Salvage Station 23

Chapter 1, Part 12

~~~

Olivia's grip tightened on her light-up spear, her eyes scanning the shadows that seemed to writhe and dance in the flickering light. Beside her, Eli and Zoe stood at the ready, their faces a mixture of determination and fear.

"Stay close," Olivia whispered, her voice barely audible. "We don't know where-"

A bone-chilling laugh cut through the air, sending shivers down their spines. The Jack materialized from the darkness, its grotesque grin stretching impossibly wide. It stood there, motionless, its glowing eyes fixed on them with an predatory intensity.

"Oh, that's not creepy at all," Eli muttered, his knuckles white around his makeshift weapon.

Zoe swallowed hard. "What's it waiting for?"

As if in answer, the Jack's head snapped to the side, its neck cracking at an impossible angle. Then, with a sound that was part laugh and part shriek, it exploded into motion.

Olivia reacted instantly, swinging her spear in a wide arc. The attached flashlight cut through the darkness, momentarily blinding the Jack. It hissed, stumbling back, but recovered with inhuman speed.

"Eli, left! Zoe, right!" Olivia shouted, pressing forward.

Eli darted to the side, his own light-up weapon at the ready. "Hey, ugly! Over here!"

The Jack's head whipped towards him, its grin widening. It lunged, claws slashing through the air where Eli's head had been a split second before.

"Whoa!" Eli yelped, stumbling back. "A little too close for comfort there, buddy!"

Zoe, seeing an opening, thrust her weapon forward. The sharpened end caught the Jack in the side, drawing a shriek of pain and fury. But instead of retreating, the creature grabbed the weapon, using it to yank Zoe closer.

"Zoe!" Olivia cried out, charging forward.

Zoe's eyes widened in terror as the Jack's face loomed closer, its fetid breath hot on her skin. In a moment of desperate inspiration, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small flashlight she'd been tinkering with earlier.

"Eat light, creep!" she yelled, clicking it on directly in the Jack's eyes.

The creature recoiled with a howl, releasing Zoe. She scrambled back, panting heavily.

"Nice move, Zoe!" Eli cheered, moving to cover her retreat.

Olivia pressed their advantage, swinging her spear in precise, controlled movements. The Jack, still disoriented from Zoe's flashlight attack, struggled to dodge.

"We've got it on the ropes," Olivia called out. "Don't let up!"

But just as they thought they were gaining the upper hand, a blood-curdling shriek echoed from behind them. Olivia's heart sank as she risked a glance over her shoulder.

Another Jack had appeared, its eyes gleaming with malice in the darkness.

"Oh, come on!" Eli groaned. "Isn't one murder-happy monster enough?"

Olivia's mind raced. They were now caught between two deadly predators, and their odds had just plummeted.

"Back to back!" she ordered. "Eli, Zoe, you take the new one. I'll handle this ugly mug."

They moved quickly, forming a tight triangle. The Jacks circled them, their movements unnaturally fluid, almost hypnotic.

"Any brilliant ideas?" Zoe asked, her voice shaking slightly.