feast.

"What do we do?" (Y/N) whispered, looking at Salim.

"We can't go back," Salim sighed. He had brought the metal stake with him and clenched it tightly. He closed his eyes, thinking. There was only one way forward.

(Y/N) could sense what Salim was thinking. "Are you crazy? It's too dangerous."

Salim slowly opened his eyes, looking at the worried expression on (Y/N)'s face. "I don't see what choice we have. It's the only way forward."

"But-"

The sound of footsteps cuts (Y/N) off. Salim and (Y/N) both go quiet, trying to see who it was. Salim puts the stake on his back. He crouches, trying to be as quiet as possible, ready to ambush the person.

As soon as he sees a figure, he reaches forward. He places his hand on the man's mouth, preventing him from talking. He can feel the man tense up but he doesn't scream or say a word. He does gasp, however. "Shh..." Salim warns. Salim can see the creature. It doesn't react, to Salim's relief. 

(Y/N) moves up to the two, trying to see who it is. "Nick...?" (Y/N) gasps, eyes locking with his friend.

Salim furrows his eyebrows, confused. "You know him?"

"Yes," (Y/N) answers. Not as well as Jason or Joey, but he knew him well enough. Well enough to know he would know better than to shoot Salim right now. "Let him go."

Salim does as he asks, slowly removing his hand. He waits for a second, worried that Nick will scream or punch him or something. But he doesn't. 

Nick's eyes are on the creature. He'd seen a couple before this. But not this close. Not in this clear a view. Not with this much light. It was even more terrifying than he'd thought they'd look like.

"It's good to see you, Nick... I wish under better circumstances," (Y/N) sighs, looking at the beast.

"I hear you," Nick whispers back, trying to be as quiet as possible. "How do we get past that thing?"

Salim had been brainstorming. "We can get through this. But only together," Salim says. He knew (Y/N) was on his side. But this 'Nick' was still an enemy. "They react to sound, like bats. They hear you, they hunt you."

"And bullets don't do jack shit," Nick mutters. He thinks of Merwin. He tried to save him. He really did. But at least Merwin died a hero.

"When it grabbed me..." (Y/N) pauses, thinking of the incident. "It burned. In the sunlight. It hurts them."

Salim nodded. Nick kept his gaze trained on the beast. "But it doesn't go down," Nick said angrily.

"No," Salim countered. "Like any living being, they can be killed. A stake through the heart."

"How can you be sure?" Nick questions, finally looking at (Y/N) and Salim. 

"Salim killed one," (Y/N) answers. "I need you to trust us, Nick. Trust me at the very least."

Salim can see the hesitation in Nick's eyes. But Nick knows he doesn't have a choice. "Alright," Nick says after a moment.

"We do this together, okay?" Salim tells them confidently. He glances over at (Y/N), who smiles. Salim's confidence was making (Y/N) feel... (Y/N) shook those thoughts out of his head, focusing on the task ahead. "We can kill it. You two move into a flanking position and get its attention."

"What about you?" (Y/N) asks.

Salim grabs his stake. "I'll do the rest."

A silence falls upon the group. Each thinking. Preparing. "I'm ready. Let's do this," Nick nods. This was for Merwin.

"We've got your back, Salim," (Y/N) says, patting him on the shoulder. Salim appreciates it. Salim didn't need to say anything back. (Y/N) knew Salim was trustworthy.

The group each splits up. Three different ways. Each slowly making their way to their positions. Careful not to make any noise.

After a minute or so, each person is in position. (Y/N) couldn't believe how close he was to this thing without it noticing. He looks at the others. Salim has his stake, ready. Nick points his rifle, ready to shoot.

(Y/N) pulls his pistol out, pointing it. He nods at the others. He takes a deep breath before firing a few shots at the creature.

It screeches, body turning towards (Y/N). It digs its claws into the ground, ready to jump. Nick shoots his rifle, catching its attention, drawing it away from (Y/N). It screams, confused, wondering where to attack. While it screeches, Salim rushes in. 

He stabs the creature in the back. It yelps, falling to the floor, but still struggling. (Y/N) and Nick quickly rush over, each grabbing the pipe, helping Salim to stab it right through the heart. The demon flails for a moment before its screams turn into soft cries. Slowly, it stops moving. 

It's dead.