Havenfell

Chapter 21: To Face It Means To Accept It

Felicity stood with their friends in the shadow of Havenfell's town square, the cold night air biting at their skin. The fear was palpable, a living entity that thrummed through their veins, but so was the resolve. The horrors of the past nights had bonded them in ways they never imagined, and now, they felt a surge of determination to help the townspeople fight back against the demons that plagued this cursed town.

Callum and Nathan stood at Felicity's side, their faces pale but set with determination. Bree was beside them, eyes wide but unwavering, and Rin clutched their weapon tightly, a newfound fire in their eyes. Juno stood slightly apart, the flickering streetlights casting shadows that danced across her face. Alex lingered at the back, an inscrutable expression on his face.

The town square was eerily quiet, the only sound the rustling of leaves and the distant cries of nocturnal creatures. The townspeople had gathered in small clusters, armed with whatever they could find—baseball bats, kitchen knives, iron rods. Felicity could see the fear etched into their faces, a reflection of their own terror.

Suddenly, the night erupted in chaos. Demons surged from the darkness, their grotesque forms twisting and writhing as they descended upon the town. Felicity's heart pounded in their chest as they watched the first wave of townspeople fall. The demons tore into them with savage glee, their claws rending flesh, their teeth sinking into throats. Blood sprayed into the air, the scent of copper mingling with the stench of sulphur.

Felicity forced themselves to move, their weapon swinging in a wide arc. They felt the impact as it connected with a demon's skull, the crunch of bone reverberating through their arm. Beside them, Callum and Nathan fought valiantly, their movements a blur of desperation and determination. Nathan's cry of pain pierced the air as a demon's claws raked across his side, blood seeping through his shirt.

"Nathan!" Felicity screamed, lunging forward to pull him back. Nathan staggered, clutching his wound, but managed a grim smile.

"I'm okay," he gasped. "Just a scratch."

Felicity's heart ached with fear for their friend, but there was no time to dwell on it. The demons kept coming, a relentless tide of horror. They glanced around, searching for the rest of their group. Bree was fighting beside Rin, their movements synchronized as they took down another demon. Juno was a blur of motion, her fury a palpable force as she cut through the horde.

In the midst of the chaos, Felicity's eyes found Alex. He was standing over Elliott, a twisted smile on his face. Felicity's breath caught in their throat as they realized what had happened. Elliott lay on the ground, blood pooling around him, his eyes wide and unseeing. Pete was beside him, frantically trying to stem the flow of blood.

"Elliott, stay with me," Pete whispered, his voice breaking. Felicity could see the desperation in his eyes, the pain of losing his closest friend. Pete's hands were slick with blood, his face pale with fear and grief.

Felicity felt a surge of rage. Alex had done this. Somehow, in the chaos, he had taken advantage of the situation to strike. They didn't have time to confront him now, but they swore to themselves that they would make him pay.

"Pete, we need to get Elliott out of here," Felicity called, their voice shaking. Pete nodded, his eyes filled with tears. He lifted Elliott, struggling under the weight but fueled by sheer determination. Felicity covered him, their weapon swinging wildly to keep the demons at bay.

They made their way back toward the hotel, the night a cacophony of screams and snarls. Felicity's mind raced, the horror of the night blending with their own fears and regrets. They had to survive this. They had to protect their friends.

As they reached the relative safety of the hotel, Felicity turned to Pete. "Stay here," they said, their voice firm. "We'll take care of the rest."

Pete nodded, tears streaming down his face as he cradled Elliott's limp form. Felicity took a deep breath and turned back toward the chaos. The night was far from over, and they had a fight to finish.

The group continued to battle the demons, their movements becoming more desperate as the night wore on. Felicity could see the toll it was taking on their friends, the exhaustion and fear etched into their faces. But they pressed on, driven by the need to protect each other and the townspeople.

Felicity fought with every ounce of strength they had, their thoughts a whirlwind of fear and determination. They knew they had to survive this night, not just for themselves but for their friends. They had to make it through, no matter the cost.

The night stretched on, a seemingly endless battle against the darkness. But Felicity held on to the hope that they would see the dawn. They had to believe that they could make it through, together.

As the first light of dawn began to break over the horizon, Felicity felt a surge of relief. The demons were retreating, their grotesque forms dissolving into the shadows. The town was littered with the bodies of the fallen, a testament to the horrors of the night.

Felicity looked around at their friends, their hearts heavy with grief and relief. They had survived, but at what cost? They knew that the fight was far from over, but for now, they could take a moment to mourn their losses and find strength in each other.

They would face whatever came next together, knowing that they had the strength to survive. And in that moment, Felicity felt a glimmer of hope that they could overcome the darkness that plagued Havenfell.