How Things Are

5

The light in the sky is starting to fade. The lake should glow in the moonlight, however if it reflects the road then that might be a problem. I didn't think about that and pick up my pace. Some of the others come to realize it too.

However Mr. Talks-Alot seems to be clueless and just gets irritated. Starts grumbling something about he's supposed to be in front. It's not my fault you decided to stop and stair and the pretty lake monster or whatever they saw. Don't know, don't care. Just keep walking.

No more cars are driving by. It seems night is bad for them on this road. A certain time is best for travel. The lake seems to be humming and black in the moonlight. "You all see that?" Stupid talker. At night of all times. No one answered but we watch.
Freaking mist is rising from the lake! Keep walking. Keep walking!

It's like everybody's stamina comes back. The group is practically jogging. The mist starts to spread. I tuck my nose and mouth in my shirt. It's moist from my sweat so it sticks plus my shirt is big on me. Drawing my blade, I can feel it. Everyone stops. They think I'm a threat. They shouldn't be on this road if they can't feel what's rising.

The first tentacle comes fast. Taking the person next to me. It's everybody for themselves out here. I didn't sign up to fight monsters. That thing was fuzzy. The person at the end of the line gets dragged. It's taunting us.
We all run but the misk is making us slow. The tentacle comes at me and I dodge. Bad idea. I should have cut it off. The thing is rising further from the water.

No one said anything about this. Not one hint. This should be apart of the map. I would've made explosives. Fuzzy scales everywhere. Does that thing seriously have red eyes?! "I thought squids didn't have eyes?" Goodbye Mr. Talks-Alot. It's mouth rotated like a chainsaw as it swallowed the conversationalist whole.

We run without thinking. The squid creature spits black ink at me. Hits the extra fabric on my sleeve melting it. It's acidic. No way my katana is going near it. Another tentacle! I get my revenge and slice it off.
The loud screech after isn't reassuring. I'm in that moment though. Nothing else matters but surviving. It targets the others as well. Someone else gets another tentacle. More legs come out of the water. What the-
Random sized snakes are leaving the lake into the grass. Freaking great. I never sliced and stabbed this fast. The mist is putting moisture into my mouth giving me energy. Can't get bitten.

Three more swordsmen here and they're not too bad. I may have made a mistake about this group. Two more tentacles were taken and another loud screech. They all seem to be as surprised as I was. Those without swords are hiding behind us or running as far ahead as they can. Ether one is a good strategy.

The snakes are relentless. Doing the squid creatures bidding while it rest. We fight while we run. Those who've gotten bitten haven't said anything. The adrenaline rushing through us is the only thing keeping anyone from noticing  any injuries. Just keep slicing these snakes.
The acid ink hits one of the swordsmen in the stomach. It's gross. His insides are slowly melting. Someone from behind kicks him off balance and takes his sword. Heartless way to treat someone who was protecting you.

This new swordsmen ticks me off. Jumping and dodging things. Barely using his new sword. The people behind him have resorted to running ahead or pulling out guns causing too much noise.

The lake mist is starting to lessen. Snakes are returning. The squid is as well... I run faster. There's no way I'm gonna be here for it to change it's mind. The group seems to understand and run with me.
That's what we do. We run. I don't remember sheathing my katana. I don't remember seeing the sunrise. I don't remember checking for bite marks. I don't remember seeing the first man fall. Alls I remember is I did it and it happened.

We continue to run along the lake side until we see an end. Then keep running until the lake disappears.
That's when I get it. Day three is here. No sleep. This group already had so many die, now we can't sleep. There's only nine left. Drop from exhaustion.

The cars are driving by us again. Probably saw the bodies by the lake. No one cares about pride anymore. Our pace wavers back and forth. To each his own. Some have already tried napping on the side. It seems save but the cars driving by might do something. I of all people can't close my eyes in front of them. So I walk on.

Just exhausted. The Inn. I want a bath. The only noise is heavy breathing and cars driving now and then. I understand now. My brother would have died taking me down this road. They have no escorts here because you have to defend yourself.

There was a twisted painting I saw back when I was digging up information in one of the mafia libraries. I paid a pretty penny to sneak in there. The painting had corpses sinking into the ground while others walked past. A fairly accurate description of what this feels like.
Walking without knowing when it's going to end. The library wasn't helpful except for a few other works of art I stole and sold for my funds to get here. Honestly I'm going by hearsay. Alls I know about today is as much as we want to rest we can't. We need to wait until we hear the sound of the city.

I already see people looking at us from the windows of their cars. Probably placing bets on who will make it. I'm third in line out of the nine of us. Some notice by now I have no symbol or tattoos. Which means representing no one. Others are too exhausted to focus. Those driving by definitely noticed. When you make it this far the people on the road start to pay attention.

I snack on some of food I stole for energy. We all stop to focus on what the noise is coming from. It's not the city but coming from that direction.
Motorcycles. Seriously?! Ether hazing or someone here isn't wanted. They only send bikes after people they don't want entering the neutral zone.

There's six of them. Just keep walking.