Vanguard: The Ark'Hul King

Chapter Three

The city of Pittsburgh was a ghost town, a skeletal husk of its former self. Skyscrapers, once symbols of human ambition, now stood as broken monuments to a bygone era. We moved through the deserted streets, the crunch of our boots on broken glass the only sound breaking the eerie silence.

Evelyn, her hand resting gently on my arm, looked around with a mixture of fear and fascination. “It’s like something out of a nightmare,” she whispered.

I nodded, my mind racing. The events of the past few hours had been a blur of violence and chaos. Williams, my friend, my comrade, was gone. And Calo, the embodiment of evil, had been defeated. But the war was far from over.

We found a small café, its windows boarded up but the interior surprisingly intact. A few chairs and tables were scattered around, offering a brief respite from the desolation outside.

We sat down, the silence between us heavy with unspoken words. Evelyn’s hand found mine, a silent gesture of comfort.

“I can’t believe what happened,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “Williams...”

I squeezed her hand. “I know,” I replied, my voice barely a whisper.

We sat in silence for a moment, the weight of our loss pressing down on us.

Evelyn was curled up on a stained, red velvet couch, her face pale as the moonlight that filtered through the broken windows. The cafe, once a bustling hub of life, was now a ghost town, its echoes of laughter and chatter replaced by the eerie silence. I hated this place. Hated everything about it.

Her breathing was shallow, each inhale a gasp, each exhale a sigh of pain. The scar on her stomach, a jagged, angry thing that twisted and turned, was a constant reminder of the monster that had tried to claim her life. I traced the line with trembling fingers, the metal of my gauntlet cold against her skin. She flinched, her eyes fluttering open.

"Riley," her voice was a whisper, lost in the cavernous space.

I squeezed her hand, the warmth of her skin a stark contrast to the icy chill of the cafe. "I'm here, Ev," I promised, my voice steady even though my insides were a maelstrom of fear and anger.

She tried to smile, but the pain was etched into her face. "We need to get out of here," she managed.

I nodded, my gaze sweeping the room. There was nothing here for us, just shadows and the echo of our own breaths. I stood up, wincing as a sharp pain shot through my leg. A reminder of the fight, a battle scar that would fade, but the memory would never leave me.

I crouched beside her, careful not to jostle her. "Can you stand?" I asked, my voice gentle.

She shook her head, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and determination. "Try and help me," she said, her voice barely audible.

I scooped her up into my arms, her weight heavy on my shoulders. She was so small, so fragile, and yet, she carried the weight of the world. I carried her to the door, the cold air hitting my face like a slap. The city outside was a dark, unforgiving beast, but it was our only hope.

The cold night air hit us like a physical blow. Evelyn shivered, her body trembling despite my arms wrapped tightly around her. I could feel the warmth draining from her, a terrifying sensation that made my blood run cold.

I stumbled forward, my vision blurring at the edges. I had to get help, and fast. I pulled out my comm, my fingers fumbling with the controls. A static filled my ears, then a distant voice. "Vanguard Central, this is Paladin Riley, we require immediate medical assistance. Our location is..." My voice trailed off as I struggled to pinpoint our exact location. The city was a labyrinth of darkness, and I was lost.