A Circuit of Time: Book Two of Spark (A MPHFPC Fanfiction)

Chapter Ten

The crocodiles came back.

A few minutes after the rest of the group left, dark shapes in the lake started gathering again.

"We need to move." John said quietly. "Can you stand?"

Blanche tried to pull herself up and nearly toppled over. John quickly caught her and this time, with his support, Blanche slowly stood up.

The crocodiles swam closer.

John fired at the water, hoping to keep them away long enough for him and Blanche to make it to the entrance Olive blew open earlier.

They limped toward the opening as those crocodiles swam parallel to them in the water. John found it difficult to aim properly when he's carrying someone else. Although most of his shots didn't even touch the incoming predators, gunshots and occasional bullets that grazed their osteoderm-covered skin successfully kept the reptilian predators away for the time being.

They reached the opening, entered the corridor, and started running as fast as Blanche's injured leg could allow. But the sound of hissing and bellowing and water splashing was no mistake. The crocodiles were out of the water.

John risked a look behind and hoped he didn't. Ten crocodiles galloping after them with their unnaturally long legs.

In front of them was a room with its door left open. Without much thinking, John and Blanche ran into the room and slid the metal door bolt into place, locking the door behind them.

They looked around, decorated sarcophaguses lined up in several neat rows, none of them covered.

They were in a tomb.

On the other side, something slammed onto the wooden door. John and Blanche backed away from the door.

"It won't hold." Blanche said anxiously.

"We need to hide." John replied and pulled her behind a coffin.

A few moments later, the wooden door shattered.

The crocodiles were in.

*

The creature started towards them.

"Shoot that thing!" Olive shouted, and they fired at the creature. Their bullets managed to draw some blood, but the beast showed no sign of slowing down. The animal stepped into the lake and started kicking the water, propelling itself forward.

"Stop wasting your bullets," Miss Bittern pointed at the bridge, "Just go! We won't stand a chance if that thing gets here."

They ran onto the bridge. The creature turned and swam toward them.

Emma fired at it, but her pistol was empty. The rest of them were either completely out as well or low on ammo.

Olive pulled out an armageddon chicken egg and threw it at the creature.

"That won't do much to an animal that size." Emma said.

"Just shut up and run." Olive replied and hurried them forward.

The explosion tore through the water, launching up a geyser of white foam.

"Is it dead?" Ethan asked and turned to look.

They shone their flashlight on the lake, but they couldn't find any sign of the beast.

"Did we kill it?" Emma asked.

"Can't tell." Olive said.

For a moment calm seemed to have returned to this underground lake. Then they heard it, a low rumble coming from where they were heading.