𝕯𝖊𝖆𝖉𝖘𝖍𝖔𝖙

Brace for Takeoff

Julian bolted out of his house, heart pounding as he threw the door open and sprinted into the dark. The blood moon's eerie red glow bathed everything in a nightmarish hue, casting long, twisted shadows across the street.

He sprinted toward the waiting car, shielding his face as much as he could from the red light, heart hammering in his chest. Behind him, a bone-chilling screech tore through the air. Julian didn't need to look back to know what was chasing him.

Addison—or whatever she had become—was gaining on him, her body twisted and elongated, her once-familiar face now something monstrous. Her arm stretched out unnaturally far, claws glinting as they reached for him.

"Come on, come on!" Emma shouted from the driver's seat, leaning out of the window as she slammed her hand on the horn. The door was flung open, and Julian's legs burned as he sprinted the last few yards, launching himself into the backseat with a desperate leap.

He crashed into the seat, slamming the door behind him just as Addison's claws scraped against the handle. "Shit!" Julian gasped, struggling to sit upright, heart racing, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

"Get in, get in!" Emma yelled, flooring the gas pedal before Julian could even finish buckling his seatbelt. The car roared to life, skidding forward and nearly sending Julian face-first into the floor again.

"Emma, I need to sit down!" Julian shouted, fumbling for his seatbelt as the car lurched violently. He could hear the sickening thud of Addison's footsteps slamming against the pavement, impossibly fast.

"There's a goddamn monster chasing us, Julian!" Emma snapped, her knuckles white as she gripped the steering wheel, swerving hard around a corner. "Deal with it and sit down, or you'll be thrown out the window!"

Russell, sitting in the passenger seat with his rifle slung over his back, glanced over at her, eyebrows raised. "Wait, what do you mean by 'it's gonna get quick?'"

Emma didn't answer, eyes focused on the road ahead, but the panic in her voice was enough to tell him things were about to get worse.

"Shit! She's gaining on us!" Julian cried, looking out the rear window. Addison, or whatever was left of her, was charging after them, her feet barely touching the ground as she sprinted at an unnatural speed.

Julian buckled his seatbelt just in time for Emma to yank the wheel hard to the right. The car swerved violently, nearly tipping over as they careened around another corner. Russell whipped around, gripping his rifle and rolling down the window.

"I got this!" he muttered, aiming the rifle at the monster chasing them. "Take this!" He fired off a shot.

The crack of the gunshot echoed through the empty street, but the bullet missed. Addison dodged effortlessly, her movements so fast she was practically a blur. Russell cursed under his breath and fired again. And again. Each shot missed, ricocheting off the asphalt with a sharp ping.

"Emma, drive faster! She's right behind us!" Russell shouted, his voice shaking as he fumbled to reload. Sweat dripped down his face as he fired once more, the shot going wide.

Emma floored the gas, the engine roaring as the car shot forward, speeding through the desolate streets. The city was empty, abandoned, but the blood moon's glow made every shadow stretch and writhe as if they were alive.

Julian craned his neck to look behind them, his heart dropping as Addison leapt over a parked car, landing on the road with a thud that shook the ground. She was impossibly fast, her face twisted into a cruel, mocking grin as she closed the distance between them.

"She's getting closer!" Julian screamed, his voice high with panic. He could barely breathe, his heart thundering in his chest.

Russell fired again, the bullet whizzing past Addison's head by mere inches. "Goddamn it, why won't she slow down?!" he yelled, reloading the rifle with shaky hands.