Salvage Station 23

Chapter 1, Part 11

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David's hand shook as he fumbled with the walkie-talkie, his eyes never leaving the Jack that stood mere feet away from them. He pressed the button, his voice strained with urgency:

"We're under attack! Jack in sector three!"

The creature's head snapped towards the sound, its grotesque grin widening. David dropped the walkie-talkie, positioning himself between the Jack and the two teenagers.

"Liam, Mia, stay behind me," he ordered, his voice steady despite the fear coursing through him.

Liam gripped his makeshift spear tightly, the attached flashlight casting eerie shadows across the train yard. "I can fight, David," he insisted, his voice trembling slightly but determined.

Mia nodded, her homemade flare at the ready. "We're in this together."

The Jack tilted its head, studying them with an unsettling intelligence. Then, without warning, it lunged forward with inhuman speed.

David reacted instantly, swinging his heavy wrench in a wide arc. The Jack ducked under the blow with impossible agility, its claws raking across David's arm. He grunted in pain but didn't back down.

"Now, kids!" he shouted.

Liam thrust his light-up spear forward, the beam catching the Jack full in the face. The creature hissed and recoiled, momentarily blinded. Seizing the opportunity, Mia ignited her flare, the bright light forcing the Jack further back.

"It's working!" Mia exclaimed, her voice a mix of fear and excitement.

But their victory was short-lived. The Jack, adapting quickly, darted to the side, using the shadows cast by their lights to its advantage. It circled them with dizzying speed, forcing the trio to constantly turn, trying to keep it in sight.

"Stay close," David ordered, his eyes darting around. "Don't let it separate us."

Liam's injured leg throbbed as he pivoted, trying to keep up with the Jack's movements. Suddenly, he stumbled, crying out in pain. The Jack, sensing weakness, pounced.

"Liam!" Mia screamed, diving forward with her flare.

The Jack's claws were inches from Liam's face when Mia's flare struck it in the side. The creature shrieked, its flesh sizzling at the contact. It whirled on Mia, its glowing eyes filled with rage.

David didn't hesitate. He charged forward, tackling the Jack away from Mia. They rolled across the ground, a tangle of limbs and snarls. David's wrench connected with the creature's head, but its inhuman strength was overwhelming.

"Dad!" Mia cried, her voice cracking with fear.

Liam struggled to his feet, his spear shaking in his grip. "We have to help him!"

Just as the Jack pinned David, its claws poised to strike, a familiar voice rang out:

"Hey, ugly! Remember us?"

Max and Aiden burst onto the scene, their weapons at the ready. Max's spear caught the Jack in the shoulder, the light disorienting it once again. Aiden followed up with a crushing blow from his crowbar, sending the creature sprawling.

"David, you okay?" Aiden called, helping the older man to his feet.

David nodded grimly, blood trickling from a gash on his forehead. "Thanks to you boys. Now let's finish this thing."

The Jack, realizing it was outnumbered, began to retreat. But the group, emboldened by their reinforcements, pressed their advantage. Max and Liam coordinated their light-up spears, keeping the creature disoriented, while Aiden and David attacked from the flanks.

Mia, her last flare in hand, saw an opening. "Guys, drive it this way!"

Understanding dawned in their eyes. They maneuvered, herding the Jack towards Mia. As it stumbled into range, Mia thrust her flare forward with all her might, catching the creature square in the chest.

The Jack's scream was deafening, a sound of pain and fury that made them all wince. It thrashed wildly, trying to dislodge the flare, but the combined assault from all sides was too much. Slowly, its movements became erratic, the light in its eyes flickering.

With a final, bone-chilling shriek, the Jack collapsed, its body twitching before finally going still.

For a moment, they all stood there, panting heavily, hardly daring to believe it was over.

"Is it... is it dead?" Liam asked, his voice shaky.

Aiden prodded the Jack with his crowbar. No response. "I think so. But we need to regroup with the others."

Just then, another inhuman shriek echoed from across the compound.

"Olivia," Max breathed, his eyes wide with realization. "The other Jacks must be with her group."

David nodded grimly, hefting his bloodied wrench. "Then we better move. They might need our help."

As they turned to head towards the sounds of battle, a chilling howl rose into the night air, followed by another. The group exchanged looks of concern as the implications sank in.

"That's where Olivia, Eli, and Zoe are," Mia whispered, her face pale.

"Run," David said, his voice tight with urgency. "We need to get to them now!"

As they sprinted through the shadowy train yard, the howls growing louder, one thought echoed in all their minds: The night was far from over, and their friends were still in danger.

To be continued...

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