Until the Night has Passed

Chapter 7

Watered by the 'gifted' drops from the creature's mouth behind, it dashed towards Nethe. Its putrescent being continued to emit some sort of crazed hunger when suddenly, it gave a pierced scream that of a human and displayed no indication that it struggled to charge towards its first prey.

Only then she now felt the implacable, intensifying fear. No matter, the door to reality was somewhat tempting, momentarily. Her feet frozen in place, panic settled in and restricted her ability to scream nor it would even give her time to call for help. Each beat of her heart hardened her frozen state. As the undead drew near, its mouth increasingly opened along the door to reality.

Quinvan would have made it, actually. He was fast.

Although-

The flying rattan stick was faster on hitting the side of its head coming from the side of where the cattle was. It tumbled to the side, revealing a sack of skin growing at the back of its neck, warping into something unspecified, yet. Only then eight legs were seen flailing, its main head buried deep as it quenched its hunger on sweetened blood, bearing 'gifts' in return.

Azelbel slid, hastily grabbed his weapon and got into postion after he creatively twirled it. He took a quick look at what the undead was after.

"Oh," he scoffed. "It's just you."

Nethe's back slumped on the cart and made a snarky face- his attitude towards her brought out a certain sarcasm out of her altogether with the bursts of emotional ease, thawing her frozen stature from having avoided the door of plight.

Nethe moved fast while on the area of safety. She climbed the cart after having stepped on the boxes without concern, survival mode sparked. Associating the undead with what she has seen on movies, she closed the cart, finding more solace behind a moderate barricade. Her perception was proved wrong as another came rushing towards Azelbel. Yet this time, despite not foisted by any eight legged creature, had almost similar appearance but the man's ashen skin was healthier, though it often twitched as something transformed internally.

The zombified man threw the first punch towards Azelbel, then grabbed his weapon after he evaded, faster to react than him. Frustration could be heard from Azelbel's grunts as the man flung and slammed him on the ground. Determination took hold as he tightly gripped around the thick stick and fueled his strength, fully knowing if he let go this smarter zombified person would have his own. Quinvan came to give aid as soon as he stabbed the spider, disposing the later nuisance.

Another one foisted with spiders in greater number than the first ran towards the cattle. Nethe's unwavering attention to the two left her unaware of the danger.

"YaAh!" It recoiled after it met contact with a sheathed katana, falling backwards from the impact. The girl from yesterday appeared with a tremendous glee.

Nethe turned, catching the sound nearby among the ruckus. She kept her gaze, the weapon caught her attention. If it weren't for the difference in design engraved on its cover, she would have assumed it was hers.

It was her! Something about her being her past bully or something as Clorette said, ingraining a preconcieved notion towards her.

More rushed towards after the failed hunt against the people, locked firms hindered them so they gave up like whatever.

And so once more, the black haired girl with neon-

Her name is Naleen.

And so once more, Naleen prepared for the upcoming two new opponents. The scene unfolded: She avoided the man's readable attempt at scratching her- left, right, left, and repeat.

The woman infested that Naleen hit found her ground and stood.

With quick detection she blocked the change of movements by her current opponent, lifting her still encased katana before the back of its hand hit her. She lifted her weapon upwards with speed, hitting the man's chin by the other end of her katana and made him fall on his back.

Naleen turned to the undead, anticipating its return. Rapidly, she unsheathed her katana and went for the eyes, then tripped it to fall flat on the other. It began biting him instead.

No time for other thoughts, no time to waste. She was already grabbed by the hair by the third, screaming lightly from the shock. Naleen used her elbow repeatedly to land a blow towards his face until the grip loosened enough for her to twirl and kick it followed by a tiny-

"YaAh!"

It was enough for it to stumble, giving Naleen a chance to create enough space between them. With a plan in mind, she rushed back, dashed towards the third opponent, then slid her katana on he ground near it, launching herself afterwards with full confidence on her leg power.

It worked.

Expecting it to grab the hem of her dress and prevent her from taking the katana, she placed her hands beside her face; just as she practiced, and did a kick-up, her legs lifting up on the air-

"HYYYAAH!"

And fell back flat on the ground.

"Oh."

It didn't work.

Meanwhile on the other side, the zombified man had gotten a hold of Azelbel's weapon and fiercely whipped it around as Quinvan struggled to find an opening. Azelbel got back on his feet and pounced on the man's back. Expecting him to collapse on the ground, instead he intentionally jumped backwards, knocking Azelbel's breath out. With haste, the zombified man grabbed him and threw him towards his supposed to be rescuer. Now they're both on the ground.

These two were not professionally skilled fighters. Nevertheless, Nethe was left in awe because she could not even. For now that is.

Alas, no peace would be given that long for her as another came from the ruckus behind her. Through her periphery and newfound awareness, Nethe saw one coming after the cattle. Oddly and concerningly enough it was rather calm throughout, like it had seen some more heinous shit than this, which was absolutely worrying.

She was about to call for Clorette, who was clutching tight on her katana on top of the fountain.

But then-

The zombified woman took a slight turn and rushed to her instead, like it had some personal vendetta against people.

"Oh what the fuck?!?" Nethe winced back and looked for any sharp materials on board, panic slowly rising.

About damned time a spear was shot on the leg of the zombified woman's, stopping her raging pursuit. Coming from behind the fountain were the soldiers. After a command, they split in groups and gave aid to those in need.

Seized by authority, they forcefully impounded Naleen's katana from the zombified man and liberated her from his grip on her collar stand of her long sleeved blouse. He was contained by a bident on the back of his neck. The second in command wielded fire of his own creation and burned the ones infested by spiders, not one escaped. Naleen released a heavy breath after she was saved and her belonging was returned. She encased and hugged it protectively, grasped by the idea of being almost killed by her very own because of a reckless and impulsive plan.

Once more, they successfully retrieved Azelbel's rattan stick and contained the rabid man with the same weapon. He tightened his grip around it, exuding his strength on it while recalling the events of the fight.

Clorette approached Ereda and apologized for the slip of her mind in giving her back the katana after the checkup, handing it to her. Though really now, Nethe was too lax and mindless, despite a very harrowing encounter at the break of dawn. Although it was not much of a threat as what the others went through. 

Each underwent a formative turning point at that current day.

Nethe landed her attention back to Naleen, unable to comprehend how one can be comfortable and not hindered at fighting in a dress. In knackered gaiety, Naleen turned to return where she came from, but caught Ereda's stare. She slowly lifted both of her hands up.............. and made a peace sign. Finishing her somewhat triumphant tussel with a pose, she also lifted a leg backward for the flamboyant finale as the flames cackled and sounds of the small dying creatures occured behind her.

This girl................ was fucking insane.