The Undying Epoch (Incomplete)

Chapter 8: Shades of hope

Chapter 8: Desperation

The minimart's eerie silence was shattered by the commotion, attracting unwanted attention from every shadowy corner. Hyuni clung tightly to me, while Sally, with her makeshift leg of the chair, stood at the ready.

"We gotta move, quickly!" I urged, glancing around the minimart, my eyes scanning for potential threats.

The flickering emergency lights cast ominous shadows, distorting the outlines of the aisles. I led the way, skillfully avoiding any potential lurking danger.

"Hey, did you see that?" Sally whispered, pointing towards a seemingly empty aisle. "I swear something moved."

"Shh! Just stay close and keep moving. We need to get out of here," I replied, attempting to mask the tension in my voice.

We reached the exit, but as I cautiously pushed open the door, a low growl echoed. A larker, hidden in the darkness, lunged at us. Sally swung the chair leg with impressive force, sending the creature crashing into a row of shelves.

"Nice one, Sally!" I cheered, my eyes wide with a mix of fear and admiration.

Hyuni, however, wasn't as amused. "Sally, you could've killed it quietly. Now they all know we're here!"

"We don't have time for stealth," Sally retorted, "unless you've got a better plan, Princess."

I intervened before their bickering could escalate. "Let's focus. We need to find a way out of this mall."

Together, we navigated the dimly lit corridors, encountering sporadic groups of lerkers. The air was thick with tension, and each step felt like a precarious dance between life and death.

As we approached the mall's main entrance, the gravity of our situation became apparent. The once-bustling shopping center was now a nightmarish labyrinth, infested with the undead.

"We can't go through there," Sally muttered, surveying the sea of lerkers beyond the glass doors.

Hyuni pointed to a maintenance door to the left. "How about there?"

A narrow corridor led us through maintenance passages and service tunnels, avoiding the majority of the lerkers. The echoes of our footsteps resonated against the cold concrete walls as we neared another exit.

Upon pushing open the door, we found ourselves in an alley behind the mall. The night air tasted liberating compared to the stifling atmosphere inside.

"We made it out!" I exclaimed, relief washing over me.

"Not so fast," Sally warned, her eyes focused on a distant silhouette. "Look who's here."

As we squinted, the familiar figures of Hela and Blair emerged from the shadows, faces hidden beneath makeshift masks.