Finding Life

Chapter Eight: Run

We decided to come up with a plan. Since we could walk through walls and doors, the best option seemed to be slipping through the back wall and making a run for the truck.

"So, we're just gonna make a run for it?" Elias asked, his usual joyful tone tinged with a hint of nervousness.

"Do you have a better idea?" Soph shot back, her voice barely a whisper. She was clearly trying to stay calm, but the tension in the air was palpable.

Daniel nodded. "It's risky, but it's our best shot. If we move fast, we might be able to get to the truck before the creature notices."

"But what if it catches us?" I asked, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios.

"We can't stay here forever, Yuri," Daniel replied, his voice steady. "If we stay, it'll only be a matter of time before it finds a way in."

Soph glanced toward the back wall, her expression determined. "Okay, here's the plan: We go through the wall one by one. Once we're outside, we stick close together and head straight for the truck. No stopping, no looking back. Got it?"

We all nodded in agreement, our hearts pounding in unison.

Elias grinned, trying to keep the mood light. "Alright then, let's do this."

Soph went first, slipping through the back wall as quietly as a shadow. Daniel followed, then Elias, and finally, it was my turn. As I passed through the wall, the cold night air hit me like a slap in the face. I could feel my hands trembling, but I knew we had to move.

We huddled together outside the gas station, and for a moment, all was still. The truck was just a few yards away, waiting for us.

"On three," Daniel whispered. "One... two... three!"

We bolted for the truck, our feet barely making a sound on the gravel. The darkness around us felt suffocating, but the truck was so close. Just a few more steps...

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed behind us. I glanced back for just a second and saw the creature smashing its way through the gas station door, its eerie wand glinting in the moonlight.

"Keep going!" Soph yelled, her voice laced with urgency.

We reached the truck, and Daniel yanked the door open. One by one, we climbed in, our ghostly forms trembling with fear and adrenaline. As Daniel focused hard on getting the keys to turn, the creature emerged from the gas station, its glowing eyes fixed on us.

The engine sputtered to life just as the creature reached the truck. It slammed into the side, shaking the entire vehicle.

"Go! Go! Go!" Elias shouted, his usual cheer completely gone.

Daniel floored the gas pedal, and the truck lurched forward, throwing us all back in our seats. The creature roared in frustration as we sped away, leaving it behind in the darkness.

But as we drove, the silence inside the truck was heavy. We knew it wasn't over. Whatever that creature was, it would find us again.

For now, we had escaped. But the real question was—for how long?