Macabre: Story Of Lucas

Chapter 16 - Battle for Ages

              Adrian and Maria confronted each other, an electrifying tension enveloping the space around them. Adrian's hands quivered with adrenaline as he readied to draw his gun from his hip, his fingers brushing against the cold metal, preparing for a lethal shot. Maria stood before him, an aura of unnerving composure emanating from her, awaiting Adrian's next move. A gentle gust of wind rustled through, prompting Adrian to react. In a swift motion, he pulled a sawed-off shotgun from his side and fired at Maria's face. The impact of the shot sent her body hurtling backward. Without hesitation, he dashed towards her prone form, intending to finish her swiftly. This was his chance to end it all.

As his sword came down upon Maria's neck, a shock coursed through Adrian. His blade seemed to meet an impenetrable resistance, as if he had struck steel instead of flesh. Maria's hand shot up, effortlessly catching his sword in her left hand and snapping it in half. Her movements were a blur of supernatural speed and power. She reached out with her other hand, closing the distance between them in an instant. Her grip closed around Adrian's throat, her strength defying his every attempt to break free. Panic surged within him as he struggled for breath.

Adrian managed to wrestle himself from Maria's grasp, firing his second shot at point-blank range to create some distance. He staggered back, his mind racing to reload his weapon as fast as his trembling hands would allow. His heart pounded in his chest as he processed the situation. Every strike he had landed had been ineffective. It was a realization that struck him with a weight he could hardly bear – Maria was no ordinary opponent. She was a member of the royal family, a being of unparalleled strength.

So, this is what members of the royal family are like, Adrian thought, his mind a whirlwind of desperation and realization. There was no conceivable way for him to defeat her, not at this moment. He needed to find a way to escape, to regroup and plan a strategy that could potentially match her power. If only he could create enough distance between them, he might stand a chance.

As Maria's lips curled into an eerie smile, she attacked with a sudden burst of speed. Adrian's attempt to evade was met with a searing pain as her teeth sank into his leg. He lashed out with his other foot, connecting with her face and creating a precious gap between them. Blood dripped from the wound on his leg as he stumbled backward, buying himself a moment to think.

Adrian's mind raced, assessing the situation with a hunter's instinct. He needed to escape, to find a way to outmaneuver a foe who seemed invulnerable. With his heart pounding in his chest, he sought a path to safety, aware that his survival depended on his ability to outwit this formidable adversary.

"RUN!" Adrian's head snapped to the side at the urgent command. Not far away, a figure emerged from the shadows. Its head was wrapped in a makeshift cloth, dressed only in pants, shoes, and a bare chest. In the dim light, the figure's exposed torso displayed a network of intricate scars. With precision and swiftness, the figure hurled a cylindrical object toward Maria. Time appeared to slow as Adrian's gaze locked onto the object hurtling through the air. His instincts screamed that this was his sole chance.

In a heartbeat, Adrian propelled his body into motion, his muscles responding with unwavering urgency. Every ounce of energy within him was concentrated on placing faith in the figure's intervention. His heart raced as he sprinted away from the impending peril, the world around him blurring in rapid motion.

Yet, distance did not align with his favor. A deafening explosion tore through the air, the ground quivered beneath him, and a shockwave sent him sprawling onto the unyielding concrete. His ears rang as he fought to reclaim his senses, his mind struggling to recover from the impact's violent force.

Powerful hands seized him, hauling him to his feet with surprising strength. It was the masked figure, a presence of salvation amidst the chaos. With their support, Adrian staggered away from the engulfing flames, his legs heavy as lead as he persevered to move.

He risked a backward glance, his heart sinking at the scene that met his eyes. The explosion had devoured the area, flames dancing voraciously, consuming all in their path. Amidst the inferno stood Maria, her form ravaged by the blast. Yet, her unnatural resilience was already in motion, her body regenerating despite the relentless flames.

Adrian's thoughts raced, grasping the true depth of his adversary's unyielding nature. Not even such a cataclysmic detonation could terminate her. The masked figure at his side impelled him forward, a beacon guiding him toward safety through the tumult.

They took refuge in a narrow alleyway, concealed behind a row of trash cans. The masked figure began to remove their clothing, revealing the unexpected face of Lucas. Adrian's eyebrows shot up in surprise as he recognized him. "You must be the vampire killer everyone's going crazy about," Adrian quipped upon seeing Lucas's face.

Lucas let out a wry smile. "Yeah, I guess I am. And who are you? Are you in the same mess as I am?"

Adrian shook his head. "No, believe it or not, I do this voluntarily. I'm what's called a vampire hunter. Right now, I was trying to save you, but I guess the roles have reversed."

"They sure have," Lucas replied, his tone a mix of relief and concern. "Maria is stronger than any other ones I've faced. I thought for sure my makeshift bomb would be enough to send her to hell and back, but she's different."

Adrian's expression turned worried. "You don't understand. This is some deep trouble you've gotten yourself into. She's not an ordinary vampire. Nah, that woman is way stronger than a dozen other vampires combined," he explained, his breath still ragged from their escape.

Lucas's voice lowered, matching the seriousness of their situation. "So, how do we kill her?"

Adrian's response was laden with caution. "Right now, with my condition, we don't stand a chance. There have to be a lot more vampire hunters than just me to bring down that beast."

"So, she can regenerate and has skin as tough as steel. We need to kill her tonight," Lucas stated with determination.

Adrian's eyes widened with disbelief. "Are you insane? I just said we need a lot more people than us to even scratch her."

"We don't need to injure her, just kill her," Lucas countered, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Adrian's frustration simmered. "You're not making any sense. Explain what you're thinking."

Lucas's plan unfolded with a hint of confidence. "We'll suffocate her. She can't survive if she can't breathe. Even if she can regenerate, it won't matter if she's deprived of air."

Adrian leaned in, intrigued by this unexpected approach. "How do you plan on doing that?"

"We need to steal some firefighter equipment first and swing by a gas station. I hope you have a car," Lucas proposed, his gaze fixed on Adrian.

A grin spread across Adrian's face. "You bet I have a car. Let's kill this bitch."

Their hands met in a firm shake, sealing their alliance. "I'm Adrian," he introduced himself.

Lucas's grip was strong and determined. "Lucas," he replied, their destinies converging in the face of a formidable adversary.