HellBreakers (ARCHIVE VERSION)

Chapter 10

Modus and Barlon are resting under a tree when they hear rustling in the tree. The look up and try to find the source.

“What the hell is that!?” Barlon asks, turning to Modus.

“How should I know!?” Modus replies.

They back away from under the tree to a spit where they can see the full tree. The rustling sound continues until they hear a faint screech like sound coming from the tree. Barlon look at Modus in fear.

“Modus…?” Barlon asks shakily. “What is that…?”

Modus doesn't reply, instead continuing to look at the tree to try and find some sort of source.

“There's…obviously an infected in there…” Modus notes.

The rustling continues until with just a blink of an eye something shoots down from the tree right in the middle of Modus and Barlon, them barely dodging with a second to loose. When they quickly reclaim what has happened they see what attacked them. A tall creature with large, sharp mantis like arms. It's jaw completely missing and it's two top canines long and sharp, reaching the length of the bottom of it's neck. It's eyes white and cloudy, rendering it completely blind. It's body is partially decomposed and has a slight purple hint to it.

The infecteds head moves around hastily and sharply, trying to hear some sort of noise. It walks around slowly as to help with hearing something. Modus and Barlon stand completely still while trying to mouth stuff to each other. They move as slowly and quietly as possible. Unfortunately, Modus steps on a twig, causing it to snap.

The infecteds head snaps toward him, then it let's out a loud screech before launching itself towards Modus, him dodging quickly before it strikes. Barlon staying in place, having to watch this happen as to not be attacked himself. The infected returns to walking slowly and moving it's head. Modus and Barlon trying to mouth each other a plan of attack.

Barlon picks up a small pebble, the infecteds head turning slightly towards his direction, causing him to freeze. When it's head looks away Barlon quickly tosses the pebble into the tree, but misses and instead hits the trunk. The infecteds head quickly snaps towards that direction and launches itself towards the tree. It slashes at the trunk. The cut is clean and the tree falls down. When the tree hits the ground the infected begins to violently attack all over the tree, only causing more and louder sounds.

Modus and Barlon lock eyes, they see this as the time to escape as the sound of the creature attacking and screeching will overwhelm the sound of them running away. They walk towards each other just to test that they can't be heard. When they confirm that the infected can't hear them they quickly begin to run in the opposite direction of the infected.

When they believe they have gotten just far enough they can speak normally they stop moving.

“What the hell…was that!?” Barlon asks I feat, shaking and out of breath.

“How would…I…know!?” Modus replies. “I didn't even think an infected would be way out here.”

They realize they no longer hear the sounds of the infected attacking the tree. They turn to see the figure of it completely facing them. It's entire body in their direction. It let's out one more ear-piercing screech before quickly launching itself at them with immense speed.