Run Away Mad Dog

PROLOGUE

\Post-apocalyptic Earth 2037

The moon hung low in the ink-black sky as Sergeant Anderson led the patrol along the gravel path. The night air was filled with the hushed murmurs of The Eclipse military soldiers, their breath forming misty clouds in the chilly darkness.

The soldiers wore the distinctive Eclipse uniforms, a stark black that seemed to absorb what little light the moon offered. Their emblem, a black moon cracking in two, adorned their shoulders, a sinister insignia of the government agency that had taken control in the post-apocalyptic world around them.

Private Harris walked beside the sergeant, adjusting the strap on his rifle. "You think this patrol is gonna be as boring as the last one?" he asked softly.

Sergeant Anderson chuckled. "Let's hope so Harris. I could use a break from all the excitement."

The soldiers strolled with an easy slow walk, the rhythmic crunch of their boots blending with the distant sounds of the night. The patrol was boring, nothing but darkness but banter filled the air which made the patrol a little more enjoyable.

Private Anderson, the eldest and most wise continued, "Boring's good. Boring means we're still alive son. The rebels will be itching for another fight sooner or later."

As the two strolled down the dark path, their eyes fell on the occasional same trees they would recognise as they walked in circles around the castle like concrete walls of the base, the nonstop hum of the futuristic light blue of the electric fence above as the moonlight cast eerie shadows, distorting the shapes of the trees.

"Do you really think that animal child could be the key to curing this apocalypse?" Harris asked.

Anderson shook his head as he leaned a little over Harris's neck whispering, "we have talked about this, like I said before we all have our personal opinion in the matter, the Eclipse sucks, do I like what they stand for and do? No. but this job puts food on the table, protection for my family at home."

Harris frowned and shook his head, "agreed, our jobs suck, but I meant about the child itself, I overheard Scarlett talking about one of the Reed brothers coming to base tomorrow."

Private Anderson's eyes widened at this information, he raised an eyebrow as the two continued down the dark path, they reached a check point where Harris raised his arm for the soldiers above to do the same, a signal they had done a full lap around the large base, Anderson raised his arm holding onto the radio he had strapped to his shoulder, "This is Anderson and Harris checking in over?."

"Check in received, continue on, over and out." A commander spoke through Anderson's radio.

As Anderson's hand went back to the hilt of the rifle he leaned towards Harris once more, "what were you saying before?"

Harris did a quick head turn to check the two were alone before he continued his story,
"I was patrolling with Steve yesterday near the control room and Scarlett was talking to this scientist I've never seen around before, she said to the scientist Victor Reed will be here tomorrow. The Victor Reed."

He whispered, and Anderson huffed out shaking his head, "if the big man is coming here, something must be going on."

Harris nodded quickly, "I think it's got something to do with the animal kid."

Suddenly in the distance gunfire erupted in front of them, tearing through the quiet night like a thunderclap. The soldiers dove for cover behind one of the concrete pillars that was connected to the base wall, panic replacing laughter. Muzzle flashes illuminated the chaos as the two watch one of their own fall to the ground torso and legs separated as their dying action was firing the gun into the sky out of reflex.

Intestines spilled out, blood ran like a river as the two soldiers watched a dark cloaked figure walk past the body, its calm slow walk imitated it was him who did it, hot visible steam could be seen from the cheeks as it breathed, the mask itself looked like a robot's head, it resembled a face, or a gas mask, the soldiers watching from afar couldn't tell from that distance.

The fallen soldiers patrol partner ran towards Anderson and Harris but the slow walking figure punched its first forward, an elastic rope shooting out wrapping around the soldier's leg before he was dragged towards the masked attacker, its heavy boot came crashing down on the soldier's skull popping it like a grape.

More soldiers came rushing to the scene and Anderson felt confident with more units to back him up, so he slapped Harris's shoulder signalling him to move and the two joined the other patrol group in a semi-circle formation.

"Come quietly or we will open fire!" Sergeant Anderson barked, as the boys in black pointed their rifles at the intruder. However, their collective gasp echoed through the night as they witnessed a scene straight from a horror film.

The masked man stood before them in a battle stance, its hanging ripped black cloth swaying in the frosty wind. Steam billowed visibly with each breath. From the back, soldiers observed large silver rods arched up behind its back, feather-shaped metal spikes unfolding like building blocks. These wings, resembling a vulture's but entirely metallic, measured around two meters each. They moved with an uncanny grace, appearing almost alive in their fluid motion.

The mechanical winged tips eyed the soldiers off as the masked man looked around seeing itself surrounded, one of the soldiers shot first out of impulse but the wings twisted in such a way bending the metal like rubber to block the led to protect its master.

Soldiers began firing one by one, yet the wings blocked every projectile with precision. The masked figure sprinted towards a soldier, slicing through them with the wings before moving onto the next target.

Harris watched in horror as Anderson fell to the ground, blood streaming from a throat wound. Before Harris could reload, the masked man seized him by the throat. Leather gloves tightened with inhuman strength as Harris was pulled toward the figure, forced to his knees. The attacker stood behind him, gripping his neck.

"where's the child?" he growled, its voice through the mask sounded distorted through the voice modulator, sounding like a distorted radio that you could barely understand, its winged tips twisted and turned watching the darkness as more soldiers started to flood into the scene.

"I don't have time for this, I'll find her myself," Growled the masked man as he swiftly pulled Harris's neck snapping it, he shoved the limp body to the ground as more soldiers started to fire but the masked man punched his fist forward sending a roaring orange flame through its wrist mounted flame thrower, it shot forward with the sound of a roaring tiger burning the incoming soldiers alive...

Let the hunt begin!

Black Vulture signing off.