𝓢𝓱𝓪𝓭𝓸𝔀𝓼 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓑𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓽

Chapter 4: Escape?

Third Person POV:

The air was thick with tension as Scarlet's group neared the particularly ominous junction. The flickering lights cast long shadows on the cold, metallic walls, adding to the growing sense of dread. Just as they turned the corner, the unmistakable sound of claws scraping against metal echoed through the corridor. Their hearts raced as the hulking shadow loomed before them the beast had found them.

"Run!" Scarlet shouted, her voice cutting through the silence. She grabbed Vell's hand and pulled her forward, leading the charge away from the menacing figure. Kate followed closely behind, their breaths coming in ragged gasps.

The beast let out a deafening roar, shaking the very foundations of the facility. Its massive claws tore through the walls as it pursued them with terrifying speed. Scarlet's mind raced, trying to come up with a plan to evade the creature. She remembered a maintenance closet they had passed earlier and made a quick decision.

"This way!" she called, veering off into a narrow side passage. The group squeezed through the tight space, their movements frantic and desperate. Scarlet reached the maintenance closet and yanked the door open, ushering everyone inside. They slammed the door shut just as the beast's claws scraped against the metal, barely missing them.

Inside the cramped closet, the group huddled together, their breaths coming in heavy pants. Scarlet scanned the room for anything they could use as a weapon. Her eyes fell on a rusty pipe lying in the corner. She grabbed it and handed it to Kate, who nodded in understanding.

"We need to distract it," Scarlet whispered urgently. "If we can buy ourselves some time, we might find a way to fight back."

Kate, ever the strategist, nodded in agreement. "I'll create a diversion. You two find something to defend ourselves with."

Scarlet and Vell exchanged a quick glance before nodding. Kate cracked the door open and peeked outside, then slipped out quietly. The beast's growls grew louder, indicating its proximity. Eric moved stealthily, picking up a loose piece of debris and hurling it down the corridor in the opposite direction.

The beast's attention shifted, and it lunged toward the noise. Kate took advantage of the distraction and sprinted back to the closet. "Now!" she urged.

Scarlet and Vell bolted from the closet, searching for anything they could use. Vell found an old fire extinguisher, while Scarlet grabbed a crowbar. They regrouped and faced the corridor where the beast was now furiously tearing through the debris Kate had thrown.

"On my mark," Scarlet whispered, gripping the crowbar tightly. "One... two... three!"

With a burst of adrenaline, they charged at the beast. Scarlet swung the crowbar with all her might, striking its hind leg. The beast let out a pained roar, momentarily distracted. Vell sprayed the fire extinguisher, creating a cloud of foam that blinded the creature.

"Keep moving!" Kate shouted, leading the way through the now-confused beast. They dashed down the corridor, their footsteps echoing in the narrow space. The beast's roars grew fainter as they put more distance between themselves and the creature.

Meanwhile, Kylee, Ruth, and Chad had encountered a locked door that seemed to lead to a promising area. Kylee examined the door, frustration etched on her face. "There has to be a way to unlock this," she muttered.

Ruth knelt down, inspecting the lock. "It's an old mechanism. Maybe we can find a key nearby."

Chad glanced around, his eyes scanning the dimly lit corridor. "Let's split up and search the rooms. There might be something useful."